Changes effective immediately, student route, dependants and switching

As announced by the Home Secretary on the 23 May 2023, and following the Government’s commitment to reduce net migration, as of today at 15:00 the Home Office removed the right for international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes. They also removed the ability for international students to switch out of the student route into work routes before their studies have been completed.

Please note that these changes maintain the ability for dependants already in the UK to extend their stay, and for international students on taught postgraduate courses beginning before 1 January 2024 to bring dependants. They also preserve existing exemptions for dependants of government-sponsored students and for dependent children who are born in the UK.

The switching restrictions will ensure that students are not switching in-country to another route until they have completed their course.

An applicant who is applying for permission to stay and has, or last had, permission as a student, must fulfil one of the Conditions A, B or C below on the date of application:

Condition A: the applicant must have completed the course of study for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned or

Condition B: the applicant must be studying a full-time course of study at degree level or above with a higher education provider which has a history of compliance; and (ii) the Certificate of Sponsorship must have a start date no earlier than the course completion date; or

Condition C: the applicant must be studying a full-time course of study leading to the award of a PhD with a higher education provider which has a track record of compliance; and the Certificate of Sponsorship must have a start date no earlier than 24 months after the start date of that course.