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Family reunificationEffectiveMedium impactVerified

UK Immigration Rules Appendix Parent of a Child Student: Updated Guidance and Requirements

🇬🇧 United KingdomFamily Reunification1 recorded versionLast change 27 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The Parent of a Child Student route allows one parent to come to or stay in the UK to care for their child who is studying under Appendix Child Student. The child must be aged between 4 and 11, attend an independent fee-paying school (not a state school or academy), and be in the UK under the Child Student route or applying for it. Applicants must be 18 or over, apply online, pay fees and the Immigration Health Charge, provide biometrics, and a valid travel document. They must intend to live with the Child Student and not intend to make the UK their main home, demonstrating sufficient funds to maintain their main home outside the UK. Financial requirements include £1,560 per month for the applicant (up to 9 months) and £625 per month for any additional children (up to 9 months), unless exempt. Permission is granted until the child's permission ends or they turn 12, whichever is sooner. Conditions include no access to public funds, no work, and no study.

Overview

The UK government has expanded Pathway 1 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) to allow Afghans resettled in the UK to reunite with immediate family members who were separated during the Kabul evacuation in August 2021. This includes children, spouses, and partners, as well as parents or siblings of evacuated children. Referrals can be made online from 30 July 2024, until 30 October 2024. Family members will need to attend a visa application centre for biometrics and document submission.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Parents of Child Students aged 4-11 who are attending independent fee-paying schools in the UK and are applying for or hold permission under Appendix Child Student

What changed in the latest version

Before

The Parent of a Child Student visa route already existed. It was for parents who needed to come with a young Child Student to the UK. This route was already only for parents of children aged 4 to 11. These children had to be studying at certain independent schools that charge fees. The parent already had to be the child's parent and live with the child during their stay. The route already stopped the parent from treating the UK as their main home. It also limited their ability to work, study, and use public funds. To get permission to stay, the applicant already had to meet rules about their immigration status and suitability. The August 2026 update does not create the rule that the applicant must obey UK immigration law. Instead, it changes the words in rule PC 2.2. The new words directly mention breaking immigration laws and being on immigration bail. It still keeps the exceptions for people who have overstayed, which are in other parts of the Immigration Rules.

After

The Parent of a Child Student visa route allows one parent to come to or stay in the UK. This is to look after their child who is studying under the Child Student visa rules. The child must be aged between 4 and 11. They must attend an independent school that charges fees, not a state school or academy. The child must already be in the UK on the Child Student route or be applying for it. Applicants must be 18 or older. They must apply online. They must pay fees and the Immigration Health Charge. They must provide their fingerprints and photo, known as biometrics. They must also have a valid travel document. Applicants must plan to live with the Child Student. They must not plan to make the UK their main home. They must show they have enough money to keep their main home outside the UK. They also need to show they have enough money for living costs. This includes £1,560 each month for the applicant for up to 9 months. It also includes £625 each month for any other children for up to 9 months, unless they do not need to meet this rule. Permission to stay is given until the child's visa ends or the child turns 12, whichever happens sooner. Conditions of the visa include not being able to use public funds, not being able to work, and not being able to study.

This new visa route gives a formal way for parents of young international students in the UK to be here. It helps with the need for parents to look after their child while the child is studying. Parents must plan their finances carefully. They must prove they have a lot of money for their stay and to keep a home abroad. This puts a clear financial cost on applicants. Because parents cannot work or study with this visa, they must rely only on money they already have. This affects their ability to contribute to the economy or do personal development during their stay. Also, the rule that only one parent can apply means families need to plan carefully if both parents want to come with a child. This limits options for families where both parents want to accompany a child.

Explained simply

Imagine your younger sibling, aged between 4 and 11, wants to study at a special private school in the UK, and only one of your parents wants to go with them to look after them. This rule explains how that parent can get a visa. They need to fill in a form online, pay some money, and prove who they are. Their child must already have or be applying for a special student visa for young children. The parent can't work or study, and they can't live permanently in the UK. They also need to show they have enough money to support themselves and their other home outside the UK.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v4Effective 3 Aug 2026EffectiveMedium impact
    UK Immigration Rules Appendix Parent of a Child Student: Updated Guidance and Requirements

    The UK now has a specific visa route called 'Parent of a Child Student'. This route allows one parent to live in the UK to look after their child. The child must be aged between 4 and 11 years. They must study at an independent school that charges fees, under the Child Student visa rules. Parents must meet strict rules about their application being valid, suitable, and eligible. They must show they have enough money to support themselves: £1,560 each month for the parent, and £625 each month for any other children. They must also prove they have money to keep a home outside the UK. Permission to stay is given until the child's visa ends or the child turns 12, whichever happens first. Parents with this visa cannot use public funds, work, or study. These changes were officially published on 3 August 2026.

Other routes in this country

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