Parent of a Tier 4 Child Visa

You can apply for a Parent of Tier 4 child visa if:

How long it will take 

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK.  

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK. 

Find out about paying for a faster decision. 

Fees 

A Parent of a Tier 4 child visa costs £516. 

How long you can stay 

This visa usually lasts for either 6 or 12 months. After that, you can get extensions for 12 months at a time until your child reaches 12 years of age. 

You will be given a shorter visa and will not be able to extend that visa if your child is going to: 

  • have their 12th birthday in the next 12 months  

  • finish their final year at school in the next 12 months 

You must leave the UK when your visa expires in either case, and cannot switch to a different visa category. If your child is staying in education in the UK without you, you must make arrangements for their ongoing care.

What you can and cannot do 

You can: 

  • extend your visa for 12 months at a time, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements 

You cannot: 

  • switch into a different immigration category from a ‘Parent of a Tier 4 child visa’ when it expires 

  • get public funds 

  • make your main home in the UK 

  • take paid work 

  • study 

  • bring other family members (‘dependants’) with you on your application - they must apply separately 

See Also: 

Additional information on Parents of a tier 4 child visa can be found on GOV.UK's website.