Child Student Visa

The UK Child Student Visa route is for children aged between 4 and 17 who wish to study at an independent school or private school in the UK, which is a Home Office approved student sponsor.

Child Student Visa

The Child Student Visa is designed for children between 4 and 17 years old who aim to study at an independent school in the UK that is recognized by the Home Office as a student sponsor. If you’re over 18 and wish to pursue further or higher education, the Student Visa is more appropriate. For those aged 16 or 17 wanting to pursue a Level 3 or higher course, they have the option to apply as either a Child Student or a Student.

Requirements for a Child Student Visa

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be aged between 4 and 17.
  • Have an unconditional place at an approved independent school with a valid student
    sponsor licence.
  • Have made suitable care and reception arrangements in the UK.
  • Have sufficient funds for self-support and course fees without public funding.
  • Have parental or legal guardian consent.

Course Eligibility for Child Student Visa

Eligible courses include:

  • Courses in line with the National Curriculum.
  • Courses under the Recognised Qualification Framework (RQF) at level 3 or below.
  • Courses compliant with Independent School education inspection standards.

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

You’ll receive a CAS reference number from your independent school, which should be used within 6 months for your visa application. The CAS includes details of your course, accommodation, fees, and payments made.

Financial Requirements

Applicants must prove they can afford course fees and living costs. This includes boarding fees for residential schools or maintenance costs if living independently or with a parent/guardian. The exact amount varies based on living arrangements and location (London or elsewhere in the UK).

Special Categories

Applicants who have been in the UK for 12 months or more, or are from certain specified countries, may be automatically considered to meet the financial requirements.

Genuine Student Rule for 16 or 17-year-olds

Applicants in this age group must demonstrate they are genuine students, with the Home Office assessing various factors including education history, course choice, and personal circumstances.

Switching to the Child Student Route

Switching is possible within the UK except from certain visa categories like Visitor or Short- term Student.

Application Process

Apply up to 6 months before your course starts if outside the UK, or 3 months before if inside the UK. Your course should start within 28 days after your current leave expires.

Processing Times

Decisions are typically made within 3 weeks for applications outside the UK, and 8 weeks for those within the UK.

Travel to the UK

You can travel to the UK up to 1 month before your course starts, but no earlier than the start
date given on your visa.

Duration of Stay

The duration depends on your age and course length, generally allowing up to 6 years for under 16s and up to 3 years for 16 or 17-year-olds.

Working on a Child Student Visa

16 or 17-year-old Child Students may work up to 10 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations.

Extending Your Stay

To extend your stay, you must be in the UK on a Child Student visa, aged 17 or under, have an unconditional offer with a licence Child Student sponsor, valid CAS and have enough funds to support yourself and pay for your course.

Settlement and Switching Routes

The Child Student route does not lead to settlement, but holders can switch to the Student route.

How We Can Help

Our team specializes in assisting international child students with their UK educational journey, offering guidance on complex immigration rules and policies to ensure a smooth process.

How we help

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Areas of focus

Partner & Family Visas

UK Family Visa allows you to bring family members (eligible foreign nationals) to join you in the UK for an extended period of 6 months or more. You can bring your spouse or partner, fiance or proposed civil partner, child, parent, or a relative to who you will provide long-term care.

Global Business Mobility Visas

The Global Business Mobility visa is an umbrella category of five different types of UK work visas. These visas are designed for employees of overseas companies to undertake specific types of work or assignments in the UK.

Short Term Visit Visas

Our lawyers act for schools, colleges and universities across the world. We understand your context and are able to advise on any legal and regulatory matters, as well as international projects.

Short Term Work Visas

The UK Temporary Worker Visa is a work visa that permits you to work in the UK temporarily. The time you can stay in the UK for a Temporary Worker Visa varies depending on the category you apply for and ranges from 6 months to 2 years.

EEA Nationals & Family

EEA nationals are required to obtain leave to enter or remain in order to visit or live in the UK. Unless a person is coming to the UK for a short visit, they will need to apply for a visa in advance of their arrival.

business Visas

Whether you wish to recruit a foreign worker, establish a UK branch of an overseas company or effect an intra-company transfer, our immigration barristers can assist. Our expertise covers immigration routes for individual investors and entrepreneurs, small and medium businesses, as well as multinational companies.

Global Talent Visas

Well versed in both the legal and technical languages of decentralized finance, our global team can support anyone wanting to navigate the fast-changing world of blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital assets.

Settlement in the UK

Often people want to come to the UK to settle in the UK, without a specific idea as to what they want to do when they are here. In fact, our clients regularly ask us, what is the quickest way to settle in the UK?

British Citizenship

With British citizenship you can apply for a British passport and you will be free of immigration control, allowing you to travel into and out of the UK freely without the need for a visa.

Student & Graduate Visas

The UK Graduate visa allows international students to remain in the UK after completing their studies for up to two years, or three for doctoral graduates.

Immigration appeals

If your UK visa or immigration application has been refused, our immigration appeal lawyers can advise you on the merits of appealing to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), prepare your immigration appeal and represent you at your immigration appeal hearing.

Human Rights

Applications for leave to enter or remain in the UK can be made, in certain circumstances, on the basis that to require the individual to leave the UK or to not allow them entry into the UK would be a breach of the individual’s human rights.

Asylum & Protection

Applications for leave to enter or remain in the UK can be made, in certain circumstances, on the basis that to require the individual to leave the UK or to not allow them entry into the UK would be a breach of the individual’s human rights.

Hong Kong (BNO) Visa

The Hong Kong BN(O) route allows BN(O) status holders and certain family members to live, work and study in the UK. After 5 years, applicants will be able to apply for settlement, and after a further year, British citizenship, providing they meet the requirements.

Get in touch

Our website will give you a flavour of the advice we provide - if you would like to talk to us for more information, please contact our client services team who will be happy to assist.