Child Visa Applications

Children joining or accompanying a parent in the UK, where the rules are met.

For parents in the UK, or coming to the UK, who want their child to join or accompany them.

The route for a child depends on the parent's own status in the UK. A child joining a British, Irish or settled parent applies under the family rules; a child of a worker or student usually applies as a dependant on the parent's route.

What the rules look at

The child's age and relationship to the parent in the UK.
Whether both parents are in the UK or are applying together.
Where only one parent is in the UK, whether that parent has sole responsibility or the rules otherwise allow the child to join.
Care, accommodation and maintenance arrangements in the UK.
Consent from any other parent with parental responsibility.

The detailed conditions are set out in the Immigration Rules and change from time to time, so we check them against the current GOV.UK guidance for your child's circumstances rather than rely on a general summary.

Evidence we may need

Birth or adoption records.
Parental responsibility or court documents, where relevant.
School and medical records.
Evidence of contact, care and financial support.
Information about the other parent.

When we may need to refer you
Applications that depend on "serious and compelling" circumstances, disputed custody, a missing consent that cannot be explained, or a human-rights argument about the child's best interests are not straightforward Level 1 matters. We will tell you if yours is one of them and signpost you to an appropriately authorised adviser.

How WLIS can help

1 We check that the route suits your plans and that the matter is a straightforward one within our IAA Level 1 authorisation.
2 We review your eligibility and your documents, and explain plainly anything that needs attention.
3 We give you a document checklist written for your circumstances rather than a generic one.
4 We prepare the application form and supporting documents, and you check and approve the final information before anything is submitted.
5 We help with submission, biometrics or identity steps, and your eVisa and UKVI account after the decision.

What we can and cannot help with

We provide advice and application assistance for straightforward immigration matters within our IAA Level 1 Immigration authorisation. Where a matter falls outside that authorisation — for example because it involves adverse immigration history, a discretionary or human-rights claim, an administrative review, an appeal or tribunal work — we will tell you and signpost or refer you to an adviser authorised at the appropriate level.

If an application is refused, we will explain the decision and whether any further work remains within our Level 1 authorisation. Where an administrative review, an appeal or other higher-level casework is needed, we will signpost or refer you to an appropriately authorised adviser. We do not provide appeal or tribunal representation.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) makes the final decision on every application. No immigration adviser can guarantee that an application will be approved.

Our IAA regulation How we work Fees

Questions clients often ask

I am the parent of a British child. Does that mean I can stay?

Not automatically. Being the parent of a British or settled child is an important factor, but it does not by itself give permission to stay. The rules look at your relationship with the child and the part you take in their upbringing, and many of these cases involve a human-rights assessment of the child's circumstances. That kind of application is outside our Level 1 authorisation, and we would signpost you to an appropriately authorised adviser.

Can my child join me if I am here on a work or student visa?

Usually as your dependant on the same route rather than under the family rules, provided your route allows dependants and the maintenance and accommodation requirements are met. Which application to make depends on your own status, so it should be checked before the child's application is prepared.

What if the child's other parent will not consent?

Consent from a parent with parental responsibility is normally expected, and its absence has to be explained rather than ignored. Where consent cannot be obtained, or custody is disputed, the application is not a straightforward one and we would signpost you to an adviser authorised at a higher level. Tell us early if this is your position.

Official sources we check

We check what we publish against the Home Office's own guidance. These are the GOV.UK pages behind the advice on this site — use them to confirm anything you read here, because the rules change and the official page is always the current one.

GOV.UK content is published by the UK government and is not part of this website.

Talk to us about child visa applications

Tell us what you want to apply for, the status you hold now and when your current permission ends. We will confirm whether the matter is within our Level 1 authorisation and offer a suitable appointment.

Start an enquiry See how we work

The enquiry button opens the secure WLIS enquiry form on enquiry.wlisuk.com in a new tab. Please do not send identity documents until we ask for them.