Bringing family with you on a UK student visa

From January 2024, international students coming to the UK will only be allowed to bring their dependants on their student visa if they are enrolled on specific postgraduate courses categorised as research programmes. These eligible programmes include PhDs, other doctoral qualifications, or master's programmes that involve research and the creation of original work. The restriction on bringing dependants will be applicable to all international students starting their courses from 1st January 2024.

What are the circumstances for bringing dependants on a UK student visa?

Only students who are enrolled on a research postgraduate programme will be allowed to bring dependants into the UK onto their student visa. This means that no undergraduate students or students on taught postgraduate programmes are permitted to bring family members into the UK with them. 

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Find out more

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Everything international students need to know about UK student visas
International students no longer able to bring dependants on UK student visas

Who counts as a dependant?

Your partner and/or your child can be your dependants. Other relatives such as parents do not count as dependants.

“Partner” means your husband or wife, your civil partner or your unmarried partner. To be considered an “unmarried partner”, you usually need to have been living together in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years before you make your immigration application.

In all cases, you and your partner  must both be at least 18 years old when you apply for immigration permission and you must intend to live together throughout your stay in the UK.

If your child is applying to come to the UK as your dependant for the first time, they must be under 18 years old when they apply. If your child is 16 or older when they apply, they must not be “leading an independent life”.

Often, there is a requirement that both  of the child’s parents must be in, or coming with the child to, the UK (although not with visitor immigration permission). However, there are some notable exceptions to this, which are outlined in the rules themselves, so be sure to check those thoroughly.

What are the requirements for dependants on the UK student visa?

Dependants must not intend to stay in the UK longer than the period of the visa.

Unless your dependants have lived in the UK with permission for the 12 months directly preceding their application, they are also required to have a specified amount of funds available for their living costs. Unless they meet the requirements for differentiation arrangements, they will have to demonstrate that they have these funds in an accepted format as part of their application.

Your dependants will not be able to make an application from within the UK if their current immigration status is as a visitor (or one of a small number of other immigration categories).

How do you apply to bring dependants to the UK on your student visa?

Applications in the UK and overseas are made online, but most applicants will also be required to attend an in-person appointment to enrol biometrics (photograph and fingerprints).

Most Visa Application Centres (VACs) around the world have reopened following closures caused by Covid-19, but the deadline to enrol biometrics has been extended to accommodate for the pandemic.

How much does it cost to apply for dependants on a UK student visa?

The cost to apply for dependants to your student visa is currently £363 for applications from outside the UK and £490 for applications from inside the UK. There is also the immigration health surcharge to be aware of, which is currently £470 per year of your visa. The cost of biometrics such as fingerprints and photographs is £19.20.

In some cases, your dependants will need to undergo a test for tuberculosis (TB) and present a certificate to show that they are clear of TB as part of their application, so this is another potential cost to have in mind.

Remember, the UK’s immigration rules change frequently. It’s worth checking the UK government website as well as information on UKCISA for important updates.