Dependant visas for family

Who can apply for dependants to remain in the UK?

You can apply to have dependants join you in the UK on your Student visa if one of the following applies:

1. You are in receipt of a scholarship or sponsorship from a government and your course is full time and at least 6 months
2. You are doing a full-time research-based higher degree, a PhD or other doctoral qualification of 9 months or longer. Your CAS must confirm you are eligible for dependants (the Immigration Compliance team can check this)
3. You are studying, or have studied, on a full-time course lasting at least 6 months and all bullet points below apply:

• Your Student permission is current, or expired no more than 3 months ago
• Your new immigration application is for a full-time course that is at least 6 months
• Your dependant already has Student dependant permission (or it expired no more than three months ago), or your dependant is your child who was born in the UK during your current visa
• You are applying for immigration permission at the same time as your dependant

If you are not sure if you are eligible to have dependants please contact the relevant team:

• Applicants can ask the Admissions team ([email protected]),
• Current students can ask the Immigration Compliance team ([email protected])

Who is a dependant?

Dependants can only be:

• Your husband, wife or civil partner,
• Your unmarried partner
• Your child

You cannot bring other family members (parent, brother, sister or other relative).

Partners

A partner is : 

• Your husband or wife
• Your civil partner:
  • 'Civil partners' are same-sex or opposite-sex couples who have legal recognition of their partnership. The UK government provides a list of partnerships in other countries that are treated as civil partnerships
• Your unmarried partner
  • They will have to prove they have been in a relationship similar to a marriage or civil partnership with you for at least 2 years

In all cases, you must both be over 18 years when you receive your visa or when your dependant arrives in the UK. The relationship must be 'genuine and subsisting' and you and your partner must have met in person. 

Children

If your child is applying to come to the UK as your Student dependant they will need to be under the age of 18.

If your dependant child is currently inside the UK the age limit does not apply but they cannot be living an independent life. This means:  

• They are unmarried or don’t have a civil partner
• They live with you, their parents. There is an exception for children attending boarding school, college or university

Both parents must be present with the child in the UK. The parents’ visa permission cannot be as a visitor. The only exceptions to the requirement that both parents must be coming to the UK are:

• The child's other parent is deceased
• One parent has sole legal responsibility for the child's upbringing
• There are other serious or compelling considerations that mean the child should be with you in the UK

Babies born in the UK

You do not need to apply for immigration permission for babies born in the UK unless your baby needs to re-enter the UK after travel. You can apply inside the UK for your baby’s visa if you meet the requirements described in the “Who Can Bring Dependants to the UK” section. 

You should be aware that babies born in the UK are entitled to free NHS care until they are 3 months old. If you do not apply for your child to get permission to stay in the UK during this time you will have to pay for any non-emergency NHS care they need.

If your dependants are already in the UK

You can include your dependants’ details when completing your Student visa extension application. Dependants should be given the same length of leave as the main applicant. They can apply using the relevant gov.uk application form below:

• If your dependant (partner) is applying later than you
• If your dependant (child) is applying later than you

Switching to a Dependant visa in the UK

Your dependant can apply inside the UK if they do not have one of the following statuses:

• Visitor
• Short-term student
• Parent of a Tier 4 (Child)
• Seasonal Worker
• Domestic Worker in a Private Household
• Leave outside the rules
• On immigration bail

Dependant visas holders can apply to switch to a Student visa inside the UK. There must not be more than 28 days between the previous visa expiry date and course start date.

If your dependants are currently outside the UK at time of application

They will be eligible to apply as a Dependant on your Student visa if one of the three categories at the start of this guide applies. 

They will be required to:

• Apply online under Dependants applying outside the UK. Each dependant must complete a separate online application form
• Book an appointment to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (where relevant)
• Pay the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge
• Know your course details and CAS number to complete the online application form

If your dependants are applying later than you they need to include a copy of your Student visa and passport in their application. Their application should state they are joining the main applicant who is a student.

Evidence of maintenance

You will need to show funds of £680 per month per dependant up to a maximum of 9 months. 

Funds must be held in your bank account or your dependants bank account for 28 days. Your bank statement must be dated within 1 month of application.

More information on the application process can be found:

• UKVI website
• PBS dependant guidance

Immigration healthcare surcharge

Each dependant needs to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of the visa application. The cost is £776 per year per dependant.