Changes to the Student visa route to 'reduce net migration'

AuthorCaroline Sykes

On 23 May 2023, the UK government announced they plan to reduce net migration through changes to the Student Visa route including restrictions on bringing family members for international students.

Two significant changes to the Student Visa route were announced in a press release. The changes will come into effect from January 2024.

The move to restrict the Student route comes as official statistics are expected to confirm that net legal migration rose to 700,000 in the year to December 2022. Home Secretary Suella Braverman cited an “unexpected rise” in the number of student dependants coming to the UK.

Under the current rules, post-graduate students can bring their family members (partner and under-18 children) to the UK. Students can also switch into work routes from inside the UK.

Under the new rules from January 2024:

Post-graduate students will no longer be able to bring family members to the UK, except for post-graduate research students;
Students will be prevented from switching out into work categories until their studies are complete.

The government also announced they will review the funds required for student applications and clampdown on ‘agents who may be supporting inappropriate applications’. However, it is unclear what the changes to the financial requirements will be – if any.

The Graduate route gives students at least two further years in the UK after successfully completing their course. After some speculation about whether the Graduate route will be restricted too, the government has now clarified that ‘the terms of the graduate route remain unchanged’.

The changes have come under criticism with universities saying the changes could disproportionately affect women and students from certain countries.

If you are concerned about how these changes may affect you and your family, please get in touch for expert advice.

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