Child Student visa
Money you need
You must have enough money available to you to pay for your course and support you in the UK.
How much money you need depends on where you will live and who will be looking after you.
If you’ll live with your parent or guardian
Your parent must have a Parent of a Child Student visa to accompany you to the UK. If you’re over 12 your parent will not be eligible, unless you have a younger sibling who’s under 12 and also has a Child Student visa.
You must have enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).
You’ll also need £1,560 per month (for up to 9 months) - this amount is for both you and your parent.
Your parent will need an extra £625 a month (for up to 9 months) for each additional child they accompany to the UK. The child must be your sibling and must also have a Child Student visa.
If you’re boarding at an independent school
You must have enough money to pay for your course fees and your boarding fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).
If you’ll live with a foster carer or close relative
You must have enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).
Your foster carer or close relative must confirm they have at least £570 per month (for up to 9 months).
Your foster carer or close relative must be a British citizen or be settled (have ‘indefinite leave to remain’) in the UK. They cannot be your parent.
If you’re 16 or 17 and living independently
You must have enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).
You’ll also need either:
- £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) if you’re studying in London
- £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) if you’re studying outside of London
London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs.
You must prove you (or your parent) have the money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa.
Example
If you submit your application on 1 January 2021, you’d have to show that the funds were in your bank account for at least the 28-day period ending on 1 December.
If you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you’ll need to provide evidence of this from your loan or sponsorship company.
When you do not need to prove you have money to support yourself
You do not need to prove you have money to support yourself if you’ve had a valid UK visa for at least 12 months immediately prior to the date of your Child Student visa application - you must currently be in the UK.
If you’re from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’
You do not need to prove you have enough money to support yourself if you’re a British national overseas or from one of the following countries or territories:
- 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
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America
However, you might be asked to provide this evidence before you get a decision on your application.
If you do need to provide it, you’ll be contacted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) after you’ve submitted your application.
Read the guidance to find out how much money you need and how to prove it.