Few travel decisions carry more paperwork than moving a child across a border while one parent studies abroad — the UK has banned most new Student Route dependants since January 2024, while New Zealand still offers a dedicated Dependent Child Student Visa for children aged 19 or younger. The 2026 rules, fees, and waiting times for Ireland, the UK, and New Zealand are mapped out below, with official sources named so you can check each figure yourself.
UK dependent visa fee: £558 (from 8 Apr 2026) · Ireland dependent visa fee: €60 – €100 · NZ dependent child visa fee: from NZ$750 · Ireland processing time: 6 – 8 months · NZ processing time: 80% within 8 weeks
Quick snapshot
- New Zealand’s Dependent Child Student Visa is for children aged 19 or younger whose sponsoring parent holds an eligible visa (Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance)).
- The UK Home Office fee table lists £558 for the Student and dependants category from 8 April 2026 (UK Home Office (official fee schedule)).
- The NZ Dependent Child Student Visa costs from NZ$750, and 80% of applications are processed within 8 weeks (Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance)). (Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance))
- Ireland’s 2026 student-dependant rules are still being finalized by the Department of Justice (Department of Justice, Ireland).
- The UK does not publish a single universal processing time for dependent child applications (UK Home Office).
- Whether the UK will loosen or tighten the dependant ban after the next general election.
- 8 April 2026 — UK Student and dependant fees move to £558 (UK Home Office).
- 2026 — New Ireland immigration rules for student families take effect (Irish Immigration FAQ).
- Compare the three routes before choosing a study destination.
- Gather relationship and financial evidence early.
- Budget for Ireland’s 6–8 month processing window.
Seven data points, one pattern: each country fixes its child-dependant fee in official tables, but only New Zealand publishes a clear processing benchmark.
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UK dependent visa fee | £558 from 8 April 2026 | UK Home Office (official fee schedule) |
| Ireland dependent visa fee | €60 single entry – €100 multi entry | Irish Immigration FAQ (official immigration site) |
| NZ dependent child visa fee | From NZ$750 | Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance) |
| Ireland age limit for dependant | Under 18 | Irish Immigration FAQ (official immigration site) |
| UK processing time | Not fixed as a single figure in the 8 April 2026 fee table | UK Home Office (official fee schedule) |
| Ireland processing time | 6 – 8 months | Irish Immigration FAQ (official immigration site) |
| NZ processing time | 80% within 8 weeks | Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance) |
What is a Dependant visa in Ireland?
In Irish immigration language, a “dependant” is a family member who joins a non-EEA student already holding a valid immigration permission in Ireland. The official distinction matters: the Irish Immigration FAQ is explicit that non-EEA students generally have no automatic right to bring family members, so a join-family visa application is required for the child (Irish Immigration FAQ (official immigration site)).
What is the difference between a join family visa and a dependent visa?
- Join family visa — the formal Irish route used by a non-EEA spouse, partner, or dependent child of someone lawfully in Ireland.
- Dependent visa — the everyday name for that same join-family route when the applicant is the child of a student or worker.
- Practical effect — the child’s permission is tied to the parent’s immigration status, not to the child’s own study plans.
In practice, “dependant visa” and “join family visa” point to the same application process. The route name you choose is the join-family one, and the child’s permission is then recorded as a dependant of the principal applicant.
Don’t search for a separate “child student visa” in Ireland — the child’s permission is derivative of the parent’s join-family route, and the application follows the parent’s immigration file.
Who qualifies as a dependent child in Ireland?
- Age limit: the dependent child must be under 18 per the Irish dependant definition.
- Relationship: the child must be the biological or legally adopted child of the sponsoring parent.
- Financial dependence: the child must be financially supported by the parent, with proof of funds to cover living costs.
- Sponsor status: the parent must hold a current immigration permission in Ireland.
For the join-family application, the fee is €60 for a single entry visa and €100 for multi entry — the multi-entry option matters if the family will travel during the study period (Irish Immigration FAQ (official immigration site)).
Most families pick multi-entry so the child can leave and return without a new application. The official FAQ’s joining-family section is the place to confirm the current checklist before paying.
The age test is the first filter: once the child passes 18, the dependent route stops applying, and the adult child must qualify in their own right.
Planning around the age limit and gathering the relationship documents early smooths the process.
Can dependents go with students in the UK?
Short answer: not for most new students. Since January 2024, the UK’s Student Route has blocked new dependants except in defined categories, and that restriction still shapes the 2026 picture.
What is the UK student dependent visa rule for 2026?
- The ban: from January 2024, most new Student Route visa holders cannot bring dependants, including children.
- Exemption 1: postgraduate research students.
- Exemption 2: government-sponsored students.
- The 2026 fee: the Home Office fee table lists £558 for the Student main applicant and dependants category from 8 April 2026 (UK Home Office (official fee schedule)).
UKVI guidance is specific about the postgraduate research exemption: dependants of postgraduate research students are exempt from the January 2024 ban. For other taught-course families, the dependent child route is closed, and the phrase “UK student dependent visa” now describes a much narrower group than it did before 2024.
A taught master’s course does not qualify for the child route; a short visitor trip may be possible, but a school move under the Student Route is not.
What are the NZ dependent child student visa requirements?
- Sponsoring parent: must hold an appropriate work or student visa (Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance)).
- Age: the child must be 19 or younger and financially dependent on the parent or the parent’s partner (Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance)).
- Study intent: the child must have a genuine reason to come and intend to study at a primary or secondary school.
- Health and character: the child must be in good health and of good character.
NZ also runs a lighter route for short stays — the Child of a Student Visitor Visa allows a child to visit and study for up to 3 months, with the parent holding a student visa and showing enough funds or an acceptable sponsor (Immigration New Zealand (Child of a Student Visitor Visa page)). Three countries, one pattern: the child’s visa rides entirely on the parent’s course type, the child’s age, and the parent’s own permission.
| Feature | Ireland | UK | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route for a student’s child | Join family visa | Student Route dependant | Dependent Child Student Visa |
| Child age limit | Under 18 (Irish Immigration FAQ) | Closed for most new students since 2024 | 19 or younger (Immigration New Zealand) |
| Visa fee | €60 – €100 (Irish Immigration FAQ) | £558 (UK Home Office) | From NZ$750 (Immigration New Zealand) |
| Processing | 6 – 8 months (Irish Immigration FAQ) | No single published figure | 80% within 8 weeks (Immigration New Zealand) |
| Work rights | No automatic right | Full-time, excluding doctor/dentist training | Up to 40 hrs/week on Level 8+ courses |
How much bank balance is required for an Ireland visa?
Ireland doesn’t publish a single “bank balance” number for a dependent child visa. The financial test is structured around capacity: the sponsoring parent must show they can support the child during the stay without relying on public funds.
What is the 50/50 rule in Ireland?
- The “50/50 rule” is a term that surfaces in Irish student visa discussions about financial evidence; it points to the split between course fees and living costs.
- It is not a published cash threshold for dependent children; Ireland’s join-family checklist focuses on proof of maintenance.
- For a child, the official question is whether the sponsor can support the child during the stay.
The “50/50 rule” is a term that surfaces in Irish student visa discussions about financial evidence; it points to the split between course fees and living costs. It is not a published cash threshold for dependent children; Ireland’s join-family checklist focuses on proof of maintenance.
If you see “50/50” on forums, it usually refers to the main applicant’s own student permission, not to the child’s visa. The child’s application is judged on whether the family’s funds are real, accessible, and enough for the child’s share of living costs.
How much money is needed for a UK dependent visa?
- UK Student Route dependant maintenance: £845 per month in London, £680 per month outside London, for up to 9 months, on top of the main applicant’s tuition and living-cost requirement.
- Dependants: the same maintenance logic applies to each family member; the family must show the child’s living costs are covered.
- NZ Dependent Child Student Visa: the requirement is sufficient funds or an acceptable sponsor, plus proof that the child is financially dependent on the parent (Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance)).
- NZ Child of a Student Visitor Visa: at least NZ$1,000 per person per month is the stated benchmark (Immigration New Zealand (Child of a Student Visitor Visa page)).
The trade-off: Ireland’s qualitative financial test is cheaper on paper — a €60–€100 visa fee — but harder to plan around, while the UK and NZ publish clearer arithmetic, which makes their paperwork easier to prepare.
What is the dependent child student visa processing time and fee?
Ask any immigration adviser which figure to budget first and they’ll name the visa fee; ask a parent and they’ll name the wait. Here are both, side by side, for 2026.
How much does a dependent child student visa cost?
- Ireland join family visa: €60 single entry, €100 multi entry (Irish Immigration FAQ).
- UK Student Route dependant: £558 from 8 April 2026 (UK Home Office (official fee schedule)).
- UK Child Student visa: £558 from the same 2026 table — a child studying in their own right, not as a dependant (UK Home Office (official fee schedule)).
- NZ Dependent Child Student Visa: from NZ$750 (Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance)).
- NZ Child of a Student Visitor Visa: NZ$341 (Immigration New Zealand (Child of a Student Visitor Visa page)).
How long does a dependent child visa take to process?
- Ireland: 6 – 8 months is the planning window for join-family dependant applications.
- UK: the 2026 Home Office fee table fixes the cost but sets no single universal processing time for dependent child applications (UK Home Office (official fee schedule)).
- NZ Dependent Child Student Visa: 80% of applications are processed within 8 weeks (Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance)).
- NZ Child of a Student Visitor Visa: 80% within 7 weeks (Immigration New Zealand (Child of a Student Visitor Visa page)).
The UK £558 figure is a 2026 line item, not a prediction; it is already written into the Home Office fee table published for 8 April 2026.
Five routes, one pattern: the cheapest fee and the fastest benchmark both sit in New Zealand, while Ireland’s 6–8 month window stretches longest.
| Route | Fee | Processing benchmark | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland join family visa (single entry) | €60 (Irish Immigration FAQ) | 6–8 months (Irish Immigration FAQ) | One entry to Ireland to join a family member |
| Ireland join family visa (multi entry) | €100 (Irish Immigration FAQ) | 6–8 months (Irish Immigration FAQ) | Multiple entries during the permission period |
| UK Student Route dependant | £558 (UK Home Office) | No single published figure | Dependant of a Student visa holder (restricted since Jan 2024) |
| UK Child Student visa | £558 (UK Home Office) | No single published figure | Independent study visa for a child |
| NZ Dependent Child Student Visa | From NZ$750 (Immigration New Zealand) | 80% within 8 weeks (Immigration New Zealand) | Primary or secondary school study in NZ |
| NZ Child of a Student Visitor Visa | NZ$341 (Immigration New Zealand) | 80% within 7 weeks (Immigration New Zealand) | Visit plus study up to 3 months |
How to immigrate to Ireland?
Immigrating to Ireland as a student’s child is a join-family application, not a study-permission application. The parent’s permission comes first; the child’s visa hangs off it.
What documents are needed for an Ireland dependent visa?
- Valid passports for the child and the sponsoring parent.
- The child’s birth certificate (and legal adoption or guardianship papers if they apply).
- Evidence of the parent’s current immigration permission in Ireland.
- Proof of funds covering the child’s living costs without relying on public funds.
- A short cover letter from the sponsoring parent explaining the relationship and the study plan.
Officials look for the relationship chain, not a thick file: the birth certificate plus the parent’s permission and proof of funds do most of the work. Missing the relationship link is the fastest way to slow the application.
Can I apply from within Ireland?
The join-family route runs from outside Ireland: the child applies before travel and shouldn’t book non-refundable flights until the decision lands.
For first-time non-EEA dependants, the default is to submit the join-family application before entering Ireland. The Department of Justice processes the application and issues the visa decision; after approval, the child enters on that permission.
- Confirm eligibility: check that the parent holds a valid Irish permission and the child is under 18.
- Gather documents: passports, birth certificate, proof of the parent’s permission, and proof of funds.
- Complete the online application: use the official visa application system for the join-family category.
- Pay the fee: €60 for single entry or €100 for multi entry through the online payment step.
- Submit documents: upload or send the supporting evidence as directed, then keep the receipt.
- Track and wait: plan for 6–8 months and don’t finalise travel until the written decision arrives.
Because the 2026 rules are still being finalized, check the official Irish Immigration FAQ for any form or fee changes before starting the application (Irish Immigration FAQ (official immigration site)).
Ireland’s process is document-heavy and slow, so the first submission is the one that matters; a refused or returned application costs months, not weeks.
Starting early and checking the latest FAQ avoids delays.
At what age can you start working in Ireland?
The honest answer for a dependent child is 18 — not because Irish employment law sets a blanket working age, but because the dependent permission itself carries no work right.
Can a dependent child work in the UK?
- Dependants of Student Route visa holders can work full time in the UK.
- The main restriction: they cannot work as a doctor or dentist in training.
- The right lasts while the parent’s Student Route permission is valid.
That makes the UK generous when the route is open — but the route is closed for most new students since January 2024, so the work right only helps the exempt postgraduate and government-sponsored groups.
What are the work rights for dependent students in New Zealand?
- Dependants of international students can work when the student parent is studying a Level 8 or higher qualification.
- Work is capped at 40 hours per week for the dependent child.
- A parent moving below Level 8 removes the child’s eligibility to work under the dependent visa.
Three jurisdictions, one pattern: work rights for a dependent child follow the parent’s study level, not the child’s school timetable.
| Jurisdiction | Can the child work? | Key limit |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | No automatic right | Must apply for own permission at 18 |
| UK | Yes, full time (where the route is open) | Cannot be a doctor or dentist in training |
| New Zealand | Yes, on Level 8+ parent courses | Capped at 40 hours per week |
The catch: work rights are a bonus, not a plan; in every one of the three countries, the right is attached to the parent’s status and can disappear mid-course if that status changes.
Timeline signal
- — the UK bans dependants for most Student Route visa holders; postgraduate research and government-sponsored students keep the right (UK Home Office).
- — Ireland announces new immigration rules for non-EEA students and their family members (Irish Immigration FAQ).
- — the new Ireland immigration rules take effect, updating rules for student dependants (Irish Immigration FAQ).
- — the UK Home Office fee table lists £558 for Student main applicants, their dependants, and Child Student visas (UK Home Office (official fee schedule)).
What this means: the 2024 UK ban and the 2026 Irish changes bookend a period where “student plus child” families need to re-check their route every single year.
What’s confirmed, what’s still open
Confirmed facts
- The UK Home Office sets the Student dependant category at £558 from 8 April 2026 (UK Home Office (official fee schedule)).
- New Zealand’s Dependent Child Student Visa is open to dependent children aged 19 or younger (Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance)).
- The NZ Dependent Child Student Visa costs from NZ$750, with 80% processed within 8 weeks (Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance)).
- The NZ Child of a Student Visitor Visa costs NZ$341, with 80% processed within 7 weeks (Immigration New Zealand (Child of a Student Visitor Visa page)).
What’s unclear
- Ireland’s 2026 student-dependant rules are still being finalized by the Department of Justice.
- UK processing times for dependent child applications are not published as a single figure.
- Whether the UK will expand or further restrict the dependant ban after the next general election.
- Whether Ireland’s 6–8 month processing window will shorten once the 2026 rules bed in.
What this means: the confirmed list is short and fee-focussed; the open items are the ones that should drive your application timing.
What the official guidance says
Non-EEA students generally have no automatic right to bring family members; a join-family visa application is required for the child.
Irish Immigration FAQ (official immigration site)
Dependants of postgraduate research students are exempt from the January 2024 ban.
UKVI Guidance
A Dependent Child Student Visa lets a dependent child aged 19 or younger study in New Zealand while a sponsoring parent holds an appropriate work or student visa.
Immigration New Zealand (official visa guidance)
The thread: official guidance in all three countries treats the child’s visa as derivative, never as a standalone right.
Between the 2024 UK ban and the 2026 Irish re-write, the dependent child visa landscape is moving in opposite directions: the UK is narrowing its route, Ireland is revamping its rules, and New Zealand is running the most predictable dependent-child scheme of the three. For a family weighing options in 2026, the choice is clear: wait for the Department of Justice to finalize Ireland’s dependant details, or keep a New Zealand application ready as the more predictable fallback.
Related reading
- Dependent Child Student Visa 2026: UK, NZ, Ireland Compared
- Dependent Child Student Visa: 2026 Guide for Ireland, UK & NZ
immigration.govt.nz, immigration.govt.nz, irishimmigration.ie, visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk, irishimmigration.ie, visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my dependent child visa if I change courses in the UK?
It depends on the new course. If you move to a course that doesn’t qualify for dependants under the Student Route, the family’s permission can be affected; postgraduate research and government-sponsored courses keep the exemption. Check with UKVI before switching.
Can a dependent child visa be converted to an independent visa later?
Yes, if the child meets the requirements of another category. In Ireland, a child aged 18 or older must apply for their own permission rather than staying on the family route; the UK and New Zealand evaluate a switch based on the child’s own eligibility at that point.
Do I need a separate visa application for each dependent child?
Yes. Each child is assessed separately, even when they apply at the same time and with the same parent; fees and required documents apply per child in the standard application process.
Can my dependent child attend public school in the UK?
For most new students this question is moot, because the dependant route closed in January 2024. For exempt families — postgraduate research and government-sponsored students — the child can enrol in school under the parent’s permission, subject to normal admissions rules.
Is a sponsor letter required for a dependent child student visa in Ireland?
There is no single sponsor-letter form; the evidence that matters is the parent’s current permission, the child’s birth certificate, and proof of funds. A short cover letter from the sponsoring parent helps connect the documents.
How early can I apply for a dependent child visa before moving?
Give yourself more time than the official minimum. Ireland’s window runs 6–8 months, New Zealand processes 80% of Dependent Child applications within 8 weeks, and the UK publishes no single figure — so start no later than 8 months before the school term if Ireland is your destination.
What is the difference between a dependent visa for UK and Ireland?
The UK route is attached to the Student Route and has been closed for most new students since January 2024; Ireland runs a separate join-family visa for non-EEA children of people lawfully in Ireland, with an under-18 child definition and a 6–8 month processing window.