This guide covers the dependant application, funds and documents. To check first whether your course allows dependants, see who can bring family to the UK in 2026.
Who Can Bring Dependants to the UK in 2026?
Since January 2024, the UK Home Office restricted dependant visas to a narrow group of student visa holders. As of 2026, you can only bring a spouse, partner, or children under 18 if you are:
- A postgraduate research student (PhD, MPhil, or a research-based master's such as MRes)
- A student on a UK Government-sponsored scholarship of over 6 months (Chevening and Commonwealth Scholars qualify)
Nepali students on standard taught master's programmes (MSc, MA, MBA) — the most common route — cannot bring dependants under current rules, regardless of financial capacity.
Financial Requirement for Each Dependant
If you qualify under one of the two exceptions above, you must show additional maintenance funds per dependant, held for the same 28 consecutive days as your own funds:
| Each dependant (partner or child) | Outside London | London |
|---|---|---|
| Per month | £680 | £845 |
| Maximum (9 months) | £6,120 | £7,605 |
These amounts are on top of your own living-cost requirement (£1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London, for up to 9 months; £1,203 and £1,570 for applications made from 30 November 2026). Source: GOV.UK, Student visa: your partner and children.
Documents Required for a Dependant Visa Application
- Marriage certificate (or evidence of a genuine, subsisting relationship for unmarried partners)
- Children's birth certificates showing you as parent or legal guardian
- Your own CAS confirming your eligible course type
- Separate financial evidence for each dependant, held for the 28-day period
- TB test certificates for dependants aged 11 and over, from an approved clinic
Each dependant submits a separate visa application alongside yours, with its own fee and IHS payment.
Work Rights for Dependants
Dependants on a Student Dependant visa generally have no restriction on working hours — unlike the student themselves, who is capped at 20 hours/week during term. This makes the dependant route financially significant for eligible families, as a spouse can work full-time from arrival.
Keep reading: Step-by-step UK Student visa guide · 28-day bank statement rule