Tier 4 Child Student Visa

The Tier 4 Child Student visa category is for non-EEA nationals aged between 4 and 17 years old who wish to study in the UK. 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 have a place on a course and have the consent of your parent or guardian. You must have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs and meet the eligibility requirements.

You may apply for a Tier 4 Child Student visa up to 3 months before the start of your course. If you are under the age of 16, you may stay in the UK for the duration of your course (up to 6 years) plus 4 months afterwards. If you are aged 16 or 17, you may stay for the duration of your course (up to 3 years) plus 4 months afterwards.

You can arrive in the UK up to 1 week before your course starts if your course lasts 6 months or less or up to 1 month before your course starts if your course lasts more than 6 months.

Eligibility

– You are aged between 4 and 17.
– You have been offered an unconditional place on an approved course of study at an independent school holding a valid student sponsor licence.
– You have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course without relying on public funds.
– You have the consent of your parent(s) or legal guardian.

Course Requirements

– A course taught in accordance with the National Curriculum; or
– A course taught in accordance with the Recognised Qualification Framework (RQF), that is not a foundation course intended to prepare the Child Student for entry to a course provided by a higher education provider; or
– A course that is accepted as being of equivalent academic status to the above courses by Ofsted (England), the Education and Training Inspectorate (Northern Ireland), Education Scotland (Scotland) or Estyn (Wales); or
– A course provided in accordance with prevailing Independent School education inspection standards.