You can apply for the Tier 4 (Child) student visa if you’re aged between 4 and 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK. You must also: have a place on a course have the consent of your parent or guardian have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs be from a country that’s not in the European Economic Area ( EEA ) or Switzerland meet the eligibility requirements How long it will take The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you start your course. You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. Find out about paying for a faster decision . Fees It costs £348 to apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa from outside the UK. You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply. How long you can stay Your age and the length of your course of study will affect how long you can stay. Age when you apply How long you can stay Under 16 Course length (up to 6 years) plus 4 months afterwards 16 or 17 Course length (up to 3 years) plus 4 months afterwards You can arrive in the UK: up to 1 week before your course starts if your course lasts 6 months or less up to 1 month before your course starts if your course lasts more than 6 months What you can and cannot do You can: study at an independent school apply from outside the UK apply to extend your stay You can also work, if you’re 16 or over: part-time during term for up to 10 hours per week full-time during vacations on a work placement as part of your course (but not for more than 50% of your course time) as a student union sabbatical officer for up to 2 years You cannot: study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school) or further education college get public funds take a full-time permanent job or be self-employed work as a doctor or dentist in training work as a professional sportsperson (for example a sports coach) or entertainer settle in the UK on this visa bring in family members (‘dependants’) - if your parents want to accompany you, they’ll need to apply for a Parent of a Tier 4 (Child) visa Read the full guidance on the Tier 4 (Child) student visa.

You must have: an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Tier 4 sponsor enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - this will vary depending on your circumstances You should read the guidance for the full list of documents and how much money you’ll need according to your situation. Your course You can do a course that’s taught in line with: the national curriculum the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) independent school education inspection standards You can also do a course that’s accepted as being at the same academic level by: Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) HM Inspectorate of Education (in Scotland) Estyn (in Wales) Education and Training Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland) Independent Schools Inspectorate You can do a short course to prepare you for your main course, such as pre-sessional study. You cannot do a foundation course that will prepare you for direct entry to a higher education institution. Confirmation of acceptance for studies Your education provider will send you a reference number called a confirmation of acceptance for studies ( CAS ) once they’ve offered you a place on a course. You’ll need to enter this on your application. Your CAS can cover both the pre-sessional course and your main course of study. You must apply for your visa no later than 6 months after you’re sent the CAS .

Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide: a current passport or other valid travel documentation proof that you can support yourself and pay for your course - this will vary depending on your circumstances proof of parental or other legal guardian consent proof of your relationship with your parent or guardian your tuberculosis ( TB ) test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test You need a blank page in your passport for your visa. Read the full guidance for the full list of documents and how much money you’ll need according to your situation.

Read the full Tier 4 guidance before you apply. Apply outside the UK You must apply online for a Tier 4 (Child) visa. You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of your application. You’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you said you’d arrive in the UK (even if you actually arrive at a later date). Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in. Check if your visa application centre offers faster decisions and other services. North Korea You cannot apply online if you’re living in North Korea. To apply from North Korea you must: download the application form and guidance - read the guidance if you need help filling in the form read the instructions to find out where to take your completed form Apply in the UK Check if you can apply from inside the UK to: extend your existing Tier 4 (Child) student visa switch to this visa from another visa

You may be able to apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Tier 4 (Child) visa. You must: meet the eligibility requirements of this visa already be in the UK be sponsored by an independent school When to apply You must apply: within 6 months of getting a confirmation of acceptance for studies ( CAS ) before your current visa expires - but no more than 3 months before the course start date on your CAS You can stay in the UK until you get your decision. Fees For each person, you’ll need to pay: £475 to extend this visa the healthcare surcharge - check how much you’ll have to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken A decision will usually be made within 8 weeks if you use the standard service. Get a faster decision on your application If you want to get a decision more quickly, you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days. You can pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a decision: by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday 2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays. Apply You must apply online . Providing biometric information and supporting documents When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can: upload them into the online service have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do. What happens next You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because: your supporting documents need to be verified you need to attend an interview of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

You may be able to change (‘switch’) from another visa to a Tier 4 (Child) visa. Read the full Tier 4 guidance before you apply. When to apply You must apply: within 6 months of getting a confirmation of acceptance for studies ( CAS ) before your current visa expires - but no more than 3 months before the course start date on your CAS You can stay in the UK until you get your decision. Fees For each person, you’ll need to pay: £475 to switch to this visa the healthcare surcharge - check how much you’ll have to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken A decision will usually be made within 8 weeks if you use the standard service. Get a faster decision on your application If you want to get a decision more quickly, you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days. You can pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a decision: by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday 2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays. Apply You must apply online . Providing biometric information and supporting documents When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can: upload them into the online service have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do. What happens next You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because: your supporting documents need to be verified you need to attend an interview of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

Child student visa (Tier 4)

Overview

You can apply for the Tier 4 (Child) student visa if you’re aged between 4 and 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK.

You must also:

have a place on a course
have the consent of your parent or guardian
have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs
be from a country that’s not in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
meet the eligibility requirements

How long it will take

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you start your course.

You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Fees

It costs £348 to apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa from outside the UK.

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

How long you can stay

Your age and the length of your course of study will affect how long you can stay.

Age when you apply	How long you can stay
Under 16	Course length (up to 6 years) plus 4 months afterwards
16 or 17	Course length (up to 3 years) plus 4 months afterwards

You can arrive in the UK:

up to 1 week before your course starts if your course lasts 6 months or less
up to 1 month before your course starts if your course lasts more than 6 months

What you can and cannot do

You can:

study at an independent school
apply from outside the UK
apply to extend your stay

You can also work, if you’re 16 or over:

part-time during term for up to 10 hours per week
full-time during vacations
on a work placement as part of your course (but not for more than 50% of your course time)
as a student union sabbatical officer for up to 2 years

You cannot:

study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school) or further education college
get public funds
take a full-time permanent job or be self-employed
work as a doctor or dentist in training
work as a professional sportsperson (for example a sports coach) or entertainer
settle in the UK on this visa
bring in family members (‘dependants’) - if your parents want to accompany you, they’ll need to apply for a Parent of a Tier 4 (Child) visa

Read the full guidance on the Tier 4 (Child) student visa.

Print entire guide

Step 1 Check if this visa is right for you
You might be eligible for different visas depending on:
- where you'll be studying
- how long your course is
- how old you are
Step 2 Prepare the evidence you need
1. Check what documents you can use as evidence
2. Check if you need a TB test
Step 3 Apply from outside the UK
1. Apply from outside the UK and book an appointment £348
2. Check where your visa appointment will be
You should get a decision within 3 weeks of your appointment. You may be able to pay more to get a decision faster.
or Apply from inside the UK
1. Apply to extend if you're already in the UK on a Tier 4 (Child) visa £475
2. Apply to switch to this visa if you're already in the UK £475
You should get a decision within 8 weeks from when you apply. You may be able to pay more to get a decision faster.
Step 4 Attend an appointment

You'll be told when you apply if you need to bring anything to your appointment.

At your appointment you’ll have your fingerprints and photograph (‘biometric information’) taken.

You'll be told when a decision has been made about your visa.
Step 5 Check what you can bring with you to the UK
Step 6 Check what you need to show at the UK border
1. Check what you need to show at the UK border
If you're not accompanied by an adult, the official at the border will check that you know where you're going and how you're getting there.

If you said in your application that you would be accompanied by an adult, they need to be with you when you arrive at the border.
Step 7 After you arrive in the UK
1. Find out how to get your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
If you applied from outside the UK, your BRP will need to be collected within 10 days of you arriving. Check your BRP to find out when you must leave the UK.

If you break the conditions of your visa you may not be able to return to the UK again.

You might be able to extend your visa once you're in the UK.
1. Check if you can extend your visa

Child student visa (Tier 4)

Overview

How long it will take

Fees

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

Step 1 Check if this visa is right for you

Step 2 Prepare the evidence you need

Step 3 Apply from outside the UK

or Apply from inside the UK

Step 4 Attend an appointment

Step 5 Check what you can bring with you to the UK

Step 6 Check what you need to show at the UK border

Step 7 After you arrive in the UK

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Child student visa (Tier 4)

Overview

How long it will take

Fees

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

Part of Study in the UK on a child student visa (Tier 4)

Step 1: Check if this visa is right for you

Step 2: Prepare the evidence you need

Step 3: Apply from outside the UK

or Apply from inside the UK

Step 4: Attend an appointment

Step 5: Check what you can bring with you to the UK

Step 6: Check what you need to show at the UK border

Step 7: After you arrive in the UK

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check if this visa is right for you

Step 2 Prepare the evidence you need

Step 3 Apply from outside the UK

Step 4 Attend an appointment

Step 5 Check what you can bring with you to the UK

Step 6 Check what you need to show at the UK border

Step 7 After you arrive in the UK