Dependant Visas

Check the information here to see if you are eligible to have dependants living with you in the UK and how they will need to apply for their Dependant visa.

Please note: The UK government have announced changes regarding which students can bring dependants with them to the UK.  They say these changes will affect students starting study from January 2024 onwards.

There has been very little information offered by the Home Office regarding this so far, however you can see a statement offering an overview of some of the changes planned here.

Please also see the information on the UKCISA webpages here.

We will update our webpages to reflect these changes once further information and guidance has been announced and published by the Home Office.

 

Dependant visas

  • You may be able have your "dependants" live with you to the UK. UKVI say "dependants" are:

    • your husband, wife or civil partner, or
    • your unmarried partner
    • your child under 18 years old - including if they were born in the UK during your stay

    Only Student visa applicants or Student visa holders who meet the following criteria can apply for Dependant visas for their spouse or children: 

    • Government sponsored students who are on a course which is longer than 6 months OR
    • Postgraduate students who are on a course of 9 months or longer at a publicly-funded Higher Education Institution (the University of Glasgow meets this criteria) or a recognised body. ‌

 

Dependant Children

UKVI state that both parent's must lawfully be in the UK if a child is also applying as a dependant, unless:

(i) The Relevant Points Based System Migrant is the applicant’s sole surviving parent, or
(ii) The Relevant Points Based System Migrant parent has and has had sole responsibility for the applicant’s upbringing, or
(iii) there are serious or compelling family or other considerations which would make it desirable not to refuse the application and suitable arrangements have been made in the UK for the applicant’s care.

Please see the UKISA Dependants webpages for further information.

 

Babies born in the UK:

A baby born in the UK who is not a British citizen can lawfully stay in the UK.  However they will need to apply for a Dependant Visa to return to the UK if they leave.  You may also wish to apply for a Dependant Visa for a baby born in the UK so they will have a visa status here.  Please see the UKCISA webpages "Children born whilst student in the UK" for more information.

 

When and how to apply

Each Dependant applicant will need to pay money for the visa application fee and for the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge.  This is in addition to the money you need to have for "maintenance" requirements (living costs for the UK).

  • Visa application fees: £363 (outside UK), £490 (in-UK).  These are the fees for a Standard visa application (there are additional fees charged if your Dependant chooses a faster visa processing option)
  • Immigration Healthcare Surcharge: check how much to expect to pay here.

Applying outside the UK

Your dependant should apply for their PBS Dependant visa in the country of which they are a national or where they legally live, using the Dependant Partner or Dependant Child online visa application form for use outside the UK:

Your dependant(s) should apply for their PBS Dependant visa in the country of which they are a national or where they legally live. Dependant visas can be applied for:

  • at the same time as you apply for your Student visa, or
  • at a later date if they cannot apply at the same time as you - this must be after you have completed registration and enrolment at UoG and once you have started your course here.

Applying in the UK

Your dependants can apply:

  • At the same time as you apply for your Student visa, or
  • At a later date - this must be before their current visa expires.

Applying at the same time as you: The Student visa application form has an option to add your partner or child who is applying at the same time as you.

Applying at a different time to you: They will need to complete the relevant online Dependant visa application form for use in the UK:

Please note, your partner or child cannot apply in the UK to "switch" into a Dependant visa if they have one of the following:

  • a visit visa
  • a short-term student visa
  • a Parent of a Child Student visa
  • a seasonal worker visa
  • a domestic worker in a private household visa

Application process

Please see the UKVI "Student Visa: Your partner and children" webpages for details of the application process.

Applying inside the UK:

You will either use the IDV app before filling out the visa application or you will need to attend a UKVCAS centre to give your Biometrics after submitting the online visa application form.

You will need to:

  • Prepare all required documents such as passport, evidence of relationship with the Student visa applicant (e.g. if switching to a Dependant visa), meeting the Dependant visa maintainance requirement, living at the same address as the Student in the UK etc.  
  • Where a student is applying at the same time as their dependants they also need to meet the Student Visa requirements and provide any documents necessary for their Student visa application.
  • Complete and submit a Dependant Visa application form, as discussed in our "When and how to apply" section.

You may need to pay for a UKVCAS Biometrics appointment.  Where a student is applying at the same time as their dependants you will all go to the same Biometrics appointment together.

You will receive a visa decision via e-mail which will confirm the outcome of the visa application and whether you have been granted a BRP or an online, digital visa.

 

Applying outside the UK:

The website for the visa application centre you will apply through will also have important information on how you will apply from that specific country and region.

You will need to:

  • Prepare all required documents such as passport, evidence of relationship with the Student visa applicant, meeting the Dependant visa maintainance requirement, the Student visa applicant's visa application reference etc.
  • Where a student is applying at the same time as their dependants they also need to meet the Student Visa requirements and provide any documents necessary for their Student visa application.
  • Complete and submit the online Dependant visa application form.
  • Give your biometric details at a visa application centre.
  • Submit your application documents (online or in the post)- please check on the webpages for the visa application centre you will apply through.

Once your visa application has been processed, you will receive a decision letter or e-mail giving you the outcome of your visa application and details of any visa granted, such as whether you need to register with the police, work or study conditions and so on.  You will need to keep this safe and bring it with you to the UK.

The decision letter will confirm whether you will receive a 30 or 90 day visa sticker in your passport or an online, digital visa status.  Once you have received your visa you can use this to travel to the UK.

 

Documents

Please see the UKVI's Student guidance for the specific documents required for a (Student) Dependant visa application. These include:

  • Evidence of relationship to you 
  • Evidence of meeting the maintenance requirement
  • The Student visa applicant's visa application reference
  • Valid passport for each applicant (and current valid visa if applying inside the UK)
  • TB Testing certificate (check if you are required to provide this)

Evidence of relationship

You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship to the Student visa applicant, e.g.:

  • a marriage or civil partnership certificate for your partner
  • a birth certificate for your child

Dependant children over 16 or 17 years old

If your child is 16 or 17 on the date you apply you’ll need to prove they are not living an independent life, for example they’re not married or in a civil partnership.  You’ll need to prove:

  • where they live - if they do not live with you, you’ll need to explain why
  • any rent or upkeep they pay you each month
  • that you support them financially if they do not live with you

Applying outside the UK

Each Dependant applicant needs to meet the Dependant visa maintainance requirement and show they have access to money for living costs.  

If you’re applying at the same time as the Student visa applicant, you’ll need to provide evidence of meeting the maintenance requirements for the Student visa applicant, and also give evidence of the additional money required for each Dependant visa applicant.

If the Student applicant and each Dependant applicant and you’re applying at the same time, and if you all meet the UKVI's Differentiation Arrangements eligibility requirements, you will not be asked to provide financial documents as evidence of maintenance at the time you apply. However, UKVI can ask you for this evidence at any time until they have made a decision on your visa application, so you should prepare this before applyinging and submit if UKVI contact you and request you to do so.  

Applying inside the UK

If you’re applying at the same time as the Student visa applicant, you’ll need to prove you meet the maintenance requirements for the Student visa applicant, and each Dependant visa applicant also meets the maintenance requirements.  

When applying in the UK, Dependant visa applicants do not need to provide evidence of meeting the maintenance requirements if they’ve been living in the UK with the Student applicant on a valid visa for at least 12 months at the time of making the Dependant visa application.

If the Student applicant and each Dependant applicant and you’re applying at the same time, and if you all meet the UKVI's Differentiation Arrangements eligibility requirements, you will not be asked to provide financial documents as evidence of maintenance at the time you apply. However, UKVI can ask you for this evidence at any time until they have made a decision on your visa application, so you should prepare this before applyinging and submit if UKVI contact you and request you to do so.  

 

BRPs and electronic visa status

When a Dependant visa application is successful, UKVI will issue the visa after making a decision on your visa application. When granted, your dependant's visa will share the same expiry date as your Student visa. 

Dependant's who are non-visa nationals can expect to be granted electronic visa status that they can view via the share code link on their decision e-mail.

Visa nationals can expect to receive a BRP.  Make sure you check all the information on the BRP is correct when you receive this - if you find any errors contact us at ISS for advice as you will need to report this to UKVI and apply for a replacement BRP.

BRPs: Applying outside the UK

If your dependants are coming to the UK for longer than 6 months, they will need to collect a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) on arrival in the UK. They can choose when completing the visa application form whether to collect the BRP from the University or a Post Office.

If you change your address or any personal details after submitting the visa application form you must notify the UK of the change of circumstances as soon as possible.

BRPs: Applying inside the UK

The BRP for each applicant will be sent to the address in the UK that you entered on your visa application form, via courier.

If you change your UK address, passport or any personal details after submitting the online visa application form, you must notify the UK as soon as possible by completing and submitting a Change of Circumstances form for each applicant.

 

 

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