Need help applying for a Child Student Visa?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll help you arrange an initial consultation. You’ll get:
- Unlimited time to discuss your family matter with an experienced immigration solicitor
- An outline of your legal position in your immigration case
- A clear fee-quote and time frame to resolve your case
Please note we can only assist with immigration matters relating to the UK, and that we cannot assist with legal aid matters.
Similar immigration services.
Student Visas
Family Visas
Commonly asked questions on Child Student Visas.
Applying for a visa to study in the UK can be a complicated process if not done correctly. Therefore, to help explain the process in a simpler way, our solicitors have answered some of the most commonly asked questions on the matter.
1. What is a Child Student Visa?
A Child Student Visa allows non-British children to study at an independent school in the UK. To be eligible, you must be between the ages of 4 to 17.
If you are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you can apply for the free EU Settlement Scheme. You must have started living in the UK before 1st January 2021. If eligible, this means you would not need to get a Child Student Visa.
Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or EU Settlement Scheme to study in the UK.
2. What are the requirements?
To apply for a Child Student Visa, you must:
- Be between the ages of 4 to 17
- Have the consent of your parent or guardian to study in the UK
- Receive an unconditional offer on a course at the independent school
- Prove that you will have funds to support you when you are in the UK
If you are older or cannot get the approval from your parent or guardian, you must instead apply for a Student Visa (permitted you are 18 or over.)
3. How can I apply for a Child Student Visa?
To apply for a Child Student Visa, you must apply online.
When applying, you’ll need to provide the following documentation to the Home Office:
- A valid passport or another piece of travel documentation
- A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
- Written consent from your parent or guardian to study in the UK
In some cases, you may need to provide other documents. Some examples include proof of your relationship with your parents or tuberculosis test results. Remember that the Home Office will need substantial proof that you are eligible for a Child Student Visa.
4. How much is a Child Student Visa?
To apply for a Child Student Visa, you’ll have to pay one of two fees:
- An application fee of £363 when applying from outside of the UK
- A fee of £490 when extending or switching to a Child Student Visa when in the UK
On top of this, you’ll have to pay the healthcare surcharge. For a child under the age of 18, this is £470 per year.
5. How long does an application take?
The length of an application depends on if you are applying from within or outside of the UK.
Outside of the UK
When applying for a Child Student Visa outside of the UK, your application will take roughly 3 weeks to process. You can apply as early as 6 months before your course is due to start.
Inside the UK
When applying for a Child Student Visa inside of the UK, your application will take roughly 8 weeks to process. You can apply as early as 3 months before your course is due to start.
Remember that you must apply before your current visa expires. To compensate for this, the Home Office allow for your course to start up to 28 days after the expiry date.
6. How long does a Child Student Visa last?
The length of time you can spend in the UK depends on your age.
If you are under 16, you can stay for a course length of up to 6 years. You are also allowed 4 months after the course ends.
If you are between 16 to 17, you can stay for a course length of up to 3 years. You are also allowed 4 months after the course ends.
You are allowed to arrive in the UK up to 1 month before your course is due to start.
7. What if my application is refused?
There are a number of reasons why your application may have been refused. This could be due to:
- The application form being incomplete or invalid
- Fee payments not made
- Your criminal or immigration history invalidated your application
If your application was refused, you may apply for an administrative review of the Home Office’s decision. You have up to 28 days to file this request if outside the UK or, alternatively, 14 days if within the UK. If this is refused, you can submit a judicial review to further this.
We highly recommend consulting an experienced immigration solicitor if your application is denied. We can help explore other options or assist in submitting forms to question why your appeal was refused. This can save you time and expenses in the long term, purely by letting our solicitors do the work for you.
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Meet our expert immigration law team.
Paul Britton
Managing Director
Sophie Campbell-Adams
Director
Alexander Grist
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Trainee Solicitor
Grace Marchant
Trainee Solicitor
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Paralegal
Why Britton and Time Solicitors?
Immigration law is one of our core legal areas. Our immigration solicitors work across all application types, ranging from innovator visas to child student visas. As a result, our solicitors have an abundance of knowledge and experience in this area of law. When it comes to your specific immigration application, we’ll always guarantee:
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No fee surprises. Ever. Our immigration solicitors will inform you from the outset on how much your case will cost, and we will do everything in our power to keep costs down and within your original fee estimate.
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Child Student Visas
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Applying for a Child Student Visa?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll be able to help you the same day.