UK Child Student Visa: For Children Aged 4 to 17 Attending an Independent School

Sending a child to study in the United Kingdom is a major decision for any family, and getting the immigration side right matters just as much as choosing the right school. The UK Child Student visa is the route created specifically for children between 4 and 17 years old who want to attend a fee-paying independent school in the UK. It replaced the old Tier 4 (Child) student visa and sits under the same points-based immigration system used for other UK visa categories, but with extra safeguarding rules built in because the applicant is a minor.

This guide walks through eligibility, costs, required documents, and the application process, based on current UK government (Home Office) guidance, so you know exactly what to expect before you start.

What Is the UK Child Student Visa?

The Child Student visa allows a child to live in the UK and study full-time at an independent (private, fee-paying) school. It is not available for state-funded schools, academies, or local authority-maintained schools – only schools holding a valid student sponsor licence from the Home Office can sponsor a child on this route. Once a child turns 18, they can no longer use this visa and would need to apply for the standard adult Student visa instead if they want to continue studying in the UK.

Who Is Eligible for the Child Student Visa

Age and School Requirements

To qualify, a child must be:

• Between 4 and 17 years old at the time of application
• Holding an unconditional offer of a place on a course at a UK independent school
• Sponsored by a school that holds a valid Home Office student sponsor licence, confirmed through a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number

Course Requirements

The course must be provided by the sponsoring independent school itself, at the right academic level for the child’s age. There is no separate list of “approved subjects” for school-level study, as there is for some higher education routes – the key requirement is that the place is genuine, full-time, and at an independent school registered with the relevant education standards body (such as Ofsted in England).

Parental or Guardian Consent

A child cannot apply alone. Written consent from both parents (or one parent with sole legal responsibility) or a legal guardian is required, confirming agreement to the child’s visa application, travel to the UK, and living and care arrangements while there.

Where Your Child Will Live

The Home Office requires suitable care and accommodation arrangements to be in place before a visa is granted. A child on this visa can live in one of the following ways:

• Boarding at the independent school, full-time or part-time
• With a parent or legal guardian who is also in the UK
• With a foster carer or close relative (who is not the legal guardian)
• With a nominated guardian arranged through a guardianship organisation
• Independently, if the child is 16 or 17 years old

Whichever arrangement applies, it must be confirmed in the parental consent letter, and in some cases a separate supporting letter is required from the carer or guardian (see the documents section below).

Money You Need to Show

Proof of funds is one of the most detailed parts of the application, and the amount required depends on the living arrangement:

• Boarding at school: Enough to cover course fees and boarding fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).
• Living with a foster carer or close relative: Course fees for one academic year, and the carer must confirm they have at least £570 per month (for up to 9 months) to support the child.
• Living with a parent or legal guardian: Course fees for one academic year, plus £1,560 per month (for up to 9 months) to support both the child and parent. An additional £625 per month is required for each sibling accompanying them who also holds a Child Student visa.
• Living independently (aged 16-17): Course fees for one academic year, plus either £1,334 per month if studying in London, or £1,023 per month outside London.

The funds must generally be held for at least 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period falling within 31 days of the visa application date. Families from certain countries under the Home Office’s “differential evidence requirement” list, or with a student loan or approved financial sponsorship, may not need to submit the same level of financial evidence – though supporting proof can still be requested.

Documents Required for the Application

When applying, you will typically need to provide the following documents:

• A current passport or other valid travel document
• The CAS reference number from the sponsoring school
• Written parental or legal guardian consent covering the visa application, travel, and care arrangements
• Proof of funds, appropriate to the living arrangement
• Proof of relationship to the parent or guardian (for example, a birth certificate)
• Evidence of academic qualifications, if the school requested this as part of admission
• Tuberculosis (TB) test results, if the child is applying from a country where this is required
• Written consent from a financial sponsor, if course fees or living costs have been sponsored in the last 12 months

Letters for Foster Carers, Relatives, or Nominated Guardians

If the child will live with a foster carer, close relative, or nominated guardian rather than a parent, that person must provide a signed letter confirming their name and address, their relationship to the parent or guardian, confirmation they agree to care for the child, and that they have enough money to support them (unless the child boards at school). Guardianship organisations arranging a nominated guardian must also confirm background checks have been carried out.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the official UK government website.

Applying from Outside the UK

• The earliest a family can apply is 6 months before the course start date.
• A decision is usually given within 3 weeks.
• The application must include biometric enrolment (fingerprints and a photograph) at a Visa Application Centre.

Applying from Inside the UK

• Applications can be made from 3 months before the new course starts.
• Decisions usually take up to 8 weeks.
• This route covers both extending an existing Child Student visa and switching from another eligible visa category.

Once approved, the child receives an eVisa – a digital immigration record rather than a physical vignette – linked to a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account. Setting up this account and linking the travel document before travel is an essential step families sometimes overlook.

Visa Fees and Healthcare Surcharge

According to current Home Office fee guidance, the Child Student visa costs £558, whether applying from outside the UK or extending/switching from inside the UK. On top of this, applicants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which gives access to NHS healthcare during the stay. The surcharge is charged per year of visa length, so the total cost will depend on how long the course lasts – it’s worth confirming the exact current rate on the official application page, as healthcare surcharge rates are periodically reviewed.

Fees are generally non-refundable once biometric information has been submitted, even if the application is later refused, so it’s worth double-checking every document before paying.

How Long the Visa Lasts

Visa length depends on the child’s age at application and the length of the course:

• Under 16: Course length (up to 6 years) plus 4 months afterwards
• 16 or 17: Course length (up to 3 years) plus 4 months afterwards

Children can travel to the UK up to 1 month before the course start date, but never earlier than the date stated on the visa.

What Your Child Can and Cannot Do

On a Child Student visa, a child can study full-time at the sponsoring independent school. If they are 16 or over, they may also:

• Work part-time (up to 10 hours a week) during term time
• Work full-time during official school vacations
• Take part in a work placement connected to their course, as long as it does not exceed 50% of the total course

They cannot:

• Study at a state-funded (maintained) school, academy, or higher education institution
• Access public funds (UK benefits)
• Take a permanent full-time job or become self-employed
• Work as a professional sportsperson or entertainer
• Apply for settlement (permanent residence) directly from this route
• Bring dependants – a parent who wants to accompany the child must apply separately

Parent of a Child Student Visa

If a parent wants to live in the UK alongside their child, they can apply for a separate Parent of a Child Student visa. This route currently costs £682 to apply, plus a healthcare surcharge of around £1,035 per year, and requires proof of at least £1,560 per month (for up to 9 months) to support themselves and the child. This visa does not allow the parent to bring other dependants and is tied to the length of the child’s own visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a child under 4 years old get a Child Student visa?

No. The Child Student visa is only available to children aged 4 to 17. Younger children accompanying a parent to the UK would usually be included as dependants on the parent’s own visa instead.

Can a Child Student visa holder attend a state school in the UK?

No. This visa only permits study at an independent (private, fee-paying) school that holds a valid Home Office sponsor licence. State-funded schools and academies cannot sponsor this visa.

Does the child need to attend a visa interview?

Most applicants complete an online application and attend a Visa Application Centre to give biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph). A formal interview is not always required but may be requested by the Home Office in some cases.

Can the child work while on this visa?

Only if they are 16 or 17. They can work part-time during term (up to 10 hours a week) and full-time during vacations, but cannot take permanent employment, become self-employed, or work as a professional entertainer or sportsperson.

What happens when the child turns 18?

Once a child turns 18, they are no longer eligible for the Child Student visa. To continue studying in the UK, they would need to apply for the standard Student visa, meeting its separate eligibility and financial requirements.

Can a sibling apply for the same visa at the same time?

Yes, siblings can each apply for their own Child Student visa if they meet the eligibility requirements individually. If living with a parent in the UK, an extra £625 per month in funds is required for each additional sibling.

How long does it take to get a decision?

Applications made from outside the UK are usually decided within 3 weeks. Applications made from inside the UK (extending or switching) usually take up to 8 weeks. Priority services may be available for an extra fee in some locations.

Is a TB test always required?

Not always – it depends on the child’s country of residence. Applicants from countries on the Home Office’s TB testing list must provide a valid tuberculosis test certificate as part of their application.