Student Dependants
Dependants
Students who have a Student visa for their studies at Exeter, or will be applying for one, may be able to bring their partner and children to the UK with them. These family members will need to apply for a Student Dependant visa to allow them to accompany the student to the UK and to live here throughout the student's course. Not all students are eligible to bring their dependants, and there are strict requirements for those who can, so it's important to read the information below carefully and contact International Student Support for individual advice if you need it.
Please note that the information below is only a guide. UK Visas and Immigration can ask for additional documents if they have any concerns. Please contact International Student Support if UKVI request additional documents and you would like advice on submitting these.
Key facts
| Eligibility |
To join a student as a dependant:
* Research courses at Exeter are: PhD/MPhil/MbyRes. MRES programmes, including Pathway to PhD, are taught programmes and therefore not eligible for dependants unless the main student is Government sponsored. |
| Cost |
Outside UK: £490 per person. Some countries will add extra administrative charges and premium applications optional. Inside UK: £490 (standard), £990 (priority), £1,490 (super priority) Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), this is compulsory and entitles you to use the National Health Service (NHS): £776 per person, per year of visa to be granted. Payable by credit or debit card online. |
| Duration | Same length as the student's Student visa (see exception for Children below). |
| Work |
Dependants can work in the UK without restriction except:
|
| Study | Dependants can study in the UK without restriction. If required for their programme, dependants will need to apply for an ATAS certificate. |
| Children |
Children can accompany a student parent to the UK only if both parents are lawfully present in the UK or are applying with the child (you are not considered "lawfully present" if you have a Visitor or Short Term Study visa). A lone parent can apply for their child to accompany them only in exceptional circumstances, contact us for further guidance if you are considering this. If one parent's visa expires earlier than the other, the earlier date will apply to the child's visa. Children aged 18 or over can only extend their existing dependant visa, they cannot apply to join you for the first time. |
To apply from outside the UK you will need to complete an online application for each dependant before attending an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) where you can submit documents and biometrics.
To apply from inside the UK we would strongly recommend that you use our service as we will check and submit your application and supporting documents. The application form you complete depends on your situation:
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If you are applying at the same time as the student, you apply together on the student's online form.
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If you are applying for your baby, child or children only, at some time after the main applicant has been granted Student leave, complete the PBS Dependant – Child online application form.
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If you are applying as a spouse or partner, with or without children, at some time after the main applicant has been granted Student leave, complete the PBS Dependant – Partner online application form.
In most cases, UK Visas and Immigration needs to see that you have enough money to support yourself in the UK. This is in addition to the cost of applying for a Dependant visa.
Exemption
In the same way as a Student, a Dependant is exempt from the Finance requirement if they have lived in the UK with a valid visa for the 12 months before they submit their visa application and are making their visa application from inside the UK. If you are in this situation, you do not need to deposit money or provide evidence of your finances for your visa application. This is because UK Visas and Immigration consider that you have already proved that you can support yourself in the UK.
All other Dependants, including all applicants applying outside the UK, must meet the Finance requirement.
Differentiation arrangements
Even if the Dependant is not exempt from the Finance requirement, they may qualify for differentiation arrangements based on nationality, meaning they do not need to submit Finance documents with their visa application. They must still meet the Finance requirement but do not have to submit evidence to prove it unless requested later by UK Visas and Immigration. Dependants should check the differentiation arrangements page to see if they qualify.
Dependant Finance Calculation
| Living expenses |
£680 per month for the length of immigration permission the Student has been granted, or the permission he or she is expected to be granted, or 9 months if this is shorter. |
Example 1:
The main applicant has been / is expected to be granted a 16 month visa for a 12 month programme: Dependant needs 9 X £680 = £6120.
Example 2:
The main applicant has been / is expected to be granted 7 months leave (for a 6 month course + 1 month is added at the end) 7 X £680 = £4760.
Example 3: A family of 4 applying together for a 4 year PhD programme:
Main applicant: (9 X £1023 =) £9207 + Dependants: (9 X £680 X 3 =) £18,360 = Sub-total: £27,567 + outstanding tuition fee: £15,950 = Total: £43,517.
Evidence of money
How you show evidence of your money depends whether you pay your own expenses or you have an official financial sponsor.
Remember, if you qualify for differentiation arrangements, you do not have to submit evidence of money. Check whether this applies to you in the Differentiation section of our website.
Money in the bank
Unless you are fully funded by the main applicant’s official financial sponsor (see below), in addition to the student’s money calculations, you will need to hold the required living expenses either in:
- your own (the dependant's) bank account and/or
- your spouse's (the student) bank account.
- For child dependants: money can be held in their own bank account, and/or the student's bank account, and/or the other parent's bank account. If the money is in the other parent's account, the other parent must already have immigration permission (not as a visitor) or be applying at the same time as the child.
The money must be cash funds held in an account that allows immediate access. The money can be held in a personal account including a current, savings, deposit or investment account in the account holder's name (see above). Joint accounts are acceptable. The money must be held in the account for 28 days before you submit your PBS Dependant application. The bank account can be used during the 28 days but the balance must not fall below the required amount.
The bank document must show the transactions and balance during the 28 day period. The date on the bank document may be up to 31 days before the date of application but the money must remain in the account until the date of application.
Date of application
Applications made inside the UK: The date of submit your online form
Applications made outside the UK: The date you pay the application fee (online or at a visa application centre)
Bank statements
Your bank statement should:
- show the date it was issued. This must be no more than 31 days before the date of application
- show the money has been held for 28 days
- include at least your name or account holder's name, account number and transactions over the 28 day period
- be on official stationary or electronic record and show the name of the bank
- be in English – you will need an official translation in addition to the original if it is not
Bank Letters
If your bank statement does not meet the above rules you can request a letter from the bank instead. A bank letter should:
- include your name or account holder's name and account number
- include the date of letter (no more than 1 month old)
- include the bank’s name
- clearly state the amount of money in the account
- confirm that the required amount has been in the account for at least 28 days
Official financial sponsorship
You are officially sponsored if your government or an international scholarship agency pays for the Student's studies and also covers living expenses for family members. If the sponsor is going to pay all of the tuition fees and maintenance costs for both the student and their dependants, you will only need a letter confirming this.
Sponsor letter
The letter should:
- be dated and printed on official letterheaded paper
- include the name and contact details of the sponsor
- confirm the duration of the sponsorship or give a clear description of the course/s covered and their duration
- confirm the amount of money provided or state that the sponsor will cover all the tuition fees and living costs for the programme (if specified)
- list the name of the student and all family members covered by the funding
If the official sponsor pays for only part of the costs you must supplement the letter with a bank statement or letter. You cannot rely on the same money twice and so it must be clear that this money has been received from a source other than your sponsorship.
Full details on how to apply are on the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website.
Advice and guidance can also be found on UKCISA and in UKVI's Student route caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)