UK Parent visa

UK Parent Visa

The UK Parent Visa is a branch of the UK Family Visa, specifically for situations where a parent wishes to join their child as a British citizen or permanent resident. It is important to note, however, that this form of visa can only be applied for if the child is a dependent resident of the United Kingdom under 18.

By providing this alternative route for parents to join their children, the UK government aims to accommodate diverse family dynamics and facilitate the overall well-being of parents and children within the country.

What this visa is and who it is for

The Parent of a child in the UK visa is one branch of the broader UK Family visa. It is for a parent who wants to live in the UK to care for their child, where the child already lives here and is settled or has strong ties to the UK.

It is important to understand where this route sits. The family route has separate branches for partners/spouses, children, parents, and adult dependent relatives. This page covers the parent branch specifically. It is generally intended for a parent who is not the partner of the person the child normally lives with — for example, a parent who is separated from the child's other parent. A parent who is coming to the UK to live with a British or settled partner would normally apply on the partner route instead.

• For a parent of a child who is under 18 and lives in the UK
• For a parent who is not applying as the partner of the person the child lives with
• Requires an active, genuine parental role in the child's life
• Allows work and study in the UK once granted

Eligibility

Applicants must be the parent of a child in the UK who meets the status and residence conditions below, and must show they take, and intend to continue taking, an active role in the child's upbringing.

You may apply from abroad or in the United Kingdom. If you are applying in the United Kingdom, you cannot be a guest, have less than six months of leave (unless allowed for family court or divorce proceedings). Or be on immigration bail (unless you arrived in the UK more than six months before the application date). Additionally, you cannot violate immigration laws.

To demonstrate proficiency in the English language, you must meet at least one of the following requirements:

In certain situations, certain individuals may exclude themselves from the English proficiency requirement. This is the case, for instance, if you are 65 or older or have a condition that prevents you from meeting the standards.

• The child must be under 18 at the date of application (or have been under 18 when the parent was first granted leave on this route)
• The child must live in the UK
• The child must be a British or Irish citizen, have settled status (indefinite leave / settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme), hold pre-settled status, OR have lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years and it would not be reasonable to expect them to leave
• The applicant must have sole or shared parental responsibility for the child
• If parental responsibility is shared, the other parent must not be the applicant's partner, and must themselves be a British or Irish citizen or have settled or pre-settled status
• If the child does not live with the applicant, the applicant must have agreed access to the child (in person, or as set out in a court order)
• You are a citizen of an English-speaking majority nation.
• You passed the necessary English language examination.
• You have a degree-level or higher academic qualification from the United Kingdom or an equivalent international qualification recognized by UK ENIC.

Costs

The main costs are the application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and showing you have enough money to support yourself and your child. Fees are charged per person, so dependants add to the total.

• Application fee: £2,064 if applying from outside the UK; £1,407 if applying from inside the UK (per person)
• Optional priority/super-priority services for a faster decision cost extra (for example, priority processing is around £1,000 on top of the fee)
• A fee waiver may be available for those who cannot afford the fee and/or IHS

The financial requirement

The parent route does not use the fixed minimum income threshold that applies to partners. Instead, applicants must meet the "adequate maintenance" test: they must show they can support and house themselves and their child without needing public funds.

In practice this means providing evidence of income, savings, employment or other support, and evidence of suitable accommodation that the family owns or occupies exclusively. Applicants should be prepared to show that, after housing costs, the household has enough left to live on.

You must demonstrate that you can maintain yourself and any dependents in the United Kingdom without relying on public funds.

Accommodations should not overcrowd or violate public health rules. Adequate means 'after subtracting income tax, National Insurance contributions, and housing costs. The family should have the same income as if they were receiving Income Support.

Documents you will need

Exact documents depend on your circumstances, but applicants typically need to provide the following.

• A valid passport or other travel document
• Evidence of the child's identity and status (for example the child's British passport, or proof of settled/pre-settled status, or evidence of 7 years' continuous UK residence)
• Evidence of the parental relationship (such as the child's birth certificate naming you as parent)
• Evidence of parental responsibility or agreed access — for example a court order or a signed access agreement
• Evidence you take an active role in the child's upbringing (letters from the school, GP, or the other parent; photos; records of contact)
• Evidence of finances and accommodation to meet the adequate maintenance test
• Evidence you meet the English language requirement
• A tuberculosis test certificate if you are applying from a country where this is required

English language requirement

Applicants must show a knowledge of English. On the family route this is normally proved by passing an approved secure English language test at the required level, holding a degree taught in English, or being a national of a majority English-speaking country. The required level rises at each stage of the route (a basic level for the first application, a higher level to extend, and a higher level again for settlement).

Applicants over a certain age, or who cannot meet the requirement because of a long-term physical or mental condition, may be exempt.

How to apply

The route differs slightly depending on whether you are outside or inside the UK.

Applying from outside the UK, you complete the online application, pay the fee and IHS, and then prove your identity — either by giving your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a visa application centre, or by using the UK Immigration: ID Check app if you are eligible. Applying from inside the UK to switch or extend, you use the leave to remain application and prove your identity in the same way. You must not travel until your application is decided if you applied from inside the UK.

If your child is a British citizen or has settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply to join them under the UK Immigration Rules.

To qualify for a parent visa, you'll need to provide evidence that you either have sole parental responsibility for your child or have access rights and play an active role in their upbringing. Additionally, you must demonstrate that you can financially support and accommodate yourself (and any dependents) without relying on public funds. Meeting the English language requirement is also necessary.

A valid email address is required to submit an online application. Moreover, you'll need to:

Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to submit additional documentation, such as a sponsorship form from a family member in the United Kingdom.

• provide evidence of your finances
• demonstrate your proficiency in English

How long a decision takes

Applications from outside the UK are typically decided within a few weeks of the biometrics appointment; in-UK applications usually take up to around 8 weeks. Paid priority and super-priority services can speed this up where available. Always check the current published timescales when you apply.

Dependants and length of stay

A visa granted on this route lasts 2 years and 9 months. The child you are applying to care for is not your dependant on this application — they already have their own status in the UK. Other children may be able to join or stay with you on the child branch of the family route, subject to meeting those requirements separately.

Extending

The visa can be extended for a further 2 years and 6 months at a time, provided you still meet the requirements of the route. You will need to show that you continue to have an active parental role, that the child still meets the status conditions, that you continue to meet the maintenance requirement, and that you meet the English language requirement at the level required for extension.

Switching from another visa

It is possible to switch into the parent route from inside the UK in some circumstances, rather than applying from abroad. Whether you can switch depends on your current visa. You generally cannot switch if you are in the UK as a visitor, on a short-term visa, on immigration bail, or on leave granted outside the Immigration Rules. Check your current visa conditions before applying.

Settlement (indefinite leave to remain)

The earliest you can apply to settle on this route is after you have lived in the UK continuously for 5 years as a parent on the family route. Settlement is a separate application with its own fee, and applicants must meet the English language requirement at the level required for settlement and pass the Life in the UK test. After settlement, applicants may later be eligible to apply for British citizenship, subject to the separate citizenship rules.

Understanding "Sole Parental Responsibility"

The term “sole parental responsibility” signifies that the other parent has abdicated their parental responsibilities, and you have sole control over daily and significant decisions about the child’s care. This is beyond financial support.

While you can share some responsibilities with individuals other than your spouse, your partner cannot be the child’s other parent if you are to demonstrate sole parental responsibility. Please keep in mind that sole parental responsibility and legal custody are distinct concepts.

Demonstrating Sole Parental Duty

To demonstrate sole parental responsibility, you must provide evidence that you have made all significant choices regarding the child’s education, health, medical treatment, holidays, recreation, etc., without involving the other parent..

Understanding "Direct Access"

Direct access refers to personal contact with the child, demonstrating that you play and will continue to play an active and ongoing role in the child’s upbringing. To prove direct access, you must demonstrate that you have direct contact with the child, as agreed upon with the parent/caregiver with whom the child typically resides. However, it is important to note that the parent/caregiver must be a British Citizen or settled in the United Kingdom, and they cannot be your partner (including a person who has been in a relationship with you for less than two years before the application date).

In order to demonstrate direct access, you should provide evidence such as a residence or contact order issued by a court in the United Kingdom, a letter or affidavit from the child’s UK-resident parent or guardian, or evidence from a contact center demonstrating communication plans. Indirect communication, such as letters or telephone calls, does not sufficiently prove ‘direct access.’

It is crucial to understand these requirements and conditions when applying for the Parent Visa in the UK.

You, as the applicant parent, must satisfy:

The relationship criteria for the Parent Visa are as follows:

Firstly, you must have sole parental responsibility for the child. This means that you have exclusive control and decision-making authority over the child's care, without the involvement of the other parent.

Alternatively, you may be eligible for the Parent Visa if you and not the other parent reside with the child. In this case, it is required that you and the child live together without the presence of the other parent.

Moreover, there is an additional scenario where you can meet the relationship criteria for the Parent Visa. If the child resides with a parent or caretaker with whom you do not share a relationship, and they have granted you direct access to the child, you may be eligible for the visa.

These relationship criteria provide different scenarios in which you can qualify for the Parent Visa, ensuring that the child's well-being and your connection to them are considered.

• Relationship prerequisites
• Immigration status requirements
• Financial requirements
• Suitability requirements
• Language requirements in English

Information Required

When applying, you will need to provide:

• Your full name
• The date of your birth
• Your valid passport or another acceptable travel document
• Copies of your prior passport's photo page and visas or entry stamps
• If you have one, a copy of your biometric residency permit
• Information about any previous immigration petitions you have submitted
• Details of any convicted felonies
• Your social security number, if you own one
• The date of birth and nationality of your parents if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom;
• Your tuberculosis test results, if you are from a nation that requires the test;
• A certified translation of all non-English or Welsh documents.

Evidence of association

When applying as a spouse or partner, you will be asked to provide evidence and information regarding your relationship. This includes:

It is also important to note that you must provide information about anyone you have been married to or had children with, including documentation of dissolved marriages such as a divorce certificate.

By providing these details and evidence of your association, you present a comprehensive picture of your relationship with your partner, which is crucial for the visa application process.

• Your connection with your spouse, including how you met and how frequently you see one another
• The length of time you have lived together, for which you will need to produce evidence such as council tax bills
• Items you pay for together as a couple
• If you are your partner's caregiver
• Your prior partners and any relevant information about them

Children

When providing information on your children (and, if applicable, your partner's children), it is essential to include the following details. You will be questioned about all of your children and whether or not they are applying.

Specifically, you must provide information on:

• Full Name
• Citizenship
• Birth Date
• Passport information
• With whom the child generally resides
• Any other individuals with parental responsibilities for your child, such as your stepchildren's biological parents
• How you participate in their daily life
• Arrangements you have to see the child, such as court-granted visitation rights
• The extended family of the child
• Any countries in which your child has traveled or lived

Your life outside of Britain

When detailing your life outside of Britain, it is important to provide specifics regarding:

By including these details, you provide a comprehensive picture of your children and your life outside of Britain, which is crucial for the immigration process.

• Countries outside of the UK where you've lived or traveled
• Family and friends in the nations in which you were born or have citizenship

The Role of Appendix FM in Partner Visa Applications

If you are eligible to apply for a Partner Visa you must do this, instead of applying for a Parent Visa.

The UK Immigration Rules include Appendix FM, which outlines the visa entry requirements for family members of British citizens, settled persons in the UK, and those with refugee status or humanitarian protection.

For spouse/partner visas, the eligible categories of family members are spouses, civil partners, and unmarried partners of 2 years or more. Therefore, parents with a genuine and ongoing relationship cannot apply for the UK Parent Visa and should consider the Partner path with a Spouse or Unmarried Partner visa instead.

Your partner's details

If you have a significant other, it is important to provide information about their:

Furthermore, you must also provide details regarding:

• Name.
• Date of Birth.
• Nationality.
• Passport.
• The right to be in the United Kingdom, such as being a British citizen.
• Any individuals with whom your partner was previously married, in a civil partnership, or had children
• Evidence of dissolved marriages, such as a divorce certificate
• Anyone your partner financially supports, such as their parents