1. Overview
You can apply for the Tier 4 (Child) student visa if you’re aged between 4 and 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK.
You must also:
1.have a place on a course
2.have the consent of your parent or guardian
3.have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs
4.be from a country that’s not in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
5.meet the eligibility requirements
How long it will take
The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you start your course.
You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. You can check visa processing times for your country.
Fees
It costs £328 to apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa from outside the UK.
You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.
How long you can stay
Your age and the length of your course of study will affect how long you can stay.
| Age when you apply | How long you can stay |
|---|---|
| Under 16 | Course length (up to 6 years) plus 4 months afterwards |
| 16 or 17 | Course length (up to 3 years) plus 4 months afterwards |
You can arrive in the UK:
1.up to 1 week before your course starts if your course lasts 6 months or less
2.up to 1 month before your course starts if your course lasts more than 6 months
What you can and can’t do
You can:
1.study at an independent school
2.apply from outside the UK
3.apply to extend your stay
You can also work, if you’re 16 or over:
1.part-time during term for up to 10 hours per week
2.full-time during vacations
3.on a work placement as part of your course, (but not for more than 50% of your course time)
4.as a student union sabbatical officer for up to 2 years
You can’t:
1.study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school) or further education college
2.get public funds
3.take a full-time permanent job or be self-employed
4.work as a doctor or dentist in training
5.work as a professional sportsperson (for example a sports coach) or entertainer
6.settle in the UK on this visa
7.bring in family members (‘dependants’) - if your parents want to accompany you, they’ll need to apply for a Parent of a Tier 4 (Child) visa
2. Eligibility
You must have:
1.an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Tier 4 sponsor
2.enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - this will vary depending on your circumstances
You should read the guidance for the full list of documents and how much money you’ll need according to your situation.
Your course
You can do a course that’s taught in line with:
1.the national curriculum
2.the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
3.independent school education inspection standards
You can also do a course that’s accepted as being at the same academic level by:
1.Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
2.HM Inspectorate of Education (in Scotland)
3.Estyn (in Wales)
4.Education and Training Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland)
5.Independent Schools Inspectorate
You can do a short course to prepare you for your main course, such as pre-sessional study.
You can’t do a foundation course that will prepare you for direct entry to a higher education institution.
Confirmation of acceptance for studies
Your education provider will send you a reference number called a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) once they’ve offered you a place on a course. You’ll need to enter this on your application.
Your CAS can cover both the pre-sessional course and your main course of study.
You must apply for your visa no later than 6 months after you’re sent the CAS.
3. Documents you must provide
When you apply you’ll need to provide:
1.a current passport or other valid travel documentation
2.proof that you can support yourself and pay for your course - this will vary depending on your circumstances
3.proof of parental or other legal guardian consent
4.your tuberculosis (TB) test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
You need a page in your passport that’s blank on both sides for your visa.
Your documents will usually be sent back within 14 days.
4. Apply
Read the full Tier 4 guidance before you apply.
You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.
Apply outside the UK
You must apply online for a Tier 4 (Child) visa.
You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of your application.
You’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you said you’d arrive in the UK (even if you actually arrive at a later date).
You may be able to get your visa faster or other services depending on what country you’re in - check with your visa application centre.
North Korea
You can’t apply online if you’re living in North Korea.
To apply from North Korea you must:
1.download the application form and guidance - read the guidance if you need help filling in the form
2.read the instructions to find out where to take your completed form
Apply in the UK
Check if you can apply from inside the UK to:
1.extend your existing Tier 4 (Child) student visa
2.switch to this visa from another visa
5. Extend your visa
You may be able to apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Tier 4 (Child) visa.
You must:
1.meet the eligibility requirements of this visa
2.already be in the UK
3.be sponsored by an independent school
When to apply
You must apply:
1.within 6 months of getting a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS)
2.before your current visa expires - but no more than 3 months before the course start date on your CAS
You can stay in the UK until you get your decision.
Ways to apply
If you want to get a decision more quickly than the standard 8 weeks, you can apply:
1.for priority service - there’s a limited number of places each day
2.to use a premium service centre - you’ll need to go in person
| Application type | Time for a decision | Cost per person |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 8 weeks | £448 |
| Priority | 10 days | £823 |
| Premium | Same day | £948 |
You’ll also need to provide biometric information and pay the healthcare surcharge.
Apply for the standard or premium service
You can apply online:
1.for the standard service
2.to book an appointment at a premium service centre
Pay the appropriate fee at the same time.
Apply for the priority service
You must fill in a request form before you can use the priority service. Send it to the email address on the form.
Only the first 60 requests received each day after 8:30am (Monday to Friday) are accepted - you’ll get an email saying if you’ve been successful.
Once you’ve been accepted for the priority service you should apply onlinewithin 24 hours. Pay the fee at the same time.
Send your supporting documents by registered post or courier to the address given in the priority service acceptance email.
Make sure your documents get there within 2 days of when you apply.
Provide your biometric information
You must also provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo). You can do this at:
1.some Post Office branches (this costs £19.20)
2.a premium service centre if you’ve paid to use one
You’ll be told when you need to provide your biometric information for the standard or priority service. You’ll have to do it within 2 working days if you’re using the priority service.
You’ll get a biometric residence permit if your application to extend your visa is successful.
Pay the healthcare surcharge
You must also pay the healthcare surcharge.
Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply for your extension.
What happens next
You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because:
1.your supporting documents need to be verified
2.you need to attend an interview
3.of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)
6. Switch to this visa
You may be able to change (‘switch’) from another visa to a Tier 4 (Child) visa.
Read the full Tier 4 guidance before you apply.
When to apply
You must apply:
1.within 6 months of getting a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS)
2.before your current visa expires - but no more than 3 months before the course start date on your CAS
You can stay in the UK until you get your decision.
Ways to apply
If you want to get a decision more quickly than the standard 8 weeks, you can apply:
1.for priority service - there’s a limited number of places each day
2.to use a premium service centre - you’ll need to go in person
| Application type | Time for a decision | Cost per person |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 8 weeks | £448 |
| Priority | 10 days | £823 |
| Premium | Same day | £948 |
You’ll also need to provide biometric information and pay the healthcare surcharge.
Apply for the standard or premium service
You can apply online:
1.for the standard service
2.to book an appointment at a premium service centre
Pay the appropriate fee at the same time.
Apply for the priority service
You must fill in a request form before you can use the priority service. Send it to the email address on the form.
Only the first 60 requests received each day after 8:30am (Monday to Friday) are accepted - you’ll get an email saying if you’ve been successful.
Once you’ve been accepted for the priority service you should apply onlinewithin 24 hours. Pay the fee at the same time.
Send your supporting documents by registered post or courier to the address that you’re given in the priority service acceptance email.
Make sure your documents get there within 2 days of when you apply.
Provide your biometric information
You must also provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo). You can do this at:
1.some Post Office branches (this costs £19.20)
2.a premium service centre if you’ve paid to use one
You’ll be told when you need to provide your biometric information for the standard or priority service. You’ll have to do it within 2 working days if you’re using the priority service.
You’ll get a biometric residence permit if your application to extend your visa is successful.
Pay the healthcare surcharge
You must also pay the healthcare surcharge.
Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply for your extension.
What happens next
You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because:
1.your supporting documents need to be verified
2.you need to attend an interview
3.of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)
