When you apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa, you must: pay the application fee pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay prove that you have enough money to support yourself and your child while you’re in the UK Visa application fee A Parent of a Child Student visa costs £516. Healthcare surcharge You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your online application. It usually costs £624 per year. This is so you can use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. Check how much you’ll need to pay before you apply. You pay the surcharge as part of your online visa application. Money to support yourself and your child You’ll need to show that you have enough money to support yourself and your child in the UK. You’ll need £1,560 for each month of your stay up to a maximum of 9 months. This amount is to support both you and your child. For example, if you’re staying for 9 months or longer you’ll need to prove you have £14,040 (9 months × £1,560). If you want to bring your other children You’ll need an extra £625 per month, up to a maximum of 9 months, for each additional child that accompanies you to the UK. They must be a sibling of your other child and also have a Child Student visa. If you’re extending your visa If you’ve been in the UK for at least 12 months on a valid visa, you do not need to prove you have money to support yourself and your child for your visa application.

Documents you'll need to apply

When you apply you’ll need to provide: a current passport or other valid travel document proof that you have enough money to support yourself and your child - unless you’ve been in the UK for at least 12 months on a valid visa evidence that you have a permanent home outside the UK Depending on your circumstances, you might also need to provide: your tuberculosis ( TB ) test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the TB test a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Parent of a Child Student visa before you travel to the UK. The earliest you can apply is 6 months before you travel to the UK. Check what documents you’ll need to apply . Apply online As part of your online application, you will need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to prove your identity. You’ll have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at your appointment. The visa application centre may keep your passport and documents while processing your application. You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later. Apply online Continue your application You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it. Check your email and follow the link to return to your application. How long it takes to get a decision Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. You may be able to pay to get a faster decision . Check if your visa application centre offers faster decisions and other services. After you apply You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because: your supporting documents need to be verified of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction) If you need to change or cancel your application If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) . You can ask to cancel your application by contacting UKVI. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application. After you get a decision You’ll get a letter or an email containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next. Find out what happens after you get your decision .

You can apply to extend your visa while in the UK as long as you and your child meet the eligibility requirements . This includes if your child currently has a Tier 4 (Child) student visa. How long you can stay When you extend your visa you can stay in the UK until the date your child’s student visa expires or they turn 12, whichever happens first. When to apply to extend your visa You must apply before your current visa expires. You can stay in the UK until you get a decision on your visa application. Apply to extend your visa You must apply online. When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point. At the appointment you must provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). It costs £19.20. You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can: upload them into the online service have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later. Apply to extend Continue your application You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it. Check your email and follow the link to return to your application. Get help to apply online You can get help with completing the online form if you: do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device do not have internet access You can only use this service if you’re applying to extend your visa in the UK. You cannot get immigration advice through this service. How long it takes to get a decision Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks. You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you’ll be told if you can when you apply. You can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired. 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. After you apply You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because: your supporting documents need to be verified of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction) If you need to change or cancel your application If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) . You can ask to withdraw your application by contacting UKVI. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application. After you get a decision You’ll get a letter or an email containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next. Find out what happens after you get your decision . If you applied for an administrative review because your application was refused, you can stay in the UK until you get your review decision.

Parent of a Child Student visa

Who can apply

You can only apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa if your child has or is applying for a Child Student visa. Or if they currently have a Tier 4 (Child) visa.

Your child must be aged between 4 and 11 when you apply, and be attending an independent school in the UK.

You must also:

be the only parent accompanying your child in the UK
have enough money to support yourself and your child in the UK
maintain your main home outside the UK
plan to leave the UK when your visa expires

Bringing family members with you

To be eligible for a Parent of a Child Student visa you must be the only parent accompanying your child in the UK. The child’s other parent must live abroad, and cannot apply to join you in the UK.

You can bring your other children with you if they also have or are applying for a Child Student visa.

You cannot bring other family members with you on this visa. They may be able to apply to come to the UK on a short-term visit visa.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK until your child’s visa expires or they turn 12, whichever happens first.

You can extend your visa while in the UK as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

If you leave the UK

If your child is staying in education in the UK without you, you must make arrangements for their ongoing care. For example, if your child turns 12 and their visa is still valid, they may be able to start boarding at their current school, or live with other family members in the UK.

What you cannot do

While you’re in the UK on a Parent of a Child Student visa, you cannot:

do paid work
study
start a business
make the UK your main home
apply for benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
bring other family members with you
switch to a different type of visa

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you or your family member started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme.

The deadline to apply was 30 June 2021 for most people. You can still apply if either:

you have a later deadline - for example, you’re joining a family member in the UK who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020
you have ‘reasonable grounds’ for being unable to apply by 30 June 2021 - for example, you had an illness or were the victim of domestic abuse

Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Otherwise you need a visa to work in the UK.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Step 1 Check if you need a visa
You might be eligible for different visas depending on why you're visiting the UK and how long for.
1. Check if you need a visa
Step 2 Prepare the evidence you need
Step 3 Apply
1. Apply for a visa and book an appointment £516
2. Check where your visa appointment will be
You should get a decision within 3 weeks of your appointment.

You might be able to pay an extra £220 for a decision within 5 working days or £956 for a decision within 24 hours (not including weekends or bank holidays). Check with your visa application centre.
Step 4 Attend an appointment
1. What you need to prove at your appointment
You'll be told when a decision has been made about your visa.
Step 5 Travel to the UK
1. Check what you need to show at the UK border
2. Check what you can bring with you
Keep the documents that prove why you're visiting the UK in your hand luggage so you can show them if asked.
1. Check the documents you can use to show why you're visiting the UK
Step 6 After you arrive in the UK
If your visa allows you to stay in the UK for longer than 6 months, you'll need to collect your biometric residence permit soon after you arrive.
1. Collect your biometric residence permit
Check your visa to find out when you must leave the UK. You may be able to extend your visa if you want to stay for longer.
1. Extend your visa
If you break the conditions of your visa you may not be able to return to the UK again.

Parent of a Child Student visa

Who can apply

Bringing family members with you

How long you can stay

If you leave the UK

What you cannot do

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Step 1 Check if you need a visa

Step 2 Prepare the evidence you need

Step 3 Apply

Step 4 Attend an appointment

Step 5 Travel to the UK

Step 6 After you arrive in the UK

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Parent of a Child Student visa

Who can apply

Bringing family members with you

How long you can stay

If you leave the UK

What you cannot do

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Part of Apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa: step by step

Step 1: Check if you need a visa

Step 2: Prepare the evidence you need

Step 3: Apply

Step 4: Attend an appointment

Step 5: Travel to the UK

Step 6: After you arrive in the UK

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Help us improve GOV.UK

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Step 1 Check if you need a visa

Step 2 Prepare the evidence you need

Step 3 Apply

Step 4 Attend an appointment

Step 5 Travel to the UK

Step 6 After you arrive in the UK