child Student visa

To apply for this visa, you’ll need an unconditional offer to study a course with a licensed Child Student sponsor. Once your education provider has offered you a place, they’ll send you a reference number (or CAS) which you’ll need for your visa application. Don’t forget, you’ll need to apply for your visa within 6 months of receiving your CAS.

The course you study will need to be in line with one of the following: 

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

You can also do a course at the same academic level by Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), Education Scotland, Estyn (in Wales), or Education and Training Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland). 

If you wish, you can do a short ‘pre-sessional’ course to prepare you for your main course. Your CAS can cover both the pre-sessional course and your main course of study.

Keep in mind that you can’t do a foundation course that will prepare you for direct entry to a higher education institution.

You’ll have to show you have enough money to pay for your course and to live in the UK. This will depend on where you’re going to live in the UK and who will be looking after you.

What if I’ll be living with my parent or guardian? 

Your parent will need a Parent of a Child Student visa to come with you to the UK. If you’re over 12 your parent won’t be eligible, unless you have a younger sibling who’s under 12 and also has a Child Student visa.

You’ll need enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months), as well as £1,560 per month (for up to 9 months). This amount is for both you and your parent.

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

What if I plan to board at an independent school? 

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

What if I plan to live with a foster carer or close relative? 

You’ll need enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months). Your foster carer or close relative will also need to confirm they have at least £570 per month (for up to 9 months). They’ll also need to be a British citizen or be living in the UK permanently, and they can’t be your parent.

What if I’m aged 16 or 17 and planning to live independently? 

You’ll need enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months), as well as money to cover everyday living costs. If you’re studying in the City of London or any of the 32 London boroughs, you’ll need more money for your living costs compared to living outside of London. 

• £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) if you’re studying in London 
• £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) if you’re studying outside of London

You or your parent will need to show that you have this money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of this 28-day period has to be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa.

You can read this Child Student visa guidance to find out how much money you need and how to prove you have it.

When don’t I need to show I have money to support myself? 

You won’t need to prove you have money to support yourself if you’re currently in the UK and have had a valid UK visa for at least 12 months immediately before the date of your Child Student visa application. This is also true if you’re from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’. So you won’t need to prove you have enough money to support yourself if you’re a British National Overseas or from one of these 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

You might be asked to provide this evidence before your application gets accepted. If so, you’ll be contacted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) after you’ve submitted your application.