UK Child Student Visa From Pakistan: Can a Child Aged 4 to 17 Study in the UK? (2026)

What is the Child Student visa, and who is it for?

It is the UK visa for school-age children who want to study at an independent school. You can apply for a Child Student visa if you are between 4 and 17 years old and want to study in the UK, according to GOV.UK. The visa sits in a separate route from the adult Student visa, with its own rules, its own sponsor licences and its own money requirements. Many Pakistani families first hear about it from a boarding school agent or a relative already abroad, and the first question is usually whether the child can go alone. For many ages the answer is yes, with the right arrangements.

The important detail is that the route is built around care. The Home Office is not only asking whether the school will teach your child. It is asking who will look after a minor in a foreign country, and it wants proof of that on paper. Every part of the application, from the consent letters to the money, follows from that question.

What does the visa let the child do?

It lets the child live in the UK and study at the sponsoring school. A Child Student aged 16 or over can work part time during term for up to 10 hours per week and full time in vacations, according to GOV.UK. Treat work as a minor point, because the family is paying for a school place, not planning a job. Breaking the visa conditions can stop a child returning to the UK, so the child and the parents should read the conditions together.

Which schools can sponsor a Pakistani child?

Only an independent school with a Child Student sponsor licence can issue the CAS. State schools, in general, cannot sponsor an international child for this route. When you shortlist schools, ask directly whether the school is a licensed Child Student sponsor and whether it can issue a CAS for your child's year group.

GOV.UK describes the accepted courses as those taught to national curriculum standards, to RQF level 3 or below, or to independent school inspection standards. Short pre-sessional courses are allowed, but foundation courses that prepare a student for direct entry to higher education are not. A sixth form course for a 16 or 17 year old can fit, while a university foundation programme does not.

What is the CAS, and when is it issued?

You need an unconditional offer from the school. The school then issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. Our guide on what a CAS letter is and how Pakistani students get one covers the document in general terms. For a child, the same rules apply with extra care over the school's details. You must apply for your visa within 6 months of receiving your CAS, as the eligibility page states.

• The school name on the CAS must match the sponsor exactly.
• Compare the child's name and date of birth against the passport.
• Confirm the course start date, level and fees.
• Ask what the school charges for boarding, guardianship and extras.

Where can the child live, and can a parent come?

GOV.UK lists four living arrangements: boarding at the school, living with a foster carer or close relative, living with a parent or legal guardian, and living independently if the child is 16 or 17. Each carries different requirements, and each changes how much money you show.

Boarding at school

The child can board full time or part time. When the child is not boarding, there must be another suitable place to live, such as with a relative who qualifies or a guardian. The child can leave the UK in school holidays. Boarding is the most common arrangement for Pakistani families who do not have relatives in the UK, because the school takes on daily care.

A foster carer or close relative

The carer or relative must be a British citizen or settled in the UK, must be at least 18, and cannot be the child's parent. Close relatives include grandparents, siblings, step-parents, aunts and uncles. The carer writes a letter with their address, their relationship, their agreement to look after the child, and confirmation that they have enough money.

With a parent or legal guardian

A parent or legal guardian can only come on a Parent of a Child Student visa if the child is under 12, or has a sibling under 12 who also holds a Child Student visa, according to the where you will live page. This is a narrow route. A parent of a 14 year old cannot normally join the child in the UK on this basis. It exists mainly for younger children and their families. Check the age of every child in your family before you plan around it.

Independently at 16 or 17

A 16 or 17 year old can live independently, which is usually a sixth form student in school accommodation or a private arrangement. The money requirement is higher for this group, and the age may bring an interview. Parents should think carefully about maturity and support before choosing this option.

What about a nominated guardian?

A nominated guardian can host the child for up to 27 days in a row. They must be at least 18, and the parent, legal guardian or school can nominate them. Many boarding schools use a guardianship organisation for exeat weekends and short breaks. If you do not yet know your guardian, you need a letter from the organisation that arranges one, covering its name, address, founding date and confirmation of background checks on its guardians.

How much money must the family show?

The amount depends on where the child lives. In every case you show money for one academic year of course fees, plus living costs for up to 9 months. Here are the numbers for each living arrangement.

As of 12 October 2026, the GOV.UK money page asks a 16 or 17 year old living independently for course fees plus £1,334 a month in London or £1,023 a month outside London, for up to 9 months.

As of 12 October 2026, the same money page asks for course fees plus £1,560 a month for a child living full time with a parent, with £625 more a month for each additional sibling who also holds a Child Student visa.

As of 12 October 2026, GOV.UK says a foster carer or close relative must confirm they have at least £570 a month where the child lives with them full time.

For boarding, GOV.UK asks for the course fees plus the boarding fees for one academic year, so the number comes from the school's own fee schedule on the CAS. Partial months are rounded up to the next full month in the Immigration Rules.

How long must the money be held?

You must prove you or your parent have the money for at least 28 consecutive days, and the end date of that period must fall within 31 days of your application date, as the money page explains. That is the same style of rule as the adult Student route, so a bank statement for Pakistani rupee savings needs to show a steady balance across the whole window. Our note on how much bank statement is needed for a UK Student visa explains how to present it. If a loan or a sponsor pays, you need evidence from the lender or sponsor.

Is any of this changing?

As of 12 October 2026, Statement of Changes HC 584 raises the Student route maintenance figures from 30 November 2026 but contains no change to the Child Student money figures above. Money figures can change in later statements, so check the page on the day you apply, not on the day you start planning.

When is money not required?

You do not need to prove living costs if the child has held a valid UK visa for at least 12 months immediately before applying and is in the UK. Nationals of certain countries on a differential evidence list are also exempt from showing it up front, though the Home Office can still ask. Pakistan is not among the examples GOV.UK gives, so a Pakistani family should assume the evidence is required.

What are the application costs?

There are two Home Office payments and one school bill. As of 12 October 2026, the GOV.UK Child Student visa page lists a fee of £558 to apply from outside the UK, and the healthcare surcharge is paid on top. Biometrics are taken at no fee on the pages we read, although you may have to travel to a visa application centre, which in Pakistan means a trip to a major city.

As of 12 October 2026, the Home Office healthcare surcharge page gives £776 per year as the rate for students and for applicants under 18. The surcharge is calculated on the length of the visa, so a long school course costs more than a short one. Our explainer on the UK immigration health surcharge for Pakistani students shows the arithmetic for part years.

The school bill is the biggest number

Independent school fees, boarding charges, uniform, trips, guardianship and flights usually dwarf the visa costs. We deliberately give no fee range for schools here, because they vary widely between schools and years, and a figure from us would be a guess. Use the fee schedule in the school's offer and ask what is included.

Which documents do you need?

The core documents are a valid passport, the CAS and written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Other documents depend on the case. GOV.UK lists proof of funds, proof of the relationship to the parent or guardian (such as a birth certificate or other government document showing their names), evidence of qualifications used for the place, TB test results, and written consent from any financial sponsor who paid costs in the last 12 months.

For Pakistani families, the birth certificate point matters. A child's B-form from NADRA or an equivalent record showing both parents' names is the natural document to use, and a translation may be needed for anything not in English. Attestation questions are a separate topic, covered in our guide to the apostille and attestation of Pakistani documents. Ask the school and the Home Office guidance whether a particular document needs attestation, rather than paying for it by habit.

• Passport valid for the whole stay, with room for the visa.
• The CAS from the school.
• Parental consent letters, signed and dated.
• Document showing the parents' names, such as a birth certificate.
• Financial evidence for the right living arrangement.
• TB test certificate from an approved clinic, if required.
• Letters from the carer or guardian organisation, if relevant.

What must the parental consent say?

You need written consent from both parents, from one parent with sole responsibility, or from a legal guardian, covering your visa application, your travel to the UK, and your living arrangements and care, according to the GOV.UK documents page. A single casual note will not do. The consent has to be specific about three things: the application, the journey and the care arrangement.

If one parent signs because the other has no involvement, the application should say that parent has sole responsibility and show why. If the parents are separated, both should be asked, and any court order should be mentioned. A family that quietly skips a parent's signature is taking a risk with the whole application.

What do the carer letters add?

A foster carer, relative or nominated guardian letter has to include contact details, the address where the child will live, confirmation it is a private address, the relationship to the parent, and their agreement to care for the child. It must also list anyone else they care for and confirm enough money to look after the child if the child does not board. A signed and dated letter is required.

How does the application work from Pakistan?

You apply online. The child either uses the UK Immigration: ID Check app or gives a photo and fingerprints at a visa application centre, and you are told which when you apply. As of 12 October 2026, the GOV.UK application page says you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK. A 16 or 17 year old may be asked to attend an interview, and the application can take longer if documents need checking.

1. Choose the school and accept an unconditional offer.
2. Receive the CAS and check every detail.
3. Decide the living arrangement and collect the letters.
4. Hold the funds for 28 days, if you need to show them.
5. Book and complete a TB test at an approved clinic, if required.
6. Complete the online application and pay the fee and the surcharge.
7. Prove identity by app or at the visa application centre.
8. Wait for the decision, then plan travel to match the school start.

If approved, the child gets an eVisa, a digital record of status. Our note on the UK eVisa that replaced the BRP shows how it works. You can withdraw an application by contacting UKVI, but the fee is only refunded if processing has not started.

Does the child need a TB test?

Pakistan is a listed country, so a child coming for six months or more generally needs one. GOV.UK says the rule applies where you are coming to the UK for six months or more, have lived in a listed country for six months or more and lived there within the last six months. Children under 11 will not normally have a chest x-ray, though every child must see a clinician at a Home Office approved clinic, as the GOV.UK TB test page explains.

The test must come from a clinic the Home Office has approved. The approved clinics in Pakistan are in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Mirpur, and the child must attend in person. Our guide on the TB test for a UK student visa from Pakistan gives the clinic details and costs, which change, so check them there.

What happens at the UK border?

If your application says an adult will travel with the child, that adult must be with the child at the UK border. If the child travels without an adult, the border official checks that the child knows where they are going and how they are getting there, and may ask other questions. A child should know the school's name and address, the guardian's name and phone number, and the plan for the first night.

Many families arrange an airport pickup through the school or the guardianship organisation. Put the details on a printed sheet in the child's hand luggage, together with copies of the consent letters and the CAS.

Child Student or Student visa for a 16 or 17 year old?

This is a real choice, and the rules draw a line by school type. GOV.UK says a person aged 16 or 17 who wants to study with an independent school at the right level can apply as either a Student or a Child Student. The route changes the money, the work rules and the ability of a parent to come.

The sponsor tells you which route it uses, because the CAS is issued for one or the other. You do not pick freely. Ask the school which route applies and why.

What about extending or changing school later?

As of 12 October 2026, a child already in the UK on a Child Student visa can extend it from inside the UK for £558 per the extension page, with a decision usually within 8 weeks and the new course starting within 28 days of the old visa expiring. If the child moves to a new school, the new school needs a Child Student licence and a fresh CAS. A child already in the UK on a Visitor visa or a short-term student visa cannot switch to this visa from inside the UK, so planning has to start from Pakistan. Our guide to extending a UK Student visa from inside the UK covers the adult version of the same rules, which differ in the details.

Which mistakes put an application at risk?

• Choosing a school before checking its licence. No licence, no CAS.
• Missing a parent's consent. Both parents or a documented sole responsibility.
• Vague living arrangements. The plan for care must match the documents.
• Wrong funds figure. The amount depends on who the child lives with.
• Balance dipping inside the 28 days. Hold it steadily and keep the statement.
• Assuming a parent can come. Only in narrow cases linked to age.
• Late TB test. The clinic wait can delay the whole timeline.
• Unaccompanied child with no plan. The border official will ask.

A worked example with figures

Take a 16 year old boy from Lahore who has an offer for sixth form at a licensed independent school outside London. His parents choose boarding. The CAS shows course fees and boarding fees for the year, and that total is the money they must show, with no monthly living figure on top because boarding fees already cover it. They hold the funds for 28 days, get both parents' consent, and complete a TB test in Lahore.

Now change one fact. The same boy wants to live independently in a rented room instead of boarding. The family must show course fees plus £1,023 a month for 9 months, which is £9,207, as of 12 October 2026. The arithmetic is simple: 1,023 times 9. The living arrangement alone moved the requirement, and it also changes how much support the boy has on arrival. Nothing here is a promise of outcome. It shows how the figures fit together.

Frequently asked questions