Overview
The Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa is one of the most demanding immigration routes in the UK. It is designed for adult parents, grandparents, siblings, or children of British citizens or settled persons who require long-term personal care due to illness, disability, or age — and who cannot obtain that care in their home country, whether from other family members or because it is not available or affordable there.
In practice, the Home Office applies the requirements extremely strictly. Applications with insufficient medical evidence, or without a thorough analysis of care availability in the home country, are almost invariably refused. The route is not a general family reunion route for elderly relatives who would simply prefer to live with their family in the UK.
If you are exploring whether an ADR application is possible for your relative — or if you have already received a refusal — Marsl Sharifi will give you a clear, honest assessment. He prepares ADR applications meticulously, with the depth of evidence and legal argument these cases require.
Who this service is for
- The applicant is a parent or grandparent aged 18 or over of a British citizen or person settled in the UK.
- The applicant is a sibling, son, or daughter aged 18 or over who has a serious and ongoing need for long-term personal care.
- The applicant requires long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks — such as washing, dressing, cooking — as a result of age, illness, or disability.
- This care is not available or affordable in the country where they are living, whether provided by other family members or through professional care services.
- The UK sponsor can provide or arrange for the required level of care and can meet the financial support requirements without recourse to public funds.
- There is no other family member outside the UK who could reasonably provide care.
What you'll need
- Detailed medical reports from the applicant's treating doctor(s) in their home country, setting out the diagnosis, severity, prognosis, and the level of personal care required.
- Evidence of any treatment history, hospitalisations, or ongoing care needs.
- Where relevant, a specialist assessment — for example, a geriatric assessment or a neurological report for dementia.
- Reports on the state of professional care provision in the specific country and region; evidence that relevant care facilities do not exist locally; fee schedules for private care providers demonstrating unaffordability.
- Statements from family members explaining why they cannot provide care.
- The UK sponsor's British citizenship or settled status documentation.
- Evidence of the sponsor's ability to maintain and accommodate the applicant without recourse to public funds.
- A detailed statement from the sponsor explaining the nature of the dependency and the care arrangements in the UK.
- Valid passport for the applicant; birth certificate; evidence of the relationship to the sponsor.
Fees
Marsl's professional fees for an Adult Dependent Relative application are £3,600 + VAT. ADR applications require a substantial amount of preparation and legal work. Fees reflect this. The government visa application fee for an ADR visa is currently £3,250 (entry clearance). Immigration Health Surcharge is also payable. In accordance with the SRA Transparency Rules, full fee information is provided in your client care letter.
The process, step by step
- Step 1
Thorough eligibility assessment
Marsl will review your relative's medical situation, the care landscape in their home country, your family circumstances, and the financial position of the UK sponsor. He will give you an honest view of whether an application is likely to succeed and what evidence will be required.
- Step 2
Evidence gathering
Marsl will advise on what medical reports and expert assessments are needed, and how to obtain them. He may recommend that specific questions be put to the treating physician or that a country expert provide a report on care availability.
- Step 3
Application preparation
Marsl prepares the application form and the full supporting evidence bundle, including a detailed covering letter that addresses each element of the test and explains why the evidence demonstrates that the requirements are met.
- Step 4
Submission
The application is made at a UK Visa Application Centre in the applicant's country of residence.
- Step 5
Decision
Standard processing time is typically 12 weeks from submission. Given the complexity of ADR applications, delays beyond this are not uncommon. Marsl will monitor progress and correspond with the Home Office where appropriate.
- Step 6
Refusal and appeal
If refused, the refusal will set out specific reasons. There is a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. ADR appeals are complex and require detailed engagement with the evidence. Marsl handles ADR appeals and will advise on the prospects.