In recent times, there has been increase in ban of foreign students from bringing in their families to their countries of study.
The United Kingdom used to allow foreign students studying in the country to bring along with them their dependants or at anytime within their study years. And these dependants who are of age were granted work permits to work and support themselves during their stay. But in 2023, the British Parliament amended the country's foreign policy prohibiting foreign students from bring in their families to the United Kingdom.
In a statement, the British government said the new restriction will take effect for students starting in January 2024 so that future international students time to plan ahead.
“The UK is a top destination for the brightest students to learn at some of the world’s best universities. But we have seen an unprecedented rise in the number of student dependents being brought into the country with visas,” Suella Braverman, UK’s home secretary said in the statement.
She said it is time for the country to tighten up this route to ensure it can cut migration numbers and meet the government’s pledge to the British people to cut net migration.
Before now the British government uses to permit sponsored study visa holders also known as student visa holders to bring their partners and children (dependants) into the country, and were allowed to work.
The British government said students from Nigeria who come with their families are the highest.
According to data released by British Council, Nigerians granted sponsored study visas increased by 768.7 percent to 59,053 in 2022, the highest in four year from 6,798 in 2019. Their dependants also
Increased by 3,741.3 percent to 60,923 in 2022, the highest in UK from 1,586 in 2019,
This indicates that Nigeria’s dependants were more than sponsored study visa holders. The dependents are also almost half of the total 135,788 dependants of students for the UK.
“When looking at the proportional change in visa grants to dependants, by nationality, Nigeria saw a large increase in the proportion of sponsored study related visas granted to dependants, from 19 percent in 2019, to 51 percent in 2022,” the British government said on its website.
In December 2023, the French Government followed suit, seeing the French parliament passing a law banning foreign students including Nigerians from bringing their families to the country.
The BBC reported that the law was backed by both President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Renaissance party and Deputy of the French National Assembly, Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally.
There 32 countries that allow international students to come with their dependants — partners, children — and grant them residence and work permits.
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Hong Kong
Hungary
Ireland (CSEP Holder)
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United States