Inviting Parents To The Uk: A Guide For International Students

International students in the UK may be able to invite their parents to visit them, but this will depend on several factors. The visitor's nationality, the purpose and duration of their visit, and the student's country of residence will all play a role in determining the type of visa required. For example, EU/EEA nationals (except Irish nationals) are subject to immigration control and require visitor permission to enter the UK. Visitors may be able to obtain permission at the border, but it is recommended that they carry the necessary documentation as evidence of their intention to visit. Students should also be prepared to provide evidence of their relationship with the visitor, their enrolment status, and their ability to accommodate their visitor.

Parents of a child student visa

The Parent of a Child Student Visa allows one parent to accompany their child to the UK, where the child is enrolled at an independent fee-paying school under a Child Student Visa. The visa is only valid until the child turns 12 or their visa expires, whichever comes first.

Eligibility

To be eligible, the parent must be the only parent accompanying the child to the UK. The child must be aged between 4 and 11 when the application is made, and the parent must have sufficient funds to maintain their main home outside the UK. The parent must also have held at least £1,560 for each month of their intended stay in the UK, up to a maximum of 9 months, plus £625 for each month for any child other than the Child Student under their care. These funds must have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before the date of the visa application.

Application Process

The application for the Parent of a Child Student Visa must be made online before travelling to the UK. The earliest one can apply is 6 months before travelling. As part of the application, an appointment must be booked at a visa application centre to prove identity, and provide fingerprints and photographs (biometric information). The visa application centre may retain the applicant's passport and documents during processing. A decision on the visa is usually provided within 3 weeks.

Extending the Visa

The Parent of a Child Student Visa can be extended while in the UK, provided eligibility requirements continue to be met. However, if the visa conditions are broken, the visa holder may not be able to return to the UK.

Other Considerations

The Parent of a Child Student Visa holder is not permitted to work or study in the UK. Additionally, other family members cannot accompany the parent on this visa. They may be able to apply for a short-term visit visa or enter as visitors for short visits.

Visa requirements for graduation attendance

If you are an international student in the UK and want to invite your parents to attend your graduation, they may need a visitor visa. The type of visa they will need depends on their nationality.

From 1 January 2021, EU/EEA nationals (except Irish nationals) are also subject to immigration control and require visitor permission to enter the UK. If your parents' nationality is listed in Appendix 2 of the visa national list, they are considered "visa nationals" and must formally apply for a visa before travelling. If unsure, it is recommended to check with the university before travelling. Even if your parents are not "visa nationals", it is still recommended to carry the same documentation that would be required for a visa application to show at the border as evidence of their intention to visit.

If your parents are "non-visa nationals", they can request entry as a visitor upon arrival at the airport. However, they should carry with them evidence of your graduation, evidence of sufficient funds for their visit, and evidence that they intend to leave the UK within 6 months. Nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States of America can use the eGates for fast automated arrival.

If your parents require a Standard Visitor Visa, they must carefully read the guidance notes before applying. They should also arrange their own travel and health insurance before travelling, as visitors are not eligible for NHS health treatment. The application fee for the Standard Visitor Visa is £115 in local currency.

To support your parents' visa application, you can provide them with a recent student status letter or a copy of your official results. They may also need a copy of your invitation to the awards ceremony, which you can request from your university.

Extending a visa

If you are an international student in the UK and want to invite your parents to visit you, they will likely need to apply for a visa. If your parents are EU/EEA nationals (except Irish nationals), they are subject to immigration control and require visitor permission to enter the UK. However, certain nationalities are not required to formally apply for a visitor visa before travelling. If their nationality is not listed as a "visa national" in Appendix 2 of the visa national list, they can obtain permission at the border. It is still recommended that they carry the same documentation as other visitors to show at the border as evidence of their intention to visit.

If your parents are "visa nationals", they must formally apply for a visa prior to travelling. They can follow the standard procedure for extending a visa in the UK. Here is some information about extending a visa:

• Your parents must apply while they are still in the UK and before their current visa or permission expires.
• They will need to have their fingerprints and a photo (biometric information) taken – there is no fee for this.
• They may be able to extend their stay as long as the total time spent in the UK is no more than 6 months.
• They must meet the eligibility requirements and pay the £1,000 fee. For example, if they have been in the UK for 3 months, they can apply to extend their stay for up to an additional 3 months.
• They can only extend their stay for up to 6 months if they are in the UK as an academic and need more time to retake a test or complete research.
• If they are extending their stay to be with the same family member, they will only get up to 28 days left on their current stay added to their new visa.
• There is no limit to the number of times they can extend their stay.
• They must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until they get a decision on their application. If they do, their application will be withdrawn.

Additional Information:

• If your parents are visiting for your graduation, you should send a scanned image of your passport (the photograph page) and your current Student Visa/Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). Do not send the original documents.
• Your parents should also have evidence that they have reasons to leave the UK at the end of their visit, such as a letter from their employer or evidence of commitments.
• It may be helpful for them to have an itinerary of their visit, which you can write down and give to them. This could include details of hotel bookings or tour plans.

Non-visa nationals

If you are an international student in the UK and want to invite your parents to visit you, they will most likely need to apply for a visa. From 1 January 2021, EU/EEA nationals (except Irish nationals) are also subject to immigration control and require visitor permission to enter the UK.

However, certain nationalities are not required to formally apply for a visitor visa before travelling to the UK. If the nationality is not listed in Appendix 2 of the visa national list, then they are a "non-visa national" and can obtain permission to enter the UK at the border. If you are unsure whether your parents' nationality requires a visa, check before travelling. It is recommended that they still carry the same documentation and be ready to show evidence of their intention to visit at the border.

To support your parents' visa application, you should send a scanned image of your passport (the photograph page) and your current Student Visa/Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). Do not send original documents. You should also provide evidence that your parents have reasons to return to their home country at the end of their visit, such as a letter from their employer or evidence of other commitments. If you have plans for their visit, you can include an itinerary with details of hotel or tour bookings.

Supporting documents for visa applications

International students in the UK can invite their parents to visit them. If the parents are nationals of any of the countries listed in Appendix 2 of the visa national list, they are "non-visa nationals" and can obtain permission to enter the UK at the border. However, it is recommended that they carry the same documentation as those who require a visa to show at the border as evidence of their intention to visit. If the parents are "visa nationals", they must formally apply for a visa prior to travelling to the UK.

• A valid passport: The parent(s) must provide a copy of the photo page of their passport, including their signature and passport number. If the parent(s) do not have a passport, another official document with their signature can be provided.
• Proof of relationship: If the international student has a different family name than their parent(s), they may need to provide evidence of their relationship. This can include a birth certificate, adoption certificate, or divorce/marriage certificate.
• Consent and permission: If the international student is under 18, they will need written consent from their parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Additionally, the parent(s) should provide a signed letter confirming the student's travel arrangements and their consent for the student to travel to the UK.
• Financial documents: The parent(s) must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds available for their trip. This includes showing that they have enough money to support themselves and any dependents during their stay in the UK.
• Evidence of accommodation and travel: The international student may need to provide evidence of the accommodation and travel arrangements for their parent(s). This can include an itinerary of their plans during their visit.
• Invitation letter: An invitation letter from the international student can be included, detailing the reason for the parent(s)' visit and any costs that will be covered.
• Other documents: Depending on the circumstances, other documents may be required, such as medical certificates, employment letters, or business registration documents.

Frequently asked questions