In another article we explained how to work out which permit your child needs: it depends on how long the stay is, on the type of course and school, and on nationality or residence status (the official tool to check is check-uk-visa). Here we go one step further: we show you what each process looks like from the inside, with what to prepare, check and submit at each step. They are two very different processes: the ETA is a travel authorisation for short stays, and the student visa is a full application.
The ETA, step by step (stays of up to 6 months)
Before you start. You need the valid passport you will travel with, an email address and a credit or debit card (Apple Pay and Google Pay also work).
The application. It is done through the UK ETA app or the official website. Every person travelling needs their own, children included, and parents can apply on behalf of their children.
The photos. You have to scan the passport and provide a photo of the applicant’s face that meets specific rules. If the photo does not meet them, the application can be delayed or even refused.
The questions. The application asks for address, work, other nationalities and background; if the applicant is under 18, also the contact details of whoever has parental responsibility.
The payment. The official fee is £20 per person as of 10 November 2026 and is non-refundable. Always use the official website: there are sites that imitate the UK Government service and charge more.
The answer. It usually arrives by email within a day, although it can take up to 3 working days. The email includes a 16-digit reference number; check the spam folder and do not travel until you have the confirmation.
After approval. The ETA is linked to the passport, lasts 2 years (or until the passport expires, if sooner) and lets you enter the UK as many times as you like, up to 6 months each time. When travelling you only need to show your passport.
Applying for someone else. The rules allow you to apply for an ETA on another person’s behalf: if they are with you, it can be done from the app on the spot, scanning their passport and their face live; if they are not with you, it is done online with a photo of their passport and a photo of their face.
Sources: gov.uk/eta and gov.uk/eta/apply, checked on 10 November 2026.
The visa for an independent school, step by step: the Child Student visa
If your child needs a visa to study at an independent school and is between 4 and 17, they can apply for the Child Student visa if they meet its requirements. It is a full application, not a quick form.
The place. Everything starts with an unconditional offer from a licensed school. The school then issues the CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), a reference number that is essential to apply for the visa.
The documents. Passport, CAS and written parental consent, which must cover the application, the journey and the child’s living arrangements in the UK. You also have to prove the link with the parents (for example, with the birth certificate) and, depending on the country, a tuberculosis test. If the child will live with a relative or a designated guardian, additional letters with very specific content are needed.
The funds. You must have enough money to pay for the course and the stay. Families with Spanish nationality do not have to attach proof of funds with the application (Spain is on the gov.uk “differential evidence requirement” list), but the requirement still stands and you should have it ready in case UKVI asks for it.
The online form. It is long: it can be saved and completed over several sessions, and every detail must match exactly the documents you attach.
The payment. The fee is £558 per applicant as of 10 November 2026, plus the healthcare surcharge, whose amount depends on the length of the visa.
Identity. Depending on the case, identity is proved from your phone with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at an in-person appointment at a visa application centre for fingerprints and a photo. If there is an appointment, the applicant attends with their passport (it is returned the same day), and the nearest centre may involve some travel.
Timelines. You can apply up to 6 months before the course starts, and the decision usually takes about 3 weeks for applications from outside the UK. If you are in a hurry, there is a paid priority service.
The eVisa. If the application is approved, the visa is digital: you have to create a UKVI account, link the passport and know how to prove your immigration status when travelling. With this visa you can arrive up to 1 month before the course begins, and if the child travels unaccompanied, border officers will check that they know where they are going and how they will get there.
Sources: gov.uk/child-study-visa, gov.uk/child-study-visa/apply, gov.uk/child-study-visa/documents-you-must-provide and gov.uk/child-study-visa/money, checked on 10 November 2026.
And for university? The Student visa
For university you normally apply for the Student visa, from the age of 16 (at 16 or 17, someone going to an independent school can choose the Child Student visa instead). The structure is similar (CAS, online form, identity, eVisa and a fee of £558 plus healthcare surcharge as of 10 November 2026), but with its own requirements:
- Proof of English. You usually have to prove your level of English: with a qualification from a British school, a degree taught in English or an approved test (B2 level for degree-level studies or higher). Many universities can assess the level themselves.
- ATAS certificate. Some master’s degrees require it, depending on the subject and nationality.
- Parental consent. Only if the applicant is under 18.
- Arrival. Up to 1 month before if the course lasts more than 6 months; up to 1 week before if it lasts 6 months or less.
Sources: gov.uk/student-visa, gov.uk/student-visa/documents-you-must-provide and gov.uk/student-visa/knowledge-of-english, checked on 10 November 2026.
Where we come in
At Another Education we do not just inform you: we go through the process with you. We collect and review your family’s documents, prepare the forms and explain each step (including the child’s photo, which has its own rules). We submit the ETA application for you when the rules allow it to be done through another person and, for the visa, we prepare the application with you until it is ready. Some things no one can do for you: if there is a fingerprints and photo appointment, the applicant attends in person, and the final decision always belongs to the British authorities. Unsure which process applies to your family? Write to us at contacto@anothereducation.es and we will look at it together.