Bringing your Family to the UK

Dependants

If you are going to be a student here at Newcastle University you may be eligible to bring your family with you to the UK for the duration of your course of study as a dependant.

Dependants are:

• your husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner
• your children aged under 18 years old

On a student route visa, you can bring the above family members to the UK as your dependants if you are:

• studying at the University on a programme which is classed as a PhD or other doctoral qualification; or a research-based higher degree for 9 months or longer and your programme started on or after the 1 January 2024; or
• studying at the University on a postgraduate course (NQF7 or above) for 9 months or longer and your programme started before the 1 January 2024 ; or
• a new government sponsored student following a course of at least six months

For further guidance on whether you can bring your family with you to the UK as your dependant, please see the UKCISA website on Student Dependants.

Dependants outside the UK

Dependants from outside the UK should ideally apply at the same time as you. Their application should make clear that they are accompanying you and that you will be here as a student. Dependants applying from outside the UK should complete the online form. Please refer to the full Dependant guidance for further information.

If you are already in the UK on a Student Route visa, dependants can apply separately to join you in the UK. They will need to use the online form, and will need to show that they have the necessary maintenance which meets the PBS dependant policy guidelines. If your dependants are applying separately from you, sometimes you may be required to provide additional evidence of your relationship.

Dependants inside the UK

If your family is already here with you in the UK, and you are renewing your Student Route visa, they may also be allowed to renew their visa as a dependant.

Extending leave as a Student dependant

If you are currently studying at Newcastle University as a dependant of a Student Route visa holder who is also studying at Newcastle University, we can assist you in extending your visa. Please request for our guide to 'Making a Student Route application in the UK'

Babies born in the UK as PBS dependants

It is not mandatory for a baby born in the UK to apply for a Student dependant visa. If you would like to apply for a Student dependant visa for a baby born in the UK, please use our guide ''.

Without Student dependant status, your baby:

• will only benefit from access to NHS healthcare for the first 3 months from their birth
• may be unable to re-enter the UK, unless you obtain entry clearance as a PBS dependant, if they travel with you overseas

Family and friends as visitors

You may wish to invite friends and family to visit you while you’re studying here. If your family are non-EEA residents, they may need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa, previously known as a General Visitor visa, before travelling to the UK.

There are some steps you can take to assist their Standard Visitor visa application:

• obtain a certificate of registration from the Student Portal or from the helpdesk located on Level 2, King’s Gate
• write a personal letter of invitation for your friend/family member(s). This can be a simple letter inviting them to visit you in the UK. You should include their names, the dates you’d like them to visit and, if possible, the address in the UK where they will be staying
• photocopy your student visa

Congregations

If your friends and family would like to visit you to attend your congregation ceremony, you will also need a letter from the Congregations Office confirming you’ve been invited to attend your congregation ceremony. Please allow one week for this letter to be produced.

When you have all of the above documents, send them to your friend/family member(s). They must then apply for a Standard Visitor visa. They will need their passports and some bank statements for this. Full details on the procedure and the required supporting documents can be found on the Home Office website.

Visitor visa applications can take some time to process at busy times, so please encourage your friends and family to apply well in advance of their intended visit.

Visa team support

If you have a family member already in the UK as a Student dependant, the Visa Support Team may be able to assist you with an application for further leave to remain as a Student dependant. 

You should refer to the UKCISA website for guidance on making the visa application.

The Visa Support Team cannot assist with Student dependant or Standard Visitor visa applications for family members wishing to enter the UK.