UK Student Visa: Dependants and Child Students
Who can bring family on a UK Student visa is tightly limited, and the rules changed in 2024. This guide covers the sponsor and postgraduate thresholds, the maintenance money for each dependant, the exemptions, and the separate Parent of a Child Student route. Based on the official GOV.UK guidance (gov.uk/student-visa/family-members), September 2026.
Who can bring dependants
- Government-sponsored students on a course longer than 6 months.
- Full-time postgraduate students on a course at RQF 7 or above lasting at least 9 months.
- From 1 January 2024, a postgraduate course must be a PhD or another research higher degree (RQF 8).
Who counts as a dependant
- A partner, spouse or unmarried partner.
- Children under 18, including those born in the UK.
You provide relationship evidence (such as a marriage or birth certificate), plus proof of the child's relationship and two address documents.
Maintenance money for each dependant
| London | £845 per month (up to 9 months) |
| Outside London | £680 per month (up to 9 months) |
| Held for | Continuously 28 days; last day within 31 days of applying |
When you are exempt from showing the money
- You have had valid permission in the UK for at least 12 months.
- You are from a country under the differential evidence requirement — though you may still be asked for the evidence later.
The Student visa itself
- Apply up to 6 months ahead from outside the UK, or 3 months ahead inside.
- Decision in about 3 weeks outside the UK, or 8 weeks inside.
- Fee £558.
- Dependants apply separately, and each can apply at the same time or before their own permission expires.
Child Student visa: no dependants
A Child Student (aged 4–17 at an independent school) cannot bring family. At 16+ they can work part-time up to 10 hours a week. Parents can instead apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa: only one parent may accompany, the child must be 4–11 at an independent school, the parent must keep their main home abroad and intend to leave when the permission ends, and the parent cannot work, study, run a business, claim public funds, bring other family, or switch to another visa.
Related: document translation and copies, scanning and uploading documents, the immigration ID Check app, the UK visa documents checklist, and the UK short-term study visa documents checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my family on a Student visa?
Only if you are a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months, or a full-time postgraduate on a course at RQF 7 or above lasting at least 9 months. Other students cannot bring dependants.
What changed for postgraduate courses?
From 1 January 2024 a postgraduate course must be a PhD or another research higher degree (RQF 8) for you to bring dependants.
How much money must each dependant have?
London £845 per month, outside London £680 per month, for up to 9 months. The money must be held continuously for 28 days, with the last day within 31 days of applying.
Am I exempt from showing the money?
You are exempt if you have had valid permission in the UK for at least 12 months, or if you are from a country under the differential evidence requirement (though you may still be asked later).
Can a Child Student bring family?
No. A Child Student (4–17, at an independent school) cannot bring family. A parent may instead apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa.
What are the Parent of a Child Student rules?
Only one parent may accompany; the child must be 4–11 at an independent school; the parent must keep their main home abroad and intend to leave when the permission ends; and the parent cannot work, study, run a business, claim public funds, bring other family, or switch to another visa.
Source: GOV.UK, "Student visa: family members" (and Student visa, Child Student visa, Parent of a Child Student visa pages) — retrieved 2026-09-29. Rules change, so confirm the current position on the official page before you apply.