Main applicant
Main applicant
- Who it is
- The person in whose name the application is made; other family members are included as dependants
- What rests with them
- The investment, the main due diligence check, evidence of the source of funds
- Why it matters
- The requirements for the main applicant are stricter than for other family members
- Can it be chosen
- Yes, and sometimes choosing a spouse for this role changes the outcome of the application
- What to consider
- Whose background and financial history will pass the check more easily
In plain words
The main applicant is the person in whose name the application under a programme is made. It is they who make the investment, undergo the main check and evidence the source of funds. The spouse, children and other family members are included in the application as dependants, and the requirements for them are, as a rule, less strict.
This has an important consequence: choosing the main applicant is a strategic decision, not a formality. The check focuses on them: their background, sources of income, business history, public mentions, connections. If one of the spouses has a simpler and clearer history, it is sensible to consider them for the role of main applicant.
The decision is not made on the basis of “who raises fewer questions”, however, but on the overall picture: whose documents evidence the source of funds, who actually owns the assets, whose situation will withstand the check without stretching the facts. Hiding anything is pointless — the check looks at the family as a whole anyway — but structuring the application sensibly from the start is wise.
When this decision carries weight
What rests with the main applicant
- Paying in the funds
- Evidencing the origin
- Payment from their own account
- Due Diligence
- Sanctions screening
- Public mentions
- A full set of their own documents
- Evidence of kinship
- Biographical information
- Spouse as a dependant
- Children by age
- Parents, subject to conditions
How the decision is made
- 01Assess both spouses’ backgrounds
- 02Check the source of funds
- 03Choose the main applicant
- 04Assemble the set for the family
- 05Filing the application
What you need to know
- The main check focuses on the main applicant
- The investment is made in their name and from their account
- Requirements for dependants are usually less strict
- Family composition in the application is limited by the programme’s conditions
- Changing the main applicant after filing is difficult
Common mistakes
- Choosing the main applicant automatically, without discussion
- Making the payment from an account other than the main applicant’s
- Hiding difficult episodes in one’s background
- Not checking who actually owns the assets
- Planning to replace the applicant after filing
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We discuss the choice of main applicant at the very first meeting, before documents are collected. This decision affects the speed and outcome of the check more than most other preparatory steps.
Frequently asked questions
01 /Who is the main applicant?
The person in whose name the application is made: they make the investment, undergo the main check and evidence the source of funds.
02 /Can we choose who it will be?
As a rule, yes — if both spouses meet the programme’s requirements. It is a strategic decision, not a formality.
03 /Are the requirements for them stricter?
Yes. The main check focuses on them; requirements for dependent family members are usually less strict.
04 /From whose account should the investment be made?
From the main applicant’s account. A payment from a third party almost always raises questions or is not counted.
05 /Can the applicant be changed after filing?
This is usually difficult and means refiling. That is why the decision is made before the process begins.
06 /Who can be included as dependants?
A spouse, children and, in some programmes, parents — subject to conditions on age and dependency. The rules differ between programmes.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Applying for your family?
We will review both spouses’ situations and advise on how to structure the application for the best outcome.