1. The Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa is no longer in existence, having been replaced by the Child Student Visa. You can apply for a Child Student visa if you’re 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’ll 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’ll need to prove this when you apply
• – This visa has replaced the Tier 4 (Child) student visa.

2. Who can apply:

• – Children aged between 4 and 17 years old can apply for the Child Student Visa. There are strict eligibility requirements involved in this immigration category to obtain entry clearance.

Applicants must ensure that the following applies to their situation:

1. – Must be a genuine student with a confirmed place at an independent fee-paying school
2. – Application is submitted within the required timeframe
3. – Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) has been issued
4. – Parental or guardian written consent has been confirmed
5. – No record of overstaying a visa or breaching immigration rules
6. – Adequate finances to pay fees and maintain themselves throughout the duration of the course
7. – English language skills to the required level
8. – Evidence of required qualifications
9. – Evidence that the child will return to their home country when their course is finished

3. Applying from outside the UK

• – The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course.
• You’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

4. What is the points requirement?

In order to be eligible to come to the UK as a Child Student, the child must obtain the following point 

Points type	Requirements	Number of points
Study (all criteria must be met)	Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies– Eligible course– Eligible independent school– Aged between 4 and 17 years old– Parental consent confirmed	50
Financial	Met financial requirements	20

5. Financial requirements

• – Child students must be able to demonstrate on their application that they have enough funds to be supported throughout their course.

• – The child student is not allowed to work until the age of 16, and then they may only work under certain conditions.

According to the Home Office (UK government department in charge of immigration), this includes the requirements below (where the child has been in the UK for less than 12 months at the time of application)

Living arrangements	Required funds
Residential independent school boarding	Enough funds to pay the course fees and boarding fee for one academic year
Living with a private foster carer or close relative who is a British citizen or has settled status	Enough funds to pay the fees for one academic year The carer or relative must have funds of at least £570 per month of the course (max nine months)
Living with the child’s parent of legal guardian	Sufficient funds to pay the course fees for one academic year If there are no other children to be cared by the parent, £1,560 per month must be available for max nine months If there are other children being cared for by the parent in the UK, £625 per month must be available for each child
Aged 16 or 17 and living independently	Sufficient funds to pay the school fees for one year £1,334 for each month of the course up to a max nine months (if studying in London) £1,023 for each month to a max nine months where studying outside London

6. How to apply for the UK Child Student Visa

To apply for a Child Student Visa, follow the below steps:

• – Apply to the most appropriate educational institute based on your situation
• – Receive an unconditional offer from the school
• – Submit a request for your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies number
• – Identify your nearest visa application centre
• – Book a TB test (where relevant) and identify the coronavirus public health requirements (e.g., PCR tests, quarantining, etc.)
• – Ensure that you have the relevant supporting documents
• – Fill out the application form
• – Pay the application fee and immigration health surcharge (where relevant) to the Home Office
• – Book your biometrics appointment at your visa application centre (where relevant)
• – Attend your visa interview (where relevant)
• – Submit your information to get your biometric residence permit (where relevant)
• Wait for a decision to be issued on your visa application

7. To maximise your chance of a successful application, you should ensure:

• – Ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements
• – Gather your supporting information in plenty of time
• – Ensure that your documents are presented in the appropriate format
• – Complete each section of your application fully and truthfully
• – Follow the advice of your sponsoring institution

8. Parent of a Child Student Visa

If your child holds or is applying for a Child Student Visa, you may be eligible to apply for the Parent of a Child Student Visa.

• – Your child is aged between four and eleven years old
• – Your child is attending an independent school in the UK
• – You are the only parent of your child accompanying them in the UK
• – You continue to maintain your primary residence in your country of residence
• – You have concrete plans to leave the UK when your visa expires

1. 1. – If your child continues studying in the UK after this age, you must ensure that arrangements are in place to facilitate their ongoing care.

1. 2. – While in the UK, you are not permitted to work, study, start a business, apply for benefits, or bring another family member to the UK.

1. 3. – You are also not permitted to make the UK your primary residence.

9. What documents do you need to apply?

To apply for the Child Student Visa, you will be required to submit some of the following documents to the Home Office.

• – Valid passport or travel document
• – Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• – Health certifications (where relevant)
• – Evidence of financial maintenance and proof of payment of course fees (e.g., bank statements or other financial evidence)
• – Confirmation of consent from parent or guardian
• – Proof of payment of tuition fees, accommodation costs, etc.
• – Certified translations of documents in a language other than English or Welsh

There may be additional documents required depending on your circumstances. You will be required to demonstrate your eligibility for the visa with a comprehensive set of documents.