Child Student Visa

The Tier 4 Child Student Visa category is for children coming to the UK to be educated between four and 17 years old at independent schools.

Tier 4 Child student visa applications made using a CAS assigned on or after 10 August 2015 must be to study at an independent school. Tier 4 (Child) applications made using a CAS assigned on or before 9 August 2015 will be considered in accordance with the Rules in force on 2 August. ,You must apply as a Tier 4 (Child) student if you want to study at or below level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework.

Tier 4 Child students who are under 16 years of age may not be offered an English language course (except insofar as this forms part of a broader programme of study being taught in accordance with the National Curriculum, the NQF, or accepted as being of equivalent academic status or fulfilling the requirements of prevailing independent school inspection standards). You can apply to come to the UK as a as a short-term student child in order to study English language for a maximum of 6 months.

Can I switch in to the Tier 4 Child student visa category?

You can switch into the Tier 4 (Child) student category if you have, or were last given, permission to stay as:

A Tier 4 (General) student; or
A Tier 4 (Child) student; or
a prospective student, or
as a student under the Immigration Rules in place before 31 March 2009

What are the acceptable levels of courses I can do?

You can do a course that is:

taught in line with the National Curriculum; or
taught in line with the National Qualification Framework (NQF); or
a prospective student, or
as a student under the Immigration Rules in place before 31 March 2009

Documents used to get a CAS for Tier 4 Child student visa who are 16 or 17 years old

If you are 16 or 17 year old and your Tier 4 sponsor has assessed your qualifications in order to assign the CAS, you must send us these qualifications with your application.

What money do I need?

The amount of money will depend if you are a boarding or non-boarding student. But, in general you will need your first year’s course fees + your accommodation fees for the first year. If you are in doubt as how much money you or your child requires in order to obtain the visa please give a call to Imperial Visas Tier 4 specialist team now on 0203 627 4777 who will assist you promptly.