Dependant visa applications from inside the UK

If you are applying for immigration permission you can only have dependants if the course you will be studying is a PhD, other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree. This does not include MRes programmes.

This means your dependants cannot extend their visas if you will be studying an undergraduate or postgraduate taught programme (unless you are sponsored by your Government).

If your dependant currently holds a different type of visa such as Student or Skilled Worker they will be permitted to switch into the dependant route from inside the UK but they will need to show the full 9 months maintenance requirement unless they have been living in the UK for more than 12 months.

Your dependants will need to apply online and attend a biometric appointment at a UKVCAS Centre to have their photo and fingerprints taken (fingerprints will not be taken for children under the age of 5) or they can apply using the UKVI ID app. If you use the UKVI ID app your dependants will need to apply separately and they will not need to attend a biometric appointment.

If your dependants are applying at the same time as you they can be included in your Student application but you need to choose not to use the UKVI identity app when you apply to ensure that you can all apply on the same application. We can check your application for you before you pay for it online if you email your draft visa application to us along with scans of your dependants' passports, visas and other supporting documents (letter of consent, birth/marriage certificate, school letter, proof of address, bank statements (if required)). Please read our Student visa pages for further information about our Visa Checking Service.

Financial Requirements

Your partner and any children must be able to show that they can meet the Student Dependant requirements. Each dependant must be able to show that they have at least £680 a month for up to 9 months. You can show the funds for your dependants or your partner can show it. The funds must be held for at least 28 consecutive days and the bank statement must have been issued within 31 days of the date of the application.

If you are in receipt of an official financial sponsorship that covers you and your dependants you can provide your sponsor letter as evidence of funds. However, the letter must name each of your dependants and state how much they will receive each month for living expenses. If your sponsorship does not meet the financial requirement you or your partner will need to provide financial documents to show that you have held the remaining amount in your account for 28 days.

If you and your dependants have been living in the UK for more than 12 months none of you need to show financial evidence with your visa application.

If you and your dependants hold an exempt nationality under the differential evidence requirement and they are applying for their visa at the same time as you from within the UK, they do not need to provide any financial evidence with their application. However, they should still ensure that they have held the required level of funds for 28 days before applying for their visa because UKVI can still ask them to provide it at a later date.

How to apply

• Your dependant will need to complete a visa application online through the UKVI website;
  • Your dependant will need to scan and upload their documents to the UKVI system as part of the online visa application. Your dependant will then need to book an appointment at a UK Visas and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre to scan their passport and enrol their biometrics or they can choose to use the UKVI ID app.
  • The nearest TLS Centre is at the Junction, Quayside House, Merchants Quay, Salford M50 3SG. View on Google Maps. Check the TLS Contact website for more information about opening times. 
  • If you are having difficulties booking an appointment, you should log in shortly after midnight when new biometric appointments are released or widen your search and be willing to travel to a different centre to attend a biometric appointment. The UKVI has appointed a company called TLS Contact to manage the booking of visa appointments so we cannot help you to book an appointment.
  • You can choose one of these service options:
  • - Standard Service (6 - 8 weeks from date of biometric appointment to receive decision, cost £524)
  • - Priority Service (5 working days from date of biometric appointment to receive decision, cost £1024)
  • - Super priority service (next day service, cost £1524)
  • There is more information about the visa application process on the UKVI website and on the TLS website

• Each dependant needs to pay the application fee online along with the immigration healthcare surcharge and £19.20 for biometric enrolment if they will attend a biometric appointment;

Supporting documents required

The online application form contains details of all the supporting documents dependants are required to submit with their application. You should also read the information on the UKVI website.

• Passport (must be valid for at least a few months)
• If your dependants are applying at the same time as the student they must include the student's CAS number in their dependant application so the applications can be linked. If the student already has their visa the dependants can include the student's most recent CAS number in their application even if it has been 'used'.
• Dependants who are applying without the student can also include a confirmation of attendance letter (available from the Student Services Centre) that confirms that the student is fully registered on their course;
• Documents to prove the dependants are living at the same address as the student eg. GP letter, council tax bill, utility bill etc;
• Copy of student's passport and visa as evidence that they have valid student permission (visa);
• Evidence of your relationship to the student (unless already provided in a previous dependant application) – a marriage or civil partnership certificate for Dependant Partners and a birth certificate for a Dependant Child
  • If you are not married or in a civil partnership then you must have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least 2 years and provide sufficient evidence to prove this e.g. bills, tenancy agreements, bank statements, photographs etc...
• Financial evidence (if dependants have not been living in the Uk for 12 months) - A dependant needs to show at least £6120 (£680 per month for 9 months) for maintenance, unless their visa will be for less than nine months duration. They should provide bank statements (less than one month old) showing the correct funds for at least 28 days before completing the online form. The funds can be in the dependant's account, the main student's account or a joint account. If the student is sponsored and the dependants are also covered by the scholarship the dependants should include a copy of the student's sponsor letter that names them and confirms that the sponsor is paying at least £680 per month or for all their living expenses in the UK;
• Additional evidence for dependant children - you must provide a letter of consent that is signed by both parents that confirms your relationship to the child and confirms that both parents give consent to the child's application. Please read our guide for more information;
• If dependant children are over 18 they will need to provide evidence that they are not living an independent life in the UK such as a letter from their school or college.

If you are using the University's Visa Checking service when you apply online you will need to email a copy of the application to us along with scans of all your supporting documents. Please email copies of your original passport, visa and supporting documents to us to check. You can then upload photographs of your documents to UKVI's system as part of your application but you must still take your original passport to your biometric appointment for verification.

IMPORTANT. Please make sure you refer to UKVI's caseworker guide to supporting documents when completing your application. It is important you also read and refer to the dependant immigration rules when completing your application. 

Further information

UK Council for International Students (UKCISA): Advice for students with dependants

If your dependant’s application is refused please email us and include scans of all pages of the refusal notice. We can then advise about the next steps.