If a child is enrolled in an independent fee‑paying school in the UK and a parent wishes to accompany them, the Parent of a Child Student visa (which replaced the former Tier 4 Parent route) governs the parent’s entry and stay.
How to Apply
- Submit the application online using the designated form.
- Pay the visa fee (£726 for applications made outside the UK; £1,407 for extensions made inside the UK) and the Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035 per year).
- Provide biometric data and a valid passport or travel document.
- Ensure the application does not breach the “Part Suitability” rules, which assess personal and immigration history.
Child Student Requirements
- The child must be 4 – 11 years old on the date of the parent’s application.
- The child must hold, or be applying for, entry clearance as a Child Student.
- The school must be an independent fee‑paying institution (not a state school or academy).
- Timing is critical: if the child turns 12 before a decision is made, the parent’s application will be refused.
Parent Eligibility
To qualify, the applicant must demonstrate that they:
- Are 18 years or older at the time of application.
- Are the parent of a child who is, or is applying for, a Child Student visa.
- Intend to live with the child in the UK.
- Have sufficient funds without recourse to public funds.
- Do not intend to make the UK their main home and can maintain a main residence abroad.
Financial Maintenance Requirement
- If applying simultaneously with the child (and both have been in the UK for less than 12 months), the parent meets the requirement automatically when the child’s financial criteria are satisfied.
- If applying separately and the parent has not been in the UK for 12 months, they must show £1,560 per month of intended stay, up to a maximum of 9 months.
- For each additional child under the parent’s care, an extra £625 per month is required (also capped at 9 months).
- Funds must have been held for 28 days ending no more than 31 days before the application date.
- Funds held by a partner outside the UK may be used as evidence.
- If the parent has been in the UK for 12 months or more, no financial evidence is needed.
Switching Into the Route
- The applicant must already be in the UK on the date of application.
- They cannot have previously held, or be currently holding, a Visitor, Short‑term Student, or any status that falls outside the Immigration Rules.
Duration of the Visa
- Permission is granted for the same period as the child’s visa or until the child turns 12, whichever occurs first.
What the Visa Allows (and Prohibits)
- Prohibited activities: any form of work (including self‑employment, business activity, and remote work), study, and access to public funds.
- Allowed activities: residing with the child and attending to family responsibilities.
Visiting the Child – The Other Parent
- Only one parent may hold a Parent of a Child Student visa.
- The other parent must remain outside the UK or may visit using a Standard Visitor visa (if a national on the UK Visa National List) or the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for eligible non‑visa nationals.
Medical Requirement
- Applicants must provide a valid medical certificate confirming a negative tuberculosis (TB) screening if the Appendix TB rule applies.
- Appendix TB is triggered when the applicant will stay in the UK for more than 6 months and has been continuously present in a listed country for at least 6 months (including any period within the 6 months before the application).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
Any parent of a child who holds or is applying for a Child Student visa, provided they meet the route’s eligibility criteria.
What age must the child be?
The child must be between 4 and 11 years old on the date of the parent’s application.
Can both parents apply?
No. Only one parent may be in the UK under this route; the other parent must not reside in the UK.
How much money is required?
Typically £1,560 per month of intended stay (up to 9 months). Additional funds are required for each extra child under care.
Is the financial requirement waived after 12 months in the UK?
Yes. If the parent has been lawfully present in the UK for 12 months or more, they do not need to demonstrate the financial requirement.
Can I work on this visa?
No. Work, self‑employment, business activity, and remote work are prohibited.
How long is the visa valid?
It lasts for the same period as the child’s visa or until the child turns 12, whichever is sooner.
Source article: immigrationbarrister.co.uk
