Child Student visa

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Documents you'll need to apply

When you apply for your Child Student visa you must provide:

  • a current passport or other valid travel documentation
  • a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
  • written consent from your parent or legal guardian for your study and living arrangements in the UK

If you’re planning to live with a foster carer, close relative or nominated guardian then you must provide a letter from them.

You may also need to provide:

  • proof that you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - this will vary depending on your circumstances
  • proof of your relationship to your parent or legal guardian (for example a birth certificate or other government issued document showing their names)
  • evidence of the qualifications you used to get a place on your course - if this was required by your course provider
  • your tuberculosis (TB) test results
  • written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you’ve received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months

You must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or legal guardian. This must confirm they consent to your:

  • visa application
  • travel to the UK
  • living arrangements and care in the UK

Their consent must confirm that your living arrangements will be one of the following:

  • living with your parent or legal guardian
  • at an independent boarding school
  • living independently and aged 16 or 17
  • living with a foster carer or close relative, who is not your legal guardian

Living with a foster carer or close relative

You must provide a letter from your foster carer or close relative.

They must include in the letter:

  • their name, current address and contact details
  • the address where you’ll both live in the UK, if it’s different from their current address
  • confirmation that the place you’ll live is a private address and not operated as a business
  • their relationship with your parent or legal guardian
  • confirmation that they agree to care for you
  • the names of any other people they look after or have offered to look after
  • confirmation that they have enough money to look after you, if you will not board at school
  • their signature and the date

Living with a nominated guardian

You must provide a letter from your nominated guardian.

They must include in the letter:

  • their name, current address and contact details
  • the address where you’ll both live in the UK, if it’s different from their current address
  • confirmation that the place you’ll live is a private address and not operated as a business
  • their relationship with your parent or guardian
  • confirmation that they agree to care for you
  • the names of any other people they look after or have offered to look after
  • details of anyone who lives with the nominated guardian - their name, date of birth, contact details, National Insurance number and any other addresses they live at
  • their signature and the date

If you do not know who your nominated guardian is when you apply

You must provide a letter from a member of staff at the organisation that will arrange your nominated guardian.

Their letter must include:

  • their name and contact details
  • the name and address of the organisation
  • the date the organisation was established
  • confirmation that all guardians at the organisation have appropriate background checks
View a printable version of the whole guide

This page is Part of Study in the UK on a Child Student visa

  1. Step 1 Check if this visa is right for you

    You can apply for a Child Student visa if you’re between 4 and 17 years old and you want to study at an independent school in the UK.

    1. Check what you can and cannot do on this visa
    2. Check what courses you can study on this visa

    You might be eligible for a different visa if you're 18 or over.

    1. Check which visas you're eligible for

  2. Step 2 Prepare the evidence you need

    1. You are currently viewing: Check what documents you can use as evidence
    2. Check if you need a tuberculosis (TB) test

  3. Step 3 Apply from outside the UK

    1. Apply from outside the UK £524

    You'll need to prove your identity as part of your application.

    You'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

    1. Find out if you can pay more to get a faster decision

  4. or Apply from inside the UK

    1. Apply to extend if you're already in the UK on a Child Student visa (or Tier 4 (Child) visa) £524
    2. Apply to switch to this visa if you're already in the UK £524

    You'll need to prove your identity as part of your application.

    You'll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

    1. You may be able to pay more to get a faster decision you’ll be told if you can when you apply

  5. Step 4 Get access to your eVisa

    If your application is successful, you'll get an eVisa. This is an online record of your immigration status.

    1. Get access to your eVisa by setting up a UKVI account

    You’ll need to link your travel document to your UKVI account. This should be the travel document you use to come to the UK.

    1. You may have to prove your immigration status when you travel to the UK

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

    1. Check what you can bring in your hand luggage
    2. Check what to do if you're bringing cash with you
    3. Check what goods you can bring with you
    4. Check what food, animals or plants you can bring into the UK

  7. 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 said in your application that you would be accompanied by an adult, they need to be with you when you arrive at the 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. They may ask you other questions too.

  8. Step 7 After you arrive in the UK

    You might be able to extend your visa to stay longer in the UK.

    1. Check if you can extend your visa

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