Child Student Visa

You can apply for the Student visa if you meet the following requirements:

• Are between the ages of 4 and 17 years old
• You have a place at an independent school with an unconditional offer
• You can demonstrate that you have enough money available to pay for your course and support yourself in the UK
• Have the consent of your parents or guardians.

Yes. You will need an unconditional offer for a place at a course in an independent school.

Yes. Your education provider will send you a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies that you will need to enter on your visa application.

Yes, this application can be submitted either in the UK or from overseas. You can apply 6 months before the start of your course.

You should get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks for an application submitted in the UK or within 3 weeks of applying from overseas. Please note, these timeframes are a guideline, and some applications do take longer to receive a decision.

Your parent can join you if they have a Parent of a Child Student Visa.

You will need:

• A valid passport
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
• Written consent from your legal guardian

You might also need:

• proof that you meet the financial requirements and can support yourself
• proof of consent from your parent or guardian if you are under 18
• proof of your relationship with your parent or guadian if consent is required
• tuberculosis test results if you are from a qualifying country
• written consent from your financial sponsor if you have received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs

If you need to receive consent from your parent or guardian if you are under 18, it needs to include:

• their consent for your visa application
• your living and care arrangements while studying in the UK
• your travel to the UK (flights, for example)
• copy of your birth certificate showing the names of your parents

The fees charged by Home Office can be found on their official website here.

Yes. You will need to pay £1,035 per year that that the visa is valid for. You need to pay the full amount at once.

You will need to show that you have enough money available to you to pay for your studies and support yourself.

Money to Support Yourself

If you will live with your parents:

Your parent must have a Parent of a Child Student Visa, however, if you are over 12 then your parent is not eligible unless you have a sibling under 12 also applying for a Child Student Visa.

• You will need enough money to pay for your first academic year (9 months)
• You will need £1,560 per month for you and your parent for the 9 months of the academic year

For each additional child living with your parent on a Child Student visa, you will collectively need an additional £625 per month.

If you are at a boarding school

You will need to pay your course fees and boarding fees for the first academic year.

If you will live with a close relative or a foster carer

You will need enough money to your course fees for the first academic year.

Your carer will need to confirm they have at least £570 per month for your care. They must also be a British citizen or have settled status in the UK.

If you are 16 or 17 living independently

You will need enough money to pay your course fees for the first academic year.

You will also need:

• If studying in London, £1,334 per month for 9 months
• If studying outside of London, £1,023 per month for 9 months

If you wish to pursue tertiary education, you will need to apply for a Student Visa.

You can stay for the duration of the course.

If you are under 16 years old when you apply, you can stay for the course length of up to 6 years plus 4 months afterwards. If you are 16 or 17 when you apply, you can stay for the course length of up to 3 years plus 4 months afterwards.

You can swap to a Student Visa if you are pursuing tertiary education in the UK afterwards.

Yes. You will need to prove your identity by either:

• having your fingerprints and photo taken at a visa application centre
• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document

You can legally work from 16 years old. If you are 16 or over you can work:

• 10 hours per week / part-time during term time
• full time during holidays
• on a work placement if it is part of your course

You will not be able to:

• study at an educational institution that is authority-funded
• have access to public funds/benefits
• take on full-time work or be self-employed
• work as a pro sportsperson or entertainer
• apply to settle
• bring family members unless your parent applies for the Parent of a Child Student visa