Student Dependant visa (Appendix Student Dependant)

The Student Dependant route under Appendix Student (Dependant) allows certain family members to accompany a main Student visa holder. The route was sharply restricted from 1 January 2024 — most taught-Master's students can no longer bring dependants.

For [CLIENT_NAME] (Student visa holder) seeking to bring [DEPENDANT_NAME] ([DEPENDANT_RELATIONSHIP]):

§1 — POST-JANUARY 2024 ELIGIBILITY (120-150 words)

Following the Home Office statement of changes in 2024, Student Dependants are permitted ONLY where the main applicant is:

  ▪ A postgraduate research student (PhD or other doctoral degree) at a UK institution; OR
  ▪ Sponsored by a government scholarship lasting 6+ months (e.g. Chevening, Commonwealth Scholarship); OR
  ▪ An RQF Level 7 (Master's) student on a course of 9+ months duration AND on a research-only Master's programme (e.g. MRes); OR
  ▪ A Doctoral Extension scheme participant

PGT (Postgraduate Taught — most MSc, MA, MBA) Master's students CANNOT bring dependants.

UG (Undergraduate) students CANNOT bring dependants.

Pre-sessional students CANNOT bring dependants.

Assess [COURSE_DETAILS]: Does it fall in the permitted category? If NO, the dependant cannot apply via Student Dependant — see § Switching options.

§2 — ELIGIBLE DEPENDANTS (80-100 words)

If main applicant qualifies under §1, dependants permitted:

  ▪ Spouse — legally married (registered marriage; Indian Hindu Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act, Muslim marriage with registration accepted)
  ▪ Civil partner — under UK Civil Partnership Act (limited Indian recognition; check)
  ▪ Unmarried partner — 2+ years cohabitation (Appendix Student Dependant 5.6)
  ▪ Child under 18 — natural / adopted, with parental responsibility evidenced

NOT eligible:
  ▪ Parents
  ▪ Adult children (18+) — must apply on own merit
  ▪ Siblings
  ▪ Engagement / fiancé(e) not yet married

§3 — RELATIONSHIP EVIDENCE (120-150 words)

For spouse / civil partner:
  ▪ Marriage certificate (Indian Marriage Registrar's certificate is accepted; legal apostille NOT required for UK but useful)
  ▪ Photos across relationship history
  ▪ Joint financial documents (joint bank accounts, joint tenancy / property documents)
  ▪ Birth certificates of any children together
  ▪ Communication evidence: WhatsApp / email logs across the relationship

For unmarried partner:
  ▪ Evidence of 2+ years cohabitation: joint utility bills, rental agreement, joint address documents
  ▪ Joint financial accounts
  ▪ Photos + correspondence

For child:
  ▪ Birth certificate showing main applicant as parent
  ▪ If different surnames: explanation
  ▪ If only one parent on visa: consent from other parent OR sole-responsibility evidence
  ▪ Adoption order (if adopted child)

§4 — FINANCIAL MAINTENANCE FOR DEPENDANTS (100-120 words)

Additional funds required (Appendix Finance + Appendix Student Dependant 8):

Per dependant, for the duration of stay:
  ▪ London: GBP 845/month × 9 months max = GBP 7,605 [VERIFY current 2026 rate]
  ▪ Outside London: GBP 680/month × 9 months max = GBP 6,120 [VERIFY current 2026 rate]

For multiple dependants: amount × number of dependants.

Held with main applicant's funds for 28 consecutive days under standard Appendix Finance rules.

[FUNDING_DEPENDANT] expanded: source must be eligible (joint bank account, parent letter, education loan).

For Indian dependants:
  ▪ Most spouses' funds bundled with main applicant's funding
  ▪ Child maintenance often part of main maintenance pool
  ▪ Education loan letters frequently cover full family unit

§5 — APPLICATION PROCESS (100-120 words)

Dependant application:
  ▪ Apply at same time as main applicant OR after main applicant's visa granted
  ▪ Fee: GBP 524 (outside UK) per dependant [VERIFY current rate]
  ▪ IHS: GBP 776/year per dependant + course duration + wrap-up months
  ▪ Biometrics at VFS in India alongside main applicant
  ▪ TB test required for dependants 6+ months stay (IOM clinics in India)
  ▪ Application linked to main applicant's case via main applicant's GWF reference

For child applicants:
  ▪ Parent must accompany to biometrics
  ▪ Parental consent for biometrics
  ▪ Child's visa duration matches main applicant

§6 — WORK + STUDY RIGHTS (80-100 words)

Student Dependants have generous rights:
  ▪ Full-time work — NO restriction on hours (unlike main Student who has 20 hours/week during term)
  ▪ Self-employment permitted
  ▪ Spouse / partner can work in any role except elite sports
  ▪ Children can attend any UK school (free state school education; independent schools at fee)
  ▪ Cannot recourse to public funds (NHS use covered by IHS)

This makes Student Dependant route particularly valuable for PhD-track Indian researchers whose spouses want to work full-time.

§7 — SWITCHING OPTIONS IF MAIN APPLICANT NOT ELIGIBLE (60-80 words)

If [COURSE_DETAILS] indicates ineligibility for Student Dependant:
  ▪ Main applicant switches to Skilled Worker visa after graduation (then add dependant)
  ▪ Main applicant pivots to Graduate Route (NO dependant rights on Graduate Route either)
  ▪ Dependant applies on own merit (own Student visa / Skilled Worker / Visitor for short visit)
  ▪ Spouse applies for Visitor visa (Standard Visitor under Appendix V) for short visits — cannot stay 6+ months

End with: "DRAFT — for OISC/IAA-registered adviser or solicitor review. The 2024 dependant restrictions are strict; confirm main applicant's course category against current Immigration Rules before assuming eligibility. Relationship evidence for Indian marriages must include registered marriage certificate; religious-only ceremonies without civil registration are NOT recognised by UKVI."