UK Child Student visa allows overseas children aged between 4 and 17 to study at an independent school in the United Kingdom. It is designed for young people who have secured an unconditional place at a school licensed to sponsor international students.
Obtaining a place at a school is only one part of the process. The applicant must also have suitable care and accommodation arrangements, enough money to pay for their education and living costs and the written consent of their parent or legal guardian.
This guide explains the main eligibility requirements, permitted courses, financial rules, supporting documents, application costs and steps involved in applying for a UK Child Student visa.
What is a UK Child Student visa?
The Child Student visa is an immigration route for children who want to study at an independent school in the UK. It replaced the former Tier 4 (Child) student visa.
This visa cannot be used to study at an academy, a local authority-funded school, or a further or higher education institution. The school must be an independent institution that holds a valid Child Student sponsor licence.
Who can apply for a Child Student visa?
An applicant must meet all the main eligibility requirements. They must be aged between four and 17 on the date of application and have an unconditional offer of a place on an eligible course.
The school offering the place must be licensed to sponsor Child Students. It will issue a CAS once the relevant admission and sponsorship requirements have been satisfied.
The applicant must also show that appropriate arrangements have been made for their care and accommodation in the UK. In addition, they must meet the relevant financial requirement and obtain written consent from their parent or legal guardian.
Course and school requirements
A Child Student must study at an independent school holding a valid sponsor licence. The proposed course must meet the applicable educational requirements for this visa route.
Eligible courses may include those taught in accordance with:
- The national curriculum
- The Regulated Qualifications Framework at Level 3 or below
- Independent school education inspection standards
- An equivalent academic framework recognised by an approved inspection body
The route may also cover a short pre-sessional course before the main course begins. However, it cannot be used for a higher education foundation programme designed to prepare a student for entry to a degree course.
Families should confirm both the school’s sponsor status and the eligibility of the proposed course before paying significant fees or submitting a visa application.
What is a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies?
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, commonly known as a CAS, is an electronic sponsorship record issued by the school. It confirms that the applicant has received an unconditional offer for an eligible course.
The CAS contains a unique reference number that must be entered on the visa application form. It also includes important information about the course, school fees and any payments already made.
An applicant must normally submit their visa application within six months of receiving the CAS. A single CAS may cover both a short pre-sessional course and the main course where the relevant conditions are met.
A visa application cannot be completed successfully without a valid CAS.
Where can a Child Student live?
Every applicant must have suitable care and accommodation arrangements for the whole of their stay. The permitted arrangement depends on the child’s age and individual circumstances.
Boarding at school
A Child Student may board at their school on either a full-time or part-time basis.
Where the child boards only part-time, suitable arrangements must be made for periods when they are not at school. Depending on the circumstances, they may stay with a parent who holds a Parent of a Child Student visa, live with an eligible carer or relative, stay temporarily with a nominated guardian, or leave the UK during school holidays.
A nominated guardian must be at least 18 years old. A child can generally stay with a nominated guardian for no more than 27 consecutive days.
Living with a foster carer or close relative
A child may live full-time with an eligible foster carer or close relative. The adult must be at least 18 years old and must be a British citizen or settled in the UK.
For this purpose, a close relative can include:
- A grandparent
- A brother or sister
- A step-parent
- An aunt or uncle
The foster carer or relative cannot be the child’s parent. They will usually need to provide a signed letter confirming the accommodation and care arrangements.
Living with a parent or legal guardian
A child may live with a parent or legal guardian who holds a Parent of a Child Student visa.
A parent can normally qualify for this separate visa only if the Child Student is under 12. The route may also be available where the older child has a brother or sister under 12 who holds a Child Student visa.
The parent must make their own immigration application. A Child Student cannot add a parent as a dependant to their visa.
Living independently
Applicants aged 16 or 17 may live independently in the UK. Their accommodation and care arrangements must remain suitable throughout their stay. Children under 16 cannot use the independent-living option.
Child Student visa financial requirements
An applicant must have enough money to pay their course fees and meet the living-cost requirement that applies to their accommodation arrangement.
The amount required may be reduced by eligible payments already made to the school and recorded on the CAS. The exact calculation should be checked carefully before the application is submitted.
Boarding at an independent school
A child who boards at school must have enough money to pay their course and boarding fees for one academic year, up to a maximum of nine months.
The amount required will depend on the fees charged by the school and the payments already made.
Living with a foster carer or close relative
The applicant must have enough money to pay their course fees for one academic year, up to nine months.
The foster carer or close relative must also confirm that they have at least £570 per month to look after the child. This requirement applies for up to nine months, producing a maximum maintenance requirement of £5,130.
Living with a parent or legal guardian
The applicant must have enough money to pay their course fees for one academic year, up to nine months.
They must also show £1,560 per month for the child and the accompanying parent. This requirement applies for up to nine months.
The parent will need an additional £625 per month for each further child they accompany. Each additional child must be a sibling of the main applicant and must also hold a Child Student visa.
Living independently at 16 or 17
A 16- or 17-year-old living independently must have enough money to pay their course fees for one academic year, up to nine months.
They must also show:
- £1,334 per month for study in London
- £1,023 per month for study outside London
These amounts apply for up to nine months.
How to prove the required funds
Where financial evidence is required, the relevant money must normally have been held for at least 28 consecutive days.
The final day of that 28-day period must fall within the 31 days before the visa application is submitted. Applicants should therefore check both the balance and the dates shown on their bank statements.
The money may generally be held by the applicant or their parent or legal guardian, subject to the relevant evidential requirements. If the child relies on a student loan or official financial sponsorship, appropriate evidence must be obtained from the loan provider or sponsor.
An applicant may not need to provide financial evidence with the application if they have held valid UK immigration permission for at least 12 months immediately before applying and are applying from inside the UK.
Nationals covered by the differential evidence requirement may also be permitted to apply without submitting financial documents initially. However, UK Visas and Immigration can request the evidence later, so applicants should ensure that compliant documents are available.
Documents needed for a Child Student visa
Every applicant must provide:
- A current passport or another valid travel document
- A valid CAS reference from the sponsoring school
- Written consent from their parent or legal guardian covering their study and living arrangements
Depending on the circumstances, they may also need:
- Evidence that the financial requirement has been met
- Proof of their relationship with their parent or legal guardian
- Evidence of qualifications used to obtain the school place
- A tuberculosis test certificate, where required
- Written consent from a recent official financial sponsor
- A letter from a foster carer, close relative or nominated guardian
- Evidence relating to the proposed accommodation and care arrangements
Documents that are not in English or Welsh must normally be accompanied by a certified translation that meets UKVI requirements.
UKVI may ask for additional documents while considering the application. Applicants should keep their original evidence readily available until a decision has been made.
Parental consent requirements
Written parental or guardian consent is essential. The document must confirm consent to:
- The Child Student visa application
- The child’s travel to the UK
- The child’s care and living arrangements in the UK
Consent should generally be provided by both parents. Consent from one parent may be accepted where that parent has sole legal responsibility for the child.
The consent letter should clearly identify the child, explain the approved accommodation arrangement and be signed and dated by the relevant parent or guardian. Evidence of the family relationship, such as a birth certificate, may also be required.
When should an applicant apply?
A child applying from outside the UK can submit their application up to six months before the course begins.
A child applying from inside the UK to extend or switch can usually apply up to three months before the new course starts. They must apply before their current immigration permission expires, and the new course must begin within 28 days after that permission expires.
In all cases, the application must normally be submitted within six months of the CAS being issued.
Families should leave enough time to collect financial documents, obtain translations, complete a tuberculosis test where necessary and attend a biometric appointment.
Child Student visa fees and processing times
The Child Student visa application fee is currently £558. The same fee applies to an application made outside the UK and an application to extend or switch from inside the UK.
Applicants must also pay the immigration health surcharge. The total surcharge depends on the length of immigration permission granted.
An application made outside the UK is usually decided within three weeks. An extension or switching application submitted inside the UK is usually decided within eight weeks.
Processing can take longer where:
- Supporting documents need to be verified
- The applicant must attend an interview
- UKVI requires further information
- The applicant has complex personal circumstances
A faster decision service may be available for an additional fee, but availability depends on the application type and location.
How long can a Child Student stay in the UK?
The maximum permitted stay depends on the applicant’s age on the date of application.
| Age when applying | Maximum course period | Additional period |
| Under 16 | Up to six years | Four months after the course |
| 16 or 17 | Up to three years | Four months after the course |
A successful applicant may travel to the UK up to one month before their course begins. However, they cannot arrive before the start date shown on their immigration permission.
Can a Child Student work in the UK?
Children under 16 cannot work under the Child Student route.
A Child Student aged 16 or 17 may:
- Work for up to 10 hours per week during term time
- Work full-time during official school vacations
- Complete an eligible work placement as part of their course
A work placement must not account for more than 50% of the course.
What can a Child Student not do?
A person with a Child Student visa cannot:
- Study at an academy or local authority-funded school
- Study at a further or higher education institution
- Claim public funds
- Take a permanent full-time job
- Become self-employed
- Work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
- Work as an entertainer
- Apply for settlement through this route
- Bring family members to the UK as dependants
A parent wishing to accompany an eligible younger child must apply separately for a Parent of a Child Student visa.
Extending a Child Student visa
An eligible applicant may extend their Child Student visa from inside the UK. This option is also available to someone who still holds permission under the former Tier 4 (Child) route.
The applicant must be in the UK with eligible immigration permission and have an unconditional offer from a licensed Child Student sponsor. The new school or course provider must issue a valid CAS.
The earliest an extension application can normally be made is three months before the course starts. The applicant must apply before their existing visa expires, and the new course must begin within 28 days after the expiry of their current permission.
After applying, the applicant must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until a decision is received. Leaving this area before the decision will cause the application to be treated as withdrawn.
Switching to a Child Student visa
A person aged between four and 17 may be able to switch to the Child Student route while already in the UK. They must meet the normal eligibility requirements, including having an unconditional offer and a valid CAS.
However, switching is not permitted from certain immigration categories. These include permission as:
- A visitor
- A short-term student
- A Parent of a Child Student
- A seasonal worker
- A domestic worker in a private household
A person with immigration permission outside the Immigration Rules may also be unable to switch from inside the UK.
Anyone who cannot switch in the UK will normally need to leave the country and apply from overseas.
Conclusion
UK Child Student visa provides a route for overseas children to receive their education at an eligible independent school in the UK. A successful application depends on much more than obtaining a school place. The child must have a valid CAS, suitable care and accommodation arrangements, sufficient funds and properly documented parental consent.
Families should start preparing well before the intended travel date. Financial evidence must meet strict timing rules, while accommodation letters, relationship documents, translations and tuberculosis test certificates may take time to arrange. The details on the application form should also remain consistent with the CAS and supporting evidence.
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