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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.

You must:

• have an unconditional offer of a place on a course at an independent school
• be able to show you鈥檒l have access to enough money to support you in the UK and pay for your course
• have the consent of your parent or guardian to study in the UK - you鈥檒l need to prove this when you apply

This visa has replaced the Tier 4 (Child) student visa.

When to apply

When you can apply depends on whether you鈥檙e applying from inside or outside the UK.

Applying from outside the UK

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course.

You鈥檒l usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

Applying from inside the UK

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 within 28 days of your current visa expiring.

You鈥檒l usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

How long you can stay

How long you can stay depends on your age on the date you apply and the length of your course.

Age when you apply	How long you can stay
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

When you can travel to the UK

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

Staying longer in the UK

You may be able to:

• extend your visa if you鈥檙e eligible, for example to continue your studies in the UK
• switch to a Child Student visa from another visa if you鈥檙e already in the UK

Fees

It costs:

• 拢490 to apply for a Child Student visa from outside the UK
• 拢490 to extend or switch to a Child Student visa from inside the UK

You鈥檒l also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.聽

How much you pay depends on how long your visa lasts.

What you can and cannot do

You can study at an independent school.

If you鈥檙e 16 or over you can work:

• part-time during term for up to 10 hours per week
• full-time during vacations
• on a work placement as part of your course (but not for more than 50% of your course)

You cannot:

• study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school) or further or higher education institution
• get public funds (benefits)
• take a full-time permanent job or be self-employed
• work as a professional sportsperson (for example a sports coach) or entertainer
• apply for settlement
• bring family members (鈥榙ependants鈥�) - if a parent wants to accompany you, they鈥檒l need to apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa visa

If your application is successful, you鈥檒l get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Child Student visa.

You must have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Child Student sponsor.

To prove this, your education provider will send you a reference number (called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)) once they鈥檝e offered you a place on the course. You need a CAS before you can apply for your visa.

Courses you can study

You can do a course at an independent school that鈥檚 taught in line with one of the following:

• the national curriculum
• the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) at level 3 or below

You can also do a course that鈥檚 accepted as being at the same academic level by:

You can do a short 鈥榩re-sessional鈥� course to prepare you for your main course.

Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

Once your education provider has offered you a place on a course, they鈥檒l send you a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

You鈥檒l need to enter this reference number on your visa application.

Your CAS can cover both the pre-sessional course and your main course of study.

You must apply for your visa within 6 months of receiving your CAS.

You must have enough money available to you to pay for your course and support you in the UK.

How much money you need depends on where you will live and who will be looking after you.

If you鈥檒l live with your parent or guardian

Your parent must have a Parent of a Child Student visa to accompany you to the UK. If you鈥檙e over 12 your parent will not be eligible, unless you have a younger sibling who鈥檚 under 12 and also has a Child Student visa.

You must have enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).

You鈥檒l also need 拢1,560 per month (for up to 9 months) - this amount is for both you and your parent.

Your parent will need an extra 拢625 a month (for up to 9 months) for each additional child they accompany to the UK. The child must be your sibling and must also have a Child Student visa.

If you鈥檙e boarding at an independent school

You must have enough money to pay for your course fees and your boarding fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).

If you鈥檒l live with a foster carer or close relative

You must have enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).

Your foster carer or close relative must confirm they have at least 拢570 per month (for up to 9 months).

Your foster carer or close relative must be a British citizen or be settled (have 鈥榠ndefinite leave to remain鈥�) in the UK. They cannot be your parent.

If you鈥檙e 16 or 17 and living independently

You must have enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).

You鈥檒l also need either:

• 拢1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) if you鈥檙e studying in London
• 拢1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) if you鈥檙e studying outside of London

London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs.

You must prove you (or your parent) have the money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa.

If you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you鈥檒l need to provide evidence of this from your loan or sponsorship company.

When you do not need to prove you have money to support yourself

You do not need to prove you have money to support yourself if you鈥檝e had a valid UK visa for at least 12 months immediately prior to the date of your Child Student visa application - you must currently be in the UK.

If you鈥檙e from a country listed under the 鈥榙ifferential evidence requirement鈥�

You do not need to prove you have enough money to support yourself if you鈥檙e a British national overseas or from one of the following countries or territories:

• Australia
• Austria
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Cambodia
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Croatia
• Republic of Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• The Dominican Republic
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macao
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Oman
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Romania
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America

However, you might be asked to provide this evidence before you get a decision on your application.

If you do need to provide it, you鈥檒l be contacted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) after you鈥檝e submitted your application.

Read the guidance to find out how much money you need and how to prove it.

When you apply for your Child Student visa you must provide:

• a current passport or other valid travel documentation
• a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
• written consent from your parent or legal guardian for your study in the UK

You may also need to provide:

• proof that you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - this will vary depending on your circumstances
• proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian (for example a birth certificate or other government issued document showing their names)
• evidence of the qualifications you used to get a place on your course - if this was required by your course provider
• your tuberculosis (TB) test results
• written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you鈥檝e received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months

You need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you need to give your biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph) at a visa application centre. You鈥檒l be told if you need to do this when you apply.

Parental consent

You must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or legal guardian. This must confirm they consent to:

• your visa application
• your living arrangements and care in the UK
• your travel to the UK

If you鈥檙e living with a close relative or foster carer, you鈥檒l need to provide additional evidence. Read the guidance for the full list of documents you鈥檒l need to provide.

You must apply online for a Child Student visa.

Check which documents you鈥檒l need to apply.

Apply outside the UK

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 what type of passport you have.

You鈥檒l either:

• have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre
• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan your identity document (you鈥檒l also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration account)

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

Once you鈥檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

How long it takes to get a decision

You鈥檒l usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

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

Apply inside the UK

You may be able to apply to:

• extend your Child Student visa
• switch to a Child Student visa from another type of visa

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.

After you get a decision

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.

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:

• be in the UK on a Child Student visa (or a Tier 4 (Child) student visa)
• have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Child Student sponsor - shown by your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

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:

• 拢490 to extend this visa
• the healthcare surcharge

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.

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.

You may be able to change (鈥榮witch鈥�) to a Child Student visa from another visa. You must be between 4 and 17 years old.

You cannot switch to a Child Student visa if you have one of the following:

• a visitor visa
• a short-term student visa
• leave outside the immigration rules

Eligibility

To switch to a Child Student visa you must:

• be in the UK
• be between 4 and 17 years old
• have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Child Student sponsor - show by your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

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:

• 拢490 to switch to this visa
• the healthcare surcharge

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.

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.