If you hold a Tier 4 (General) student visa, you may be able to have your family in the UK with you as your dependants.
If you hold a Tier 4 (General) student visa, you may be able to have your family in the UK with you as your dependants.
You can bring your family members to the UK as you study if:
- You are studying at a Higher Education Institution at Masters level (NQF7) or above, on a programme of at least 9 months long OR
- You are a government-sponsored student and your course is over 6 months long
- Your current or most recent immigration permission was as a Tier 4 (General) student
You (the student) must be over 18, and your family must be classified as dependants under UK immigration rules (spouse and/or children only).
When your dependant’s visa is granted, they will usually be granted permission to work without restrictions. Make sure you check the BRP carefully when it is collected for the working conditions and other conditions of leave.
Application process
Your dependants can apply at the same time as your Tier 4 application for the UK, or they can apply to join you in the UK once your Tier 4 visa has been granted. Your dependants must always make their first application in their home country (subsequent extensions can be made in the UK).
Each dependant must complete a separate application form, and pay a fee equivalent to £348 in local currency.
Currently, UKVI has two functioning application forms that dependants can use to apply for a Tier 4 (Dependant) visa. They are the Visa4UK system and the Access UK system. UKVI are slowly phasing out the Visa4UK system, however, both application forms remain accessible and usable in the meantime.
Financial requirements
Each dependant must meet UKVI’s financial requirements under Tier 4, although the funds can be held by the dependant themselves or you (the student). The living cost figure for each dependant is £845 (Inner London) per month of immigration permission the student has been granted/will be granted, up to a maximum of 9 months.
For example:
- if the student is applying for a 12 month MSc, each dependant must show £7,605 (£875 x 9 months)
- If your dependants are joining the student in the UK for the remaining 4 months of their PhD, each dependant must show £6,760 (£870 x 8 months when taking into account the 4-month wrap up leave period)
For further help and guidance, please visit UKCISA’s webpage on Dependants, or contact the International Student Support Office.
