Spouses · children · work · school
Dependant visas and spouse work rights in Southeast Asia
‘My spouse and children are dependants’ describes a relationship, not a complete legal plan. Adult two has an activity, every child has an age and school route, and all linked status can depend on what happens to the principal.
Last verified 26 August 2026
The short answer
Does dependant status solve the family move?
It can supply lawful residence for an eligible spouse or child, but it may restrict work, depend on the principal's status and end when a child ages out. Write a separate permission and expiry line for every person.
Five-country matrix
Spouse, child and work are three columns
This identifies the issue to verify, not personal eligibility. Swipe the table on smaller screens.
| Country | Spouse starting point | Child starting point | Work boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | Route-specific: DTV or LTR dependant may fit a legal spouse; other principals use linked non-immigrant status | Route-specific dependant or Non-ED where study is the primary purpose; LTR children must meet its age rule | Dependant residence does not create general Thai work permission; local employment needs the proper route |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | DE Rantau and MM2H can include an eligible spouse; Employment Pass families use linked applications | DE Rantau/MM2H rules define eligible children; school and student-pass handling must be confirmed | DE Rantau dependant spouse cannot work; MM2H work/business permission depends on category |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Eligible spouse may use linked family status where the principal sponsor and residence qualify | Eligible children may be linked; age, sponsor and school arrangements need route-specific confirmation | Family residence is not automatically work authorisation |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | E31B is listed for the spouse of a qualifying ITAS/ITAP holder | E31E is listed for a qualifying holder's child; E30A is the primary/secondary student category | E31 family residence should not be read as unrestricted local work |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | SRRV can include a spouse; 13(a) is based on marriage to a Filipino citizen; work routes differ | SRRV includes qualifying unmarried children under 21; other routes have their own rules | Resolve immigration, Alien Employment Permit and employer requirements separately |
Dependency diagram
What the principal holds up
The family needs a response plan for every arrow.
Principal route
Job, remote work, investment, retirement or family relationship
Spouse residence
Relationship + principal validity
Spouse work
Separate permission question
Child status
Relationship, age + school
Family resilience test
Ask “what happens if…” before applying
The principal loses the job
How quickly must the sponsor notify immigration? Is there a grace period or in-country transfer route? What happens to school status?
A child reaches the age limit
When must they move to student, work or another independent status? Can the change be made without leaving?
The spouse starts work
Must they obtain a principal employment/remote-work route first? Does switching cancel or pause family status?
The relationship changes
Who must report it, what status remains, and how are custody, child residence and school continuity protected?
Pre-move research · quick reference · PDF
Research every person's permission before applying
The country matrix above identifies the legal questions. Use the checklist to map residence, work, study, evidence, expiry and failure scenarios for each family member from official sources.
Research from home
Family visa-permissions research checklist
Map each person's residence, work and study position before choosing a route or paying an application fee.
How to use it: read the section above first, then tick an item when you have captured the answer or evidence in your own move folder. The PDF is the offline quick-reference version.
1One line per family member
2Route mechanics
3Stress-test before applying
Keep the official source or written adviser answer behind every tick. “The agent said so” is not evidence.
Relationship evidence
Prepare the legal family on paper
- Passports and names that match the civil records—or formal evidence explaining differences.
- Marriage or civil-status evidence accepted by the exact route; do not assume unmarried partners qualify.
- Full birth, adoption, custody, guardianship or consent records for every child as applicable.
- Apostille, consular legalisation, certified copy and translation requirements from the receiving authority.
- Principal visa/status, sponsor consent and remaining-validity evidence for linked applications.
- Age-out, renewal and contingency dates recorded well before the school or employment decision.
If adult two works remotely
Move from “dependant” to activity analysis
Digital nomad visas for families
Compare the principal routes and the separate employer and tax questions.
Straight answers
Questions about family relocation
What is a dependant visa?
It is a route whose eligibility is linked to a qualifying principal and relationship. The dependant still has their own application or status record, expiry, conditions and evidence; they are not simply written onto another passport.
Can a spouse work on a dependant visa in Southeast Asia?
Sometimes only with separate permission, and sometimes not on that status at all. Malaysia expressly prohibits work for a DE Rantau dependant spouse. Always verify the exact country, code, employer and activity.
Can both adults apply as principals?
Potentially, if each independently meets a route. That can improve resilience or work permission but adds evidence, fees and compliance. Compare it with a principal-plus-dependant structure before applying.
Are unmarried partners treated as spouses?
Not universally. Some routes require legal marriage, while specific programmes may recognise other relationships. Never assume cohabitation or a UK civil relationship is accepted without checking the issuing authority's definition and evidence.
What happens if the principal loses their job?
Linked family status may be shortened, cancelled or lose its renewal basis. Ask for the notification deadline, grace period, transfer options and effect on school status before depending on employer sponsorship.
What happens when a dependant child reaches the age limit?
They may need a student, work or other independent route. Record each child's age-out date well before renewal; Thailand LTR and Philippine SRRV, for example, use route-specific child-age rules.
Can a dependant child attend international school?
Often yes under an appropriate dependant or student structure, but the required status differs. Thailand expressly distinguishes a child studying as the primary purpose; Indonesia lists E30A for primary/secondary education.
Do stepchildren and adopted children qualify?
Many routes recognise them with specific evidence, but definitions differ. Expect birth, adoption, custody, consent or marriage documents and confirm whether the principal must be the legal parent or guardian.
Should the spouse disclose remote work?
Yes. The legal analysis depends on the real activity, not the word ‘dependant’. Concealing work can create immigration, tax, employment and insurance problems.
What relationship documents should we prepare?
Usually passports and government-issued marriage, birth, adoption, custody or dependency records, with route-specific apostille/legalisation, certified-copy and translation requirements. Check validity and format before ordering.