A child dependent visa enables an overseas child to join a parent residing in the UK.
Get in touch with our immigration lawyers for a free phone consultation at 02033939272, or fill out our enquiry form to get assistance with your child dependent visa application.
If you are an overseas national working or studying in the UK and would like your child to accompany you into the country via the same immigration process, then the Child Dependent Visa is the best alternative for you to obtain a “UK Child Visa.” When you’re submitting your application from outside the UK you can also apply on their behalf. Moreover, you can apply separately once you have arrived in the UK.
You must be able to show that you will have appropriate housing and care throughout your visit if you (or your kid) are applying under this category. Additionally, you have to prove that you have a parent or guardian in your country who is also responsible for taking care of your well-being.
Are you worried about how to apply for child dependent visa UK? Let our experienced solicitors guide you. We’ll assess your eligibility, ensure your application meets the highest standards, and provide a detailed Letter of Representation highlighting your case’s strengths and aligning it with UK immigration law.
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A parent residing in the UK can bring their foreign child to visit them using a child dependent visa. According to the Home Office, it is usually necessary for both parents to be present in the UK when a kid is being sponsored. However, 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.
The immigration system in the UK classifies petitions for dependent child visas into three groups:
If a child’s parent is an established person in the UK (e.g., has ILR), the child can seek to join them and get ILR as well. You can settle in the UK as a parent in many different ways. They will usually have been residents of the country for a specific period of time (usually five years) on a work visa or another sort of visa in order to be eligible for permanent resident status.
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. All dependent children must be listed as dependent on the parent or legal guardian applying for the partner visa. They can either apply alongside their parent or submit their own application at a later date. 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. Along with their parents, they can apply for renewal. In order to seek permanent resident status, the 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. If the Home Office makes a choice, they need to be careful that it doesn’t cause a family to break up without meaning to. In the case of a stepfamily, they will seek proof that the primary applicant or their spouse is formally liable for the child’s care and welfare. Consequently, the candidate must present convincing 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 UK immigration solicitors. These solicitors will help limit any potential reasons for refusal and ensure that all necessary evidence is offered.
No matter your situation, our child immigration attorneys can help you understand your options for obtaining a UK visa for children as quickly and easily as possible. For a free initial consultation, call us at 02033939272 or send us an email.
The applicants’ situations determine the requirements for a UK child dependent visa. In general, you need:
Applicants for long-term visas, such as the Skilled Worker visa, who want to bring their dependant children to the UK, need to prove that they have the money to support them. The first child will cost £315, and each subsequent child will cost £200. The applicant must have maintained the funds for a minimum of 28 days prior to making an application.
While applying for a family visa, the primary applicant must demonstrate that they earn a minimum of £29,000 per annum plus an additional £3,800 for the first kid and £2,400 for each additional child.
An individual is considered to be a dependent child if they are under the age of 18, not married, and not supporting themselves financially. Even though the child is now an adult, they may still be able to apply if they were granted permission to remain in the UK while they were younger than 18 and are not now supporting themselves.
One parent must have “parental responsibility” for a child if neither parent is currently residing in the UK. Proof of the parent’s complete legal responsibility for the child is required before the Home Office will issue a child dependant visa.
It is the responsibility of the Home Office to ensure that all plans for the child’s stay in the UK are in accordance 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 occupancy of the house.
This list is not all-inclusive, but here are some of the documents needed to apply for a UK Child Dependent Visa:
In order to obtain a dependant visa for the UK, you must follow these key steps:
The following are the visa fees for dependent children:
Application fee | Applying outside the UK | Applying inside the UK |
Dependent child (family visa route) | £1,538 | £1,048 |
Dependent child (dependent of long-term visa holder – e.g., work visa) | up to 3 years – £625 per person more than 3 years – £1,235 per person | up to 3 years – £719 per person more than 3 years – £1,423 per person |
Dependent child of a settled person | £2,404 | £2,404 |
Fee for BRP: £19.20
The Immigration Healthcare Charge (which provides access to the UK’s National Health Service) is £776 per child per year.
Depending on the chosen route, the processing time for a UK child dependent visa can vary:
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. Approval time for applications submitted within the UK is 8 weeks.
“Dependent child visa” (UK) (for children of long-term visa holders, such as those holding work visas): Usually, you can expect a response to your application within three weeks.
For dependent children of UK permanent residents, the decision-making process usually takes no more than six weeks from the date of application.
If you really need a decision by the end of the next business day, you can pay £1000 to use the super-priority processing service. Otherwise, it may take longer.
Typically, a child’s dependant visa will provide them the right to settle (also known as ILR) when a specific amount of time has passed in the UK. In most cases, the qualifying period for ILR is 5 years. The child is eligible to apply for UK permanent resident status at the same time that the parent or parents do.
For assistance with how to apply UK visa for children or extending your child’s permission to remain, our immigration attorneys are here to help. Call us at 02033939272 or fill out our online form now for a free initial consultation.
At Rees Clayton, our team of skilled immigration consultants can guide you through each stage of your visa child dependent visa UK application process.
We offer the following services:
Speak with one of our immigration solicitors by calling us at 02033939272 or using our online form.
Most of the time, a child needs a visa in order to live in the UK. For instance, if their parent is a foreign national working or studying in the country, the child may need a Child Dependent Visa.
You must fill out an online application and pay the appropriate amount in order to apply for a child’s visa. You can do this at the same time as you apply for your own visa or at a later time.
It is possible to file an appeal or a new application if a child’s visa request is rejected. If you have been denied, we suggest getting in touch with us so we can provide you with legal counsel. If you need help understanding the decision or are unsure about what to do next, our immigration consultants are here to help.
Whether the application is submitted within or outside of the UK determines the processing period for the visa. Applications for child dependant visas submitted from outside the UK are now experiencing extended processing times. Visa processing timeframes can be better understood by getting in touch with us.
No, proof of proficiency in English is not necessary for a kid to apply for a child visa.
