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Child Student Visa

For children between the ages of 4 and 17 who want to study at an independent school in the UK.
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Child Student Visa

The Child Student Visa (formerly the Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa) is for children between the ages of 4 and 17 who wish to pursue their education at an independent school in the UK. Parents can join their children for the duration of their studies if they meet the requirements of the Parent of a Child Student visa.

How long a visa will be granted will be in line with the duration of the course.

The Student route does not lead to settlement in the UK. Once an applicant has completed their studies, in order to remain in the UK, they will be required to switch to another visa category.

How can we help?

We have extensive experience of preparing successful Child Student visa applications on behalf of our clients. We pride ourselves on the presentation of our applications to the Home Office. You can be assured that your application process will be managed in timeously and with expertise.

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What our clients say about us

We have also greatly benefited from the excellent work of Usof Shah, Immigration Director, whose expertise has been instrumental in helping our members address critical skills shortages in the construction industry. Usof has provided clear, actionable guidance on immigration laws, empowering our members to legally employ skilled foreign workers and sustain their businesses. His commitment extends beyond traditional legal services - he has delivered live webinars and offered free advice to some of our SME members, which was highly valued and, in several cases, helped save their companies. This combination of deep legal expertise, accessibility, and genuine care for clients' success sets him apart from others in the field.

Throughout my UK career, I came across many solicitors and solicitor firms. But Herrington Carmichael is the best so far. Their quick response, wider knowledge, and straightforward decisions come with a very competitive advisory fee. I can easily recommend them, and I did. Their success rate for me is 100%. In a nutshell, they are brilliant.

The individual deals with my requirements and makes sure I fully understand what he is advising and what the best way to proceed is.

Responsive, commercial, and able to explain immigration requirements in clear, simple terms.

The individuals we work with stand out for being approachable, knowledgeable, and responsive. Usof Shah, in particular, has been extremely professional, helpful, and practical in his advice.

Usof Shah stands out for his strong combination of technical expertise, commercial awareness, and responsiveness. He is able to explain complex immigration matters in a clear and practical way while remaining highly approachable and solutions-oriented throughout the process. What differentiates him from competitors is the level of personal attention and ownership he brings to matters. He is proactive, detail-oriented, and demonstrates a strong understanding of the operational and business needs of his clients rather than approaching matters from a purely technical perspective. I have particularly valued his responsiveness, clear communication, and ability to manage matters efficiently under tight timelines. He consistently provides pragmatic advice and maintains a high level of professionalism, which creates a strong sense of confidence and reliability throughout the engagement.

Usof Shah and his team stood out for their professionalism, responsiveness, and clear communication.

Herrington Carmichael’s team stands out for its strong expertise in immigration matters, combined with a highly personalized and responsive service. Over the past few years, they supported me and three members of my family, managing each of our individual cases efficiently and professionally. Compared to other firms, they are notably more organized and responsive.

Thank you for helping me to apply the exceptional assurance and I got the application succeed very quickly.

Usof was a pleasure to work with and his wealth of knowledge on the topic of immigration law was evident. We collaboratively delivered a successful webinar to hundreds of construction professionals on the post-Brexit immigration system and Usof was able to answer complex questions on the spot, demonstrating his attention to detail and professionalism. We would not hesitate to recommend Usof and Herrington Carmichael.

Usof Shah has been a great source of information and guidance both in setting up to become a sponsor and also in getting candidates sponsored.

The team provides useful guidance and support on the pitfalls and processes of being a sponsor. The team helps set everything up to become a sponsor as well as assisting with processing CoS applications.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your most pressing questions about our services and processes.

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
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