UK Child Visa
British citizens who have children outside the UK and can bring them to the UK on a child visa which is part of the Family Visa.
A UK Family Visa is a type of visa that you will need if you wish to enter and stay in the UK to live with a family member for more than 6 months. In addition to parental visas, there are other types of UK family visas listed below:
- Spouse visa
- Visa for parents
- Visas for relatives who provide long-term care for you
What is a UK Child Visa?
A UK child visa is a type of visa designed for children who want to join their parents who are UK citizens or resident in the UK and have an immigration restriction to bring their children from somewhere other than the UK and the EEA. Therefore, the main criterion for a child to be eligible for this type of visa is to have one of their parents in the UK. The conditions for this type of visa depend more on whether you were born in the UK or abroad.
How to apply for a UK child visa?
If you are applying from outside the UK, you must apply online. You must also complete the VAF4A application form.
Whereas, if you are in the UK, you have two choices. You can apply online or by mail. You can also apply through a premium service center. To do this, you must fill out a form and book an appointment, or apply online and book an appointment.
If you are applying from within the UK, you will receive a letter asking you to provide your biometric information, including fingerprints and a photo.
UK child visa requirements
For children born in the UK
If the child was born in the UK, you will receive the same permission from the home office to stay with your parents.
If parents have a limited residence permit in the UK, you must use the FLR (M) form:
- As a partner, 2 years residence
- As a partner, 5 years residence
However, if your parents have a limited residence permit in the UK, you must use the FLR (FP) form:
- As a partner, 10 years of residence
- As a parent, 5 years residence
- As a parent, 10 years of residence
- Based on their private lives (10 years)
For children born outside the UK
If the child was born outside the UK, your age will determine whether or not you can apply.
- If you are under 18, you should:
- Do not get married or have a civil partnership
- Do not live independently
- Get financial support without asking for a public budget
- One of your parents must also apply for a visa as a partner and joining other parents, or as a single parent who is responsible for you.
If you are over 18 your parents can apply for you as a dependent. You can also submit a separate application, but in both cases you are only eligible if:
- You have been allowed to enter and stay in the UK for a certain period of time on a family visa when you were under 18
- You do not have an independent life
UK Parent Visa Financial Requirements
This need must be met by parents living in the UK. The UK visa policy stipulates that in order for a non-EU citizen to enter the UK, they must prove that they have sufficient financial means to support both. Your parents must prove that they earn at least Pound 18,600 a year. It is also possible that if you have savings, you can use it as evidence to have good financial conditions.
The reason for this condition is that the UK does not want to send people who are unable to provide financial protection into the country, so it asks them (or their sponsor) to be able to earn the minimum amount of income.
If the sponsoring parents living in the UK plan to bring their other non-UK or EEA children to the UK, they will have to earn more for each.
Many people have been denied visas due to lack of these conditions. The good thing about this condition is that any legal source of income can be considered so that parents can meet their existing income needs, such as:
Any legal source of income can be considered to meet income needs, such as:
- Salary, if your parents make money in the UK
- Cash savings over Pound 16,000
- pension
- Non-working income, ie rental property or dividends
- To prove your income, you must provide documents, such as:
- Bank statements of parents living in the UK
- 6-month payment list
- A letter from an employer containing the job title, the period in which your parents worked, current salary and payroll
Child Visa Language Requirements
Knowledge of English is one of the most important requirements for a UK family visa. Whether language requirements apply to you depends entirely on your age, as children are exempt from this need among other categories.
Exemption from the need to provide proof of English language proficiency is granted to residents of the following countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- blouse
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United States of America
Applicants belonging to one of the following categories are also exempt from submitting this document:
- Applicants over 65 years.
- Applicants coming to the UK for care by a relative.
- Applicants who have a physical or medical condition that prevents them from meeting these prerequisites.
If you need to prove your English, you can do so by passing an approved English language test and passing it with at least an A1 level CEFR in conversation and listening.
UK child visa fee
The cost of a UK child visa depends on how you apply. If you have applied for a UK Child Visa outside the UK to join your parents, you will have to pay Pound 1,464. On the other hand, if you apply for a parental visa from within the UK online or by mail, it will cost you 3 993, and if you apply from within the UK in person with premium services, it will cost you Pound 1,583.
If you are applying outside the UK you will have to pay 1, 1,464, if you apply online from within the UK or by post you will have to pay 83 1,583, and if you have applied in person in the UK with premium services you will have to pay 4 1,464 more.
Documents required to apply for a UK child visa
To apply for a UK child visa, you must provide the usual documents that are usually required by applicants, as follows:
- Valid passport with at least one blank page to enter the visa.
- Your previous passports.
- Two color photographs with passport size that meet the requirements set by the UK.
- Proof of English required.
- Proof of financial cases.
- Proof of connection with parents living in the UK, such as photos of you two together, etc.
- Your full name.
- your date of birth.
- Details of previous immigration programs, if any.
- Certificate of criminal record.
- Your national insurance number, if any.
- Date of birth and nationality of your parents, if you are applying from outside the UK.
How long does it take to get a UK parent visa?
To apply for a UK Child Visa, if you apply online or by post in the UK, it will take a maximum of 12 weeks and 8 weeks, respectively, to receive your reply. On the other hand, if you submit your application in person in the UK, you will receive your response within one day.
However, processing your request may take longer if:
- You do not meet the required amount of income.
- You can not prove your English.
- Need to participate in the interview.
- Have a criminal record.
- You have not provided all the required documents.
Visa validity
If your application is approved, you will receive a biometric residence permit that will be valid for 2.5 years. You must renew your application before it expires. With this biometric residence permit you will be able to study when you reach the desired age.