If you are planning to study in the UK, whether your partner or children can join you is one of the most important questions to resolve early. The rules changed significantly in January 2024 – and most international students are no longer permitted to bring family members as dependants.
Whether your family can apply depends on the type of course you are studying, how long it lasts and, in some cases, whether your studies are sponsored or funded by a government.
If you are preparing a Student visa application or trying to understand how the dependant rules affect your plans, our Student Visa Support page can help you organise your questions and understand your next step.
Who Can Bring Dependants on a UK Student Visa?
Your partner and children can apply as your dependants only if you fall within one of the permitted categories.
You must be either:
- A government-sponsored student starting a course lasting six months or longer
- A full-time student studying a postgraduate-level course lasting nine months or longer at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance
For postgraduate courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, the course must be either:
- A PhD or other doctorate at RQF level 8
- A research-based higher degree
This means that studying a standard taught Master’s degree does not, by itself, allow you to bring a partner or children as Student visa dependants.
The distinction between a taught degree and a research-based degree is critical – and it is determined by your course classification, not just its title.
Who Counts as a Student Visa Dependant?
A dependant can be your:
- Husband, wife or civil partner
- Unmarried partner in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years
- Child under the age of 18
Children born in the UK while you hold Student permission can also qualify as dependants, but being born in the UK does not automatically make a child a British citizen.
Each dependant must make their own immigration application and meet the requirements that apply to them. Being listed on your application does not give them permission to come to the UK.
Can Your Husband, Wife or Partner Join You?
Your spouse, civil partner or qualifying unmarried partner can apply as your dependant if you meet the Student route requirements for bringing dependants.
The relationship itself must also satisfy the requirements of the Immigration Rules – it is not enough simply to be married or in a relationship.
You will need to provide evidence that the relationship is genuine. For a spouse or civil partner, this includes your marriage or civil partnership certificate alongside other supporting evidence.
For an unmarried partnership to qualify, the relationship must generally have been a durable relationship for at least two years before the date of application. Evidence will be required to show that the relationship meets the Immigration Rules. The evidence required will depend on the circumstances of the relationship.
Do not assume that being in a relationship automatically makes someone eligible. The type of relationship, its duration and the evidence available all matter.
Can Your Children Come to the UK With You?
A child under 18 can qualify as a Student visa dependant, but the requirements must be met.
The Home Office will require evidence of the child’s relationship to you, such as a birth certificate.
There are also requirements concerning the child’s circumstances, including their age, relationship to the Student and whether they are living an independent life. A child will generally need to be living with the Student, subject to exceptions such as where they are living away from home for full-time education.
Where evidence of the child’s address is required, documents such as bank statements, NHS registration documents or official correspondence from an educational institution can be relevant.
The rules can become more complicated where only one parent is travelling to the UK, where parents have different immigration statuses or where there are questions about parental responsibility. In these circumstances, professional immigration support may be appropriate.
How Much Money Do Student Visa Dependants Need?
Student visa dependants must meet the financial requirement unless an exemption applies.
The amount required depends on where you will be studying.
Under the current rules, each dependant must have:
- £845 per month where the Student is studying in London
- £680 per month where the Student is studying outside London
The amount is calculated for up to nine months, or for the relevant shorter period where applicable.
This money is required in addition to the funds the Student needs for their own maintenance and course costs.
For example, where the full nine-month requirement applies, one dependant of a Student studying in London would need to demonstrate £7,605 in maintenance funds.
Where the financial evidence rules apply, the required money must generally have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, with the end of that 28-day period falling within 31 days of the visa application.
There are circumstances where a dependant does not need to submit evidence of these funds, including where they have already been in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months. Applicants covered by the differential evidence arrangements may also not need to submit financial evidence initially, although UKVI can still request it.
Can Dependants Apply Separately From the Student?
Dependants do not have to submit their applications at exactly the same time as the Student.
A partner or child can apply later, provided the eligibility requirements are met.
When applying separately, they will need information connected with the Student’s immigration application, such as the Student’s Unique Application Number (UAN) and other details from the Student’s application.
Where a dependant’s application is successful, their immigration permission will generally end on the same date as the Student’s permission.
Can Someone Switch to a Student Dependant Visa Inside the UK?
A partner or child already in the UK can apply to switch to or extend Student dependant permission, provided the requirements are met.
However, a person cannot generally switch to the Student dependant route from inside the UK if they currently hold permission as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker or Domestic Worker in a Private Household. The rules also do not permit applications from people on immigration bail or those whose previous permission was granted outside the Immigration Rules.
If your partner or child currently holds any of these visa types, they cannot simply switch to the Student dependant route from inside the UK – they will need to consider what options apply to their specific situation.
Dependants applying from within the UK must also make their application before their existing permission expires.
What Happens If a Child Is Born in the UK While You Are Studying?
A child born in the UK does not automatically become a British citizen simply because they were born here.
If you have a child while you are in the UK as a Student and want the child to travel outside the UK and return to the UK with you, you will generally need to obtain the appropriate immigration permission for the child before they travel.
You will need to provide the child’s full UK birth certificate showing the names of both parents.
If the child is to remain in the UK as your Student dependant, an appropriate application should be made in accordance with the applicable Immigration Rules.
Can Your Dependants Work in the UK?
The conditions attached to a dependant’s permission are separate from the conditions attached to the main Student’s visa.
Dependants of eligible Student visa holders generally have permission to work in the UK, including self-employment and voluntary work. However, they cannot work as a professional sportsperson, including as a sports coach, and additional restrictions can apply in certain cases where the dependant is relying on transitional provisions.
Applicants should check the conditions attached to their specific permission, as recorded on their eVisa, before starting work.
The conditions are recorded as part of the person’s immigration status, including through their eVisa.
What Documents Might a Student Visa Dependant Need?
The documents required depend on your circumstances. An application can involve evidence relating to:
- Identity and nationality
- The Student’s immigration status or application
- The relationship between the Student and dependant
- The child’s relationship and living arrangements
- Maintenance funds
- Government sponsorship or scholarships, where relevant
- Tuberculosis testing, where the rules require it
- The dependant’s current immigration status if applying from within the UK
It is important to check the current requirements before submitting an application rather than relying on a document list prepared for someone else’s circumstances.
Visit our Student Visa Support page to organise your questions and understand your next step.