Switching to a Student Dependant Visa - Specialist Dependant Visa Solicitors

: Written by: Arshad Mahmood; Last Updated: 10 June 2026

You can switch into a student dependant visa from inside the UK through Priority/Super Priority Service and get a faster decision on your application. To be eligible to switch to a student dependent visa, the sponsoring student must meet the relationship requirement, the sponsoring student's course requirement, the funds for maintenance requirement, and the immigration status requirement. An application to switch to a student dependent visa is made in accordance with the requirements set out in Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules. As a result of a successful application to switch to a student dependant visa, the applicant will be granted leave to remain as a student dependant until the expiry date of the main applicant's leave to remain, i.e., the student.

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If your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, or parent holds permission under the UK Student route, you may be able to switch to a Student Dependant Visa from inside the UK without leaving the country. This immigration route allows eligible family members to remain in the UK alongside a qualifying student and enjoy rights to live, work, and study in the UK.

At Premium Solicitors, our specialist immigration solicitors provide expert legal advice and representation for applicants seeking to switch to a Student Dependant Visa from within the UK. We can assess your eligibility, prepare a comprehensive application, and maximise your prospects of a successful outcome.

Page Contents
Free Immigration Advice
Eligibility Requirements
Immigration Status Requirement
Student Course Requirement
Relationship Requirement for a Partner
Relationship Requirement for a Child
Age and Care Requirement for a Child
Financial Requirement
Priority/Super Priority Service
Who Can Apply?
Which Students Can Bring Dependants?
Who Can't Switch?
Documents for Dependant Visa
Rights and Benefits
Processing Time
Common Refusal Reasons
How Our Solicitors Can Help
Why Choose Us?
Our Team of Immigration Solicitors
Book an Appointment
Our Fixed Fees
Get a Quote
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Free Immigration Advice for a Dependant Visa UK

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Requirements For Switching to a Student Dependant Visa UK

A person applying to switch to a student dependant visa from inside the UK should meet the following requirements for the dependant visa application to be approved by the Home Office UKVI:

Valid application: The applicant must submit a valid application to switch to a student dependent visa.

Switching requirement: The applicant must meet the immigration status requirement to be eligible to switch to a student dependent visa.

Relationship requirement: The applicant must meet the relationship requirement under the Immigration Rules.

Age requirement for partner: If the applicant is applying as a dependent partner of a student, they must be aged 18 or over on the date of application.

Age and care requirements for a child: If the applicant is applying as a dependent child of a student, they must be under 18 on the date of application, unless they were last granted permission as the dependent child of their parent or parents. If the applicant is a child aged under 18 on the date of application, there must be suitable arrangements for the child’s care and accommodation in the UK that comply with relevant UK legislation and regulations.

Suitability requirement: The applicant must not fall for refusal under Appendix Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules.

Financial requirement: The applicant must meet the financial requirements set out in the Immigration Rules.

Not be in breach of immigration laws: The applicant must not be:

in breach of immigration laws, unless an exceptions for overstayers under Appendix Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules apply, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
on immigration bail.

Immigration Status Requirement for Switching to a Dependant Visa

An applicant who is applying for switching into dependant visa from inside the UK must NOT have, or have last been granted, permission:

as a Visitor; or
as a Short-term student; or
as a Parent of a Child Student; or
as a Seasonal Worker; or
as a Domestic Worker in a Private Household; or
outside the Immigration Rules.

Student Course Requirement

According to paragraph ST31.1 of Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules, unless they are a child who meets the requirements in ST 31.2., the applicant must be the partner or child of a person who is:

a Student who has received a scholarship or sponsorship from a Government for study in the UK and has, or is applying for, permission to study on a full-time course of 6 months or longer; or
a full-time Student who has, or is applying for, permission to study a postgraduate level course of 9 months or longer at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance and, if the course start date is on or after 1 January 2024, the provider has confirmed the course is a PhD or other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree; or
a Student who has, or had within the last 3 months before the date of application, permission to study on a full-time course of 6 months or longer, and is now applying for permission to study a full-time course of 6 months or longer where either:
- the partner or child already has, or had within the last 3 months before the date of application, permission as a dependent partner or dependent child of the Student; or
- the child was born since the last grant of permission to the Student, where the Student and partner or child are applying at the same time.

According to paragraph ST. 31.2 of the Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules, if the applicant is a child who does not meet the requirement at ST.31.1., they must instead meet one of the following requirements:

the applicant must have been born during the Student’s current period of permission to study a full-time course of 6 months or longer, and they are applying for permission during that period; or
where the Student has permission to re-sit examinations or repeat a module of a full- time course of 6 months or longer, the applicant must have been born either:
- during the Student’s original period of permission; or
- during the period of permission granted for re-sitting examinations or to repeat a module; or
the applicant must have been born no more than 3 months after the expiry of the Student’s most recent permission and must be making an application for entry clearance within 6 months of the expiry of their parent’s most recent permission.

Relationship Requirement for the Dependent Partner of a Student

The applicant must be the partner of a Student or the partner of a person applying at the same time as a Student.
Both the applicant and their partner must be aged 18 or over at the date of application.
If the applicant and their partner (who must be a Student, or applying at the same time as a Student) are not married or in a civil partnership, all the following requirements must be met:
- they must have been living together in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least the 2 years before the date of application; and
- any previous relationship of the applicant and their partner with another person must have permanently broken down; and
- the applicant and their partner must not be so closely related that they would not have been allowed to marry in the UK.
The relationship between the applicant and their partner must be genuine and subsisting.
The applicant and their partner (who must be a Student, or applying at the same time as a Student) must intend to live together throughout the applicant’s stay in the UK.
The applicant must not intend to stay in the UK beyond any permission granted to their partner (who must be a Student or applying at the same time as a Student).

Relationship Requirement for a Dependent Child of a Student

The applicant must be the child of a parent who has, or is at the same time being granted permission as:
- a Student; or
- the partner of a Student.
The applicant’s parents must each be either applying at the same time as the applicant or have permission to be in the UK (other than as a visitor) unless:
- the parent with permission as a Student or as the partner of a Student is the sole surviving parent; or
- the parent with permission as a Student or as the partner of a Student has sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing; or
- the decision maker is satisfied that there are serious and compelling reasons to grant the child entry clearance or permission to stay with the parent who has permission as a Student or as the partner of a Student.
If the applicant is a child born in the UK to a Student or their partner, the applicant must provide a full UK birth certificate showing the names of both parents.

Age and Care Requirement for a Dependent Child of a Student

If the applicant is aged under 18 on the date of application, there must be suitable arrangements for the child’s care and accommodation in the UK which must comply with relevant UK legislation and regulations.
The child must be under the age of 18 at the date of application, unless they were last granted permission as a dependent child of the parent (P) who has or is applying for entry clearance or permission to stay as a Student or as a partner of a Student (regardless of the route under which the parent (P) had permission at the time the child’s last permission was granted).
If the child is aged 16 or over on the date of application, they must not be leading an independent life.

Financial Requirement

If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been living in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.
If the applicant is applying for switching into dependant visa and has been in the UK less than 12 months, the applicant or their partner (who must be a Student or applying at the same time as a Student) must have the funds specified in the table below, for a total of 9 months, or for the period of permission applied for by the applicant, whichever is the shorter.

Place of Student’s study	Funds required by a dependent partner
Studying in London	£845 per month
Studying outside London	£680 per month

The funds must be in addition to the funds required for the Student to meet the financial requirement, and the funds required to meet the financial requirement for any dependent child who is applying at the same time, or is already in the UK as a dependent child of the Student.
Unless the applicant is relying on financial sponsorship from a Government or international scholarship agency that covers the living costs of the applicant and the Student, they must show that they have held the required level of funds for a 28-day period and as specified in Appendix Finance.
Unless the applicant is applying at the same time as the Student and ST 22.1. applies, the applicant must show that they have the required funds as specified in Appendix Finance.
If the funds held in the applicant’s account on the date of decision fall substantially below the level of funds required at ST 33.2, the decision maker must be satisfied that the spent funds have been used to pay a deposit for accommodation or other costs associated with the proposed period of permission in the UK.

Priority/Super Priority Service for Switching to a Student Dependant Visa

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide a fast-track visa service to get you a decision on your application faster through the Priority Service or Super Priority Service. This way, you will get a decision on your application faster and will not have to wait months (sometimes years).

Our fast track immigration solicitors can prepare your application faster and submit your application under the Priority Service or Super Priority Service to get you faster decision on your application.

As specialist immigration solicitors in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI), to provide Priority Service or Super Priority Service for your application, which means a decision on your application will be made by UKVI faster. An application submitted through Priority Service is normally decided within 5 working days, and an application submitted through Super Priority Service is normally decided within 24 hours (usually by the end of the next working day).

Who Can Apply as a Student Dependant?

You may be eligible to switch to a Student Dependant Visa if you are:

The husband, wife, or civil partner of a qualifying Student visa holder;
An unmarried partner who has lived together with the student in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years;
A dependent child under the age of 18; or
A child over 18 who already has permission as the student's dependant and continues to meet the relevant requirements.

Which Students Can Bring Dependants?

Following significant changes to the Student route, only certain categories of students can have dependant family members in the UK.

Generally, dependants are permitted where the student is:

Enrolled on a PhD or other doctoral qualification;
Studying a research-based higher degree; or
Government-sponsored for a course lasting more than six months.

Our immigration solicitors can assess whether the main student visa holder qualifies to sponsor dependants under the current Immigration Rules.

Who Cannot Switch to a Student Dependant Visa from inside the UK?

You cannot switch to a Student Dependant Visa from within the UK if your most recent immigration permission was granted as:

A Visitor;
A Short-Term Student;
A Parent of a Child Student;
A Seasonal Worker;
A Domestic Worker in a Private Household; or
Leave granted outside the Immigration Rules.

You will also be ineligible if you are on immigration bail. Applicants in these categories usually need to leave the UK and apply from overseas.

Documents Required for a Student Dependant Visa Application

The documents required may vary according to individual circumstances, but commonly include:

Current passport;
eVisa of the applicant;
Proof of relationship to the Student visa holder;
Confirmation of the student's immigration status;
Evidence of maintenance funds;
Children's birth certificates (where relevant);
Proof of shared address and cohabitation for unmarried partners.

Our solicitors will provide a tailored document checklist based on your specific circumstances.

Rights and Benefits of a Student Dependant Visa

A Student Dependant Visa offers several important benefits, including:

Living in the UK with your family member;
Working in the UK (subject to applicable restrictions);
Studying in the UK;
Accessing the NHS after payment of the Immigration Health Surcharge;
Applying for visa extensions in line with the main applicant's immigration status.

Adult dependants can often work in the UK without requiring separate sponsorship, making this route particularly attractive for families.

Processing Times for Switching to a Student Dependant Visa

The processing times of an application for switching to a student dependant visa are as follows:

Standard Service: decision within 8 weeks

Priority Service: decision within 5 working days

Super Priority Service: decision within 24 hours

Common Reasons for Refusal

Student Dependant Visa applications may be refused due to:

Insufficient relationship evidence;
Failure to meet the financial requirement;
Incomplete supporting documents;
Concerns regarding the genuineness of the relationship;
Applying from an immigration category that is not eligible for switching.

Obtaining specialist legal advice before submitting an application can significantly reduce the risk of refusal.

How Can We Help?

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation on a fixed-fee basis for your application to switch to a student dependant visa from inside the UK. Our fixed fee for your dependant visa application will cover all the work of our immigration solicitors on your student dependant visa application until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your application. The casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your immigration application will entail the following:

Advice on requirements: Our immigration solicitors will advise you on the relevant requirements you have to meet for your immigration application to succeed.

Advice on documents: Our immigration lawyers will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your immigration application.

Assessment of documents: Our immigration lawyers will assess your documents to ensure that all documents you provide in support of your application comply with the requirements of the immigration rules.

Completing the application form: Our immigration lawyers will complete the relevant form for your application to switch to a student dependant visa from inside the UK.

Submitting an application via Priority or Super Priority Service: Where possible, our immigration lawyers will submit your online immigration application via Priority or Super Priority Service to obtain a faster decision on your application to switch to a student dependant visa.

Booking an appointment with the application centre: After the online submission of your student dependant visa application, our immigration lawyers will book your appointment with the application centre for you to enrol your biometrics.

Preparing a detailed cover letter: Our specialist immigration solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of the student dependant visa application, explaining all relevant legal requirements and how the applicant has satisfied them, along with the documents submitted with the application.

Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload online all the supporting documents to be considered in support of the student dependant visa application.

Follow-up work: Our immigration lawyers will carry out all follow-up work until the UKVI Home Office decision on the student dependant visa application.

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