Savanna Hoffman
International students in the UK have previously been able to bring their dependants to the country on a student visa. However, recent changes to the UK's immigration policy mean that, as of January 2024, only international students studying specific courses will be able to do so. This paragraph will explore the impact of these changes and discuss the criteria that international students must now meet to bring dependants to the UK.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can bring dependants to the UK? | Postgraduate international students on research programmes |
| Who cannot bring dependants to the UK? | Undergraduate international students, international students on one-year master's programmes, international students on postgraduate courses not designated as research-oriented |
| Who can be considered as dependants? | Partner, children |
| Who cannot be considered as dependants? | Parents, siblings |
| What documents are required for dependants? | Birth certificate, government-issued documentation, proof of address, proof of relationship, proof of funds |
| What is the cost of dependant visas? | Same as student visa costs |
| Can dependants work in the UK? | No, they cannot work as doctors or dentists in training |
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What You'll Learn
Who counts as a dependant?
Since 1 January 2024, international students have been unable to bring dependants to the UK on their student visa. This restriction does not apply to students on research postgraduate programmes of nine months or longer, such as PhDs, Masters by Research, or doctoral qualifications. Students with government-funded scholarships are also exempt from this rule change.
Your partner and children can apply for a dependant visa. If you are married or in a civil partnership, your spouse can apply for a dependant visa. If you are unmarried, your partner can apply if you have been in a durable relationship for at least two years before the date of application. Your relationship must be genuine and subsisting, and you must intend to live together throughout your stay in the UK.
Your children can also apply for a dependant visa. For dependant children, a birth certificate or equivalent official government-issued documentation should be used to demonstrate your relationship. For children over 16 years old when they apply, documentation confirming their residential address from two separate sources will be needed to prove they are not leading an independent life. If your child is over 18, they may be able to apply for further permission to stay as a dependant.
Other family members, such as your parents or siblings, cannot come to the UK as your dependants. If you are pregnant, you should inform your School so they can support you and plan risk assessments.
Dependants must apply for their visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK. They should apply in their country of nationality or residence, and the application is made online. Dependants will need to have their fingerprints and photo taken at a visa application centre. They will need to provide evidence of their relationship with you and meet financial requirements.
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What are the financial requirements?
As per the new student visa rules that came into effect in January 2024, international students studying in the UK are no longer allowed to bring dependants on their student visas, except for those enrolled in specific research postgraduate programmes. Undergraduate students who are not government-sponsored or enrolled in a programme lasting more than six months are also not permitted to bring dependants.
If you are eligible to bring your dependants to the UK, they must meet certain financial requirements for their visa application. The financial requirements depend on the location of your educational institution. For courses in London, your dependants must have £845 per month for up to 9 months. Meanwhile, for courses outside London, the requirement is £680 per month for up to 9 months.
If you are applying for a visa with your partner or child, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your course fees, living expenses, and additional money for each dependant. This requirement can be met by providing evidence of a student loan or financial sponsorship. The required funds must be available for at least 28 consecutive days, and the end date of this period should be within 31 days of the visa application date.
If your dependant has been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, they may not need to provide evidence of funding for their new dependant visa application. However, if they have not been in the UK for a significant part of the previous 12 months, they may be asked to demonstrate that they meet the financial requirements.
It is important to note that the financial requirements are subject to change, and you should refer to the official UK government websites for the most up-to-date information.
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What documents are required?
As of January 1, 2024, international students studying in the UK are no longer able to bring dependants with them on their UK student visa, except for those on research postgraduate programmes. Undergraduate students who are not government-sponsored or studying a programme of up to six months cannot bring dependants.
If you are eligible to bring dependants to the UK, the following documents are required:
- For dependants over 16 years old, documentation confirming their residential address from two separate sources is needed to prove they are not leading an independent life.
- Any documents not in English must be accompanied by official certified translations.
- Sufficient funds to cover living costs in the UK are required. This is £680 for each month the visa will be valid, up to a maximum of 9 months. A bank statement or bank letter can be used, and the funds can be held in the student's name or the spouse/partner's name.
- If the student has official financial sponsorship that covers the living costs of any dependants, a letter from the sponsor confirming this can be submitted.
- If the dependant has held a valid UK visa for at least 12 months at the time of application, financial evidence is still required unless the student and dependant are both nationals of specific countries listed on the UKCISA website.
- If the student is applying with their partner, they must have been in a durable relationship for at least 2 years before the date of application.
- If the student has a child while in the UK, they must apply for their child's dependant visa if they want to travel in and out of the UK with them. A full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents, is required.
- The student's application number (Global Web Form or Unique Application Number) is required.
- Biometric information (fingerprints and photo) must be provided at a visa application centre.
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What are the visa application procedures?
As of January 1, 2024, international students studying in the UK are no longer able to bring dependants with them on their UK student visa, except for those on research postgraduate programmes. Undergraduate students who are not government-sponsored or studying a programme of up to six months cannot bring dependants.
If you are eligible to bring dependants, the following visa application procedures apply:
- Your partner and children ('dependants') may be able to apply to come to the UK or stay longer in the UK if you are a full-time student on a postgraduate level course (RQF level 7 or above) that lasts nine months or longer.
- If your dependants are applying at a different time from you, they only need to prove they have the money to support themselves. If they are applying at the same time as you, you will need to prove that you have the money to support yourself and additional money for each of them.
- If your dependant is your unmarried partner, you must have been in a durable relationship for at least two years before the date of application.
- If your child is under 18, you must apply for their dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them. You will need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.
- Dependants should apply in their country of nationality or country of residence (where they have permission to live). The application is made online. A separate application needs to be completed for each dependant.
- As part of the online application, an appointment is booked to attend a visa application centre to enrol biometrics (have fingerprints and facial image taken) and submit supporting documents.
- Your partner and child must each have a certain amount of money available to them. This is in addition to the money you must have to support yourself. How much money they need depends on where you will be studying.
- Your partner or child can apply to extend or switch their visa at the same time as you apply to extend or switch your own visa.
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What are the impacts of the new restrictions?
The new restrictions on international students bringing dependants to the UK on their student visas are likely to have several impacts. Firstly, it may reduce the number of international students choosing to study in the UK, as those with dependants may opt for alternative study destinations that allow them to bring their families. This could have a significant impact on the revenue of UK universities, particularly at the postgraduate level, where international students, especially non-EU students, make up a large proportion of the student population.
Secondly, the restrictions may disproportionately affect certain groups of students. For example, female students and students from specific countries, such as India and Nigeria, are more likely to bring dependants with them and, therefore, may be deterred from studying in the UK. Additionally, students with financial sponsorships or scholarships may be impacted, as they will no longer be able to bring dependants unless they are enrolled in postgraduate research programs.
The restrictions could also lead to a decrease in the number of student visas granted to dependants of international students. Previously, about 136,000 visas were granted to dependants in the year ending December 2022, an increase from 16,000 in 2019. With the new restrictions in place, this number is likely to reduce significantly.
Furthermore, the restrictions may cause practical and logistical challenges for international students with dependants already in the UK. Dependants of students who are unable to switch to a different visa route may need to leave the country or find alternative means to maintain their legal status. Additionally, students with children over the age of 18 may need to apply for further permission to remain in the UK as dependants.
Overall, the new restrictions on international students bringing dependants to the UK are likely to have far-reaching impacts, affecting the decisions of prospective international students, the revenue of UK universities, and the visa status of current dependants. The full extent of the impacts remains to be seen, and it is important to monitor the situation to understand the implications for all involved parties.
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Frequently asked questions
Since January 1, 2024, international students have not been allowed to bring their dependants to the UK unless they are enrolled in a research postgraduate programme. Undergraduate students who are government-sponsored or studying a programme of up to 6 months cannot bring dependants.
A dependant can be an international student's unmarried partner (provided they have been in a relationship for at least 2 years before the date of application) or child. Other family members, such as parents or siblings, cannot come to the UK as dependants.
Dependants can apply for a visa at the same time as the student or after the student visa has been granted. The application is made online, and a separate application must be completed for each dependant. The fees charged for each dependant are the same as the student visa costs.
