Some family members may join you in the UK whilst you hold a Student Route Visa; these are known as 'dependants' or 'Points Based System (PBS) dependants'.
Who can be a dependant?
Only spouses (husband or wife), civil partners, unmarried partners and children under the age of 18 years can apply.
A civil partner is a same-sex partner with who you have entered into a legally recognised relationship.
An unmarried partner is someone that you have been in a relationship with akin to marriage, usually for two years or more.
A child must be under the age of 18 and must not have formed 'an independent life or family unit'. Usually, both parents must be coming to the UK for the child to be eligible to apply for a dependent visa. If they are not then please contact the team for advice.
Can I bring my dependants with me to the UK on my Student Route visa?
Only some Student Route Visa holders can invite their family members to join them, your family can join you:
- You are being sponsored to study a new course by your home government and your course is longer than 6 months; OR
- You will be studying on a designated research degree course (postgraduate RQF level 7 or above) - typically a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Research (MRes) or a Master of Philospohy (MPhil) programme of at least 9 months long; OR
- If your current or most recent immigration permission was on the Student Route visa for a course of more than six months and your relevant family members currently have dependant immigration permission, they may be able to extend this if you need to extend your Student Route visa. This depends on certain circumstances – please contact the team for advice on this.
As of 1st January 2024, postgraduate taught students not on a designated research course are no longer eligible to bring dependants to the UK, unless sponsored by their government.
If you have had a child born in the UK, please see our information below relating to their visa status.
A current Student Route Visa holder can switch to a PBS Dependant visa from within the UK if their partner also holds a Student Route visa. However, the above requirements must still be met.
If you are looking for information on dependant applications in employment categories, please see 'Working after your studies'.
How to apply - outside the UK
The application must be made online and your dependant will need to visit a UK Visa Application Centre in their country of residence. You cannot make this application for them in the UK.
Each dependant must complete the online application form. To apply, visit the UK government website and scroll down to the section "dependants applying outside the UK". Then select the link to 'apply online' and select the relevant visa type, either "partner" or "child".
The fee for each application is £490.
Each dependant will also be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Standard visa applications made outside the UK should be processed within 15 working days from the date of appointment at the visa application centre.
How to apply - inside the UK
The application must be made online.
Each dependant must complete the online application form. To apply, visit the UK government website and scroll down to the section "dependants applying outside the UK". Then select the link to 'apply online' and select the relevant visa type, either "partner" or "child".
The fee for each application is £490.
Each dependant will also be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Standard visa applications made inside the UK should be processed within 8 weeks from the date of application.
Documents you will need
Your dependants should include:
- Their own passport(s)
- A copy of your passport photo page & visa
- A marriage certificate for your spouse or evidence of a 'genuine and subsisting relationship' for unmarried partners. Please ask the IAG team for further information regarding this.
- Birth certificates for your children listing you as a parent
- A letter from yourself inviting your dependants to join you
- Bank statements from you or your dependant for the last 28 days, and/or
- A letter from your Financial Sponsor (if they are supporting your dependants).
- They will need to know your course details and Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies' (CAS) number.
The following are not necessary but may help your dependant’s application:
- Your tenancy agreement
- A letter from your landlord or accommodation provider.
Money they will need
Your dependant will need to show that they have living costs of £680 per month for a number of months, this is in addition to the money you must have to support yourself. This means:
- For each of your dependants, you will need to show £680 for a maximum of 9 months, totalling either £6,120
- The amount of living costs must be held for 28 days before the application is made. The account must not have dropped below the amount required at any time during the 28 day period.
- If you are funded by a Financial Sponsor and they are willing to provide funds for your dependants, evidence of this in a Financial Sponsor Letter can be provided instead of bank statements.
You will be required to show the monthly amount for each month of the main applicant's visa up to a maximum of nine months.
Visa conditions
Your dependants must live with you in the UK.
They will not be able to access any public funds, including (but not limited to) Child Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
The length of their visas will be equivalent to the Student Route Visa you hold.
Your dependants will be able to study and it is also possible that they can switch their visa to that of a Student Route visa holder from inside the UK. Please seek further advice on this from International Advice and Guidance.
They will be eligible for free health services too, provided your course is longer than six months.
Working in the UK
Your spouse/partner will be permitted to work if you were given a visa for 12 months or longer. If your visa was given for between six and 12 months, they will not be permitted to work.
Your spouse/partner will need to obtain a National Insurance Number for tax and National Insurance to be taken from any earnings. They can apply for a National Insurance number while looking for work.
Children in the UK
If your child is of compulsory school age (five to 16 years) they are eligible to attend state-funded school. Contact your Local Education Authority to enrol your child.
If your child is not of school age you must make adequate arrangements for childcare if your partner intends to work. International Advice and Guidance recommends making enquiries regarding childcare before bringing your child to the UK as it is expensive and difficult to secure. For details on finding childcare, please visit the Liverpool Council's website.
The university has limited places in its Children’s Centre.
Babies born in the UK
If you have a child born in the UK during your studies, they do not require a visa to remain here. However, the child would require a visa if they were to leave the UK and then wished to return.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has lots of information on their website regarding babies born in the UK.
Students and their dependants are encouraged to read information on the Home Office Website and look at further information on UKCISA's website on dependants.
Speak to a International Advice and Guidance advisor
If you are unable to find an answer to your query on our web pages email iagteam@liverpool.ac.uk or book an online confidential one-one appointment.