Yes, the Parent of a Child Student visa is still open in 2026. It lets one parent live in the UK with a child aged 4 to 11 who is studying at an independent fee-paying school on a Child Student visa, until the child’s visa ends or the child turns 12, whichever comes first. You cannot work or study on it, and you must keep your main home outside the UK.
Is the route still open?
We checked the Immigration Rules (Appendix Parent of a Child Student, last updated in August 2026) and the GOV.UK guidance. There is no closure notice and applications are being accepted. The route replaced the old “Parent of a Tier 4 (Child)” category when the Child Student route replaced Tier 4 (Child) in 2020. The core idea has not changed: it exists so that a young child at a UK independent school can live with a parent rather than board.
Rules can change at short notice, so check the GOV.UK page again before you apply.
Key facts at a glance
| Point | What applies in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Child’s age | 4 to 11 on the date you apply |
| Child’s school | An independent fee-paying school, not a state school or academy |
| Child’s visa | Child Student visa (or an existing Tier 4 (Child) visa) |
| Visa fee | £637 |
| Money for you and the child | £1,560 for each month of your stay, up to 9 months |
| Each extra child in your care | £625 a month, up to 9 months |
| How long the money must be held | 28 days, with the latest statement dated within 31 days of applying |
| How long you can stay | Until the child’s visa ends or they turn 12, whichever is sooner |
| Work or study | Not allowed |
| Decision time from Pakistan | 3 weeks from your biometrics appointment; faster options may be offered |
Who can apply
You must:
- be the parent of a child aged 4 to 11 who has, or is applying for, a Child Student visa and attends an independent school in the UK;
- be the only parent accompanying the child in the UK (the other parent cannot join you on this route);
- keep your main home outside the UK and plan to leave when your visa expires;
- have enough money to support yourself and your child, as set out above, plus enough to keep your main home in Pakistan running.
For a single child, 9 months at £1,560 comes to £14,040. That is the figure caseworkers will look for in your bank evidence, over and above the school fees, which the child’s own Child Student application must cover.
What you cannot do
The conditions on this visa are strict. You cannot:
- do paid work or start a business;
- study;
- claim public funds;
- make the UK your main home;
- bring other family members as your dependants (any other child with you needs their own visa, and you must show the extra £625 a month for them);
- switch to another visa from inside the UK.
You can extend while your child still qualifies, but the route ends when the child turns 12. After that, a child who stays on as a Child Student needs other care arrangements that meet the Child Student rules, such as boarding or living with a close relative.
Extra costs to plan for
Because this visa is longer than 6 months, you normally also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is £1,035 a year for most applicants at the time of writing. You also need a TB test from an approved clinic in Pakistan, as you will be in the UK for 6 months or more. For a breakdown of fees, see our sister site’s UK visa price in Pakistan guide.
Documents checklist
Mandatory:
- your valid passport;
- your child’s birth certificate or NADRA child registration certificate, showing you are the parent, with a certified English translation if not in English;
- your child’s Child Student visa, or evidence of the pending application, and the school’s confirmation of acceptance;
- bank statements showing the required funds held for 28 days, with the latest dated within 31 days of your application;
- your TB test certificate.
Helpful (strongly recommended):
- evidence of your main home in Pakistan: property documents or a tenancy agreement, and utility bills;
- your family registration certificate (FRC) showing the family unit;
- evidence of where the funds come from: salary letters, business records or FBR tax returns;
- a letter from the other parent confirming the arrangement and that they will stay in Pakistan;
- your UK accommodation arrangements near the school.
Our sister site’s guide to the Parent of a Child Student visa has more on the application steps.
Alternatives if your child does not qualify
- Child aged 12 or over: there is no parent route. The child usually boards, or lives with an approved carer, and you visit on a Standard Visitor visa.
- Child at a boarding school: you visit during holidays and school events as a Standard Visitor.
- You want to work in the UK: you would need your own work visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa, with your child as a dependant, and the child could then attend school on that basis.
Common mistakes we see from Pakistan applications
- Wrong school type. The route only works with an independent fee-paying school. A state school or academy does not qualify.
- Applying after the child’s 12th birthday approaches. The child must be 11 or under when you apply, and your stay ends when they turn 12.
- Funds moved in at the last minute. The money must be held for 28 days. A large deposit shortly before the statement date breaks the chain.
- Both parents planning to come. Only one parent can hold this visa. The other parent’s plans must be consistent with that.
- No evidence of a home in Pakistan. You must show your main home stays outside the UK.
- Assuming you can work part-time. Any work breaches your conditions.
FAQ
Can both parents come on this visa?
No. Only one parent can accompany the child on this route. The other parent can visit, but needs their own visa, usually a Standard Visitor visa.
Can I extend the visa?
Yes, while your child still meets the rules. It cannot go beyond the end of the child’s visa or their 12th birthday.
Can I work part-time or study English?
No. The visa carries no-work and no-study conditions.
Does the route cover children at boarding schools?
The rules require the child to be at an independent fee-paying school and the parent to be accompanying them in the UK. If your child boards, you do not need to live in the UK and can visit instead.
Applying from Pakistan? Send us a few lines about your case and we will tell you which route fits and what to prepare.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules and fees change; check GOV.UK before you apply.