Bringing your child closer, one visa at a time! With the Child Dependant Visa UK, ensure your child can join you in the UK seamlessly. Secure their future while you create yours.
Reach out to our immigration lawyers at 02033939272 for a free phone consultation, or fill out our enquiry form to discuss your Child Dependant Visa UK application.
Children under 18 may apply for a child dependent visa UK if their parents are already in the UK or in the process of moving there. The type of application depends on the parents’ status. If the parents are settled or planning to settle in the UK, the child may be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILR). If one parent has or is applying for permission to stay as a partner of a British citizen or settled person, the child may also qualify for permission to stay.
Different rules apply if the parent is in the UK temporarily. For example, the children of Skilled Workers must follow specific steps outlined below.
A child dependent visa enables an overseas child to join a parent residing in the UK. In most situations, the Home Office expects both parents to be in the UK with the kid. Nevertheless, in cases when only one parent resides in the UK, the parent who is sponsoring the child from the UK must demonstrate that they are the only parent to the child or children.
In cases where one parent resides in the UK and the other is overseas, and the UK-based sponsoring parent cannot prove sole custody, they must present proof of a strong and compelling family reason or other factors that make the child’s exclusion unacceptable.
There are three separate categories of child dependant visa applications processed by the UK immigration system:
A child can seek to join a settled parent in the UK and be given permanent resident status if that parent holds permanent resident status. There are different ways for a parent to live in the UK. In order to be eligible for ILR, they will usually have to have lived here for a specific period of time (usually 5 years) while having a work visa or another sort of visa.
Children can join their parents in the UK if one parent has a partner visa (or is applying for one) under the family visa system. Children must be dependant on the partner visa applicant. Either they or their parent can submit an application simultaneously or at a later date. In order to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, a child must have lived in the UK with a parent for a qualifying period, which is usually five years.
You can bring your dependents with you or join them in the UK if you hold one of these long-term visa categories:
It is common practice to provide dependent children permission to enter or stay in accordance with the time granted to their parents. They can also submit renewal requests at the same time as their parents. In order to seek permanent resident status, a child must have lived in the UK for five years. The child must continue to reside with the sponsoring parent until they are eligible for permanent residence.
You can add step-children to your child dependant visa UK application, but you might need to provide more proof to satisfy the Home Office immigration requirements. The Home Office has a responsibility of care to ensure that the decisions it makes do not result in the unintentional dissolution of a family unit. They will seek proof that the primary applicant or their spouse is legally liable for the child’s care and welfare in the event of a stepfamily. This means the candidate must give concrete proof that they:
The Home Office has the right to reject an application or request additional information if they have reasonable doubts regarding the applicant’s or dependant partner’s lawful custody and responsibility for the child’s care and welfare. Therefore, it is advised that anyone seeking a dependant visa for a step-child consults with Rees Clayton immigration solicitors. These solicitors will help limit any potential reasons for refusal and ensure that all necessary evidence is presented.
An expert child immigration lawyer from our firm can assess your specific situation and advise you on the best course of action for obtaining a dependent child visa to the UK. Contact us immediately to schedule a complimentary telephone consultation at 02033939272 or by submitting our inquiry form.
An applicant’s specific situation determines the criteria for a child dependent visa to the UK. The standard criteria are:
Children do not have to demonstrate their English proficiency.
There is more than one way to satisfy the financial criterion. Either the parent or their spouse must have a salary of £29,000 or £88,500 in savings in order to be eligible to be a child’s legal guardian in the UK. It is feasible to combine income with cash savings, and many sources of income can be considered when meeting the financial requirements.
The applicant’s parent may remain a partner under transitional conditions if they apply for and receive entrance clearance before April 11, 2024. This means that the parent or partner of the child will have to prove an annual income of £18,600 plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for every subsequent child. This is restricted to a maximum of £29,000.
In addition, the Home Office will make sure that the child’s housing and care arrangements in the UK are in line with all applicable laws and regulations. In other words, there needs to be enough space for the family to live in and the UK sponsor needs to have sole ownership of the house.
An individual is considered to be a dependent child if they are under the age of 18, not married, and not supporting themselves financially. They may be able to apply once they become 18 if they were previously granted permission to remain in the UK when under 18 and are not already living on their own.
“Parental responsibility” means that the person who the child will live with must be responsible for them. The Home Office must be presented with proof that the parent residing in the UK is fully responsible for the child before they may approve a child dependent visa.
The application process for a UK Child Dependent Visa requires several pieces of documents, including (but not limited to):
In order to obtain a dependant visa for the UK, you must follow these specific procedures:
The fees for a dependent child visa are as follows:
Visa Type | Application Fee (Outside UK) | Application Fee (Inside UK) |
Dependent Child (Family Visa Route) | £1,538 | £1,048 |
Dependent Child (Long-Term Visa Holder) | ||
Up to 3 years | £625 per person | £719 per person |
More than 3 years | £1,235 per person | £1,423 per person |
Dependent Child of a Settled Person | £2,404 | £2,404 |
Additional fees include:
The processing time for a UK child dependent visa is based on the following options:
If you are applying for a dependent child visa to the UK using the family visa route from outside the UK, you should expect a decision within 12 weeks. If you are applying from within the UK, you should expect a decision within eight weeks.
Dependent child visa UK (depending on a long-term visa holder, like a job visa): The decision is usually made three weeks after you apply.
Dependent child visa UK (child of a settled person): A decision is usually made within six weeks of application.
You might be eligible to employ the super-priority processing option, which costs £1000 if you need a decision by the end of the following business day.
If a parent already has a valid visa to enter the UK, their child can join them with the same term of authorisation by applying for a child dependant visa. After that, just like their parent, the child may apply to have their visa extended and for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
A child’s ability to enter and reside in the UK will be unrestricted if they are given ILR.
There are a few situations in which a child may be able to apply for ILE in the UK:
Appropriate arrangements have been made for the care of the child, and either parent or relative is present and settled or is being admitted for settlement. Exclusion would be undesirable due to serious and compelling family or other factors.
Moreover, the child must:
Some ILE applications can be more complex than others. For example, in cases when the sponsoring parent has sole responsibility for the child’s UK immigration, or if there are significant and compelling factors. It is essential to be well-prepared for cases like this because the Home Office caseworkers look at them more closely.
Our experienced immigration lawyers are here to assist with your child’s leave to remain extension or ILR application. Reach out today for a free phone consultation at 02033939272 or fill out our enquiry form to get started.
Our immigration solicitors specialise in child dependent visa UK applications and offer expert guidance and support at every step of the process.
Child dependent visa applications can be intricate, involving factors like whether the sponsor has sole responsibility for the child’s care or if there are significant family or personal circumstances to consider. Given the complexity, professional legal advice is crucial. If you need assistance or wish to discuss your case with one of our experts, please get in touch with us or fill out the enquiry form below. Call now at 02033939272.
The following individuals are considered dependent partners or children:
The application for a child visa does not require proof of the child’s proficiency in English.
Whether the application is submitted within or outside of the UK determines the processing period for the visa. Applications for Child dependant visas UK submitted from outside the UK are now experiencing extended processing times. Visa processing timeframes can be better understood by getting in touch with us.
Yes, you can bring adopted children to the UK as long as you can prove that you and the children meet the standards. We have assisted families in successfully relocating their adopted children to the UK.
If a child’s visa application is turned down, they can either appeal the result or make a new application. If you have received a denial, we advise that you contact us for legal counsel. If you need help understanding the decision or are unsure about what to do next, our immigration consultants are here to help.
