When your child receives a student visa, it is not just permission to go to class. It is a legal agreement with the government of the country where they will study. This agreement has rules. If your child breaks these rules — even by accident — the visa can be cancelled. This guide explains the most important rules your child must follow, and what can happen if they do not.
Disclaimer: Immigration policies and visa conditions change regularly. Always check the official government website of your child's study destination for the most up-to-date rules before making any decisions.
The UK: The Strictest System for International Students
The UK has the most detailed rules for international students of any major study destination. Universities in the UK are required by the government — specifically UK Visas and Immigration, known as UKVI — to check that every international student is attending their classes and progressing through their course. If a student is not attending, the university must report this to the government. This is not optional for the university.
Your child's attendance record is not just an academic record. It is also an immigration record. If your child misses too many classes without a good reason, the university must tell UKVI. UKVI can then shorten your child's visa and give them a date by which they must leave the UK — even if the course has not finished yet (UK Legal Guides, 2026).
There is no single attendance percentage that applies to every university. Each university sets its own minimum. But missing classes regularly without a good reason is treated as breaking the visa rules. The most important thing to understand is this: missing lectures is not a private matter. It is something the university is legally required to report to the government if it becomes a serious concern.
Work Hours Are a Visa Rule, Not a University Rule
Every major study destination limits how many hours an international student can work while studying. This limit is part of the visa conditions — not a suggestion from the university. Working more hours than the limit allows is breaking the law, and the consequences can include losing student status, being refused a visa in the future, or being asked to leave the country.
The exact work hour limits for the UK, Canada, Australia, the US, Ireland, and Germany are explained in full in our companion guide — The Work Hours Rule: What Parents Need to Know About Your Child's Right to Work Abroad.
Three Important Things Most Families Do Not Know
Taking a break from studies affects the visa.
If your child needs to stop studying for a period of time — because of illness, a family situation, or personal reasons — this cannot happen quietly. In the UK, if a student pauses their studies, their visa will be shortened and they will need to leave the country. Before they can return to continue their studies, they must apply for a brand new visa. This process takes time, so they should start at least three months before they want to come back (UCL Student Visa Responsibilities).
Many families assume their child can simply come home for a few months and then go back. This is not how it works. If your child is struggling and needs a break, the right first step is to speak to the university's international student support team — not to stop attending without telling anyone.
Finishing the degree early affects the visa too.
If your child completes their course before the expected end date, the university must inform UKVI. After this report, the visa is shortened to match the new end date. This means your child cannot re-enter the UK on that visa afterwards — for example, to attend their graduation ceremony. They would need to apply for a different type of visa to visit. This surprises many families who assume finishing early is straightforward good news (UCL Student Visa Responsibilities).
Changing universities in Canada requires a new study permit.
Since November 2024, international students in Canada must apply for a new study permit if they want to move to a different university or college. In the past, students could simply report the change to the government. This is no longer allowed. If your child starts studying at the new institution before the new study permit is approved, they are breaking their visa conditions (IRCC, canada.ca). This rule catches many students and families off guard, so it is important to know before any decision is made.
What You Can Do as a Parent
The visa rules are your child's responsibility, not yours. But you are often the first person to notice when something is wrong — if your child seems stressed, disengaged, or unhappy. If your child tells you they are thinking about missing classes, stopping their studies, or moving to a different university, the first question to ask is: what does this mean for their visa?
The universities your child attends have teams whose job is to help international students with exactly these situations. They can guide your child through the right process. The important thing is to ask for help early — before absence becomes a formal problem — rather than hoping the situation will resolve itself.
Staying involved in your child's experience — not just their results — is one of the most valuable things you can do to protect your family's investment in study abroad.
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Sources: UK Home Office, Student and Child Student guidance, March 2026 · UKVI compliance guidance via Wonkhe, 2025 · University of Sheffield Student Visa compliance guidance · UCL Student Visa Responsibilities · IRCC, Government of Canada