UK Child Family Visa
United Kingdom
Residency
Could you qualify?
Answer a few quick questions to see which global citizenship and residency pathways fit your background. It's free, and takes just a few minutes.
See if you're a match →The UK child family visa is for a child joining or staying with a qualifying parent in the UK. It generally requires the child to be under 18 or already on a child family route, unmarried, living with the parent, and tied to a parent's qualifying UK application or status.
- Type
- Family residence
- Sponsor
- People joining a qualifying family member in the United Kingdom
- Core requirements
- Relationship records and the sponsor's status
- What to know
- The sponsor's status and documents matter a lot
Summary
The UK child family visa is for a child joining or staying with a qualifying parent in the UK. The rules depend on the child's age, whether the child was born inside or outside the UK, and the parent's UK status or family-visa application.
The clearest cases involve children under 18. Adults usually fit only if they already had UK family permission that began when they were under 18.
Eligibility
You may be a fit if:
- The applicant is under 18, or is 18 or older and continuing from earlier child family permission.
- The applicant is not married or in a civil partnership.
- The applicant will live with the parent, unless away for full-time education.
- The parent is applying or has applied as a partner or parent, or has protection status, or there are serious reasons for the child to come or stay.
- Financial and accommodation requirements can be met where required.
- Identity, suitability, and document requirements can be met.
What This Route Allows
The route can let a child join or remain with a parent in the UK, usually in line with the parent's family immigration route.
What This Route Is Not
- A route for independent adult children starting a new UK family application.
- A route that works only because a parent lives in the UK.
- The same as British citizenship by birth or registration.
Next Steps
- Confirm the child's age and marital status.
- Confirm the parent's UK status or family-visa application.
- Confirm whether the child will live with the parent.
- Gather birth, relationship, financial, accommodation, and identity evidence.
- Apply with the parent or separately, depending on the case.