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Graduate Dependent Visa

The Graduate Route visa in the UK allows international students to stay in the UK for a period after completing their studies to work or look for work. Dependents of those on the Graduate Route visa are also eligible to stay in the UK under certain conditions. Our specialist team of dependent visa solicitors can help the dependents of Graduate Route with their dependent visa for the UK. Our highly experienced immigration solicitors have wealth of knowledge and experience to deal with dependent visa applications.

Ask a question to our expert team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice or schedule an appointment for detailed immigration advice concerning your application as a dependent of Graduate Route.

Our Services For Graduate Route Dependants

As specialist dependent visa solicitors, we can provide following services for Graduate route dependents:

Switching Into Graduate Route Dependant Visa

As specialist work visa solicitors, we can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations for Switching Into Graduate Route Dependant Visa

Administrative Review Of Graduate Route Dependant Visa Refusal

As specialist work visa solicitors, we can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations for Administrative Review Of Graduate Route Dependant Visa Refusal

Understanding Dependants on the Graduate Route in the UK

The UK Graduate Route offers international students the opportunity to stay in the UK for two years (or three years for doctoral graduates) after completing their studies. While this route presents excellent post-study work opportunities, the rules around dependants are strict and limited in scope. If you are planning to stay in the UK under the Graduate Route and wish for your family to remain with you, it is essential to understand the eligibility rules for dependants.

Sunrise Solicitors, expert immigration lawyers in London, provide comprehensive legal support for international graduates and their families navigating the Graduate Route. We help ensure your dependant applications are accurately prepared, submitted on time, and fully compliant with UKVI rules.

Who Qualifies as a Dependant on the Graduate Route?

Only existing dependants are eligible to apply under the Graduate Route. This means:

Your spouse or civil partner, unmarried partner, or children under 18 (at the time of the Student visa) may qualify.
These individuals must have held valid dependant status under your Student visa before you applied for the Graduate Route.
New dependants (such as a newly married spouse or newborn children born overseas) cannot be added under this route.

Current Immigration Status Requirement

To qualify as a dependant under the Graduate Route:

The family member must currently hold a valid Student Dependant visa in the UK.
They must not have switched to any other visa route or overstayed.
If their immigration status has expired or changed, they are not eligible to apply under this route.

When Can Dependants Apply?

Dependants have two options for applying:

At the same time as the main applicant submits their Graduate Route application.
After the main applicant, provided the dependant’s current visa is still valid at the time of their own application.

It is important to apply before their visa expires to avoid becoming an overstayer, which may affect their future immigration status.

What about New Dependants?

UKVI guidance is clear: no new dependants can be brought to the UK under the Graduate Route. This includes:

Spouses or children who were not previously granted dependant visas under the Student route.
Children born outside the UK during your Student visa who never had UK dependant status.

Any attempt to bring such individuals under this route will be refused. If you wish to reunite with family members, you may need to consider alternative visa routes such as a Skilled Worker visa (if eligible) or other family-based applications.

Why Choose Sunrise Solicitors?

At Sunrise Solicitors, we understand how stressful and uncertain this phase can feel. You may have spent years building a life in the UK, only to face barriers that affect your family’s ability to stay. This is where our expertise comes in.

We have worked with thousands of students, graduates, and their families to navigate the Graduate Route and other post-study visa options. Based in London, our team is fully qualified to provide strategic and practical legal support. Here is how we help:

One-on-one legal consultations to assess your dependant’s eligibility.
Immediate advice if you are worried about visa expiry, refusal, or compliance issues.
Clear guidance on alternative legal pathways for those who do not qualify under the Graduate Route.
Representation and application support to avoid common errors and increase approval chances.

We do not just process forms—we understand your journey. Many of our clients are talented, hardworking individuals who have invested heavily in building a future in the UK. You deserve a legal team that will listen, act promptly, and fight for your family’s right to stay together.