Updated
GL-D-09
Glossary · Application and process
Dependant - Dependant
A family member on the application: spouse, children (up to 18-30 years), parents (55-65+). Each dependant means added costs: government fee plus DD plus passport. A family of four can cost 50-150K USD more than a single applicant.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- A family member you include in the application together with yourself
- Who is included
- Spouse, children and, in many programmes, parents
- Children up to
- From 18 to 25-30 (often in education and dependent)
- Cost
- Each has their own government fees and check fee
- Can you prepare
- Yes: check in advance who qualifies and calculate for the family
02 / In plain words
What Dependant means
A dependant in immigration is a family member you include in your application together with yourself. Usually it is a husband or wife, children and, in many programmes, parents. Their status is tied to you as the principal applicant: when you receive it, so do they.
Each programme has its own limits on whom you can include. Children are included up to a certain age — the threshold ranges from 18 to 25-30 in different programmes, often on condition that the child is in education and financially dependent on you. Parents are usually added from age 55-65, also as dependants. The age rules and conditions should be checked in advance for the particular programme — they differ noticeably.
Each dependant means additional costs. Government fees, the due diligence check fee and, where required, passport issue are paid separately for each. That is why a family of four costs considerably more than a single applicant — the difference can run to tens of thousands of dollars or more depending on the programme.
In a Vanuatu citizenship application, dependants are children under 18, adult children aged 18-25 in full-time study with no income or marriage, and parents with proven dependency.
A case from practice
An applicant applies for Caribbean citizenship and includes their spouse and two children. Each of the three incurs their own fees: the government fee, due diligence, passport issue. As a result an application for a family of four costs noticeably more than for one person — the difference easily runs to tens of thousands of dollars.
Where it matters
- Citizenship by investment for the family
- Residence and PR for a spouse and children
- Including parents in the application
- Calculating the full programme budget
- Checking children’s age thresholds
- Planning for your actual family composition
03 / What it covers
Who can be included
Spouse
- Husband or wife
- Is checked
- Their own fees
Children
- Up to 18-30 (varies)
- Often in education
- Financially dependent
Parents
- Usually from 55-65
- As dependants
- Not in every programme
Costs
- A government fee for each
- Due diligence for each adult
- Passport issue
04 / How it works
How to include the family in the application
Determine the family composition
Check ages and conditions
Calculate the fees for each person
Checks on all adults
Status for the whole family
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
Dependant status is tied to the principal applicant
02
Children’s age limit is 18 to 25-30 depending on the programme
03
Parents are often included from 55-65 as dependants
04
Each dependant has their own government fees and check fee
05
A family of four costs noticeably more than a single applicant
Common mistakes
- Calculating the cost for the principal applicant only
- Not checking whether an adult child qualifies by age
- Forgetting the due diligence fees for each adult
- Counting on including parents where it is not allowed
- Learning about the limits only during the application
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Calculate the full cost in advance for your actual family composition, not just the price for the principal applicant. Separately check, by age and conditions, exactly who can be included in the particular programme, so that there is no surprise that an adult child or a parent does not qualify under the rules. Build the fees for each person into the budget from the start.
What we do for you. We calculate the full cost in advance for your actual family composition, not just the price for the principal applicant. We check, by age and conditions, exactly who can be included in your programme, so that there is no surprise that an adult child or a parent does not qualify under the rules.
Klara RihterBanking compliance and source of funds specialist
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the programme: the threshold is usually 18 to 25-30, often on condition that the child is in education and financially dependent on you. We check the exact limits for your particular programme in advance.
In many programmes, yes — as a rule from age 55-65 and as financially dependent on the principal applicant. Each adds their own fees, so extending the family noticeably affects the final budget.
Each incurs their own government fees, due diligence fee and passport issue. The exact amount depends on the programme, but the difference between one applicant and a family is tens of thousands of dollars.
Adults, yes — each undergoes due diligence separately. The requirements for minors are softer, but the family composition is still checked.
This is an important point: age is usually fixed at the date of application, but the rules differ. That is why filing dates for families with nearly adult children are planned in advance.
Yes. Their status is tied to the principal applicant: when you receive citizenship or residence, the included family members receive it too.
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