The United Kingdom’s Home Office has officially commenced the implementation of a policy that restricts Nigerian students and other overseas students from bringing dependents via the study visa route. The announcement emphasizes that only postgraduate research or government-sponsored scholarship students will be exempt from this development.
In a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Home Office reiterated its commitment to a decisive reduction in migration. The new policy, effective immediately, prevents new overseas students from bringing family members to the UK, with exemptions limited to postgraduate research or government-funded scholarship students.
The UK government had introduced the law in May 2023 as part of its efforts to reduce immigration into the country. The aim is to curtail the number of international students bringing family members as dependents, except under specific circumstances. The move is in line with broader immigration control measures, including a review of maintenance requirements for students and dependents and a crackdown on unscrupulous education agents exploiting the system for immigration rather than education.
The Home Office clarified that these restrictions are not at the expense of the government’s commitment to lower overall migration and ensure that migration to the UK is highly skilled, providing maximum benefit. The new rule is expected to contribute significantly to reducing net migration to sustainable levels while maintaining the integrity of the student visa system.
This policy underscores the UK government’s focus on aligning immigration regulations with national interests and strategic goals, signaling a shift in the approach to student visas and their associated dependencies.
