Who is this route for?

The Child Student route is for a person aged between 4 and 17 who wants to study at an independent school in the UK, who hold a valid sponsor licence.

Children aged 16 or 17 who want to study a course at or above RQF level 3 or Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 6, can choose either to apply as a Child Student at an independent school, or as a Student under Appendix Student. The student sponsor will confirm which route the child is to apply under.

What are the general requirements?

To be eligible, individuals must fulfil the following requirements:

• Have an unconditional offer of a place on a course at an independent, fee-paying school. The school must have a sponsor licence for this route, and will need to assign a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (‘CAS’) to the student before they apply for the visa. It is entirely the decision of your academic institution when and if they issue you with a CAS, and you cannot apply for the visa without one.
• Prove they have enough money to support themselves while in the UK and pay for their course.
• Consent from their parents or guardians at the time they submit the application.

You can:

• Study at an independent school.
• If you’re 16 or over you can work:
  • 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)

You cannot:

• study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school) or further or higher education institution
• get public funds (benefits)
• take a full-time permanent job or be self-employed
• work as a professional sportsperson (for example a sports coach) or entertainer
• apply for settlement
• bring family members (‘dependants’) – if a parent wants to accompany you, they’ll need to apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa

When should I apply for the visa?

An application for entry clearance must be made no more than 6 months before the start date of the course stated on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (‘CAS’).

An application for permission to stay must be made no more than 3 months before the start date of the course on the CAS. You must apply before your current visa expires, and your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring.

How long will the visa be granted for?

The period of grant before the start of the course for an applicant applying for entry clearance will be:

(a) the relevant period of permission granted before the course date which is set out in the table below, if entry clearance is granted 1 month or more before the start date of the course or; or

(b) 7 days before the intended date of travel, if entry clearance is granted less than 1 month before the start date of the course; or

(c) with immediate effect, if entry clearance is granted less than 7 days before the intended date of travel and less than 1 month before the start date of the course.

The applicant will be granted permission for the duration of the course as specified on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and the relevant additional periods dependant on their age as specified in the table below: