The UK Graduate visa offers a fantastic opportunity not just for you, but also for your family to continue their life in the UK with you. If your partner and children are already in the UK as your dependants on your Student visa, they can apply to extend their stay alongside you on your Graduate visa. However, the rules are strict and specific: you generally cannot bring new dependants to the UK on this route.
The application process for dependants is separate from your own and requires careful coordination. Our team of specialist immigration advisors provides a comprehensive service for the whole family. We manage the main Graduate visa application and all dependant applications in parallel, ensuring they are correctly linked and meticulously prepared to keep your family together in the UK.
The Golden Rule: Who is Eligible to Apply as a Dependant?
The eligibility for dependants on the Graduate route is very clear. A partner or child can only apply if they are already in the UK as a dependant on your current Student or Tier 4 visa.
- You cannot bring new dependants: If your partner or child is living outside the UK, they cannot apply to join you for the first time on a Graduate visa. They must have been part of your family unit in the UK during your studies.
- The exception for children born in the UK: A significant exception exists for children who were born in the UK while you were here on your Student visa. These children are eligible to apply as your dependants, even though they have not previously held a visa.
Proving Your Relationship
For your family’s applications to be successful, you must continue to prove that your relationship is genuine and subsisting.
For Your Partner
You must prove that you are still in a genuine relationship. This means showing that you are either:
- Married or in a civil partnership.
- Unmarried partners who have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years.
You must be prepared to provide evidence of your ongoing relationship, such as documents showing you continue to live at the same address.
For Your Child
The child must still be your dependant. This means they must:
- Live with you (unless away at boarding school or university).
- Not be married or in a civil partnership.
For children over 18, they can only apply if they were previously granted a dependant visa when they were under 18 and have held it continuously.
The Application Process for Your Family
Your partner and each child must submit their own individual online application. They cannot be included on your form.
- Separate Applications, Linked Together: Each family member must complete their own online application and pay the required fees. It is crucial that their applications are linked to yours. They will need your Unique Application Number (UAN), which you receive when you submit your own application.
- Identity Verification: Just like you, each dependant will need to verify their identity. They will either use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app or attend an appointment at a UKVCAS service point to provide their biometric information.
- Decision Timeline: The processing time for dependants is usually the same as for the main applicant, which is around 8 weeks.
- Visa Duration: If their applications are successful, their visas will be granted with the exact same expiry date as your Graduate visa.
Crucial Warning: Once their applications are submitted, your family members must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until they receive a decision. Doing so will automatically withdraw their application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Graduate Visa Dependants
Q: My partner and I got married while I was a student in the UK. Can they apply as my dependant?
A: No, not unless they were already in the UK as your dependant on your Student visa before you got married. The Graduate visa does not allow you to add a new partner as a dependant, even if your relationship has become more formal.
Q: We had a baby in the UK during my Master’s degree. Can they stay with us?
A: Yes. A child born in the UK while you are on a valid Student visa is a key exception and is eligible to apply as your dependant on the Graduate visa. You will need to provide their full UK birth certificate.
Q: Do my dependants need to show any money in the bank?
A: No. Just like the main applicant, dependants on the Graduate route are not required to meet a financial maintenance requirement.
Keep Your Family Together with Expert Legal Support
Coordinating multiple visa applications at a critical time can be stressful. Our experienced advisors manage the entire process for your whole family.
- We ensure all eligibility requirements are met for both you and your dependants.
- We manage and link all online applications to ensure they are processed as a single family unit.
- We provide a seamless and stress-free service, giving you peace of mind that your family’s future in the UK is secure.
Don’t let administrative complexities separate your family. Contact our specialist immigration team today for a comprehensive consultation on your Graduate and Dependant visa applications.
About the Author:
Farzad Ghods is an international lawyer specialising in UK immigration law. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Immigration Advisors Authority (IAA) in the United Kingdom, and is also a member of the Iran Bar Association. He brings over fourteen years of professional legal experience to his practice.