Professional support for children applying to join or remain with a parent in the UK under the family visa route, including child status, parental route, financial evidence, extension and settlement planning.
Review whether the child family route is suitable before evidence is prepared.
A child may be able to apply for a UK Family Visa to join or remain with a parent in the UK. The correct route depends on where the child was born, the child’s age, the parent’s immigration status, whether the parent is applying as a partner or parent, and whether the child is applying with the parent or separately.
This page focuses only on child family visa applications where a child is joining or remaining with a parent under the family route. It does not cover spouse or partner applications, adult dependent relatives, or children applying as dependants of work or study visa holders. If the parent is in the UK temporarily on a work visa or student visa, the child will usually need to apply as a dependant on that route instead of applying for a family visa.
Child family visa applications can be deceptively complex. The Home Office will look at the child’s age, dependency, living arrangements, parental responsibility, the parent’s status and route to settlement, financial support, accommodation and whether the child is living an independent life. Immigration Visa Expert Immigration Visa Experts can review the route and evidence before an application is prepared.
The child route should be checked carefully before submission. The same application can look very different depending on whether the child was born in the UK, whether the parent is on a partner or parent route, whether the parent is settled, and whether the child is applying with the parent or separately.
Where a child was born in the UK, GOV.UK states that the child will get the same permission to stay as the parent. The child can be added to the parent’s next application as a dependant or can apply separately.
The child must live with the parent in the UK unless they are living away from home in full-time education, such as boarding school or university. The child must not be married or in a civil partnership. If the child is 18 or over, they can only apply if their permission to stay started when they were under 18 and they must apply from inside the UK.
If the child was born outside the UK, eligibility depends on the child’s age and how the parent applied or is applying. The child must live with the parent unless they are living away from home in full-time education, and the child must not be married or in a civil partnership.
If the child is under 18, one parent must normally be applying or have applied as a partner where the partner they are joining is the child’s other parent, or as a parent where that parent has sole parental responsibility for the child. A child may also qualify where the parent has protection status, or where there are serious reasons to allow the child to come to or stay in the UK and proper care arrangements are in place.
If the child is 18 or over, they can only apply if they have permission to stay in the UK on a family visa that started when they were under 18. This makes early route planning important where a child is approaching adulthood.
GOV.UK states that an applicant does not need to prove knowledge of English if they are applying as a child. This is different from many adult family visa applications where English language evidence may be required.
English language and Life in the UK requirements may become relevant later for some applicants who apply for settlement after turning 18, depending on the settlement route and exemptions available at that stage.
The exact evidence depends on the child’s age, birthplace, living arrangements, parent’s status and whether the child is applying with the parent or separately. The aim should not be to copy a generic checklist, but to prepare a focused evidence bundle that answers the Home Office’s key concerns clearly.
We can review the documents before submission, identify weak or missing evidence and help present the child’s circumstances in a structured way.
Ask Immigration Visa Expert Immigration Visa Experts to review the parent status, child dependency, financial and accommodation evidence before you apply.
The total cost depends on whether the application is made from outside or inside the UK, whether the child is added to a parent’s application or applies separately, the period of leave granted, and whether IHS or a fee waiver position applies.
| Cost item | Current GOV.UK amount / position |
|---|---|
| Application outside the UK to join a parent | £2,064 |
| Application inside the UK to join or remain with a parent | £1,407 |
| Each dependant added to an application | £2,064 outside the UK or £1,407 inside the UK |
| Immigration Health Surcharge for a child | Usually £2,328 for 2 years 9 months, £1,940 for 2 years 6 months, or £3,880 for 5 years |
| Immigration Health Surcharge for an adult applicant aged 18 or over | Usually £3,105 for 2 years 9 months, £2,587.50 for 2 years 6 months, or £5,175 for 5 years |
| Faster decision from inside the UK | Super priority may be available for an additional £1,000 |
A fee waiver may be available in some cases where the applicant cannot afford the fee, essential living costs are affected, or payment would harm the child’s wellbeing.
Yes. A child may need to extend their family visa before their current permission expires if they are not yet eligible for settlement. The child’s route and permission period are normally linked to the parent’s route and the decision letter should confirm whether the family is on a 5-year or 10-year route to settlement.
An extension should not be treated as a routine repeat application. The evidence should be updated to show the child still lives with the parent or is away in full-time education, is not married or in a civil partnership, remains dependent, and can be adequately supported and accommodated. Where the parent’s financial route has changed, the supporting evidence should be checked carefully.
If the child or parent previously received a non-standard endorsement or was placed on a 10-year route, settlement timing may be different. Advice should be taken before preparing the extension so that the family does not miss an earlier ILR opportunity or submit the wrong type of application.
A child may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if they have a family visa as a child and their parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK. A child may also qualify in other specific situations, including where they were born in the UK before the parent settled, or where the parent is applying for settlement on the relevant family route.
For ILR as a child under the family route, the applicant must usually show that they have had permission as the parent or relative’s dependant, are or will be living with the parent or relative, will be adequately supported and accommodated without public funds, and are not married, in a civil partnership or living an independent life.
Where the child lives with two parents in the UK, both normally need to be settled. Where the child lives with one parent, that parent must usually be settled and have sole responsibility, unless the other parent has died or there are serious or compelling reasons why the child should be allowed to stay in the UK. Applicants aged 18 or over may also need to meet English language and Life in the UK requirements.
We help families avoid route confusion, weak dependency evidence, missing parent-status documents and avoidable financial evidence issues.
Yes. A child may be able to apply to join or remain with a parent in the UK, depending on where the child was born, the child’s age, the parent’s status and whether the child is applying with the parent or separately.
Not always. GOV.UK says a child may not need a family visa if at least one parent has indefinite leave to remain or proof of permanent residence. The child may instead need to check whether settlement or citizenship is available.
A child born in the UK usually gets the same permission as the parent. The child can be added to the parent’s next application or apply separately, provided the child lives with the parent unless away in full-time education and is not married or in a civil partnership.
Eligibility depends on the child’s age and how the parent applied. A child under 18 may qualify where the parent is applying or has applied as a partner joining the child’s other parent, or as a parent with sole parental responsibility, or where protection status or serious reasons apply.
A child aged 18 or over can only apply in limited circumstances, usually where they already have permission to stay on a family visa that started when they were under 18 and they remain dependent rather than living an independent life.
No. GOV.UK states that a person applying as a child does not need to prove knowledge of English. English and Life in the UK requirements may become relevant later for some settlement applications after the applicant turns 18.
If a child applies separately, GOV.UK says the application must include proof of the parent’s income. The parent must meet the financial requirement for their own type of family visa or permission.
For a child linked to a parent on the standard partner route, GOV.UK currently lists the partner minimum income requirement as £29,000. Different transitional or adequate support rules can apply, including for pre-11 April 2024 partner extensions and specified benefits.
GOV.UK currently lists £2,064 for an application outside the UK and £1,407 for an application inside the UK where the child is joining a parent, partner or child. IHS is usually payable in addition.
GOV.UK states that outside-UK child applications are usually decided within 12 weeks, while inside-UK applications are usually decided within 8 weeks. It takes about 12 months where the parent is on a 10-year route to settlement.
Yes. A child can extend before their permission expires if they are not yet eligible for ILR. The extension should be prepared with updated evidence about living arrangements, dependency, financial support and the parent’s current route.
Yes. A child may be able to apply for ILR if they have a family visa as a child and the parent is British or settled, or in other specific situations. The child must normally be supported and accommodated without public funds and not be independent.
For parents applying to live in the UK to care for a child living in the UK.
For children or young people who may need to rely on long residence or private life in the UK.
For families where the parent’s route is linked to a partner or spouse application.
For children joining a parent who is in the UK on a work visa rather than a family visa.
Understand IHS costs for child, family and dependant applications.
Plan child settlement, registration or future citizenship options.
Child family visa applications depend on route choice, parent status, dependency, financial support and the way the child’s circumstances are evidenced. Speak to Immigration Visa Expert Immigration Visa Experts before submission.
