Child Student visa

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Where you'll live

You must have a suitable place to live in the UK. You can live:

  • at school - this is known as ‘boarding’
  • with a foster carer or close relative
  • with a parent or legal guardian
  • independently, if you’re 16 or 17 years old

Boarding at school

You can board at school full-time or part-time.

You must have a suitable place to live when you are not boarding. You can:

  • live with your parent or legal guardian, if they have a Parent of a Child Student visa
  • live in the UK with someone who is a British citizen or settled in the UK
  • leave the country in school holidays

If you live in the UK with someone who is not your parent, they must be one of the following:

  • a foster carer
  • a close relative
  • a nominated guardian - you can only live with them for up to 27 days in a row

A nominated guardian must be at least 18 years old. They can be nominated by your parent, legal guardian or school.

Living with a foster carer or close relative

A foster carer or close relative must be a British citizen or be settled (have ‘indefinite leave to remain’) in the UK. They cannot be your parent.

A close relative can be a:

  • grandparent
  • brother or sister
  • step-parent
  • aunt or uncle

They must be at least 18 years old.

Your parent or guardian must have a Parent of a Child Student visa. They can only get this visa if either:

  • you’re under 12 years old
  • you have a brother or sister who is under 12 years old and also has a Child Student visa
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. 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.