Child Student visa

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Extend your visa

You may be able to apply to extend your Child Student visa to stay longer in the UK. This includes if you currently have a Tier 4 (Child) student visa.

To extend your visa you must:

If you鈥檝e been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months, you鈥檒l need to prove you have enough money to support yourself.

When to apply

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts.

You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin with 28 days of your current visa expiring.

For example, if your visa expires on 1 December, you must apply for a new visa before 1 December. Your new course must begin by 29 December.

You must also apply within 6 months of getting a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

You can stay in the UK until you get your decision.

If you applied for an administrative review because your application was refused, you can stay in the UK until you get your review decision.

Fees

You鈥檒l need to pay:

You鈥檒l also need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken - there鈥檚 no fee for this.

Apply

You must apply online.

As part of your application you鈥檒l need to prove your identity.

How you do this depends on where you鈥檙e from and the type of passport you have.

You鈥檒l either:

  • give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point
  • use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan your identity document (you will also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration account)

You鈥檒l be told what you need to do when you apply.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

How long it takes to get a decision

A decision will usually be made within 8 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

After you apply

You鈥檒l be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because:

  • your supporting documents need to be verified
  • you need to attend an interview (if you鈥檙e 16 or 17)
  • of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

If you need to change something in your application after you鈥檝e sent it, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to withdraw your application by contacting UKVI. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

If your application is successful

You鈥檒l get an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status).

Your decision email or letter will tell you how to get access to your eVisa. You鈥檒l need to create a UKVI account.

Find out how to get your biometric residence permit (BRP) if you were told you鈥檇 get one when you applied.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Study in the UK on a Child Student visa

  1. Step 1 Check if this visa is right for you

    You can apply for a Child Student visa if you鈥檙e between 4 and 17 years old and you want to study at an independent school in the UK.

    1. Check what you can and cannot do on this visa
    2. Check what courses you can study on this visa

    You might be eligible for a different visa if you're 18 or over.

    1. Check which visas you're eligible for

  2. Step 2 Prepare the evidence you need

    1. Check what documents you can use as evidence
    2. Check if you need a tuberculosis (TB) test

  3. Step 3 Apply from outside the UK

    1. Apply from outside the UK 拢490

    You'll need to prove your identity as part of your application.

    You'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

    1. Find out if you can pay more to get a faster decision

  4. or Apply from inside the UK

    1. You are currently viewing: Apply to extend if you're already in the UK on a Child Student visa (or Tier 4 (Child) visa) 拢490
    2. Apply to switch to this visa if you're already in the UK 拢490

    You'll need to prove your identity as part of your application.

    You'll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

    1. You may be able to pay more to get a faster decision you鈥檒l be told if you can when you apply

  5. Step 4 Get access to your eVisa

    If your application is successful, you'll get an eVisa. This is an online record of your immigration status.

    1. Get access to your eVisa by setting up a UKVI account

    You鈥檒l need to link your travel document to your UKVI account. This should be the travel document you use to come to the UK.

    1. You may have to prove your immigration status when you travel to the UK

  6. Step 5 Check what you can bring with you to the UK

    1. Check what you can bring in your hand luggage
    2. Check what to do if you're bringing cash with you
    3. Check what goods you can bring with you
    4. Check what food, animals or plants you can bring into the UK

  7. Step 6 Check what you need to show at the UK border

    1. Check what you need to show at the UK border

    If you said in your application that you would be accompanied by an adult, they need to be with you when you arrive at the border.

    If you're not accompanied by an adult, the official at the border will check that you know where you're going and how you're getting there. They may ask you other questions too.

  8. Step 7 After you arrive in the UK

    1. Find out how to get your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if you were told you'd get one when you applied

    You might be able to extend your visa to stay longer in the UK.

    1. You are currently viewing: Check if you can extend your visa

    If you break the conditions of your visa you may not be able to come to the UK again.