Student Visa

Student Visa (aged 16+)

If you are planning to study in the UK, you need to apply for either a child student (aged 4- 17) visa or a student visa (aged 16+) You can stay in the UK for the duration of your course.

Student Visa (aged 16 +) Requirements

  • Meet the English language requirement:
  • Degree level + – CEFR level B2
  • Below degree level – CEFR Level B1

Visa Duration

  • Length of your course

Child Student Visa (aged 4 – 17)

If you plan to send your child to study in the UK, you need to apply for a child student (aged 4-17) visa.

Child student Visa Requirements (aged 4- 17 years)

  • Unconditional offer of a place to study from a independent school
  • Show that you can support yourself financially, pay course fees, living expenses from parents or guardians
  • Have parental consent to study in the UK

Visa Duration

  • Under 16: Course length (up to 6 years) plus 4 months afterwards
  • 16 or 17: Course length (up to 3 years) plus 4 months afterwards

Parent of a Child Student Visa

If you wish to accompany your child to study in the UK, you can apply for Parent of a Child Visa:

Parent of a Child Student Visa

  • Be the only parent accompanying your child in the UK
  • Your child must be between 4-11 and studying in an independent school
  • Have enough money to support yourself and your child in the UK
  • Maintain your main home outside the UK
  • Plan to leave the UK when your visa expires (either when child’s visa expires or up until they turn 12)

Visa Duration

  • Length of your child’s course or up until they are 12 (whichever comes first)

Long Residence (10 Years)

You can apply to settle in the UK if you’ve been in the UK legally for 10 continuous years (known as ‘long residence’).

10 years Qualifying Period

  • You must have permission to stay (‘leave to remain’). This can include time on most immigration categories, or a combination of different immigration categories. 
  • You will need to have held your current permission for one year. 
  • You cannot count time spent in the UK on a visitor visa, short term study visa, seasonal worker visa, and any period including overstaying and exceptional assurance. 

Continuous residence 

According to the latest Immigration Rules as effective from April 2024, the continuous residence requirement is updated as follows: 

  • Prior to 11 April 2024, any single absence from the UK must be less than 184 days.
  • Any part of a 10-year qualifying period before 11 April 2024 must not have total absences of more than 548 days.
  • After 11 April 2024, must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12 month period.   
  • If you have been absent from the UK due to special circumstances, e.g., COVID-19, or compelling and compassionate personal circumstances such as life-threatening illness, these types of absence might be considered as permitted absences.

Processing time

  • The current processing time for 10 years long residence is 6 months for standard service and 2 working days for super priority service. 
  • Once you are granted ILR, you can apply for British citizenship 12 months later. 
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