The Parent of a Child Student Visa UK allows one parent to accompany their young child while the child attends a UK independent fee-paying school. It applies only to children aged 4 to 11 and ends when the child turns 12 or finishes their studies. From 8 April 2026 the fee is £726, plus the £1,035/year Immigration Health Surcharge. This guide covers eligibility, the £1,560/month maintenance requirement, and the strict no-work, no-study, no-settlement conditions.
Source: Home Office fees table — gov.uk (effective 8 April 2026)
The UK has multiple parent routes that searchers confuse, leading to wrong applications and lost fees. Parent of a Child Student (this route, £726) is for parents accompanying children aged 4-11 at independent fee-paying schools only. The Parent of a British Child Visa (£2,064) is for parents of UK-citizen or settled children and leads to settlement. The Adult Dependent Relative route is for elderly parents joining settled UK family. Dependent visas cover partners and children of main applicants. Picking wrongly wastes £726+ in non-refundable fees.
- What is the Parent of a Child Student Visa?
- Eligibility Requirements 2026
- Financial Requirements: £1,560 per Month
- Cost & Processing Time 2026
- Documents Required
- Your Child Also Needs a Child Student Visa
- Conditions & Restrictions: What You Cannot Do
- Parent Route Comparison: Which Visa Do You Need?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding the Parent of a Child Student Visa UK 2026
This specialised route recognises that very young children studying abroad need parental support. It allows one parent to live in the UK while their child attends an independent fee-paying school on a Child Student Visa. The visa is tied entirely to the child's education — when they turn 12 or finish studying, the parent's permission ends. The route does not lead to settlement and carries strict work and study prohibitions.
Who Qualifies for the Parent of a Child Student Visa?
The route is for one parent of a child aged 4-11 studying at an independent fee-paying UK school. It costs £726 from 8 April 2026, plus £1,035/year IHS. Permission ends when the child turns 12 or finishes studying. The parent cannot work, study, settle, or access public funds.
The visa acknowledges that children in their formative years may need direct parental care while studying abroad. It is entirely dependent on the child's student status — if the child's permission ends, so does the parent's. Only one parent can hold this visa at any time; the other cannot be in the UK or planning to join under it.
Eligibility Requirements 2026
You must be 18 or over, be the parent of a child aged 4-11 holding (or applying for) a Child Student Visa at an independent fee-paying day school, hold sufficient maintenance funds, and maintain a home outside the UK. The other parent must not be in the UK or planning to join under this route.
Core Eligibility Criteria
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Your age | 18 years or older |
| Child's age | 4-11 at the time of application |
| Child's visa status | Holds or is applying for a Child Student visa |
| School type | Independent fee-paying day school only (not state, academy, or boarding) |
| Other parent | Cannot be in the UK or planning to join under this route |
| Primary residence | Must maintain a home outside the UK |
| TB certificate | Required if from a listed country |
Suitability Requirements
Beyond eligibility, you must satisfy Part Suitability refusal grounds:
- No deception: no false information in any prior immigration application
- No criminal history: no relevant convictions
- No immigration breaches: not having overstayed or breached previous visas (limited paragraph 39E exceptions)
- Not on immigration bail: not currently subject to bail in the UK
Financial Requirements: £1,560 per Month
You must show £1,560 per month for up to 9 months (maximum £14,040) covering you and your child, plus £625 per month for each additional child (£5,625 over 9 months). Funds must be held for 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of the application.
| Financial Element | Amount Required |
|---|---|
| Parent + child maintenance | £1,560/month (up to 9 months = £14,040) |
| Each additional child | £625/month (up to 9 months = £5,625) |
| Child's school fees | Outstanding fees for 1 academic year (per CAS) |
| Funds holding period | 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of application |
Exemptions from Financial Evidence
- Long-term resident: 12+ months in the UK with valid permission before applying
- Joint application: applying with the Child Student who meets their own requirement deems yours satisfied
- Partner's funds: you can rely on funds in your partner's account, even from outside the UK
- Differential evidence: nationals of listed countries may not need upfront evidence (UKVI can still request it)
Parent of a Child Student Visa Cost & Processing Time 2026
The application costs £726 from 8 April 2026, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year. Processing takes about 3 weeks from outside the UK. In-country extensions use form FLR(IR) and cost £1,407.
| Cost Element | Amount (8 Apr 2026) |
|---|---|
| Parent visa application fee | £726 (up from £682) |
| Parent Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035/year |
| Child Student visa fee | £558 (up from £524) — payable for your child |
| Child Immigration Health Surcharge | £776/year |
| In-UK extension (FLR(IR)) | £1,407 (up from £1,321) |
| Standard processing time | ~3 weeks (outside UK) |
For the full schedule, see our UK visitor visa fees guide. Applications timed close to UK term starts can hit visa decision delays from Non-Straightforward case flags — apply at least 3 months before term begins, and track expectations via our UK visa processing time guide.
Documents Required for Application
You need a valid passport, proof of your relationship to the child, the child's CAS from a licensed independent school, bank statements showing 28 days of held funds, UK accommodation details, evidence of your home outside the UK, and a TB certificate if required.
- Valid passport or travel document
- Proof of relationship to child (birth certificate)
- Child's school enrolment evidence (CAS from licensed independent school)
- Bank statements (28 consecutive days, showing required funds)
- Evidence of UK accommodation arrangements
- Evidence of home outside the UK (proving temporary intention)
- TB certificate (if from a listed country)
- Certified translations for non-English documents
- Letter from the other parent consenting to the child travelling with you
For document standards and certified translations, see our UK visa supporting documents checklist. The UK visa application form guide covers the online steps and the mistakes that commonly cause refusals.
Your Child Also Needs a Child Student Visa
Before or alongside your application, your child applies for a Child Student Visa (£558 from 8 April 2026) with a CAS from a licensed UK independent school. Submitting both together simplifies the financial assessment. The child's visa runs to age 17 — but your accompanying visa ends at 12.
The parent route depends entirely on the child's visa — without an accepted Child Student application, you cannot qualify. The official Child Student visa guidance covers the child's side of the process; it replaced the former Tier 4 (Child) route.
Key Differences: Parent Visa vs Child Student Visa
| Aspect | Parent of Child Student (You) | Child Student (Your Child) |
|---|---|---|
| Fee (8 Apr 2026) | £726 | £558 |
| IHS | £1,035/year (adult) | £776/year (child) |
| Age range | Adult (18+) | 4-17 (but parent visa ends at 12) |
| Work permitted | No (strict prohibition) | Limited (by age and term) |
| School type | N/A | Independent fee-paying school only |
| Leads to settlement | No | No (not under this route) |
Conditions & Restrictions: What You Cannot Do
Strict conditions apply: no work (paid or unpaid), no study, no public funds, no business activity, and no bringing other family members. Permission ends when your child turns 12 or completes their studies — whichever is earlier. The route never leads to settlement or citizenship.
What You Cannot Do
- No employment: no work in any capacity — paid, unpaid, employed, or self-employed
- No study: no courses, training, or qualifications
- No public funds: no benefits or housing assistance
- No business: cannot start, run, or invest in a UK business
- No dependents: no spouse, partner, or other family members under this visa
- No settlement: time on this route never counts toward ILR or citizenship
- No switching: cannot switch to another category from within the UK
Duration of Stay
Your permission aligns with your child's study permission or until they turn 12 — whichever comes first. Grants typically run up to 12 months at a time, extendable via FLR(IR) (£1,407) while the child still qualifies and remains under 12.
If Your Application is Refused
You can request an administrative review under Appendix AR within 28 days (outside the UK) or 14 days (inside) if you believe the caseworker erred. The most common UK visa refusal reasons here are insufficient financial evidence, doubts about intention to leave, and incorrect school documentation.
Parent Route Comparison: Which Visa Do You Need?
The routes searchers confuse: Parent of a Child Student (this route, £726, ages 4-11 at independent schools), Parent of a British Child (£2,064, leads to settlement), and Adult Dependent Relative (elderly parents joining settled family). Dependent visas via Skilled Worker or Student routes cover partners and children, not parents. For a child adopted overseas and joining settled parents, a separate visa for an adopted child route applies.
| Visa Route | Purpose | Fee (8 Apr 2026) | Settlement? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent of Child Student | Accompany child (4-11) at independent school | £726 | No |
| Dependent Child Visa | Child joins parent on work/study visa | Varies by parent's route | Via parent's route |
| Parent of British Child | Parent of UK citizen or settled child | £2,064 | Yes (5 years) |
| Adult Dependent Relative | Elderly/dependent parent joining family | £3,635 | Yes (immediate) |
| Family Visitor Visa | Visit child in UK (short-term, <6 months) | £135 | No |
| Skilled Worker (with child dependent) | Parent works, child included as dependent | £819 + dependent fee | Yes (5 years) |
- Visa costs £726 from 8 April 2026, plus £1,035/year IHS
- Only one parent can accompany the child — spouses and partners cannot join
- Child must be aged 4-11 at an independent fee-paying day school
- Visa ends when the child turns 12 or completes studies, whichever is earlier
- No work, study, settlement, or public funds under this route
- Maintenance: £1,560/month plus £625/month per additional child
- Apply 3+ months before UK term starts to absorb processing delays
Frequently Asked Questions about Parent of a Child Student Visa UK
£726 from 8 April 2026 (up from £682), plus £1,035/year Immigration Health Surcharge. Your child's Child Student visa costs £558 plus £776/year IHS. For one parent and one child on a 12-month visa, upfront costs total roughly £3,095.
Until your child's study permission ends or they turn 12 — whichever comes first. Grants typically run up to 12 months, extendable via FLR(IR) (£1,407) while the child still qualifies. A 7-year-old with 2 years' study permission could keep you in the UK until they turn 12, assuming continued extensions.
No — only one parent can hold the visa, and the other cannot be in the UK or planning to join under this route. Spouses and partners cannot accompany you. The other parent can make short visits on a Standard Visitor Visa (£135 for up to 6 months).
No — no paid employment, unpaid work, volunteering in a work-like capacity, business activity, or self-employment. Study and public funds are also barred. The restrictions exist so the visa is used solely for caring for your child. If you need work rights, the Skilled Worker route with your child as a dependent is the alternative.
No — the Child Student and Parent of a Child Student visas apply only to independent fee-paying day schools. State schools, academies, and local-authority-funded schools do not qualify. Children joining you as dependents on a Skilled Worker or similar visa can attend state schools — but that is a different route.
Your permission ends and you must leave the UK. Your child can continue on their Child Student visa (valid to age 17), but unaccompanied — typically with a UK-based guardian arranged through the school, or by switching to boarding where available. Schools licensed as Student sponsors must hold approved guardianship arrangements for unaccompanied minors.
Request an administrative review under Appendix AR — within 28 days from outside the UK or 14 days from inside — if you believe the caseworker erred. Otherwise, address the refusal reasons and reapply. The application fee is non-refundable either way.
Only if they are siblings of the primary child student, hold their own Child Student visas, and attend independent fee-paying day schools. Each extra child requires £625/month in additional maintenance (£5,625 over 9 months). Children without their own Child Student visa cannot come under this route.
No — time on this route never counts toward ILR or citizenship. It is temporary and tied to your child's education: you must keep a primary residence outside the UK and leave when the visa ends. For settlement-bearing routes, see the Parent of a British Child or Skilled Worker visas.
Yes — it replaced the Parent of a Tier 4 (Child) route, with largely the same structure, now governed by Appendix Parent of a Child Student. The Child Student Visa similarly replaced Tier 4 (Child) and is governed by Appendix Child Student. Old Tier 4 visas remain valid until expiry; renewals fall under the new Appendix.