do I need a UK guardian in place to apply for my child's student visa?
educational guardianship on visa application form
Many students are now partway through the application process for their UK Child Student visa with schools across the UK assigning CAS (Confirmation of Academic Studies) documentation.
As part of the application process, parents are asked to provide details of the UK based guardian 'Nominated Guardian', that will be looking after their child during their studies.
is UK guardianship a legal requirement for international students?
Currently, there is no legal requirement for parents to appoint a UK guardian, however almost all schools insist on this for overseas boarders. Having a responsible UK guardian in place helps schools to fulfil their duty of care, so their overseas boarders are kept safe throughout the duration of their stay in the UK and during the school holidays.
We advise parents to check the guardianship policy for their child's school and to ask them about their requirements as these vary between institutions.
Following Brexit, the guardianship requirements of most schools expanded to cover all international boarders, including those from EU countries. The Covid-19 pandemic also highlighted the need for reliable guardianship. With flights to most locations grounded, parents and students were unable to travel to each other. Infected students were also required to isolate away from the school boarding houses.
New immigration laws from 29th May 2025 mean that there is more emphasis on safeguarding and more scrutiny on the Nominated Guardian.
AEGIS Gold standard - the highest standard in the UK
UK Boarding Schools are increasingly concerned about the reliability of their students' educational guardians, and so may strongly recommend that any guardian appointed be accredited by AEGIS (The Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) to Gold standard. This reassures all involved that the guardian organisation appointed has passed a thorough inspection and is operating professionally and following a strict safeguarding framework.
where can I find more information on how to apply for a Child Student visa?
If you are not sure how to start your application and need help and advice, you can contact your Guardianship Care Manager. We can refer you to one of our overseas agents who can assist and who will guide you through the application process from start to finish.
If you have not yet applied for guardianship with Bright World and would like some more information, simply complete the online enquiry form by clicking the link at the bottom of the page and one of our Regional Managers will be happy to help.
The changes to the visa rules are good news for those concerned with the safeguarding of international children. The inclusion of this new section and questions in the Child Student visa application form shows that the UK government is starting to recognise the importance of guardianship to the international education sector.
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