UK guide · Family
Can you take your husband, wife or children to the UK on a student visa?
Only if you're on a postgraduate research course, such as a PhD or a research master's. Since January 2024, students on taught master's and bachelor's courses can't bring dependants to the UK. If you qualify, each family member needs extra money, £680 a month outside London or £845 in London for up to 9 months, plus their own visa fee and health surcharge.
Written byKamal Pandey, Senior counsellorHandles UK and Germany files, from shortlist to visa appointment.
Checked byRabindra Joshi, Head of complianceChecks every money and visa page against the official source.
Published · 4 min read
The UK dependant rule at a glance
- Taught master's or bachelor's
- No dependants
- PhD or research master's
- Spouse, partner and children under 18 can come
- Government-sponsored
- Dependants allowed on courses over 6 months
- Money per dependant
- £680 a month outside London, £845 in London, up to 9 months
- Fees per dependant
- £558 visa fee + £776 a year health surcharge
From gov.uk, checked 19 October 2026. At Rs 202.99 per GBP.
Who can bring dependants to the UK
You can bring your husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or children under 18 only if you are:
- On a postgraduate research course of 9 months or more, such as a PhD, another doctorate, or a research-based master's (for courses starting on or after 1 January 2024), or
- A government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months.
That leaves out almost every Nepali student going to the UK, because most go for a one-year taught master's. On a taught master's, your family can't come with you on your visa. If an agent tells you otherwise, they're either out of date or planning something we won't do.
If you qualify, what it costs to bring family
| Item | Per dependant | In rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Money to show, outside London (9 months) | £6,120 | Rs 12.4 lakh |
| Money to show, London (9 months) | £7,605 | Rs 15.4 lakh |
| Visa fee | £558 | Rs 1.13 lakh |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, per year | £776 | Rs 1.58 lakh |
The money is on top of your own funds, and follows the same 28-day rule. Our UK student visa guide explains it.
Your options on a taught master's
If your family can't come as your dependants, you still have choices. These are the ones we lay out for students.
- Go alone for one year. Most UK master's take 12 months. Many couples decide a year apart is worth it.
- Your partner applies for their own visa, as a student on their own course or as a skilled worker with a job offer, if they qualify in their own right.
- Short visits. Your partner can apply for a Standard Visitor visa (£135) to visit, for example for your graduation. A visitor can't live or work with you in the UK.
- Choose a country that allows family. Australia lets students bring a partner and children if they show extra money; several European countries do too, with their own rules.
Sabina, a nurse from Pokhara, wanted a public health master's and had been told by another consultancy she could take her husband. We told her the rule on the first call, with three options in writing. She chose the one-year UK course alone because it kept them apart for the shortest time, and is now studying in Leeds.
Family and the Graduate visa
After your course, the Graduate visa lets you stay and work for 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026, and 18 months after that. Family members can stay with you on it only if they were already your dependants on the Student visa. You can't add a new dependant on the Graduate visa.
Don't risk a false dependant claim
Some agents suggest enrolling in a "research" course you don't intend to complete, or describing a taught course as research, to bring family. The course type is on your CAS, and the Home Office checks it. A false claim can mean a refusal and a ban on future UK applications, for you and your family.
If keeping your family together matters most, choose a route that allows it openly. Our UK page and Australia page explain the family rules for each.
