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Guide to the Child Student Visa

The Child Student Visa is for children who are nationals of a country other than the UK or Ireland.

To be successful, applicants must:

Have an unconditional offer on a course from an eligible independent school Demonstrate that they have adequate income to pay for the course and to support themselves during the course Have the written consent of their parent or legal guardian to study in the UK The Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa is no longer in existence, having been replaced by the Child Student Visa.

You can apply outside the UK for the visa six months in advance of your course start date and you will likely receive a decision in three weeks.

If you are applying from inside the UK, you can apply three months in advance of the course start date and you are likely to receive a decision within eight weeks.

How to apply for the UK Child Student Visa

To submit your Child Student Visa application, it is important to prepare carefully so as to give yourself the best chance of success.

If you are in doubt about how to apply, it is recommended that you speak with a qualified immigration lawyer who can assist you.

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

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.

To be eligible, the following must apply to your case:

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 You are permitted to stay in the UK until the expiration of your child’s visa, or until they turn 12 years old (whichever happens first). It may be possible to extend the visa, if you meet the criteria.

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

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.

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