Can you bring your family? A 2026 guide to dependants for Nigerian students

For many Nigerian applicants with a spouse or children, “can my family come with me?” is the question that decides everything else. The answer in 2026 depends heavily on which country and which course — and the UK rules in particular have tightened. Here is the honest position. Because this area is sensitive and changes quickly, treat what follows as a starting point and confirm the current rules for your case before committing.

The UK: a sharp line between taught and research

Since 1 January 2024, the UK restricts student dependants to a narrow group. You can bring a partner or children only if you are:

• a postgraduate research student — a PhD, MPhil or research-based postgraduate course at a recognised institution; or
• a government-sponsored student on a course of six months or longer.

That means students on a taught Master’s cannot bring dependants — the most common route for Nigerian applicants. If bringing your family matters and you are academically able, this is a strong reason to consider a research degree rather than a taught one.

What dependants cost in the UK

Where dependants are allowed, each one applies separately and pays the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for the length of the visa, alongside their own maintenance funds that you must evidence. These are per-person costs, so a partner and two children multiply quickly — budget realistically and use our proof-of-funds estimator to model the full picture. Note that the student application fee itself rose to £558 in 2026.

Work rights for partners

A depend+ partner of an eligible student can usually work in the UK, which can offset costs significantly — but this follows from the student qualifying to bring dependants in the first place. With taught Master’s out of scope, the partner-work option only arises on the research and government-sponsored routes.

Other destinations

Family rules vary widely, and several countries are more open than the UK — but all require you to prove additional funds:

• Germany: family reunion is possible for students, subject to showing sufficient additional income/funds and accommodation, and a spouse may work. See the Germany page.
• Ireland: non-EU student dependant policy is restrictive; family typically apply through separate routes rather than as student dependants — Ireland page.
• New Zealand: partners of some students can apply for work rights, and dependent children may study — conditions depend on your course level — New Zealand page.

Because each country sets its own funds thresholds and conditions, the only safe approach is to confirm the current rule for your exact course and destination.

A note on settlement and dependants

The UK’s proposed move to a 10-year “earned settlement” model includes specific consideration of how dependants and children are treated. As of mid-2026 this is a proposal under consultation, not settled law, so do not build firm long-term family plans on a specific settlement timeline yet.

How we help

We tell families the truth early — including when the honest answer is “not on this route.” Then we find the path that fits: a research degree where dependants are allowed, a destination with workable family rules, and a funds plan that the visa officer will accept. Start with a free, confidential conversation through our visa strategy pathway.

The funds maths, briefly

Where dependants are permitted, the costs stack per person. Each family member needs their own visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge for the full length of the visa, plus additional maintenance funds you must evidence on top of your own. For a partner and a child, that can add several thousand pounds in fees alone before any living costs — which is exactly why we model the complete figure early rather than discovering it late. Run your own scenario in the proof-of-funds estimator so the number is never a surprise at the visa stage.

Frequently asked