Moving With Family: 9 Countries' Official Rules (2026)

What this page compares and what it leaves out

This page ranks and scores nothing. It reports what official pages say about families on the main skilled-work route of nine destinations, read on 7 October 2026. Each country gets the same checks in the same order: can the partner and children come and work, how a dependent child is defined, school access, health cover, childcare or child benefit, and dated changes (grouped in the later sections). Where no page we read states something, we say so. Education is set below national level in some countries (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC, says each Canadian province and territory runs its own system; the Department for Education says each country in the UK has its own), so schools are shown for one named jurisdiction, never as national.

www.canada.ca: Prepare to study as an international student in Canada www.gov.uk: School applications for foreign national children and children resident outside England

Canada: partner, children and age limits

Partner and children (Federal Skilled Worker Program, a permanent residence route): IRCC says family members processed for permanent residence as dependants can come, including the spouse or common-law partner and dependent child. IRCC’s page on permanent resident status says a permanent resident can live, work or study anywhere in Canada. Child age limit: under 22 and not a spouse or common-law partner. A child aged 22 or older counts only if dependent on the parent since before 22 and unable to be self-supporting because of a physical or mental condition.

www.canada.ca: Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program ircc.canada.ca: Which family members can come with me to Canada when I immigrate? laws-lois.justice.gc.ca: Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227), section 2 definitions www.canada.ca: Understand permanent resident status

Canada: school, health and benefits

School (Ontario, one province): ages 6 to 18 must attend. Most children can attend a publicly funded school free regardless of immigration status. Health: IRCC says some provinces have a wait of up to 3 months. IRCC says to make sure you have private health insurance for this waiting period. Ontario says OHIP has no waiting period for eligible applicants. Ontario lists permanent residents among the people who can be eligible for OHIP. The spouse and dependants of a work-permit holder employed full-time by an Ontario employer for at least 6 months may also qualify. Child benefit (Canada Revenue Agency): the applicant or their spouse or common-law partner must be, among other listed statuses, a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and has a valid permit in the 19th month that does not state “does not confer status” or “does not confer temporary resident status”.

www.ontario.ca: Get settled in Ontario www.canada.ca: Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system www.ontario.ca: Apply for OHIP and get a health card www.canada.ca: Who can apply - Canada child benefit (CCB)

United Kingdom: partner, children and age limits

Partner and children (Skilled Worker visa, Home Office): a husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner and a child under 18 may be able to apply as dependants. Their permission allows work, except as a professional sportsperson. For “medium skilled” jobs other than care work, a partner or child outside the UK can apply to join if either the worker has been continually employed on the visa in such a job since before 22 July 2025, or the child was born in the UK. Child age limit: under 18 on the date of application unless an exception applies, and the child must not be leading an independent life.

www.gov.uk: Skilled Worker visa: Your partner and children www.gov.uk: Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker www.gov.uk: Immigration Rules Appendix Children

United Kingdom: school, health and benefits

School (England, Department for Education): compulsory age is broadly 5 to 16. Foreign national children resident in the UK will normally have the right to attend state-funded schools. Health: the Immigration Health Charge must be paid. NHS use is free from the date the visa starts, if the charge has been paid where required. Childcare and benefits: dependants’ permission has no access to public funds. The Immigration Rules list child benefit as a public fund. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) lists permission to access public funds among the Tax-Free Childcare conditions.

www.gov.uk: School applications for foreign national children and children resident outside England www.gov.uk: Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker www.gov.uk: Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: Overview www.gov.uk: Immigration Rules Introduction www.gov.uk: Tax-Free Childcare: Check if you're eligible

Germany: partner, children and age limits

Partner and children (route read: Blue Card): the Interior Ministry says spouses of foreign skilled workers with an employment residence title can accompany them if the worker intends to stay longer than a year; for an EU Blue Card holder the Residence Act lists the spouse’s residence permit under a separate point without that condition. Children can come too. Family members with a family-reunification title may work without restriction once it is issued. Child age limit: a minor unmarried child (adulthood begins at 18). The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) says a child under 16 needs no further conditions. BAMF says a child over 16 of a skilled worker or highly qualified person needs to meet no further conditions to join the parents, even if the child does not arrive at the same time as the parents.

www.gesetze-im-internet.de: Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) — Gesetz über den Aufenthalt, die Erwerbstätigkeit und die Integration von Ausländern im Bundesgebiet www.bmi.bund.de: Arbeitsmigration (Federal Ministry of the Interior) www.gesetze-im-internet.de: Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), § 2 Eintritt der Volljährigkeit www.bamf.de: Nachzug zu ausländischen Familienangehörigen

Germany: school, health and benefits

School (Bavaria): Bavarian law covers anyone who meets the age requirements and is habitually resident there. The Länder education ministers’ conference says compulsory schooling in Germany usually begins in the year a child turns six. Health: the German embassy in Lisbon says, for visa applications it handles, that people entering for family reunification or work need private cover comparable to SGB V, unless statutory cover already exists. Child benefit: Kindergeld for foreign nationals without freedom of movement needs listed residence titles, including a Blue Card, subject to listed exceptions.

www.kmk.org: Schülerinnen und Schüler (Allgemeinbildende Schulen) www.gesetze-bayern.de: Bayerisches Gesetz über das Erziehungs- und Unterrichtswesen (BayEUG), Art. 35 Schulpflicht lissabon.diplo.de: Health Insurance in Visa Procedures www.gesetze-im-internet.de: Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG), § 62 Anspruchsberechtigte

Ireland: partner, children and age limits

Partner and children (Critical Skills Employment Permit, Immigration Service Delivery): a spouse, civil partner or de facto partner, and an unmarried child under 18, may apply to join immediately, subject to financial thresholds. Spouses, civil partners, de facto partners and minor children aged 16 to 18 of Critical Skills holders are eligible to work without an employment permit. Child age limit: the 12 June 2026 policy treats only unmarried minor children under 18 as the nuclear family. An application may be made for an adult child with a serious medical or psychological dependency.

enterprise.gov.ie: Critical Skills Employment Permit www.irishimmigration.ie: Joining a non-EEA/non Swiss national www.irishimmigration.ie: Frequently asked questions for joining family www.irishimmigration.ie: Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification (12 June 2026)

Ireland: school, health and benefits

School (Department of Education): compulsory from 6 to 16 or until three years of post-primary. All children are entitled to free primary education. The pages we read do not name children of permit holders. Health: private insurance is not compulsory (Department of Health). The Health Service Executive (HSE) says children under 8 living in Ireland can get a GP visit card if they intend to stay at least 1 year. Child benefit (Department of Social Protection): payable for children ordinarily resident regardless of citizenship, if the applicant meets the habitual residence condition.

www.gov.ie: Education www.gov.ie: General information on access rights or obligations to participate in available public preventive healthcare measures www2.hse.ie: Under 8s GP visit card www.gov.ie: Operational Guidelines: Child Benefit

Netherlands: partner, children and age limits

Partner and children (highly skilled migrant permit, Immigration and Naturalisation Service, IND): a spouse, partner and minor children who want to live with the migrant need a residence permit. The recognised employer can submit the family application. An IND publication says that if the worker needs a Single Permit or work permit to work in the Netherlands, family members need a permit to work too, but not if the worker holds a highly skilled migrant or intra-corporate transfer residence permit or an EU Blue Card. Child age limit: for children under 18, the IND means the applicant’s own children in their legal custody.

ind.nl: Highly skilled migrant ind.nl: Residence permit for work as a highly skilled migrant (IND publication) ind.nl: Coming to work in the Netherlands (IND publication) ind.nl: Enabling a family member or relative to come to the Netherlands (IND publication)

Netherlands: school, health and benefits

School: the Dutch government says children from 5 to 16 who live in the Netherlands must attend school, including children of another nationality. Primary and secondary education is free; internationally oriented education asks a parental contribution. Health: everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must take out standard health insurance. Children under 18 pay no premium for it. The IND says to take out this insurance within 4 months of arrival; its family publication says it checks the insurance within 4 months of the permit being issued. Child benefits (Tax Administration): for childcare benefit and supplementary child benefit, people without the nationality of an EU country, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland need a valid residence permit that entitles them to benefits.

ind.nl: Residence permit for work as a highly skilled migrant (IND publication) ind.nl: Enabling a family member or relative to come to the Netherlands (IND publication) www.rijksoverheid.nl: Leerplicht en kwalificatieplicht (compulsory education and qualification obligation) www.rijksoverheid.nl: Veelgestelde vragen over nieuwkomersonderwijs (newcomer education FAQ) www.government.nl: Standard health insurance ind.nl: Living in the Netherlands with a residence permit www.belastingdienst.nl: My child goes to a childcare centre (childcare benefit) www.belastingdienst.nl: I have children up to the age of 18 (supplementary child benefit)

Australia: partner, children and age limits

Partner and children (subclass 482 Core Skills visa, Home Affairs): for someone who has not held a 457 or 482 visa before, the family unit can be included: the partner, a dependent child or stepchild, and the partner’s dependent child or stepchild. The family can also live, study and work in Australia. Child age limit: this page does not state one; the official page it relied on could not be retrieved and checked on 8 October 2026.

immi.homeaffairs.gov.au: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Core Skills stream

Australia: school, health and benefits

School (New South Wales): children must start school by age 6 and complete Year 10. Most temporary resident students pay an application fee and a tuition fee, with some exemptions. Health: adequate health insurance must be maintained as a visa condition. Childcare or child benefit: this page does not state the rules; the official page it relied on could not be retrieved and checked on 8 October 2026.

immi.homeaffairs.gov.au: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Core Skills stream education.nsw.gov.au: Compulsory school attendance education.nsw.gov.au: Enrolment of temporary residents procedures

New Zealand: partner, children and age limits

Partner and children (Immigration New Zealand): an Accredited Employer Work Visa cannot include a partner and dependent children, but the holder may be able to support visas for them, depending on job and earnings. A Partner of a Worker Work Visa lets the partner work; children cannot be included. A Skilled Migrant Category resident visa can include a partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger. Child age limit: 24 and under and single for resident visas; 19 and under for student and visitor visas.

www.immigration.govt.nz: Accredited Employer Work Visa www.immigration.govt.nz: Bringing family if you have an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) www.immigration.govt.nz: Partner of a Worker Work Visa www.immigration.govt.nz: Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa www.immigration.govt.nz: Bringing children

New Zealand: school, health and benefits

School: a work visa of 2 years or longer may give access to primary and secondary education for dependent children, where the requirements are met. A child can enrol as a domestic student with a student visa based on a parent’s temporary work visa, but the education notice limits this to the end of the year the work visa expires. Health (Health New Zealand): work visa holders staying 2 years or more are eligible for publicly funded care, as are children 17 or younger in the care and control of a parent or guardian who is a listed eligible person, including a work visa holder. Child benefit (Inland Revenue): holders of only a temporary permit or visa are not entitled to Working for Families.

www.immigration.govt.nz: Access to public services while in New Zealand www.immigration.govt.nz: Childcare, schools and higher education www.legislation.govt.nz: Education (Domestic Student: Primary and Secondary Education) Notice 2026 (SL 2026/5) www.healthnz.govt.nz: Eligibility for publicly funded health and disability services www.ird.govt.nz: Working for Families: residency requirements

United States: partner, children and age limits

Partner and children (H-1B and employment-based green cards, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS): the spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an H-1B worker may seek admission as H-4 dependants. The spouse or unmarried child under 21 of an employment-based principal applicant may apply for a Green Card as a derivative. Certain H-4 spouses can file for work authorization once the H-1B worker has started the green card process. The pages we read do not state work rights for H-4 children. Child age limit: unmarried and under 21. The pages we read do not state what happens when an H-4 child turns 21. For a derivative Green Card applicant, USCIS says a child who turns 21 before approval ages out, and that the Child Status Protection Act protects certain children from aging out.

www.uscis.gov: H-1B Specialty Occupations www.uscis.gov: Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants www.uscis.gov: Child Status Protection Act (CSPA)

United States: school, health and benefits

School (New Jersey): the Office for Civil Rights says the Supreme Court has affirmed that immigration status cannot be used to bar students from public schools. New Jersey: free public education for ages 5 to 20; compulsory ages 6 to 16. Health: HealthCare.gov lists non-immigrant status, including worker visas (such as H1, H-2A, H-2B), student visas and other visas, among the immigration statuses that may be eligible for Marketplace coverage; from 1 January 2027 only lawful permanent residents, Cuban or Haitian entrants and Compact of Free Association migrants qualify for savings. This page does not state whether a child with H-4 status can get Medicaid or CHIP. Child care: under the federal child-care funding rule, only the child’s own status is relevant. The pages we read do not state whether a child with H-4 status qualifies.

www.ed.gov: Equal Rights to Public Education Regardless of Immigration/Citizenship Status www.nj.gov: Attendance at School Based on Domicile or Residency in the School District www.nj.gov: Kindergarten Frequently Asked Questions www.healthcare.gov: Find out what immigration statuses qualify for coverage in the Marketplace www.healthcare.gov: Health coverage for lawfully present immigrants www.ecfr.gov: 45 CFR Part 98 Subpart C - Eligibility for Services (Child Care and Development Fund)

United Arab Emirates: partner, children and age limits

Partner and children (route read: the standard work visa; UAE Government portal): expatriate residents may bring a spouse, unmarried daughters, sons under 25 and children with special needs. The sponsor must have a minimum salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, and the conditions can change. The portal also lists a work permit for residents under family sponsorship. Child age limit: male students over 25 can stay on the parents’ sponsorship with proof of higher education. Daughters can be sponsored for study regardless of age until married. For the Golden Residency, children regardless of age.

u.ae: Work visa u.ae: Residence visa for families of employees u.ae: Work permits u.ae: Residence visa for studying in the UAE (student visa) icp.gov.ae: Golden Residency Guide

United Arab Emirates: school, health and benefits

School: education is mandatory for expatriates until the end of the primary stage. They may attend public schools by paying fees, subject to approval and conditions (among them: grades 2 to 12, a parent employed by a government, semi-government or local entity, a valid UAE residence visa for the student and parent, and a 20 per cent cap). Health: in Abu Dhabi, employers and sponsors must cover employees and their families (a spouse and 3 children under 18). In Dubai, sponsors must insure resident dependants. Childcare or child benefit: the official pages we read do not state this.

u.ae: Importance of education to the Government (regulatory framework, law on compulsory education) u.ae: Admission to the UAE government schools u.ae: Getting a health insurance

What changed recently: Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands

Canada: since 21 January 2025 only spouses of certain international students and foreign workers can apply for a family open work permit, and dependent children of foreign workers are no longer eligible (IRCC notice). United Kingdom: from 22 July 2025 workers sponsored in Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List occupations at RQF levels 3 to 5 cannot bring dependants, unless already in the route and able to (Home Office). Ireland: from 26 November 2025, dependant minor children of Critical Skills and other employment permit holders are registered on Stamp 1G from age 16 instead of Stamp 3, which lets them work without their own employment permit; children already holding Stamp 3 had their permission varied to Stamp 1G conditions. From 12 June 2026 General Employment Permit holders and other Category C sponsors must show they can accommodate joining family. Netherlands: the official pages we read state no dated change for work-route families.

www.canada.ca: Changes to open work permits for family members of temporary residents www.gov.uk: Explanatory memorandum to the statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 997, 1 July 2025 www.irishimmigration.ie: Right to work for Minor Children of Employment Permit Holders www.irishimmigration.ie: Amendments to Policy on Non-EEA Family Reunification

What changed recently: Germany, New Zealand, United States, United Arab Emirates

Germany: the Child and Youth Welfare Code (section 24(4)) gives children who attend first grade in school year 2026/2027 or later an entitlement to day care from school entry until the start of fifth grade, eight hours on working days; the law says school lessons and all-day primary school offers count towards it. New Zealand: from 20 April 2026 a Partner of a Worker Work Visa can undertake any work but cannot employ other people. United States: USCIS says the final rule rescinding the 2022 public charge regulations goes into effect on 18 September 2026. United Arab Emirates: from 1 January 2025 employers must buy health insurance as a prerequisite for residency permits of private-sector employees and domestic workers.

www.gesetze-im-internet.de: Sozialgesetzbuch Achtes Buch (SGB VIII), § 24 Anspruch auf Förderung in Tageseinrichtungen und in Kindertagespflege www.immigration.govt.nz: Changes to employment conditions for open work visa holders www.uscis.gov: USCIS Issues Guidance on Making Public Charge Inadmissibility Determination u.ae: Getting a health insurance

What is announced, proposed or not yet confirmed: Ireland and New Zealand

Ireland: the 26 November 2025 announcement says an application fee will be introduced; the pages we read do not say whether it is in force. Immigration Service Delivery says the arrangement letting minor children with a Stamp 3 take up employment is valid only until 26 November 2026, after which eligible minor children will have renewed their cards to Stamp 1G. New Zealand: Health New Zealand says changes to who can get publicly funded health services take effect from 1 December 2026; the page gives no detail. Inland Revenue says proposed Working for Families amendments take effect on 1 April 2027.

www.gov.ie: Minister Jim O’Callaghan receives government approval to strengthen migration legislation and introduce new rules on asylum and citizenship & publishes Family Reunification Review www.irishimmigration.ie: Right to work for Minor Children of Employment Permit Holders www.healthnz.govt.nz: Eligibility for publicly funded health and disability services www.taxtechnical.ird.govt.nz: Interpretation statement IS 26/12: Working for Families tax credits and family scheme income

What is announced, proposed or not yet confirmed: United States and United Arab Emirates

United States: HealthCare.gov says that, due to a law change, from 1 January 2027 only lawful permanent residents, Cuban or Haitian entrants and Compact of Free Association migrants qualify for savings; other immigration statuses may be eligible for Marketplace coverage, but not savings. United Arab Emirates: from the 2026–2027 academic year the age cut-off for schools starting in August or September shifts to 31 December of the admission year, the Ministry of Education announced on 17 December 2025.

www.healthcare.gov: Find out what immigration statuses qualify for coverage in the Marketplace moe.gov.ae: UAE announces updated age cut-off date for KG, Grade 1 admissions starting AY 2026-2027

What this page does not cover

This page does not cover any ranking or score; school or healthcare quality; cost of living; fees, visa costs and processing times; salary and income thresholds, apart from the UAE sponsor minimum quoted; tax; recognition of qualifications; routes other than the main skilled-work route named for each country, such as student, investor, refugee, asylum or humanitarian routes; or the rules of provinces, states, Länder, UK nations or emirates other than the ones named. Check the official pages for them. Where a section says the official pages we read do not state something, that describes our reading on the date shown beside each source, not proof that no rule exists. The cited pages belong to the issuing authorities and can change. This page is information, not advice and not a decision about anyone’s case.