The Child Student Visa route is intended for children between the ages of four and seventeen who aspire to attend an independent school in the United Kingdom that has been approved by the Home Office as a student sponsor.

If you are 18 years of age or older and intend to pursue a higher or further education course in the United Kingdom, you should instead register for a Student Visa. You may register as either a Child Student at an independent school or as a Student if you are 16 or 17 years old and wish to pursue a course at or above Level 3 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework.

Criteria for a Child Student Visa

To be eligible for a Child Student Visa, you must meet the following criteria as outlined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• You are aged between 4 and 17;
• You have been offered an unconditional place on an approved course of study at an independent school holding a valid student sponsor licence;
• Suitable arrangements are in place for your care and reception within the UK;
• You have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course without relying on public funds;
• You have the consent of your parent(s) or legal guardian;

The specific requirements that must be met will vary based on your specific circumstances. For expert guidance, it may be beneficial to consult with an immigration attorney.

Course Requirements for a Child Student Visa

Child student visa applicants may submit applications for visas to pursue any of the following courses:

• A course taught in accordance with the National Curriculum; or
• A course taught in accordance with the Recognised Qualification Framework (RQF), that is not a foundation course intended to prepare the Child Student for entry to a course provided by a higher education provider; or
• A course that is accepted as being of equivalent academic status to the above courses by Ofsted (England), the Education and Training Inspectorate (Northern Ireland), Education Scotland (Scotland) or Estyn (Wales); or
• A course provided in accordance with prevailing Independent School education inspection standards.

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

Your education provider will provide you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number once you have been accepted into an approved course of study at an independent school.

A student sponsor, which is an independent institution with a valid licence, must have issued the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. Within six months of receiving your CAS, you are required to submit an application for a Child Student visa.

The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies must not have been utilised in a previous application that was either granted or denied, and the education institution must not have withdrawn its offer.

The CAS must also include specific information, such as the expense of accommodation, tuition fees, the course to be studied, and any payments that have been made.

Financial Requirement for a Child Student Visa

You will be required to demonstrate to UK Visas and Immigration that you possess sufficient cash funds to cover your course fees and provide for your own expenses while in the United Kingdom.

Course Fees

You will be required to demonstrate that you have the necessary funds to pay any outstanding course fees for one academic year, unless you are a member of one of the special categories listed below.

Living Costs

Unless you are eligible for one of the special categories listed below, you will be required to prove that you can afford to cover your living expenses in the United Kingdom.

The quantity required will be contingent upon your living arrangements:

• Applicants must have paid the boarding expenses for one academic year at a residential independent school.
• A close relative or term-time private foster carer who is British or possesses ILRs: In order to participate in the course, the guardian or relative must have a minimum of £570 in funds each month, with a maximum of nine months.
• For applicants who reside with a parent or guardian who holds a Parent of a Child Student Visa, the applicant must have a minimum of £1,560 per month for each month of the course, up to a maximum of 9 months, and an additional £625 per child per month of the course, up to a maximum of 9 months, for any additional children accompanying the parent.
• Applicants who are 16 or 17 years old and reside independently must possess either (a) £1,265 (or £1,334 from 1/12/2020) for each month of the course, up to a maximum of 9 months, if they are studying in London, or (b) £1,015 (or £1,023 from 1/12/2020) for each month of the course, up to a maximum of 9 months, if they are studying outside of London.

The money must have been held for a minimum of 28 consecutive days, with the last day not exceeding 31 days prior to the date of your Child Student Visa application.

Special Categories

Applicants belonging to the following categories will be automatically considered to have fulfilled the financial qualifications for the Child Student Visa:

• Prior to the submission of their Child Student Visa application, applicants must have been in the United Kingdom with authorised leave for a minimum of 12 months.
• The "differential evidence requirement" applies to applicants who are British nationals (Overseas) or from one of a list of specified countries or territories. Despite this, these applicants must still possess the necessary amount of funds, as UKVI reserves the right to request evidence of funds from them.

Rule of the Genuine Student

The criteria for a genuine learner must be met by students who are 16 or 17 years old. The Home Office will assess your immigration history, education history, course, desired location, reasons for studying in the UK, post-study plans, and personal and financial circumstances to ascertain whether you are a genuine student.

Switching into the Child Student route

If you are currently in the UK and have valid leave to remain, you may apply to transition to the Child Student route, provided that you do not presently have, or were not previously granted, permission to remain as a Visitor, Short-term Student, or outside the Immigration Rules. Additionally, you must not be under immigration bond.

Apply for a Child Student Visa

If you are submitting an application for a Child Student Visa from outside the UK, the deadline for submitting the application is six months prior to the commencement of your course.

When applying from within the United Kingdom, the earliest possible date for submitting an application for a Child Student Visa is three months prior to the commencement of your course. Your course must commence no later than 28 days following the expiration of your previous leave.

Child Student Visa Processing Times

If you are applying for a Child Student Visa from outside the UK, you should expect to receive a decision on your application within three weeks.

If you submit an application for permission to remain as a child student from within the United Kingdom, you should anticipate receiving a decision within eight weeks.

Travel to the UK on a Child Student Visa

You will be permitted to travel to the United Kingdom up to one month prior to the commencement of your course if your application for a Child Student Visa is approved. If there is less than one month until the course commences, this will be simplified to seven days.

Duration of Stay on a Child Student Visa

If you are under the age of 16, your Child Student Visa will permit you to remain in the United Kingdom for the duration of your course of study or six years, whichever is shorter.

If you are 16 or 17, your Child Student Visa will permit you to remain in the United Kingdom for the duration of your academic programme or three years, whichever is shorter.

Working on a Child Student Visa

During term time, a child student who is 16 years of age or older is permitted to labour for a maximum of 10 hours per week, and during vacations, they may work for any duration.

Extension of stay as a Child Student

You must be sponsored by an independent school and be aged between 4 and 17 years old in order to extend your stay in the UK under a Child Student Visa. An unconditional offer of a seat on a course with a licenced student sponsor is necessary; however, academic progress is not required.

Additionally, it is necessary to have sufficient funds to cover the cost of your course and your living expenses. The precise amount will be contingent upon your individual circumstances, as previously mentioned.

Settlement in the UK as a Child Student

Settlement is not attainable through the Child Student route.

Switching into the Student route

Holders of child student visas are eligible to transition to the student route.