
There are many reasons to bring your family with you while studying abroad. Maybe you’ve just finished secondary school, and want to bring your parents or sibling along. Or, perhaps you’re a mature student who wants to bring your partner or children. The good news is that it is possible to do so! We’ll explore how to study abroad while bringing your family in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
Australia

Want to bring your family along while you study in Australia? According to the Government of Australia, you can include your dependents (which includes your partner and/or children) in your visa application.
You must declare your family members in your student visa application. Otherwise, they will not be eligible for a student visa to join you in Australia. If this happens, your dependents have the option to submit application individually in ImmiAccount.
Non-dependent family members (like your siblings or parents) can submit separately from your application by applying for a visitor visa (subclass 600).
For more information, visit the Government of Australia’s website.
Canada

If you’re an international student studying in Canada, you may bring your dependents with you. However, you must submit their visa applications online at the same time as you submit for your study permit. Family members may also be eligible for a:
Work permit
Visitor visa
Study permit
However, non-dependent family members (like your siblings or parents) can apply separately from your application if they’re applying for a Temporary Resident visa (TRV).
For more information, visit the Government of Canada’s website.
Ireland

Studying in Ireland and wondering how to study abroad with family? Your family members can apply to enter and live in Ireland, but they’ll need to do so separately from your application. Here are their options:
Non-Visa Required Nationalities
If your family members are from countries that don’t need a visa to visit Ireland, they can stay in Ireland without applying for a visa for trips less than 90 days. To be eligible, they must present their passport and travel documents to officials at the border.
Visa-Required Nationalities
If your family members are from a visa-required country, they can stay in Ireland by applying for a Short-Stay ‘C’ Tourist visa. This allows them to join you for up to 90 days.
For more information, visit the Government of Ireland’s website.
The UK

If you’re studying in the United Kingdom, your dependents may be eligible to come to the UK as long as you are:
A full-time student on a postgraduate level course (RQF Level 7 or above) that lasts 9 months or more
A new government-sponsored student on a course that lasts longer than 6 months
A Doctor Extension Scheme student
Want to bring other non-dependent family members with you? If so, they may apply for a Short-Term Visitor Visa.
For more information, visit the Government of the United Kingdom’s website.
The US

International students headed for the United States can bring their dependents along with them by adding an F-2 visa application for each respective family member. This allows your family to stay in the US for the same period of time as you.
Want to bring other non-dependent family members with you? If so, they may submit for a B-2 Visitor visa, and stay in the US for up to six months.
For more information, visit the Government of the United States website.
Bringing your family along while studying abroad can be easy! This blog can help you explore your options ahead of time and allows you to take the necessary steps on how to study abroad with family.
Whether you’re studying in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK, or the US, we wish you the best of luck on your study abroad journey!
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