How to move from South Africa to the UK with a family (2026)
The extra costs, documents and decisions that change once children are involved.
Moving to the UK alone is mostly a paperwork exercise. Moving with a partner and kids changes the maths, the documents and the timeline. This guide covers what's different when a whole family makes the move.
The cost that scales the fastest: the IHS
The Immigration Health Surcharge is charged per person, per year, and paid upfront for the entire visa length. For a single applicant it's a big number; for two adults and two children on a multi-year visa it becomes the largest line item of the whole move by far.
Budget the IHS for every family member before anything else, and verify the current per-year rate at gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/pay — it's the figure most families underestimate.
Dependants on your visa
- Your partner and children under 18 usually apply as your dependants, each paying their own visa fee and IHS.
- You'll need the civil documents to prove the relationships: unabridged birth certificates for each child and your marriage certificate.
- Each applicant from South Africa typically needs a TB test, including (in most cases) older children.
Schooling: free, but plan the timing
State schooling in the UK is free, but places are allocated by catchment and availability. Where you choose to live is partly a schooling decision, and applications often need a UK address — a chicken-and-egg problem worth planning around your arrival date and term dates.
Proving maintenance funds
Unless your sponsor certifies maintenance, you may need to show held funds for yourself and each dependant. Check the current per-dependant amounts on the official guidance before you apply.
Budget the whole move, per person
Use the cost-to-leave estimator with your real family size — it scales visa fees, IHS and flights by adults and children and shows the total in rand or pounds. Then add a realistic landing fund for a family (a larger rental, deposits, and kitting out a home).
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to move to the UK from South Africa with a family?
The biggest driver is the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged per person per year and paid upfront, plus a visa fee for each family member. Add flights, a TB test each, and a family-sized landing fund. Use the estimator with your exact number of adults and children for a personalised total.
Can my spouse and children come with me on a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes — your partner and children under 18 can usually apply as dependants. Each pays their own visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, and you'll need unabridged birth certificates and your marriage certificate as evidence.
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Educational information only — not financial, tax, legal or migration advice.