Parent of a Child Visa

One of the lesser-known UK visas is the Parent of a Child visa. This visa allows the foreign parents of British-based children to come to or remain in the UK. Our comprehensive guide below provides full details on eligibility for the visa, the process, and the costs involved.


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What is a Parent of a Child Visa?

The Parent of a Child visa is the immigration route for foreign parents to come to or remain in the UK to care for their British-based child. The child must already live in the UK and have either British or Irish citizenship, settled status, or pre-settled status.

Various circumstances could necessitate the need for a Parent of a Child visa. For example, the breakdown of a marriage might require you to switch from a Spouse visa to a Parent of a Child visa. Alternatively, the bereavement of a parent with parental responsibility could necessitate the other parent coming to the UK to care for the child. Regardless of the specific reason, the visa should be considered a last resort, and you should look to apply for other visas first, such as a Partner visa, if you are eligible.

Successful applicants for a Parent of a Child visa will be issued an initial visa for 2 years and 9 months. You can then apply for an extension for a further 2 years and 6 months, which will provide you with sufficient time to meet the criteria to apply for settlement via Indefinite Leave to Remain. In turn, you can then apply to become a British citizen.

Eligibility Criteria for a Parent of a Child Visa

There are various requirements that need to be met in any application for a Parent of a Child visa. These include requirements relevant to the child's status, your relationship with the child, and wider financial considerations.

In all applications, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Your child must be under 18 on the date of application or on the date they were first granted leave.
  • They must not be married or in a civil partnership.
  • They must live in the UK
  • They must be a British or Irish citizen, or hold Settled or Pre-Settled status.
  • You must live with the child or intend to live with the child
  • You must have sole or joint parental responsibility for the child
  • You must be taking an ongoing and active role in the child's upbringing
  • You must be able to satisfy the English language requirement
  • You must be able to satisfy the maintenance requirement

In the sections below, we examine each of these requirements in more detail. 

Child Specific Requirements

There are a number of requirements that a child needs to meet for the parent to be eligible for the visa. The following criteria apply to all applications:

  • Age - The child must be under 18 years old on the date you apply or, at the very least, when they were first granted leave to enter or remain in the UK.
  • Dependency - The child must not be married or in a civil partnership. They must also live with you unless they’re away from home in full-time education e.g. University.
  • Residency Status - The child must be living in the UK and meet one of the following criteria: they are a British or Irish citizen; they have settled status in the UK, such as indefinite leave to remain or permanent residence; they are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status, having started living in the UK before 1 January 2021; or, if you are applying in the UK, they must have lived in the UK continuously for 7 years, and it would be unreasonable for them to leave.
  • If all of the above apply, then you will meet the child requirements for the visa.

Parent Specific Requirements

There are also specific requirements for the parent that need to be met, as well as the requirements for the child. The following requirements apply to all applications:

  1. Parent Responsibility - You must have sole or shared parental responsibility for your child. If you share parental responsibility, the child's other parent must not be your partner and must either be a British or Irish citizen, have settled status in the UK (such as indefinite leave to remain or proof of permanent residence), or be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status, having lived in the UK since before 1 January 2021. Additionally, if the child lives with their other parent or carer, you must have in-person access to the child, either as agreed with the other parent or carer, or through a court order.
  2. Involvement in Childs Life - You must prove that you are actively involved in your child's upbringing and intend to continue doing so after your application. Evidence from government agencies, schools, courts, or medical professionals will help demonstrate you are living with or caring for your child.

The Parent of a Child visa is ultimately about family life and the child's welfare. It's essential that you clearly substantiate the role you play in the child's life and show how you're a pivotal part of their upbringing. 

English Language and Maintenance Requirement

Along with the specific parent and child requirements, you must also demonstrate that you can satisfy the English language and maintenance requirements.


The English language requirement is the first of these and has been put in place to assess whether you have a good understanding of English. Typically this is assessed by passing a language test, completing a degree level qualification in English, or coming from a majority English-speaking country such as Australia or the USA. Full details can be found in our Knowledge Centre article on the English language requirement.


The maintenance requirement seeks to understand whether you can financially support yourself without relying on public funds. As part of the application process. the caseworker will assess your income and housing costs to determine if you can adequately maintain yourself. If your child or other dependants live with you, you will also need to show that you can support them financially without accessing public funds.

If you are unable to meet either the English language or financial requirements, you may still be able to apply if:

  • Your child in the UK is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for at least 7 years.
  • It would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK.

The right to family life is enshrined in UK law, so there is some flexibility and protection around this section of the application.

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Rights and Permissions on a Parent of a Child Visa

The Parent of a Child visa provides several benefits, granting holders various rights related to work, study, and personal freedom.

Visa holders can:

  • Work full-time or part-time for any employer without needing sponsorship.
  • Study full-time or part-time at recognized schools, colleges, or universities in the UK.
  • Freely enter and exit the UK as they wish.
  • Apply for visa extensions to extend their stay in the UK.
  • Become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years of continuous residence in the UK.

However, there are some restrictions, particularly regarding access to public funds:

  • Generally, Parent of a Child visa holders are not entitled to most UK public funds, including welfare benefits and social housing.
  • They do, however, have access to healthcare services through the National Health Service (NHS).

When the visa is issued you will be provided with a comprehensive list of what you can and cannot do under the terms of the visa.

Including Other Children as Dependants

In some instances, the parent applicant may have other children. It is possible to include these other children as dependants in the application if any of the following conditions are met:

  • They are under 18 on the date of your application.
  • They were under 18 when they were first granted leave under a family visa.

Additionally, they must:

  • Live with you, unless they are away for full-time education, such as attending boarding school or university.
  • Not be married or in a civil partnership.

It’s important to note that any additional children will need to pay both the government fee and Immigration Health Surcharge fee in addition to the fees paid by the main applicant.

Valuable ‘fixed-fee’ advice at any stage of your application

Application Fees for a Parent of a Child Visa

The cost of a UK Parent of a Child visa application is £1,258 for applications made within the UK and £1,846 for those made outside the UK. As well as the application fee, you will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is currently £1,035 per year per adult and £776 per dependant child.


If you’re unable to pay the application fee you can request a fee waiver. However. the only reasons the fee can be waived are if one of the following applies:

  • You are homeless or unable to afford housing.
  • You have housing but cannot cover essential living expenses, such as food or heating.
  • You have a very low income, and paying the fee would negatively affect your child’s well-being.

Somewhat understandably, UKVI is reluctant to grant fee waivers. Therefore, you’ll need to provide clear evidence of your circumstances and why the fee should be waived.

Visa Processing Times

Processing times vary based on whether you apply from inside or outside the UK. If you apply from outside the UK, you will typically receive a decision within 12 weeks. However, the wait time is considerably longer for applications made within the UK. Current guidance from UKVI suggests applications are taking around 12 months to receive a decision.


If you need faster results on your visa application, you should consider using a priority service. There are additional fees to pay for these services, but responses are guaranteed to arrive within a much shorter timeframe. A priority application costs an additional £500 per applicant, with a result received within 5 working days. The super-priority service incurs an additional £1,000 per applicant but guarantees a result the next working day.

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About Dean Morgan

Immigration Lawyer
Dean is a founding partner of First Migration and has more than 20 years of experience in UK immigration. He is a trusted voice in the immigration community and regularly appears on GB News and other prominent news channels.

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