Student Dependent Visa UK
Dependants of international students on a student visa can accompany or join the student in the UK under certain conditions.
However, the immigration rules surrounding the Student Dependent visa can often be complicated. Contact Total Law today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or message us online, to learn more about how we can help make your application run as smoothly as possible.
Can I bring dependents on a student visa in the UK?
In certain conditions you can bring dependents on a student visa in the UK with you.
Who qualifies as a dependent on student visa?
- Your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner.
- Your children under 18 years old, including those born in the UK during your stay.
When you can bring dependents on student visa?
- If you are a full-time student on a postgraduate course that is at least 9 months long.
- If you are a government-sponsored student on a course that is 6 months or longer.
- If you are a PhD student or participating in the Doctorate Extension Scheme.
Your partner and children will generally be granted permission to stay in the UK for the same duration as your own visa.
Note that, if you are an undergraduate student or a taught Masters student, your family members will not be eligible for UK Student Dependent visas.
Page Contents
- Can I bring dependents on a student visa in the UK?
- New rules for Student Dependent Visa 2024
- Eligibility Requirements for a Student Dependent Visa UK
- Financial requirements for Student Dependent Visa UK
- Apply for a Student Dependent Visa in the UK
- Required Documents for a UK Student Dependent Visa Application
- Application cost for Student Dependent Visa UK
- Processing time for Student Dependent Visa UK
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Changes in Student Dependent Visa Rules in 2024
In 2024, there have been some changes to the immigration rules for bringing dependants to the UK as an international student.
Since 1 January 2024, your postgraduate course will need to be either a PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8) or a research-based higher degree, whereas previously all RQF level 7 courses were also eligible.
This effectively means that the family members of taught Masters students will not be authorised to join them in the UK.
Bachelors students remain ineligible to be joined by their dependants in the UK.
Eligibility Requirements for a Student Dependent Visa UK
The eligibility criteria for the Student Dependent visa will depend on the familial relationship in question.
Children
In the case of dependent children, you will be required to prove the following:
- The child is neither married nor in a civil partnership
- The child is living with you (unless they live away from home due to attending full-time education such as university or boarding school)
You will also be expected to provide evidence of your child’s address, using at least 2 of the following documents:
- Bank statement
- Driving licence
- Credit card bills
- NHS registration document
- Official letter from the child’s educational institution, e.g. their school, university, or college
If your child pays you rent or pays you for other living costs, you will be expected to provide the details of this.
Partner
In the case of your partner, you will need to be either married, in a civil partnership, or unmarried in a long-term committed relationship. If you and your partner are not married, you will generally need to demonstrate that you have lived together for at least 2 years, unless you were unable to do so for practical or cultural reasons.
In this case, you will be expected to provide details of why you were unable to live together and to give evidence that you are in a long-term and committed relationship (e.g. evidence of raising children together, shared finances, or shared travel).
If you are married or in a civil partnership, you will need to provide your marriage or civil partnership certificate.
Financial requirements for Student Dependent Visa UK
There are a number of financial requirements when applying for a Student Dependent visa. Specifically, each dependent will need to demonstrate that they have the financial means to support themselves.
The exact amount will depend on where your studies are located. For courses based in London, each dependent must have £845 a month for up to 9 months. For courses based outside of London, this amount decreases to £680 a month for up to 9 months.
This money will need to have been available for at least 28 days, and this 28 day-period must fall within 31 days of when your dependents apply for their visas.
Note that these amounts are in addition to the financial requirements which the Student visa holder will need to satisfy. When applying for a Student visa, you will need to demonstrate that you have the financial means to pay for your course for 1 academic year.
You will also need to demonstrate that you have sufficient means to support yourself while you are studying. If your course is in London, you will need to demonstrate that you will have access to £1,136 per month for up to 9 months.
If your course is outside of London, this amount decreases to £1,136 per month for up to 9 months.
If you plan to use a loan to support your family members, you will need to provide evidence of the loan details.
However, there are some circumstances where you will not need to satisfy the above financial requirements. Specifically, if your partner or child has already been living in the UK legally for at least 12 months, they will not need to demonstrate that they have access to the above funds.
Additionally, if they are from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’, it is likely that they will not need to provide financial evidence, although they may still be asked to provide it in certain cases.
Apply for a Student Dependent Visa in the UK
The steps for applying for a Student Dependent visa will depend on whether your partner or child is applying from within the UK.
Outside the UK
If your partner or children are applying from outside of the UK, they can apply online via the UK government website. They will need to provide your application number as part of their application.
They will generally also need to attend an appointment at a visa application centre, where they will need to provide their biometric information (their photograph and fingerprints). These centres can be found in numerous global locations.
Once their applications have been fully submitted and processed, they will then receive a decision. If they are successful, they will then be able to enter the UK. If they are unsuccessful, they may be able to appeal the decision.
Inside the UK
If your partner or child is applying from inside the UK, this will generally mean that they are switching or extending an existing visa. They can choose to do so either when you extend your own visa or before their current visa expires. Applications can be submitted online, via the UK government website.
Note that not all visa types are eligible for switches from within the UK. The following visa types are not eligible for visa switches:
- Visitor visa
- Short-term Student visa
- Parent of a Child Student visa
- Seasonal Worker visa
- Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa
Required Documents for a UK Student Dependent Visa Application
There are numerous documents which need to be provided when applying for a Student Dependent visa, although the exact list depends on the familial relationship in question. In general, your partner and child will need to provide a combination of the following:
- Valid passport
- Family records demonstrating familial relationship (e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate, civil ceremony certificate, etc.)
- Proof of sufficient financial means
- Application number of the sponsoring applicant (i.e. the Student visa holder/applicant)
Note that the documents will need to be provided in English or Welsh. If you need to get your documents translated into either language, make sure to use a certified translation service.
Application cost for Student Dependent Visa UK
For applications made from outside of the UK, the application fee is £524. For applications made from within the UK, the application fee is £524.
There may be other costs associated with your application. For example, your dependents will generally need to pay the health surcharge, which allows access to the national health service (NHS).
You may also choose to seek legal assistance with your application. Contact Total Law today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to learn more about our full range of services and how we can help streamline your application process.
Processing time for Student Dependent Visa UK
If your partner or child is applying from within the UK, they should receive an answer within 8 weeks. If they are applying from outside of the UK, they should hear back within 3 weeks.
However, note that there may be delays to this time-frame if numerous other applications are simultaneously being processed or if they do not submit their application correctly.
How Can Total Law Help?
For many international students studying in the UK, being joined by their partner and children is an important part of the process. Many postgraduate students are able to be joined by their partner and children, assuming that they satisfy certain eligibility criteria.
However, following recent changes to UK immigration rules, not all postgraduate students are eligible to be joined by their families. Furthermore, the rules are often complicated even in the case of international students who are eligible.
At Total Law, our legal experts have many years of experience in providing bespoke immigration advice on cases exactly like this. They can help with every stage of the process, including gathering the right documents and navigating the appeals process in the case of applications which have already been unsuccessful.
Contact us today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or message us online, to learn more about our full range of services and to receive bespoke advice on your particular circumstances.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are numerous reasons why your visa may take a long time to be processed. This could be because a high number of other applications are being processed simultaneously or because your original application was submitted incorrectly, leading to delays.
To avoid further delays, make sure to promptly provide any further information which is requested by the UK Home Office.
If your child is born in the UK, this does not automatically make them a British citizen. This is because the UK does not have birthright citizenship. If neither you nor your partner are a British citizen or permanently settled in the UK, it is likely that you will need to apply for a Student Dependent visa on your child’s behalf.
If the child wishes to remain in the UK, you must make sure to submit an application for their Dependant visa before they turn 18.
Following recent changes to Student Dependant visa immigration rules, international students studying a taught Masters degree are no longer eligible to be joined in the UK by their dependants. Following the new rules, only PhDs or other doctorates (RQF level 8) or research-based higher degrees are eligible. Prior to these changes, RQF level 7 postgraduate degrees were also all eligible.
