📚 UK Child Student Visa Application Guide | 英国儿童学生签证申请指南
This guide provides a complete step-by-step overview of the UK Child Student visa, designed for families planning to send their child aged 4 to 17 to an independent school in the UK. It covers eligibility, documents, fees, application steps and important rules to help you prepare a successful application.
本指南为您提供英国儿童学生签证的完整申请步骤，适用于计划送4至17岁孩子到英国私立学校就读的家庭，涵盖资格要求、所需文件、费用、申请流程及重要规定，助您顺利递交申请。
1. What Is the Child Student Visa? | 什么是儿童学生签证？
The Child Student visa is a UK immigration route that allows international children aged 4 to 17 to study at an independent school in the UK. It replaces the old Tier 4 (Child) visa and is part of the points-based immigration system.
儿童学生签证是英国移民途径之一，允许4至17岁的国际学生在英国私立学校学习。它取代了旧的第四层级（儿童）签证，属于积分制移民体系的一部分。
To apply, the child must have a confirmed place at a licensed student sponsor school, and the school will issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). The visa is generally granted for the length of the course plus a short wrap-up period.
申请时，孩子必须获得受认可的学生担保学校录取，学校将出具录取确认函（CAS）。签证有效期通常覆盖课程时长加上短暂停留期。
2. Eligibility Requirements | 申请资格
Applicants must be aged between 4 and 17 at the time of application. They must have an unconditional offer from an independent school that holds a valid Student sponsor licence with a Child Student rating.
申请人递交申请时年龄须在4至17岁之间，并且已获得一所有效学生担保资质的私立学校无条件录取，该校须具备儿童学生担保资格。
The chosen course must be taught in the UK, leading to an approved qualification or meeting the standard of the National Curriculum or a recognised equivalent. Short-term study tours or holiday courses do not qualify.
所选课程须在英国授课，并导向受认可的资格证书，或符合英国国家课程标准及其公认等效课程。短期游学或假日课程不符合要求。
The applicant must also demonstrate genuine intention to study and the ability to live independently in the UK, and must not fall under general grounds for refusal, such as a poor immigration history.
申请人还须证明真实的学习意图和在英独立生活能力，且不得有不良移民记录等通常拒签理由。
3. Age Band and Course Length Limits | 年龄限制与课程时长
Child Student visa rules divide applicants into two age bands: under 16 and 16–17. Children under 16 can be granted a visa for up to 6 years at a time, while those aged 16 or 17 are limited to a maximum of 3 years.
儿童学生签证规定将申请人分为两个年龄段：16岁以下与16至17岁。16岁以下每次可获批最多6年签证，16至17岁申请人每次最长获批3年。
When the child turns 18, they must switch to another visa route (usually the Student visa) if they wish to continue studying. The Child Student visa cannot be extended beyond the age of 18.
当孩子年满18岁时，如希望继续学业，必须转换为其他签证路径（通常是学生签证）。儿童学生签证无法在18岁后延签。
4. Required Documents Checklist | 必备文件清单
A valid passport or travel document is mandatory. Additionally, the CAS reference number from the sponsoring school must be provided in the application form; the CAS itself contains key course and fee details.
有效护照或旅行证件必不可少。此外，在申请表中需提供担保学校出具的CAS编号，该编号包含课程与费用等关键信息。
Financial evidence showing sufficient funds to cover course fees and living costs is required, unless the child falls under the differential evidence arrangement (e.g., has been in the UK for 12 months). Details are covered in the next section.
需提交资金证明，显示有足够金额支付学费与生活费，除非符合简化材料安排（如在英国居住满12个月）。详细要求在下一节说明。
Parental or legal guardian consent, birth certificate or adoption papers, and evidence of the child's relationship to the consenting adult must be included. If a private foster care arrangement is in place, additional documentation from the local authority is needed.
须提供父母或法定监护人同意书、出生证明或收养文件，以及证明孩子与同意人关系的证据。如存在私人寄养安排，还需当地政府出具的额外文件。
Tuberculosis (TB) test results are required if the child is coming to the UK for more than 6 months and is from a country listed in the UK TB testing requirement.
若孩子来自英国结核病检测要求清单所列国家，且停留超过6个月，须提交结核病（TB）检测结果。
5. Financial Evidence in Detail | 资金证明详解
Applicants must show they have enough money to pay the first year's course fees as stated on the CAS, plus living costs for up to 9 months. The living expense rate depends on whether the school is located in London or outside London.
申请人须证明持有足够资金，支付CAS上列出的第一年学费，外加最多9个月的生活费。生活费标准取决于学校位于伦敦与否。
For schools inside London, the monthly living cost requirement is £1,334. For schools outside London, it is £1,023 per month. Therefore, the total living cost element is £1,334 × 9 = £12,006 (London) or £1,023 × 9 = £9,207 (elsewhere).
伦敦内学校每月生活费要求为1334英镑，伦敦外为1023英镑。因此生活费总额为：1334 × 9 = 12,006英镑（伦敦）或1023 × 9 = 9,207英镑（外地）。
If the child will live in residential boarding accommodation, and the accommodation costs are included in the CAS fees, only any remainder of living costs must be evidenced. The funds must have been held in the account for a consecutive 28-day period, and the closing balance of that period must not fall below the required amount.
如孩子将入住学校寄宿设施，且住宿费已包含在CAS费用中，仅需证明扣除后的生活费余额。资金须在账户中连续存满28天，且28天期间的最终余额不得低于要求数额。
Parent(s) or legal guardian(s) can use their own bank statements to sponsor the child. If the parent is applying at the same time as a partner or dependent, separate evidence rules apply.
父母或法定监护人可用自己的银行对账单为孩子提供资金担保。若父母同时以伴侣或受养人身份申请，则适用单独的证明规则。
6. Care Arrangements and Consent | 照管安排与同意
Because all Child Student visa holders are under 18, the UK Home Office requires clear evidence of suitable care arrangements throughout the child's stay. This is a crucial part of the application.
由于所有儿童学生签证持有人均未满18岁，英国内政部要求提供孩子在英期间妥善照管安排的明确证据，这是申请的关键部分。
If the child will board at the school, the school's boarding provision normally satisfies this requirement. The school's CAS and accommodation details must confirm that the child will reside in school-managed boarding.
如孩子将在学校寄宿，学校的寄宿服务通常能满足该要求。学校的CAS及住宿详情须确认孩子将入住由学校管理的寄宿设施。
If the child will live with a private foster carer, a specific letter from the carer and a written arrangement approved by the local authority are needed. The child cannot live with a relative who is not a parent or legal guardian unless that relative is officially approved as a private foster carer.
若孩子将与私人寄养人同住，需提供寄养人出具的特定信函及当地政府批准的书面安排。孩子不得与非父母或法定监护人的亲戚同住，除非该亲戚已获正式批准为私人寄养人。
A signed letter of consent from both parents or the legal guardian must confirm the child's travel, study and living arrangements in the UK. If one parent has sole custody, legal documents must prove that status.
须提供由父母双方或法定监护人签署的同意函，确认孩子赴英旅行、学习及生活安排。若一方单独监护，须以法律文件证明该监护权。
7. Application Process and Biometrics | 申请流程与生物信息采集
Applications are submitted online via the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website. The earliest you can apply is 6 months before the course start date shown on the CAS. It is recommended to apply at least 3 months ahead to allow for processing and travel.
申请通过英国签证与移民局（UKVI）官网在线提交。最早可在CAS上课程开始日期前6个月递交，建议至少提前3个月申请，以预留审理和出行时间。
After completing the online form and paying the relevant fees, the child must attend a visa application centre to enrol biometric information: a digital photograph and fingerprints. Children under 5 only need to provide a photograph, not fingerprints.
完成在线表格并支付相关费用后，孩子须前往签证申请中心采集生物信息：数码照片和指纹。5岁以下儿童只需提供照片，无需采集指纹。
The application centre may also retain the passport and supporting documents. Some locations offer 'Keep My Passport' or priority services for an extra fee, allowing the child to travel while the application is processed.
签证中心可能会扣留护照和证明文件。部分地点提供额外付费的「保留护照」或加急服务，允许孩子在审理期间继续出行。
8. Visa Fees and Immigration Health Surcharge | 签证费与移民健康附加费
The current Child Student visa application fee is £490 if applying from outside the UK, and £490 for applications made within the UK. Fee waivers are not available for this route.
目前儿童学生签证申请费为490英镑（英国境外递交），英国境内申请同为490英镑。该路径不适用费用豁免。
In addition, the child must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which grants access to the National Health Service. The IHS fee for Child Student visa holders is £776 per year. If the total visa length includes part of a year less than 6 months, that part is charged at £388.
此外，孩子须缴纳移民健康附加费（IHS），从而获得英国国民医疗服务的使用权。儿童学生签证持有人的IHS费用为每年776英镑。若签证总时长包含不满6个月的部分，该部分按388英镑收取。
For example, a 3-year visa would incur an IHS cost of 3 × £776 = £ triggers a partial-year addition. Both fees must be paid at the time of online submission.
例如，三年签证的IHS费用为3 × 776 = 2328英镑，除非课程长度导致需额外支付部分年度费用。两项费用均须在在线提交时一并支付。
9. Processing Times and Decisions | 审理时间与结果
Standard processing time for Child Student visas from outside the UK is usually 3 weeks from the biometric appointment date. However, during peak summer periods, it may take longer, so early application is strongly advised.
英国境外申请儿童学生签证的标准审理时间通常为生物信息采集日起3周。但在夏季高峰期可能延长，因此强烈建议尽早申请。
Priority and super-priority services are available in many countries for an additional fee, reducing the decision waiting time to 5 working days or even 24 hours. These services do not guarantee approval but speed up the review process.
许多国家提供优先和超级优先服务，需支付额外费用，可将审理等待时间缩短至5个工作日甚至24小时。这些服务不保证获批，但能加快审核。
Once decided, the child will receive either a vignette (sticker) in the passport for entry clearance applications or a digital immigration status if applying within the UK. It is critical to check the details on the vignette for accuracy before travelling.
出结果后，如为境外入境许可，孩子将收到护照上的贴纸签证；若为境内申请，则获得数字移民身份。出行前务必检查贴纸上的信息是否准确。
10. Visa Conditions and Restrictions | 签证条件与限制
Child Student visa holders are not allowed to take paid employment. The only exception is work placement that is an assessed part of the course, which must be confirmed by the sponsor school and must not exceed the limits set for the age group.
儿童学生签证持有人不得从事有偿工作，唯一例外是作为课程评估环节的实习工作，须由担保学校确认，且不得超过该年龄段规定的时长限制。
They cannot access public funds or claim most state benefits. Additionally, they are not permitted to study at a publicly funded school (state school), and they must continue to study at the independent school that sponsored them or notify UKVI of a change.
他们不能领取公共资金或多数国家福利，也不得在公办学校（政府学校）学习。必须继续在担保学校就读，或就转校情况通知UKVI。
The visa holder is not allowed to bring dependants (such as a spouse or child); parents cannot accompany the child on this visa. The visa cannot be used to settle in the UK, and time spent on this route does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain, but can be combined with other routes later.
该签证持有人不能携带受养人（如配偶或子女）；父母不能以此签证陪同。此签证不导向英国永居，在此路径上度过的时间不计入永久居留权申请，但可与其他路径合并计算。
11. Extending and Switching Your Visa | 续签与转签
A Child Student visa can be extended from inside the UK as long as the child remains under 18 and continues to meet all the eligibility requirements. The new course must begin within 28 days of the expiry of the current visa or shortly after.
只要孩子未满18岁且仍满足所有资格要求，即可在英国境内续签儿童学生签证。新课程须在当前签证到期后28天内或之后不久开始。
When the child turns 18, they must switch to a Student visa to continue higher or further education. This switch can be made from inside the UK if they have a valid Child Student visa and an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor for an appropriate course.
当孩子年满18岁时，需转至学生签证才能继续高等教育或延续教育。若持有有效儿童学生签证并获得持牌担保机构的无条件录取，即可在英国境内转换。
If the child wishes to change to a different visa category (e.g., a Family visa), they may be able to switch inside the UK provided they meet the requirements of that category and the current visa allows switching. It is crucial to seek advice before making any change.
若孩子希望转换至其他签证类别（如家庭签证），在满足该类别要求且现签证允许转换的情况下，或许能在境内申请。作出任何变更前，务必寻求专业建议。
12. Top Tips for a Smooth Application | 顺利申请的重要提示
Double-check the CAS information against the student's passport and personal details. Even a minor spelling mistake can cause delays or refusals. Ensure the school has used the correct course dates and fee amounts.
仔细核对CAS信息与学生护照及个人信息，即便拼写小错也可能导致延误或拒签。确保学校填写了准确的课程日期和费用金额。
Prepare all supporting documents as digital scans or certified copies. If original documents are not in English or Welsh, a certified translation must be provided for each non-English document.
准备所有证明材料的电子扫描件或核证副本。若原件非英语或威尔士语，须为每份非英文文件提供经认证的翻译件。
Apply as early as possible and consider priority services if travel is imminent. Always keep a copy of the complete application, including the document checklist and confirmation emails.
尽早递交申请，如出行临近可考虑加急服务。始终保留完整申请副本，包括材料清单和确认邮件。
Published by TutorHao | UK Child Student Visa Guide Series | aleveler.com
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