The process at a glance
- 01Check Eligibility
Verify you can bring dependants
Only PhD/research postgraduate students and government-sponsored students can bring dependants in 2026. Check your CAS Tier field: it must show "PGR" (Postgraduate Research) or your scholarship letter must confirm government sponsorship.
- 02Prepare Funds
Proof of maintenance for each dependant
UKVI expects £845/month outside London or £1,083/month inside London for each dependant, multiplied by up to 9 months. Funds must have been in your account for 28 consecutive days. Scholarships or official sponsorship letters can substitute.
- 03Apply Online
Submit separate dependant application
Each dependant submits their own online application via gov.uk. They need: valid passport, relationship proof (marriage/birth certificate with certified translation if needed), tuberculosis test results if from a listed country, and biometric appointment. Pay the visa fee (£490) and IHS surcharge (£1,035/year per dependant).
- 04Receive Visa
Travel and register in the UK
Dependant visa processing typically takes 3-8 weeks. Priority processing (£500) cuts this to 5 working days. Dependants can arrive before or after the main applicant. Upon arrival, the spouse dependant can work full-time in any role immediately — no skill threshold.
Overview
This guide explains how dependants of UK Student visa holders apply and stay compliant under current Home Office rules. Dependant eligibility depends on the main applicant’s course level, start date, and sponsorship category. Always verify the latest GOV.UK Student visa family guidance before you budget housing or file, because taught postgraduate dependant rules tightened in recent policy cycles.
Eligibility Requirements
The main applicant must hold or be applying for Student permission that still allows dependants for their course type. Qualifying relationships usually include spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner meeting cohabitation rules, and children under the age thresholds in the rules. Each dependant needs relationship evidence, tuberculosis testing if required by nationality, and funds where the rules require maintenance for family members. If the main course no longer permits dependants, do not file a futile application — re-check GOV.UK first.
Application Process for Dependents
Each dependant submits a separate online application, pays the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, and books biometrics. Align the application timing with the main applicant’s CAS dates and intended travel. Inconsistencies between the main CAS, bank evidence, and family applications are common refusal reasons. Keep certified translations for non-English civil documents and use the same spellings of names across passports and certificates.
Rights and Restrictions for UK Student Dependants
Work and study conditions for dependants are printed on the decision and summarised on GOV.UK — they are not identical to Student visa work rules. Do not assume full-time work is always allowed. Children may study; adult dependants who want a full degree may need their own Student application. If the main applicant’s permission ends, dependants usually lose their basis of stay and must switch, leave, or qualify independently.
A UK dependant visa is not a courtesy — it is a separate application with its own funds, fees, and biometrics. Treat it like a second visa, because it is one.
Financial Planning for Families
Budget visa fees, IHS, flights, larger housing, and council tax implications where applicable. Maintenance funds must meet the figures in force on the application date when required. Keep a family document pack: passports, relationship certificates, bank statements, CAS, and decision letters. UKCISA provides independent explanations; GOV.UK remains the controlling source for fees and eligibility.
Who can come as a Student dependent under current UK rules
UK Student Route dependant rules tightened in recent years. Many taught postgraduate students can no longer bring dependants, while research students and certain government-sponsored students may still qualify. Always verify the current GOV.UK rules for your course level and start date before you budget housing or book flights. Each dependant needs their own application, relationship evidence, tuberculosis test results if required, and payment of the visa fee plus Immigration Health Surcharge. The main applicant’s CAS and finances must support the whole family where required.
Work rights, study limits, and switching routes
Dependant work rights depend on the main applicant’s course and the dependant’s conditions of stay. Do not assume a dependant can work full-time in every case — check the vignette or eVisa conditions and GOV.UK guidance. Children may study; adult dependants who want their own full-time course may need a separate Student application. If the main applicant switches to the Graduate Route or Skilled Worker route, dependants usually need to switch in line with that route’s rules. Keep a shared document pack: passports, relationship certificates, bank evidence, and decision letters.
Flashcards
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What you learned
End-of-guide quiz
3 questions
- 01
A taught Master’s student in Manchester wants to bring her husband and child. What does UKVI tell her?
- 02
Which document is NOT required for a dependant visa application?
- 03
Your dependant visa is granted in-country at 30 months. When does the leave end?
0 / 3 answered
Official sources
Verify rules, fees, and forms on first-party government sites. This guide is educational and not a substitute for your DSO, solicitor, or licensed adviser.
Procedural deep-dives
For statutes, forms, deadlines, and evidence standards, use these legal owners on MyCaseworks.
- UK immigration guides
Student visa, Graduate route, and tenancy procedural library.
- Graduate route visa
Post-study work rules and evidence standards.
- Renters’ Rights for international students
Deposit, eviction, and tenancy changes that affect students.
Frequently asked questions
Can every Student visa holder bring dependants?+
No. Many taught postgraduate students cannot bring dependants under current rules. Check GOV.UK for your course level and start date before applying.
Do dependants pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?+
Yes, each dependant generally pays IHS for the length of permission granted, unless an exemption applies. Confirm the current amount on GOV.UK.
What happens if the main applicant’s Student permission ends?+
Dependants usually lose the basis for their stay and must switch to another route, leave the UK, or qualify in their own right. Act before status expires.
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