Child Student visa
The Child Student visa allows underaged overseas children to come to the UK for the purpose of studying at an independent school. This route is designed for international students including EEA students, however, only eligible for nationals of countries other than the UK and Ireland.
What is the Child Student visa UK?
The UK Child Student visa replaces the Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa. It allows the children aged between 14 and 17 to study at an eligible educational institution, a Home Office approved student sponsor.
To qualify, the applicants must prove that
- They have an unconditional offer from the eligible educational institute
- They have adequate funds to pay for the course and support themselves whilst in the UK
- They have written permission from parents and legal guardians to study in the UK
Child Student visa holders under the age of 16 can stay in the UK for the length of the course (up to six years) plus 4 months. Visa holders aged between 16 or 17 years old can stay in the UK for the length of the course (up to 3 years) plus four months.
Who can apply for the Child Student visa?
As mentioned earlier, this visa is for children between the ages of 14 and 17. In addition, the applicant has to meet the following eligibility requirements to gain entry clearance
- The applicant is offered a confirmed place on an approved course in an independent fee-paying school holding a valid student sponsor licence
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) has been granted
- The applicant has written parental or guardian consent
- The applicant has sufficient funds to pay for the course and support himself financially throughout the duration of the course without seeking aid from public funds
Under the new point-based immigration system, the applicant must meet the study criteria to score 50 points and 20 points to meet financial requirements.
Besides, the applicant must be enrolled in an eligible course taught in accordance with the National Curriculum or Recognised Qualification Framework (RQF).
Applying for the UK Child Student visa
Here’s a step-by-step guide to applying for the Child Student visa UK
- Apply to the approved educational institution to receive an unconditional offer
- Request for the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number
- Get the TB test results and meet the Covid-19 public health requirements
- Apply online for the Child Student visa, fill out the application form, submit relevant evidence, and pay the application fee and immigration health surcharge
- Go to the nearest visa application center to have your biometric information taken or use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan the identity documents
The visa applicant usually has to wait 3 weeks to get the decision, however, you can pay an additional fee to get a faster decision.
