Are you an international student in the UK or applying for a student visa? You may be eligible to bring your family members to the country under the student dependent visa UK. If you qualify, your dependants can apply for the dependant visa.
For more information about this visa’s requirements and application process, call us now. Our immigration specialists will provide immediate help and assistance with your situation. We’re here to help you in person, via the phone or online.
Note: As of January 2024, international students will not be able to bring dependents with them to the UK unless they are enrolled in a postgraduate course designated as a research programme. Eligible programmes include PhDs and other doctoral qualifications or masters programmes with a research component, including a requirement to produce original work. This restriction will apply for all international students starting courses from 1 January 2024.
You may qualify to bring dependants to the UK under the student dependent visa if either of the following applies:
If you don’t meet the above requirements, your family members may be eligible for this dependant visa if you’re an existing student in the UK and meet all the requirements below:
Your family members may be eligible for the UK student dependent visa application if they fall under any of the following categories:
Dependant children can only apply for the student dependent visa if:
Under 18 with only one parent may also apply for the visa if one of the following is the prevailing situation:
Your over 18 dependent children may apply for a dependency permission extension if you’re extending your student visa. However, they must do so before their current visa expires.
For the dependant spouse or partner, your relationship must be genuine and subsisting to apply for the visa. Also, you must plan to live together during your entire stay in the country.
If you have any eligibility questions, contact our professional lawyers for assistance.
Your partner or child can apply for a student dependent visa in the UK by submitting their completed online application form, supporting documents, and paying the relevant fees on the UK government official website.
Also, they must submit their biometrics through an appointment at the visa application center. The information includes fingerprints and photographs. After successfully presenting the biometrics, the application is submitted for approval.
Upon the application’s approval, the UK visas and Immigration (UKVI) informs the applicant through a letter. After permission to enter the country is granted, they get a biometric residence permit allocation. They must collect the permit within ten days.
Your partner or child can apply for the dependant visa from inside (permission to stay as a dependant) or outside (entry clearance as a dependant) the UK. they should do so when they’re applying for their student visa or after you obtain it.
The applicant needs to submit supporting documents to support their UK student dependent visa application. They include the following:
Additionally, the dependant must provide particular documents.
If the candidate is applying for a visa as a dependant partner, they must prove that they have a genuine and subsisting relationship with the main applicant. Hence, they must provide the following documents:
Also, dependant children must:
If the dependant child is living separately from the main applicant, it can only be due to studies elsewhere. They must provide official confirmation from their educational institution in such a case.
The processing time for the UK student dependent visa depends on where you’re applying from and the application fee you pay.
The dependant visa processing duration can go up to 12 weeks if you apply from outside the UK. The period starts counting from the time you attend the biometric appointment, and the application is submitted.
Luckily, you can pay an additional fee for your application to be processed faster through the priority service. You’ll have the feedback within 5 working days.
On the other hand, it takes 8 weeks from the appointment date if you apply from within the UK. Similarly, you can pay an additional fee for priority or super-priority services.
The ‘priority’ service takes 5 days to process the visa, while the ‘super priority’ one takes only 24 hours.
Again, like the processing time, the processing fees for a student dependent visa depend on where you’re applying from. It also depends on the processing service you choose.
The visa fee per dependant is £363 if you apply from outside the UK. You may also incur an additional cost of £55 if you visit a ‘user pay Visa Application Centre (VAC).’
You may have to pay an extra fee if you need the priority service or your documents scanned or delivered.
If you apply for your visa from inside the UK, the processing fee is as follows:
| Application Type | Processing Time | Processing Fees Per Dependent |
| Standard | 8 Weeks | £490 |
| Priority | 5 Working days | £500 |
| Super Priority | Weekdays: By next day Weekend: After 2 days | £800 |
Note that the priority and super priority options may sometimes be unavailable.
The duration of stay under a student visa is equivalent to the main applicants’ (student) length of stay. Usually, the maximum stay period for an initial dependent visa is 3 years.
For that reason, a child’s dependent visa validity must align with the parents’ shortest visa.
If your partner or child stays in the UK for five years, they may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain(ILR). However, that can only happen if yours is granted the same.
Yes, a dependant visa can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain. The main applicant may become eligible for an Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of continuous residence in the UK. Consequently, any of their dependants too can become eligible.
If a dependant obtains an Indefinite Leave to remain, they’re no longer bound by immigration rules and control. Hence, you can freely live and work in the UK.
Also, they become independant from the main applicant; thus, you don’t determine their stay duration. If you wish to leave the country, they can choose to remain if they want.
The UK student dependent visa has many benefits to both the holder and the main applicant.
The primary reason why you should apply for this visa is to keep your family together and enjoy living in a new environment. Living alone in a foreign country can be extremely challenging for the main applicant. Bringing your family to a new country brings joy and a balanced quality of life.
Also, once your dependants move to the UK, they get an opportunity to work (adults), and the children have a chance to study in their state and private schools.
Furthermore, they may be eligible to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain after staying in the UK for 5 years.
The applicant must have a certain amount of money for their upkeep for at least one month of their stay in the UK. Hence, you or your dependant must meet the financial requirement for them to be considered for a student dependent visa.
You’ll need £845 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London, and £680 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London. This amount must be available in the bank account for at least 28 days within 31 days of your visa application. This financial requirement doesn’t apply to British and Indefinite Leave to Remain holding children.
Note that once you get to the UK, you can’t apply for any state benefits or funds.
Yes, you’re required to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge under the student dependent visa. In addition to the visa application fee, NHS Healthcare Surcharge is a vital requirement, where the dependant pays the same amount as the main applicant. These charges are as follows:
You pay the NHS Healthcare Surcharge when paying the application fee.
Although the student dependent visa is an ideal route to the UK for work and studies, it also has shortcomings.
One of the major downsides is the restriction on who can go to the country. Unless you fit within the listed categories by the Immigration Rules and Policy guidance, you won’t be able to join your loved ones under this visa.
For instance, if you’re above 18 years, you can’t live with your parents, who are studying in the UK, under a student dependent visa.
Also, you can’t access public funds if you’re in the UK under this visa. Therefore, you must prove your financial capability to support you while you’re in the country.
Common mistakes are the major cause of a dependant visa application rejection. Hence, it’s essential to take note of such errors by double-checking your application form before submission.
Here are some of the common mistakes:
Application rejection is a frustrating experience. Hence, you must ensure that you do your things right to avoid it.
Luckily, we’re here to assist you in the application journey. Contact us if you need any help with your situation.
A student dependent visa UK is a great and reliable route to living, working, and studying in the UK. If you’re already in the UK or intend to apply for a student visa, you can bring your family to the UK under this dependant visa.
While there are many obstacles to the success of dependant visa applications that can prevent your loved ones from joining you. The procedure can be tedious, from the application process to supporting document collection.
Thankfully, we’re here to walk you through every step of the way. Our experienced immigration lawyers will offer professional legal advice and assist in any way that you’d like to involve them. They’ll ensure that your application goes through within the minimum time possible.
Call us for more information about our services and how we can help with your case.
Reach out to us for more information or to see how we can help you?
No, you can’t bring dependants on a student visa to the UK. You obtain this visa to study in the country if you’re 16 years or more. However, you can sponsor your dependants to the country under a student dependent visa, which they can apply for when you’re applying for your student visa or after acquiring it.
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. The individuals can do any type of work except working as doctors or dentists in training and professional sportsperson or coaches.
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 12 months or more. Also, you must prove that you can financially support yourself during your stay in the country.
If an international student gets pregnant in the UK, the baby doesn’t automatically become a British citizen. Even so, they can remain in the country without making an immigration application. A baby must have a British citizenship-holding parent or one with settled status in the country to be British.
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