Child Student Visa

For Children Aged 4–17 Studying in the UK

The Child Student Visa is for international children aged between 4 and 17 who want to study at a UK independent (fee-paying) school that holds a valid Home Office student sponsor licence. This route is separate from the standard Student Visa and is specifically designed for younger learners.

What is a Child Student Visa?

Eligibility

To qualify for a Child Student Visa, the applicant must satisfy the following:

1. Be between 4 and 17 years old at the time of application.

2. Have an unconditional offer of a place at a licensed independent school in the UK (confirmed via a CAS).

3. Have suitable living and care arrangements in place in the UK.

4. Be able to show you have enough money to support your child and pay course fees without relying on public funds. You must demonstrate that your family has enough funds to cover your child's tuition fees and living costs in the UK. This typically involves showing evidence of funds held for a continuous period before the application, unless exemptions apply.

5. Have written consent from the child's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to live and study in the UK.

Living Costs

Unless you fall within one of the special categories listed below, you will need to demonstrate that you can meet your living costs in the UK.

The amount you will need will depend on your living arrangements:

Boarding at a residential independent school: applicant must have boarding fees for one academic year;
Term-time private foster carer or close relative who is a British or has ILR: carer or relative must have funds of at least £570 per month for each month of the course up to a maximum of 9 months;
Living with parent / guardian who has a Parent of a Child Student Visa: applicant must have £1,560 per month for each month of the course up to a maximum of 9 months, plus £625 per child per month of the course up to a maximum of 9 months, for any additional children accompanying the parent;
Aged 16 or 17 living independently: applicant must have either £1,334 for each month of the course up to the maximum of 9 months where studying in London; or £1,023 from for each month of the course up to the maximum of 9 months where studying outside London.

You will need to have held the money for at least 28 consecutive days ending not more than 31 days before the date of your Child Student Visa application.

Special Categories

The following categories of applicants will automatically be treated as having satisfied the Child Student Visa financial requirement:

Applicants who have been in the UK with valid leave for at least 12 months prior to the date of their Child Student Visa application;
Applicants who are British Nationals (Overseas) or who are from one of a list of specified countries or territories that are subject to the “differential evidence requirement” (such applicants should still hold the required level of funds as UKVI reserve the right to request evidence of funds from these applicants).

Course and School Requirements

Child Student Visa applicants must study at an independent (private) school that is a licensed student sponsor. Courses typically include:

Courses taught under the UK National Curriculum;
Courses recognised under the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF);
Courses accepted as equivalent by UK educational authorities (e.g., Ofsted).

Your CAS must be issued by a school whose sponsor licence is valid, and you must apply within 6 months of receiving your CAS.

How Long You Can Stay

Your visa length depends on your age when you apply:

Under 16: You can stay for the length of your course (up to 6 years) plus up to 4 months afterwards.

16 or 17: You can stay for the length of your course (up to 3 years) plus up to 4 months afterwards.

Your visa start date can be up to 1 month before your course start date.

You may be able to extend the visa if you continue your studies in the UK.

What You Can and Cannot Do

Study at your independent school in the UK.
If aged 16 or 17, you may be able to work part-time during term (up to 10 hours per week), full-time during vacations, or do a work placement that's part of your course.
You cannot:
Study at a state-funded (maintained) school or further/higher education institution.
Access public funds (benefits).
Take up a permanent full-time job or be self-employed.
Switch to settlement directly from this visa.
Bring dependants — if a parent wants to accompany the child, they must apply under a separate Parent of a Child Student visa. If a child is studying in the UK under a Child Student Visa and meets certain criteria (usually aged 4–11 and only one parent (the other parent not in the UK)), a Parent of a Child Student Visa may allow one parent to live with and care for the child while they study. Conditions include demonstrating sufficient funds and not intending to make the UK your main home.

Application Process

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Ensure that you meet all the eligibility requirements for the Child Student Visa. If you're unsure, we offer tailored assessments to help determine your eligibility

Step 2: Prepare Your Documents

You'll need to provide supporting documents for your application, including:

A current passport or travel document;
The school's CAS reference number;
Proof of funds to pay fees and support living costs;
Written consent from a parent or legal guardian;
Evidence of living and care arrangements in the UK (and TB test if required).

Step 3: Complete the Online Application

Submit the visa application online via the UK government website. You can apply:

From outside the UK (entry clearance) — usually no more than 6 months before the course start date;
From inside the UK (to extend or switch) — usually no more than 3 months before the course start date, and before current leave expires.

Step 4: Provide Biometrics & Identity

As part of your application, the child must prove their identity by:

Attending a biometric appointment at a visa application centre, or
Using the UK Immigration ID Check app (where available).

This involves providing fingerprints and a photograph.

Step 5: Pay Fees

You must pay the visa application fee (typically £524) and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your submission.

Step 6: Await Decision

After submission:

From outside the UK: You will usually receive a decision within 3 weeks.
From inside the UK: Decisions for extensions or switching are typically made within 8 weeks.

In some cases, you may be offered a priority service for faster processing (where available).

Visa Fees & Costs

When applying for a Child Student Visa, you must pay the following fees as part of your application:

Visa Application Fee: £524 - This is the standard fee whether you apply from outside the UK or extend/switch inside the UK.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £776 per year - Most Child Student Visa applicants pay this reduced NHS surcharge, which gives access to the UK's National Health Service (NHS) during the visa's validity. If your visa includes part of a year, the IHS is usually charged pro-rata (e.g., £388 for 6 months).

Speak to LNvisa

Every Child Student Visa application is assessed on its own facts.

Small details around school sponsorship, living and care arrangements, financial evidence, parental consent and application timing can have a significant impact on the outcome.

LNvisa works with families to provide tailored immigration advice, taking into account the child’s age, schooling plans, care arrangements in the UK and the family’s wider immigration position.

If you would like guidance on a Child Student Visa application, or wish to assess eligibility and requirements before applying, our team would be happy to assist.