UK Child visa

What the child dependant visa is

There is no separate "child dependant visa" as its own immigration category. It is the child part of the UK family visa. The route allows a child to live in the UK with a parent who is either settled here or who holds a family visa as a partner or parent.

Because the child's permission depends on the parent, the child normally receives the same length of stay and follows the same route to settlement as the parent they are joining. In most cases the child is included on the parent's application; in some situations the child applies separately using their own form.

Who it is for

• Children applying to join or stay with a parent who is in the UK.
• The parent must hold one of the following: a family visa as a partner or parent, refugee or humanitarian protection status, indefinite leave to remain, or settled status.
• Children born in the UK can be added as a dependant to a parent's permission or apply separately, and generally receive the same permission as their parent.
• Children born outside the UK who are under 18 are covered where one parent is applying (or has applied) as a partner joining the other parent, or as a parent with sole parental responsibility.

Eligibility requirements

Applicants must meet the core rules set out on gov.uk. These distinguish between children born in and outside the UK, and between those under and over 18.

• The child must normally live with their parent in the UK, unless they are living away from home in full-time education.
• The child must not be married or in a civil partnership.
• For a child born outside the UK and under 18: one parent must be applying, or have already applied, as a partner joining the other parent, or as a parent with sole parental responsibility. Alternatively, the Home Office may allow a child to come or stay where there are serious reasons to do so and there are suitable plans for the child's care.
• For a child born outside the UK who is 18 or over: they must already have permission that started when they were under 18. They can then be included as a dependant or apply separately.
• If the child applies separately, they must provide proof of the parent's income to show the relevant family visa financial requirement is met.

Costs

The main costs are the application fee and the immigration health surcharge (IHS). Both are charged per child. Fees change regularly, so confirm current amounts on gov.uk before paying.

• Application fee: £2,064 if applying from outside the UK, or £1,407 if applying from inside the UK — the same amount as for an adult applicant.
• IHS for a child (under 18): £1,940 for 2 years and 6 months, £2,328 for 2 years and 9 months, or £3,880 for 5 years of permission.
• Applicants inside the UK can pay an extra £1,000 for a super priority (next working day) decision.
• The parent must be able to meet the family visa financial requirement, which is assessed on the parent's income and savings.

Documents you will need

The exact document list depends on the parent's status and whether the child is applying with or separately from the parent. In general, applicants should be ready to provide evidence of identity, the parent-child relationship and the parent's immigration status and finances.

• The child's valid passport or travel document
• Evidence of the relationship to the parent, such as a birth certificate
• Evidence of the parent's status in the UK (for example their visa, refugee status or proof of settlement)
• Where the child applies separately, proof of the parent's income to meet the financial requirement
• Where relevant, evidence of care arrangements and, for sole responsibility cases, evidence the parent has sole parental responsibility

How to apply

The application is made online. The correct form depends on the parent's visa type and whether the child is included on the parent's application or applying on their own. Most cases use the family (Appendix FM) route online form.

As part of the process, applicants provide biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) at a visa application centre when applying from outside the UK, or through the relevant identity process when applying from inside the UK.

How long a decision takes

• Applying from outside the UK: usually a decision within about 12 weeks.
• Applying from inside the UK: usually a decision within about 8 weeks.
• Applications on the 10-year route: usually around 12 months.

Length of stay, extending and settlement

A child on the family route normally receives the same length of permission as the parent they are joining. On the standard 5-year partner route this is up to 2 years and 9 months at a time, with extensions of up to a further 2 years and 6 months.

When extending to stay with the same family member, any time left on the current permission is generally not fully carried over — up to 28 days of remaining leave can be added to the new grant.

Settlement (indefinite leave to remain) becomes possible after a set qualifying period of continuous residence — 5 years on the 5-year route. There is also a longer 10-year route to settlement. A child's path normally follows the parent's route and timing.