Entry Clearance For Child Student Visa UK
You can apply for entry clearnce for child student visa for UK if you are a child aged between 4 and 17 and wish to study at an independent school in the UK, which is a student sponsor. A person seeking to come to the UK on the Child Student route must apply for and obtain an entry clearance as a Child Student before they arrive in the UK.
Specialist Child Student Visa Solicitors
Our expert team of child student visa solicitors in London specialise in child student visa entry clearance applications. Our specialist child student visa solicitors have successfully helped thousands of clients with the child student visa entry clearance applications. Our best team of child student visa solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable and fixed fee immigration services concerning your child student visa entry clearance application. Ask a question to our expert child student visa solicitors for free immigration advice or submit an online request to book an appointment for detailed legal advice for your child student visa entry clearance application.
Eligibility Requirements For Child Student Visa Entry Clearance
To qualify for child student Visa entry clearance, you should meet the following requirements of the Immigration Rules:
- The applicant should make a valid application for child student visa entry clearance;
- The applicant must be aged between 4 and 17 years at the date of application;
- 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);
- The applicant must meet all the requirements related to Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS);
- The applicant must all the requirements related to course of study;
- The applicant must meet the points based criteria and score 70 points to qualify for child student visa entry clearance;
- An applicant aged 16 or 17 years old must be a genuine student;
- The applicant should meet the parental consent requirement;
- The applicant’s application for entry clearance should not fall for refusal under general grounds for refusal as set out in part 9 of the Immigration Rules;
- A person applying for entry clearance for more than 6 months must meet the requirements for a tuberculosis certificate if the criteria specified in paragraph A39 and in Appendix T apply.
Valid Confirmation Of Acceptance For Studies (CAS)
The child student must meet the following requirements in relation to the valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS):
- The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must have been issued by a student sponsor which is an independent school whose licence is still valid on the date on which the application is decided;
- The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must not have been issued by the student sponsor more than 6 months before the date of application;
- The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must not have been used in a previous application which was either granted or refused (but could have been submitted in a previous application which was rejected as invalid, made void or withdrawn).
- The student sponsor must not have withdrawn the offer since the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) was issued.
- The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must contain the necessary information to confirm that the course requirement is met.
- The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must state the cost of accommodation and fees (and any payment already made) so that the financial requirement can be assessed.
Course Of Study Requirements
The applicant must meet the following requirements in relation to his/her course of study:
- The application must be for a single course of study that meets the requirements in CS 8.2. unless it is for a combined pre-sessional course that meets the requirement at CS 11.1;
- The course for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) has been assigned must be one of the following:
- taught in accordance with the National Curriculum; or
- taught in accordance with the Recognised Qualification Framework (RQF), and is not a foundation course intended to prepare the Child Student for entry to a course provided by a higher education provider; or
- accepted as being of equivalent academic status to (a) or (b) above by Ofsted (England), the Education and Training Inspectorate (Northern Ireland), Education Scotland (Scotland) or Estyn (Wales); or
- provided in accordance with prevailing Independent School education inspection standards.
Parental Consent Requirement
The applicant must have written consent from:
- both parents; or
- one parent, if that parent has sole legal responsibility for the applicant; or
- the applicant’s legal guardian.
The written consent must confirm support for all the following:
- the application; and
- the applicant’s living and care arrangements in the UK; and
- if the application is for entry clearance, the applicant’s travel to, and reception arrangements in, the UK.
If the applicant will be living with a close relative or private foster carer, that close relative or foster carer must be:
- a British citizen; or
- settled in the UK.
The close relative or private foster carer (the intended carer) must provide a letter of undertaking which contains the following information:
- the name, current address and contact details of the intended carer; and
- the address where the intended carer and the applicant will be living in the UK if different from the intended carer’s current address; and
- confirmation that the accommodation offered to the applicant is a private address, and not operated as a commercial enterprise, such as a hotel or a youth hostel; and
- the nature of the relationship between the applicant’s parent(s) or legal guardian and the intended carer; and
- that the intended carer agrees to the care arrangements for the applicant; and
- that the intended carer has at least £570 per month available to look after and accommodate the applicant for each month of the course up to a maximum of 9 months; and
- a list of any other people that the intended carer has offered support to; and
- the intended carer’s signature and date of the letter of undertaking.
If the applicant is staying in a private foster care arrangement and is under 16 years old, they must also provide:
- a copy of the letter of notification from their parent, legal guardian or intended carer to the UK local authority, confirming that the applicant will be in the care of a private foster carer while in the UK; and
- the UK local authority’s confirmation of receipt, confirming that the local authority has received notification of the private foster care arrangement and have given permission to the arrangement.
Financial Requirement
Where the applicant is applying for entry clearance or permission to stay where they have been in the UK for less than 12 months, the applicant must have the following funds:
| Living arrangements | Funds required |
|---|---|
| Boarding at a residential independent school | The applicant must have sufficient funds to pay the outstanding course fees and boarding fees for one academic year |
| Living during term-time with a private foster carer or close relative who is a British Citizen or settled in the UK | The applicant must have sufficient funds to pay the outstanding course fees for one academic year. The private foster carer or close relative must have funds of at least £570 per month for each month of the course up to the maximum of 9 months |
| Living with a parent or legal guardian who holds permission as a Parent of a Child Student | The applicant must have sufficient funds to pay the outstanding course fees for one academic year and: (a) if no other children are accompanying the parent, £1,560 per month for each month of the course up to maximum of 9 months; and (b) if any other children are accompanying the parent, £625 per month of the course for each additional child, up to maximum of 9 months |
| Aged 16 or 17 and living independently | The applicant must have sufficient funds to pay the outstanding course fees for one academic year and either: (a) 1,265 for each month of the course up to the maximum of 9 months where studying in London; or (b) £1,015 for each month of the course up to the maximum of 9 months where studying outside London |
- If the length of the applicant’s course includes a part of a month, the period of time will be rounded up to the next full month.
- Unless the applicant is relying on a student loan or an award from a Government or international sponsorship agency, they must show that they have held the required level of funds for a 28-day period as calculated in Appendix Finance, FIN 7.1 to FIN 7.3.
- Unless CS 13.1. applies, the applicant must show they meet the financial requirement as specified in Appendix Finance.
- The applicant must not be financially responsible for anyone else.
Combined Pre-sessional Course Requirement
A single Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) can be assigned by an independent school for a combined pre-sessional course and a main course if:
- the applicant has an unconditional offer of a place at the independent school; and
- the duration of the pre-sessional course and period of study at the independent school does not exceed the maximum period of permission granted as set out at CS 15.2.
Evidence Of Qualification Requirement
Unless CS 13.1 applies, the applicant must provide evidence of the qualifications they used to obtain the offer of a place on the course from the student sponsor.
The evidence of each qualification must be one of the following:
- the certificate(s) of qualification; or
- the transcript of results; or
- a print out of the qualification or transcript results from the awarding body’s online checking service.
Where the applicant has provided a print out of qualifications or transcript results from the awarding body’s online checking service, the decision maker may require the applicant to provide the certificate of qualification or transcript of results.
Differential Evidence Requirement
Evidence to show that the applicant meets the financial requirement and the requirement to provide documents used to obtain an offer does not need to be provided with the application (but may be required by the decision maker) if the applicant is applying from the country or territory where they are living, or from in the UK, and the applicant either:
- holds a valid passport which shows they are registered as a British National (Overseas), or which was issued by the competent authorities of Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR or Taiwan (which includes the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan); or
- is a national of any of the following:
Australia | Austria | Bahrain | Barbados | Belgium | Botswana | Brazil | Brunei | Bulgaria | Cambodia | Canada | Chile | China | Croatia | Republic of Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | The Dominican Republic | Estonia | Finland | France | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Iceland | Indonesia | Ireland | Italy | Japan | Kazakhstan | Kuwait | Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malaysia | Malta | Mauritius | Mexico | Netherlands | New Zealand | Norway | Oman | Peru | Poland | Portugal | Qatar | Romania | Serbia | Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia | South Korea | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Thailand | Tunisia | United Arab Emirates (UAE) | United States of America (USA).
Conditions and Period Of Grant
The grant of permission will subject to the following conditions:
- no access to public funds; and
- no work until the Child Student is over 16 years, then work allowed as specified in CS 16.1. and
- no study except as specified in CS 17; and
- if Part 10 applies the person will be required to register with the police.
The period of grant before the start of the course for an applicant applying for entry clearance will be:
- 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
- 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
- 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 (CAS) and the relevant additional periods dependant on their age as specified in the table below:
| Age | Period of granted before course start date | Period granted for study | Period granted after course end date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 years | 1 month | The shortest of: · the period requested by the applicant; or · the duration of the course of study; or · 6 years |
4 months | |
| 16 or 17 years | 1 month | The shortest of: · the period requested by the applicant; or · the duration of the course of study; or · 3 years |
4 months |
Work Rights And Work Conditions
A Child Student who is aged 16 or over may work:
- for no more than 10 hours per week during term time; and
- for any duration during vacation (including before the course starts); and
- on a course-related work placement which forms an assessed part of the Child Student’s course; provided that any period that the Child Student spends on that placement does not exceed half of the total length of the course undertaken in the UK, unless it is a UK statutory requirement that the placement should exceed half the total length of the course.
A Child Student will not be allowed to do any of the following work:
- be self-employed or engage in business activity; or
- work as a Doctor or Dentist in training; or
- work as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach); or
- work as an entertainer, or
- work in a position which would fill a permanent full-time vacancy.
Study Conditions
A Child Student must study on the course or courses for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned, unless:
- they have yet to complete the course for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned; and
- they begin study on a new course at the student sponsor institution and the new course is at a higher or the same level as the course for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned and is not a foundation course intended to prepare the student for entry to a higher education provider.
A Child Student must study with the student sponsor which issued their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, unless:
- they are studying at an institution which is a partner institution of their student sponsor; or
- they have made an application for permission to stay while they have permission as a Child Student which is supported by a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies assigned by a student sponsor, the application has not yet been decided, or any administrative review against refusal of that decision has not been determined, and the Child Student will be studying at the student sponsor that assigned the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
Supplementary study is permitted.
A Child Student must not study at a State School or Academy except for:
- a voluntary grammar school with boarding in Northern Ireland: or
- if the Child Student has been granted permission to study at a student sponsor which becomes a State School or Academy during that period of permission, in which case the Child Student may complete the course for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned.
Re-Applying For Child Student Visa Entry Clearance After The Refusal
If your application for child student visa entry clearance has been refused by the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) and you believe that the decision to refuse your application is valid and lawful and therefore cannot be challenged by way of Entry Clearance Appeal Against child student Visa Refusal, you have the option to re-apply for child student visa. We can provide the required legal help and assistance with re-applying for child student visa entry clearance after the refusal.
How Can We Help With Your Child Student Visa Entry Clearance Application?
Our expert team of child student visa solicitors specialise in UK child student visa entry clearance applications. If instructed to represent you regarding your application for UK child student visa entry clearance, we will carry out all the work on your application until a decision is made by the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) on your child student visa entry clearance application. The immigration casework to be carried out by our expert team of child student visa solicitors will include the following:
- Assessing your eligibility for child student visa entry clearance by considering all the relevant information and evidence;
- Advising you on the weaknesses and strengths of your child student visa entry clearance application;
- Advising you on the relevant documents to be submitted in support of your child student visa entry clearance application;
- Assessing your documents to ensure that the documentary evidence is as per requirements of the Home Office UKVI immigration Rules;
- Completing and submitting the online application form to apply for child student visa UK entry clearance by gathering all the relevant information from you;
- Helping you with paying the child student visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for the application;
- Where necessary, preparing detailed witness statement of the applicant explaining how the applicant is a genuine child student and other relevant factors pertaining to the child student visa entry clearance application;
- Preparing a detailed cover letter to introduce and support your child student visa entry clearance application explaining in detail how you satisfy all the relevant requirements of the Immigration Rules for the grant of child student visa;
- Uploading online all the relevant supporting documents and scheduling an appointment for submission of passport and enrolment of your biometrics;
- Liaising with the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) for a timely decision on your child student visa entry clearance application.
Our Fees For Child Student Visa Entry Clearance UK
Unless your matter is extremely complicated, our fixed fees for child student visa entry clearance application from outside the UK are as given in the fee table below:
| Our Service | Our Fee |
| One-Off immigration consultation for child student visa Entry Clearance | £80 (no VAT) |
| One-Off Application Checking Service / Documents Assessment | £240 (no VAT) |
| Full service for child student visa Entry Clearance to cover all the work until decision by the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) | From £1,000 To £1,500 (no VAT) |
The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of the child student visa entry clearance application and the volume of casework involved in the application. In addition to our fixed fee for child student visa entry clearance, the applicant will also have to pay the Home office UKVI fees for the entry clearance application.