Dependent Visa Rules for Spouses and Children: US F-2 vs Canada, UK, Australia

Who counts as a dependant

Across all four countries, a dependant generally means a spouse or civil or common-law partner, plus unmarried children under 18 or 21 depending on the country. What differs sharply between these four systems is not the definition of a dependant, but whether your specific study program even qualifies you to bring one, and whether that dependant legally works once they arrive.

At a glance

United States: F-2 spouses and children

An F-1 student brings a spouse and unmarried children under 21 on F-2 status regardless of degree level or program length, a wider door than the other three countries currently offer. F-2 children enroll in US K-12 school. The F-2 spouse is generally not authorized to work in the US, and faces restrictions on enrolling in a full degree program without changing status. Confirm the current detail for your situation at uscis.gov , since dependent status sits inside a broader immigration system that has seen frequent policy activity in 2026.

United Kingdom: dependants tied to program level

The UK tightened this significantly. For courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, only two groups of students bring dependants: government-sponsored students on courses longer than 6 months, and full-time postgraduate students on a course of 9 months or more that is specifically a PhD, other doctorate, or a research-based higher degree, according to gov.uk . This excludes most taught master's students, who made up a large share of dependant sponsorship before the change. A dependant's visa expires on the same date as the student's visa, and dependants show funds of £845 a month for London-based study or £680 a month outside London, for up to 9 months, per the same source.

Canada: eligibility narrowed since 2024

Canada restricted spousal open work permit eligibility for study permit holders starting in early 2024, moving away from a system where nearly any study permit holder's spouse qualified. Eligibility now depends on your specific program level and length, and Canada has continued to adjust immigration rules for students and their family members since then. Confirm the current eligibility criteria for your exact program at canada.ca (IRCC) before you apply, rather than relying on a rule that applied to an earlier intake.

Australia: added scrutiny for dependants

Australia allows dependants on a student visa but has added financial capacity and genuine temporary entrant style scrutiny to dependant applications as part of broader changes to its migration program. Requirements differ depending on whether a dependant applies with you or joins later as a subsequent entrant. Confirm current financial evidence requirements and any work conditions at homeaffairs.gov.au before you plan a family budget around this visa.

Why these rules keep moving

Several major study destinations tightened dependant rules in 2024 as part of broader efforts to manage total international student and migrant numbers. The UK cited concerns about student visas being used as a family migration route. Canada made similar changes alongside a cap on new study permits. This context matters because it signals these rules change again, and a policy that applied to a friend who enrolled two years ago does not necessarily apply to you now.

Budget for a dependant beyond the visa fee

Bringing a spouse or children adds cost beyond the dependant visa application fee: additional health insurance, a larger apartment, school costs if public school is not free or fully covered for your visa category, and one income instead of two if your spouse cannot work. Build this into your budget before you apply rather than after you arrive, since some of these costs are not visible in an admission letter or a program's published cost of attendance.

What to verify before you commit

• Does your specific program level and length qualify for a dependant visa at all in your destination country

• Does your spouse legally work, and are there restrictions by employer, sector, or hours

• Do school-age children enroll in local public school, and is that free or does it carry a fee for your visa category

• What income or savings evidence do you need to show for each dependant

• Does the dependant's visa expire with yours, and what happens if you extend your own program