Applying as a Parent in the UK
Make sure to review all the guidelines and requirements specific to the parent application.
You may be eligible to apply as a parent if you have a child who meets the following criteria:
Age Requirement
Your child must be under 18 at the time of your application or have been under 18 when you were first granted leave.
Living Status
If your child has started living an independent life (e.g., left home, married, had children), you may not be eligible under this category.
Citizenship Status
Your child must be a British or Irish citizen, or have settled status in the UK, including indefinite leave to remain or proof of permanent residence.
EU Settlement Status
If your child is from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may apply through the free EU Settlement Scheme or for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.
Continuous Living in the UK
If you're applying within the UK, your child must have lived in the UK for 7 continuous years, and it must not be reasonable for them to leave.
Important Note for Partners
If you’re eligible to apply as a partner, this route must be taken instead of applying as a parent. Make sure to review all the guidelines and requirements specific to the partner application.
FAQs
Parental responsibility refers to having sole or shared responsibility for your child. If shared, the child's other parent must not be your partner and must meet specific citizenship or settlement criteria. If the child lives with their other parent or carer, you must have in-person access as agreed with the other parent or carer or by court order.
Evidence must be less than 4 years old and may include:
- A letter from the child's school or local authority.
- A letter from the child's doctor, dentist, or health visitor.
- Court order paperwork (with permission from the court).
- A parental agreement drafted by a solicitor.
- A letter from HMRC for Child Tax Credit.
- Social services paperwork.
Greeting cards, photographs, and text messages are not considered strong evidence.
You must prove good knowledge of English and ability to financially support yourself and any dependents without claiming public funds. Exceptions may apply if your child in the UK is a British or Irish citizen, or if it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK.
You can stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months initially. Extension or switch grants an additional 2 years and 6 months. The earliest you can apply for indefinite leave to remain is after 5 years continuously on a family visa as a parent.
Yes, you can add other children to your application as dependants if they are under 18 or were under 18 when first granted leave on a family visa and do not live an independent life.
You may apply for a fee waiver online if you meet certain financial conditions, like not having a place to live and being unable to afford essential living costs, or having a very low income that would harm your child's wellbeing.
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