Family or friends from overseas visiting or staying with you

Updated on: 29 May 2024

Learn if your family can join you while you are studying and how friends can visit.


Some students can bring their families with them as dependants. Families and friends can also visit you on a UK visitor’s visa.

Register your dependants

If you are studying on a Student visa and would like your family to come with you to live in the UK, they may be able to apply for a dependant visa.

Read the UK government advice or email advint@st-andrews.ac.uk to find out if you are eligible to bring family and how to apply.

Arrange visits by family or friends

If family or friends are coming to visit you, they should check if they need a visiting visa to enter the UK.

If they need a visiting visa, you will need to provide them with a student status letter to include in their application.

Get your student status letter

Registered students can access and print their student status letter from MySaint. The letter includes details of your course of study, including the start and end date. The names of the visitors are not included in this letter.

Accommodation plans

Your visiting family and friends will need to provide confirmation of accommodation as part of their application for at least the first few days of their trip.

If you would like family or friends to stay with you in a University hall of residence or apartment, you must request permission from Student Accommodation Services, by:

The number of guests, and the time they can stay, are limited. You may be able to rent spare accommodation for your guests if capacity allows.


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