Parent of a Child Student visa

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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:

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
View a printable version of the whole guide

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

  1. 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

  2. Step 2 Prepare the evidence you need

    1. Check what you need to show evidence of
    2. Check what documents you can use as evidence
    3. If your visa is for more than 6 months, check if you need a TB test

  3. Step 3 Apply

    1. Apply for a visa and book an appointment £637
    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 £500 for a decision within 5 working days or £1,000 for a decision within 24 hours (not including weekends or bank holidays). Check with your visa application centre.

  4. 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.

  5. Step 5 Get access to your eVisa

    If your visa allows you to stay in the UK for longer than 6 months, 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 6 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

  7. Step 7 After you arrive in the UK

    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.