Student Dependent Visa: Bring Family to UK
Can You Bring Family on a UK Student Dependent Visa?
Due to changes brought in from January 2024, only certain types of student in the UK on a Student visa are able to bring dependents with them.
These include the following:
- Government-sponsored students starting a course that lasts longer than 6 months
- Full-time students on a postgraduate level course (RQF level 7 or above) that lasts 9 months or longer
For postgraduate courses that start on 1 January 2024 or later, the course must either be a PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8) or a research-based higher degree.
Any other type of student will not be able to bring their dependents with them to the UK.
Eligibility at-a-glance
| Student type / course | Can bring dependants? | Conditions / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Government-sponsored students (any qualifying level) | Yes | Course must normally be longer than 6 months; sponsor letter accepted as evidence. |
| Postgraduate research students (PhD / research-based higher degree) | Yes | Postgraduate research includes PhD and other research degrees; eligible even after Jan 1, 2024 (explicit exemption). |
| Postgraduate taught courses (RQF7) starting before 1 Jan 2024 and ≥9 months | Sometimes (historical) | Some pages previously allowed dependants for long RQF7 courses — check course start date and rules in force on application. |
| Undergraduate, taught PG (non-research) courses starting on/after 1 Jan 2024 | No | Policy change from Jan 2024 removed most taught-course dependant entitlement. UKCISA |
| Child Student / short courses (<6 months) | No | Students studying <6 months cannot bring dependants. GOV.UK |
Page Contents
- Are you able to being family members to the UK?
- What family members qualify for the dependant visa?
- Applying for the Dependent Visa
- How long can you stay in the UK?
- Can the visa lead to ILR?
- Documents needed for Student Dependent Visa?
- Timescales of the visa
- Costs of the visa
- Financial requirements of the Dependent Visa
- How can we help?
- FAQs
Who Qualifies as Dependants on UK Student Visa?
Family members may be eligible for the UK student dependent visa application if they are one of the following:
- Husband, wife, or civil partner
- Unmarried partner
- Children below 18 years
Dependant children are only able to apply for the student dependent visa if:
- One parent is residing in the UK, and the other is making an entry clearance application to the country
- Both parents are concurrently applying for entry clearance
- The parents are already living in the UK
Under 18s with only one parent may also apply for the dependent visa if one of the following is true:
- This is a genuine reason why they can only apply as one parent dependants.
- If you have sole responsibility for their upbringing
- They only have one surviving parent
Over 18 dependant children may apply for a dependency permission extension if you’re extending your student visa, but they must do so before your student visa expires.
As part of the application you are required to submit evidence that your relationship is genuine and that you will live together during your time in the UK.
| Dependant type | Age / relationship rule | Typical evidence requested | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse / civil partner | Any age | Marriage / civil partnership certificate (certified translation if not English) | If married overseas, include translation and any proof of ceremony. (GOV.UK) |
| Unmarried partner (durable relationship) | Usually 2+ years cohabitation or similar evidence | Joint tenancy, utility bills, joint bank statements, correspondence, flights, photos | UKVI looks for evidence of a genuine and subsisting relationship (often 2 years’ proof). (Student Administration) |
| Child (dependent) | Under 18 (generally) | Birth certificate; proof of parental relationship; custody/consent letters if one parent not applying | Special rules if one parent already in UK or child born in UK. (GOV.UK) |
| Over-18 child (already a dependant in UK) | May be eligible to extend before main visa expires | Evidence they are not living an independent life (bank statements, NHS registration, proof of address) | Over-18s who are already dependants can extend; otherwise usually not eligible. |
How to Apply for a UK Student Dependent Visa
The visa application is done online and supporting documents can be submitted at the same time. The processing and application fee also needs to be paid at this point.
Your dependent will also need to provide their biometrics at a face-to-face appointment at a visa application centre. Once they have given fingerprints and photograph taken, the application form will be processed.
Once approved, they will be given correspondence from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) service and will be able to collect a biometric residence permit.
The dependent visa can be applied for when the student visa application is made or after it has been granted.
| Step | Action | Who performs it | Typical docs needed at this step | Typical timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check eligibility (course type, sponsorship) | Student & dependant | CAS/offer letter; sponsor letter; proof of course type | Instant (preparation) (GOV.UK) |
| 2 | Complete online application | Dependant (separate application each) | Passport, photos, relationship evidence, financial evidence, TB test (if required) | Application creation: same day |
| 3 | Book biometrics at VAC / UKVCAS | Dependant | Application confirmation; passport | VAC appointment within days–weeks |
| 4 | Submit supporting documents (online or at VAC) | Dependant | Documents above + translations | Immediately after biometrics |
| 5 | Decision & BRP collection (if successful) | UKVI / dependant | Decision letter; collect BRP in UK | Outside UK: ~12 weeks from biometrics; Inside UK: ~8 weeks (see priority options). |
UK Student Dependent Visa Validity: How Long You Can Stay
The length of stay in the UK will be the same as the main applicant’s student visa – this is usually an initial three year period.
Documents Required for UK Student Dependent Visa Application
A large amount of supporting documents is needed to as part of the application process and for the UKVI to assess suitability for the UK visa.
It is likely the following paperwork will need to be submitted:
- A Tuberculosis (TB) certificate if applying from any of the countries listed on the UK government website and your stay in the UK will be for more than 6 months
- A letter proving your family member’s enrolment in a UK university if you are not applying at the same time
- An up-to-date Police Registration Certificate (PRC) – if needed when applying within the UK
- A valid passport or travel document to prove your travel history, nationality, and identity
- A valid Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card if required
- In addition, if applying as a dependent partner, they must demonstrate that they have a genuine and subsisting relationship with the main applicant. Therefore, will need to submit the following:
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate
- Evidence of their relationship with the sponsor if not married, which must be for at least 2 years – this can include:
- Utility bills, council tax, or bank statements
- Tenancy agreements or residential mortgage statements
- Official correspondence or documents to the same address to show co-habitating
- Proof that you’ll live together (if they’re applying from within the UK). That can include joint or separate bank statements with the same address, council tax bills, or utility bills.
- Proof of your relationship continuity if you have been living apart and applying for the dependant visa separately – this can include emails, chat/phone logs, and plane tickets or other evidence of travel
Dependent children must also provide paperwork to show a relationship including:
- Provide evidence of their relationship with the student/Tier 4: Birth certificate, government-issued household registration certificate, or special guardianship order
- Evidence that a baby is born in the UK and is making their first application for the student dependent visa – this is usually a birth certificate
- Provide evidence that they aren’t leading an independent life or have formed an independent family unit – this can include a NHS registration document, bank statements, and the student’s learning institutional letter confirming their address
Processing Times for UK Student Dependent Visa
How long it will take for your application to be processed depends on if you are applying from within the UK or from overseas.
When applying from outside of the UK, it can take around 12 weeks from attending your biometric appointment to be granted permission to travel to the UK.
If you wish to speed up this processing, there is an option to pay an additional fee for a priority service, that enables a decision to be made within five working days.
When applying from the UK, it can take around 8 weeks to hear a decision on the visa application. However, there is also the option to pay for priority or super-priority processing that reduces this time significantly.
| Applying from | Typical decision time (standard) | Priority option |
|---|---|---|
| Outside the UK (entry clearance) | ~12 weeks from biometrics (typical) | Some missions offer priority / faster services at extra cost — check local VAC. |
| Inside the UK (switch / extension) | ~8 weeks standard | Priority (5 working days) / Super priority (same-day/next-day) where available — subject to service availability and extra fee. |
UK Student Dependent Visa Fees & Application Cost
The cost of the student dependent visa does depend on where it is being applied from.
When applying from outside the UK, the cost is £558 per applicant.
UK Student Dependent Visa Financial Requirements
Your dependents must show proof of funds to prove that they have enough money to support themselves.
Your dependents will not have to show proof of funds if they have already been in the UK for at least 12 months, or they’re from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’.
Immigration Health Surcharge for Student Dependants
Holders of the student dependent visa are required to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge to cover potential access to the NHS during their time in the UK. This fee needs to be paid at the time of application.
The Immigration Health Surcharge is costs £776 for students and their dependents.
When Can Family Join Under the Postgraduate Research Route?
Family members can only join UK visa holders under the Postgraduate Research Route if the primary visa holder is a postgraduate research student studying for a PhD or a Master’s by Research (MRes). To be eligible, the course they are enrolled in must have lasted at least nine months and started on or after January 1st, 2024.
Dependent family members who can join primary visa holders under the Postgraduate research route are partners (including civil partners) and children under the age of 18.
Dependent Visas and Overstaying: What You Need to Know
If the rules of immigration are breached by overstaying a visa, the Home Office may revoke the visa, and any dependents of the visa holder will be required to leave the UK. If a dependent overstays their visa without a good reason or a valid extension, they may be deported and could have difficulty obtaining a UK visa in the future.
The Home Office does not notify you when a visa expires, so it is the visa holder’s responsibility to check their biometric residence permit and track the expiry date.
Anyone overstaying their UK visa must explain to the Home Office why they have overstayed, and must apply for a new visa within 14 days of their visa’s expiration date.
Under Paragraph 39E of the Immigration Rules, valid reasons for overstaying a visa include:
- A serious illness that requires a hospital admission and emergency treatment
- Bereavement of a close family member
- The educational establishment was late issuing a certificate of study (applies only to those on student visas)
If the dependent’s reason for overstaying is due to medical reasons, they must provide their hospital records.
Diplomat Dependents: Special Rules and Switching
The Home Office occasionally receives applications from foreign embassies on behalf of dependents of overseas diplomats who want to switch their visa to a student route. These applications are handled by a caseworker who will review whether the applicant is eligible.
To apply for the switch to a Student Visa, the dependent must meet the requirements for the Student Visa route and have a valid Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). They cannot apply if they are a visitor to the UK or a short-term student. Dependents with diplomatic immunity can’t switch directly and must apply for a Student or Dependent Visa. Applications to switch to a Student route can be submitted via UK Gov. Applicants will need the diplomat’s CAS reference number and the following:
- Written letter of consent from the diplomat and evidence of the dependent’s relationship with them
- Proof of sufficient funds evidenced in bank statements
- Valid passport that will remain valid for the duration of your stay
Family Linking Codes: Keeping Visas Aligned
Family linking codes connect visa applications for dependent family members to the primary visa holder. This enables dependents to use the primary visa holder’s Global Web Form (GWF) or Unique Application Number (UAN) when applying for their visas.
Family linking codes are not mandatory for visa applications; however, they are highly beneficial, as linking dependents enables all linked family members to be evaluated as a family unit. It also allows for faster processing times when dependents are applying for a UK visa.
To set up a family linking code as a primary visa applicant, you must complete the UK visa application form for your visa route online. You will then receive a UAN or GWF and a family linking code to share with your dependents.
As a dependent when applying for a UK visa, you can provide the family linking code during the visa application process to connect the application to the primary visa holder’s visa.
Switching & Extending Dependant Permissions
Dependents of those on a Student Visa route are permitted to extend their leave if they still meet the UK visa requirements for the visa route and have sufficient funds to support themselves for the duration of their extended stay. To extend a visa, dependents can apply at least 2 months before their visa expires.
When extending, dependents can apply at the same time as the primary visa holder or separately. During the application process, they will be asked to confirm the primary visa holder’s expiration date and visa category.
To apply for a UK visa extension as a dependent, applicants must provide documents proving their relationship to the primary applicant (spouse/partner or parent) and evidence of sufficient funds to support their extended stay, such as recent bank statements.
If the primary visa applicant wishes to switch visas from the Postgraduate Research route to a new route, the new visa route must accept dependents for them to be able to remain in the country. If the route accepts dependents, they must apply to extend their visa while in the UK under their current visa. The general documents required to switch visas to any visa route are:
- Valid UK visa
- Evidence of sufficient funds
- Proof of residence in the UK
- Biometric information
The Home Office can take up to 8 weeks to decide on in-country visa route switch applications.
How London Immigration Lawyers Can Assist with Student Dependent Visa?
We understand the monumental importance of having access to the education you want and being able to keep families together. For this reason, we do everything we possibly can to ensure that you receive your desired outcome.
Our team of expert immigration lawyers are hugely experienced in advising international students looking to study in the UK. We will guide you through every stage of the visa application process, removing the stress from proceedings.
The services we provide include:
- A thorough document check to ensure that all necessary paperwork is in place
- Liaising with your sponsor throughout the process
- Confirming that your chosen institution is able to act as your sponsor
- Arranging and obtaining your CAS from your chosen institution
- Producing a Letter of Representation that will emphasise the strengths of your application
- Completing your application form to the highest possible standard
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at London Immigration Lawyers before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Last modified on February 12th, 2026 at 10:58 am
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a spouse can work on a student dependent visa in the UK. If your dependant is above 16 years, they can work full time in the UK.
You can convert your dependant visa to a student visa in the UK by applying for a student visa. However, you must have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months and demonstrate you can financially support yourself during your stay in the UK.
