10 Countries That Let International Students Bring Dependents

For many Nigerian students planning a long stay abroad, moving alone is no longer the default. Postgraduate programmes can run for years, living costs are rising, and family support can make the difference between “I’m coping” and “I’m surviving.” 

That is why dependent rules whether your spouse/partner and children can join you legally, and whether your partner can work, should sit beside tuition and scholarships when you’re choosing where to study.

Across many countries, dependents can apply either at the same time as the main study permit application or after the student has secured residence. 

What changes from country to country is the fine print: study level restrictions, proof-of-funds expectations, housing rules, processing approach, and most importantly, work rights for spouses.

Denmark

Denmark allows international students to bring a spouse/civil partner/cohabiting partner and children under 18, but the student must be enrolled in a state-approved higher education programme (or PhD) for the accompanying-family route.

A key rule Nigerian applicants must note: Denmark tightened eligibility around 2 May 2025. There is a specific carve-out for children in certain cases where the student’s permit was granted or applied for before that date, even if the programme is non-state-approved.

Money matters (and Denmark is very specific): Denmark expects proof that the student can support each accompanying family member. A commonly referenced benchmark on the official guidance is DKK 7,426 per month (2026 level) per family member, with examples showing how this scales if the stay is a year or more.

Work rights: Denmark is one of the big wins here, an accompanying family permit for a student generally comes with the right to work in Denmark, without applying for a separate work permit.

Watch-out for specific professions: Denmark also flags special quota rules tied to “authorisation” routes (notably doctors and nurses) that can affect whether permits are granted to applicants and their accompanying family.

Netherlands

The Netherlands allows students to bring family under family/partner residence routes, typically a partner and minor children, but the system is strict about whether the sponsor (the student) meets conditions like lawful residence and financial capacity.

The most important practical point for Nigerians planning budgets: if your residence permit in the Netherlands is for study, the IND’s position is clear, your partner is not allowed to work on that basis.

That single line changes everything. If your household plan depends on your spouse working to support rent and bills, the Netherlands can become financially stressful unless you have strong funding.

On the money side, the IND publishes required income amounts and also explains that income must be independent, sustainable, and sufficient, depending on the exact permit route being used.

Best fit if: you are fully funded (scholarship/savings) and you want a predictable legal pathway for family residence, even if your spouse won’t be working.

Germany

Germany allows international students to bring dependents through a family reunification visa process, and the Federal Foreign Office addresses this directly: yes, it is possible, but the student must be able to support themselves and their family without public funds.

Germany’s approach is also very procedural: dependents typically apply for family reunification visas from the competent German mission abroad, and the specific document list is often provided by that mission (because requirements can vary by location and case type).

What this means for Nigerian applicants: you should plan early for the documentation load, proof of relationship (marriage/birth certificates), proof of funds, and proof you can house your family properly. 

Germany’s process is doable, but it rewards applicants who prepare like project managers, not like last-minute gamblers.

Austria

Austria is a strong option for students who want a lawful family set-up while studying, because the rules are clearly defined and the dependent route is explicitly recognised for student permit holders.

Austria’s official student-residence guidance states that family members of students holding a “Residence Permit – Student” can apply for a “Residence Permit – Family Community.” It also defines family members as spouses, partners in a civil union, and unmarried minors.

Austria even adds a detail many people miss: spouses and civil-union partners must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.

On process, the default is that family members apply through the Austrian representative authority (embassy/consulate) in their country of residence, with limited exceptions for those who can enter Austria visa-free.

Funds and planning discipline: Austria’s student guidance highlights that family applicants may need to prove funds 12 months in advance, and it explicitly links the proof-of-funds requirement to accommodation costs and health insurance expectations.

Sweden

Sweden is one of the most structured and student-friendly systems for bringing dependents, especially because it clearly supports co-applications and later applications.

Sweden allows the spouse/registered partner/cohabiting partner and children under 18 to apply to live with a student, and family can apply afterwards if the student already has (or has applied for) a residence permit for higher education, doctoral studies, or even a post-study job search permit.

Sweden is also very clear on maintenance money. The Swedish Migration Agency states that the maintenance requirement is SEK 4,440 per month for adults and SEK 2,664 per month for each child.

A critical rule people forget: Sweden notes that a family member can only be granted a residence permit if the person in Sweden has more than three months left on their permit period at the time of application.

On work rights, Sweden’s position can depend on the permit type and duration, but the EU immigration portal summarises that if a family member’s permit is valid for more than six months, they can get a work permit.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong allows non-local international students enrolled in full-time degree programmes to bring dependents under its dependent visa arrangement. Based on the information you shared, eligible dependents include a legally recognised spouse and children under 18.

A major point many students overlook is what doesn’t qualify. Cohabiting partners, fiancés/fiancées, and informal partnerships are not eligible, only legally recognised spouses or civil partners. 

The policy also recognises same-sex marriages and registered partnerships for dependent status, which gives it a broader definition of “spouse/partner” than some destinations.

On lifestyle rights, dependents can study in Hong Kong, but they cannot work unless they receive explicit permission from the Immigration Director. 

So the pathway is strong for keeping family together, but not automatically designed for a two-income household, unless that separate work permission is secured.

China

China provides a pathway for international students to live with family through two dependent visa categories, based on duration:

The S1 visa is for family members staying 180 days or longer, while the S2 visa is for family visiting for less than 180 days.

From your notes, the S1 visa applies to spouses, parents, and children under 18 of foreigners residing in China for study, work, or other long-term purposes. The S2 visa is positioned more as a short-stay family visit route.

Where China can feel less predictable is dependent work rights, your data indicates the rules are not clearly defined, meaning families should not assume the spouse can work legally without additional approvals or a separate status change.

Even with that limitation, these categories still matter because they create a legal basis for family unity during study, and they provide a clearer path for children to stay and attend school while the student completes a programme.

Australia

Australia is one of the most practical options if your goal is to relocate as a family and keep household income flexible.

International students can bring a spouse and children under 18 through the dependent pathway. You can include your family when applying for your student visa, or apply for their visas after you have started your course, so it supports both “move together” and “join later” plans.

Australia is also documentation-driven. Proof of relationship can include marriage certificates, birth certificates, lease agreements, or registration documents. If you apply after starting your course, your data highlights additional documentation like Form 919, course confirmation, financial proof, and school enrolment evidence for children.

Where Australia stands out most is spouse work rights. Spouses can work, and the rules depend on study level:

• If the student is an undergraduate, the spouse can work 48 hours per fortnight.
  
• If the student is postgraduate, the spouse can work without limitation.
  

That difference is not small—it can determine whether a family can comfortably handle rent, childcare, transport, and emergencies without burning through savings.

Finland

Finland runs on residence permits (not standard visas) for non-EU students planning to stay long term, and that framework affects everything: funding, work rules, and how dependents qualify.

For the student residence permit, your data states Finland requires proof of €800 per month for living costs. If the programme is one year or more, the student must show €9,600 in their bank account in addition to tuition fees. A crucial rule you highlighted: the money must be the student’s own funds, not based on sponsorship letters.

Once approved, students can work up to an average of 30 hours per week, as long as work does not disrupt studies. For extensions, income from work can now be used to meet financial requirements.

For dependents, a spouse applies under a residence permit based on family ties. This covers:

• Married couples
  
• Registered partners
  
• Cohabiting partners (only if they have lived together at least two years, or share custody of a child)
  

Finland checks a combined household income requirement, and the amount depends on family size and location. If approved, the spouse gets an unrestricted right to work, study, or run a business, a major advantage for family stability.

Your data also notes permit types: spouses of degree-seeking university students often get an A permit (continuous), which can count toward permanent residence after four years.

Spouses of other students may get a B permit (temporary), which can be more restrictive but still extendable.

New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the more flexible options if the priority is allowing a spouse to work legally while the student studies.

Under the Partner of a Student Work Visa, spouses/partners of students in eligible programmes can live and work in New Zealand. Eligibility is linked to the student’s course level:

• Certain Level 7 or 8 qualifications (with specific criteria), or
  
• Level 9 or 10 qualifications on the NZQCF framework
  

The partner visa is issued for the same duration as the student’s visa. From your data, the cost is from NZD 1,630, and about 80% of applications are processed within six weeks.

Applicants must show the relationship is genuine and stable, that they live together, and provide evidence of at least NZD 4,200 for living expenses. Importantly, no job offer is required, which reduces friction for spouses entering the labour market.

Work rights are a major win: partners can work without restrictions, study for up to three months, and travel in and out of the country.

One nuance in your data: dependent children cannot be included in the initial application, but the visa holder can later support visas for partner/children, including visitor and student visas.