The international education sector in the United Kingdom will see considerable changes in the following year. On May 23, 2023, the Home Office issued a brief press statement that served as the official announcement of the long-awaited changes to the UK student dependant visa requirements. These new rules will apply to students starting classes in January 2024.

Following are some FAQs relevant to these upcoming changes:

What changes are being made to the rules on bringing dependants to the UK for Student visa holders?

 

UKVI will no longer be allowing Student visa holders to bring dependants with them to the UK (on a student dependant visa) for students studying on a course that starts from 01 January 2024 unless studying on the below:

  • a PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8)
  • a research-based higher degree

 

What about students who apply before 17 July 2023 to bring dependants on courses starting after 1 January 2024?

 

Their application will be dealt with under the rules in force at the time they submitted their application.

 

Can dependants of students who have started their course in Autumn 2023, come into the UK after January 2024?

 

The changes will affect students who are starting their courses from 1 January 2024 onwards. These changes will not affect dependants of overseas students where the student is already in the UK on their course of study. Those starting a taught postgraduate course in the Autumn will still be able to have dependants join them after January 2024 (where the other requirements of the rules are met).

 

Can dependants extend their permission to stay in the UK if the student needs more time to complete their course, but the course is no longer eligible for dependants?

 

Dependants that are already in the UK can extend their permission if the main applicant is granted further leave to remain under the Student route.

 

How much does a dependant need to show for their visa application?

 

Each dependant will need to show maintenance (living costs) of £680.00 for each month of the main Student Route applicants leave, up to a maximum of 9 months.

 

Can dependants still work?

 

The rules around dependant work rights have remained the same.

 

Family members of a Student can work (in line with UK employment law) in the UK except when:

  • they are being granted leave as a dependant after previously being the Student’s dependant when the Student had permission to study a full-time course of 6 months or longer and the Student is now applying for permission to study a new full-time course that is less than 9 months in length (unless the Student is continuing a course of study on which they had previously been granted at least 9 months permission for)
  • they are being granted leave as a dependant after previously being the Student’s dependant when the Student had permission to study a full-time course of 6 months or longer and the Student is now applying for permission to study a new full-time course below degree level

 

A person with leave as the dependant partner of a Student cannot take employment as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach).

 

What about children of student visa holders born in the UK after the rules changes?

 

In line with current rules, students are able to regularise the status of their child as their dependant where the child is born in the UK during the last/current grant of permission, and this has not changed.

 

Will there be a concession for disabled students to be able to bring carers?

 

There are currently no concessions for disabled students to bring carers and this will continue to be the case.

 

Will these reforms affect Irish students?

 

As per Section 3ZA of the Immigration Act 1971, Irish citizens can enter and stay in the UK without requiring permission regardless of where they have travelled from. This means Irish students will remain unaffected by the reforms to the student route.

 

Is the Graduate route impacted by these changes?

 

There is no change to the Graduate route. Dependants already in the UK as a Student dependant may apply as a dependant of a Graduate at the same time as the applicant.