UK Child Student Visas

Page Contents

• UK Child Student Visa eligibility
• How long can I stay in the UK?
• Course requirements
• Required documents
• Application process and fees
• UK Child Student Visa extension
• Frequently asked questions

The main eligibility criteria for the Child Student Visa is as follows:

• Must have an unconditional offer of a place on a course at an independent school
• Must be able to show you will have access to enough money to support you in the UK and pay for your course
• Must have the consent of your parent or guardian to study in the UK

You can apply for the UK Child Student Visa from the United States, or inside the UK if you are switching visas.

This depends on your age on the date you apply for the course and the length of the course.

• Under 16 years of age: Course length of up to 6 years, and 4 months after
• 16 or 17: Course length of up to 3 years, and 4 months after

If you want to stay longer, you could be eligible for an extension to continue your studies in the UK.

You must have been offered a place on a course with a licensed Child student sponsor to be eligible.

The education provider will need to send you a reference number, which is known as the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). You cannot apply for the visa without this reference number, as you will need to enter it on the application form.

As mentioned, you can only do a course offered at an independent school. This visa is not suitable if an American child wants to study at an academy or local authority-funded school in the UK.

The course will need to be taught in accordance with one of the following:

• The national curriculum
• The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) at level 3 or below
• Independent school education inspection standards

Alternatively, you can do a course that’s accepted as being at the same academic level by:

• Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
• Education Scotland
• Etsyn (Wales)
• Education and Training Inspectorate (Northern Ireland)

When you complete your application, you will need to provide certain information and documents. This is commonly known as the portfolio of evidence.

You will need to provide the following information:

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

You may also need to provide:

• Proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian. A birth certificate or a government-issued document showing the parents’ names
• Evidence of the qualifications you used to get a place on your course

You will also need to have written consent from both parents, or one parent if they have sole responsibility for the child/legal guardian. The parent/s or legal guardian will need to consent to your visa application, your travel to the UK and your living arrangements in the UK.

Our expert immigration lawyers and attorneys can help you to gather all the documents and information which you will need to provide to UKVI. We will consider your unique circumstances and ensure that your portfolio of evidence includes all necessary documentation.

Call us now on +1 844 290 6312 to find out more about how we can help you to study in the UK.

The UK Child Student Visa application must be completed online. It is important that you gather all relevant documentation in its proper form before completing the application.

The current fees for the UK Child Student Visa is £348 if applied for from outside the UK, and £475 if applied for from inside the UK.

The earliest you can apply for the visa is six months before the course start date if you apply from the U.S, and three months before the course start date if you apply from inside the UK.

As part of the application process, you will need to provide certain information to prove your identity. You will either need to:

• Provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo)
• Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your identity document

You will be informed of what you need to do to verify your identity when you complete your application form.

Typically, it takes there weeks for a decision to be reached on the application if you apply from the United States. If you are switching to this visa from inside the UK, you can expect a decision within eight weeks.

However, an application might take longer to process in certain circumstances. For instance, the UK Home Office may contact you if your documents need verifying. Bear in mind that if you are 16 or 17, you may need to attend an interview.

You can arrive in the UK up to 1 month before your course starts.

If you are over 16, you can work part-time (up to 10 hours) during term time, and full-time during vacations.

You can also undertake a work placement as part of your course, provided it is not for more than 50% of your course time.

Can I Extend the UK Child Student Visa?

You may be able to extend your Student Visa if you wish to stay in the UK longer. You must apply for the extension before your current visa expires, and within six months of getting the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.

You can apply for the extension up to three months before the course starts. You can stay in the UK until you receive a decision on the extension application.

To extend your visa, you will need to:

• Already be in the UK on a Child Student Visa, or the previous Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa
• Have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licenced Child Student sponsor (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)

You will need to provide certain documentation and information in the application, which is usually similar to the information which you would have included in your original Child Student Visa application.

It currently costs £475 to extend the visa, and you will also need to pay the immigration health surcharge. You can expect to receive a decision within eight weeks of submitting the application.