Shabana Bukhari 
Apply for a child visa in Reading with our expert assistance. We guide you through the application process for a successful outcome.
What is a UK Child Visa?
A UK child visa is a type of family visa where the applicant is a child who wishes to join their parent living in the UK.
Eligibility Criteria
There is differing eligibility criteria for child visas depending on your status:
Child born in the UK:
If you were a child born in the UK, then you need to live with your parent in the UK and not be in a civil partnership or legally married.
For those born in the UK you can either be an addition to your parent’s next application as a dependent or make a separate application.
- If you are currently under 18 years of age then you must apply for the identical permission to stay in the UK that your parent has, which is known as limited leave to remain.
- Whereas if you are at least 18 years of age then you will only be eligible to apply if you already had permission to stay in the UK which had already begun when you were under the age of 18 years of age. This is known as leave to enter or remain.
Child born outside the UK:
If you were a child born in the UK, then you must be living with your parent in the UK and not be in a civil partnership or legally married.
- If you are currently under 18 years of age, then either one of your parents must have already applied for or in the process of applying for a visa. Alternatively, they could be extending the permission to stay in the UK either as a partner or parent.
- Whereas if you are at least 18 years of age then you can either be an addition to your parents’ application or make a separate application. It should be noted that you must have leave to remain in the UK on a family visa which begun before you attained the age of 18 years old.
Application Process
Similarly to the eligibility criteria above, the application process differs depending on which status you fall under above, as well as whether you are applying externally or internally from the UK:
- Ensure that you meet the above eligibility criteria and prepare the necessary evidence to proof it. For more information on this follow the link: Family visas: apply, extend or switch: Information and evidence you must provide – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
- Fill out the relevant forms depending on where you are residing currently:
Applying externally from the UK:
If you are applying at the same time as your parent who is applying as a partner then you must fill out the Appendix FM form: Confirm your visa type (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk). Alternatively if you are you are applying at the same time as your parent but who is not applying as a partner then you must fill out both of the following forms: Find and apply for other visas from outside the UK (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk) and Appendix 1 for form VAF4A: family settlement as a child or adult dependent relative – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Finally, if you are applying separately from your parent who has leave to enter or remain in the UK as a partner of an eligible then you must fill out the Appendix FM form: Confirm your visa type (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk). Alternatively, if they do not then you must fill out both of the following forms: Find and apply for other visas from outside the UK (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk) and Appendix 1 for form VAF4A: family settlement as a child or adult dependent relative – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Applying internally from the UK:
Fill out the following form: Family Route (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk).
- Once you have filled out the relevant application form discussed above then you must pay the application fee.
- Await the decision on the success of you UK child visa application.
If you made an application external to the UK, the waiting time on your decision is estimated to be within 24 weeks. However, if you made an application internally from the UK then the waiting time on your decision is estimated to be within eight weeks. The latter is extended to twelve months if your parent have leave to enter or remain in the UK on the ten-year settlement route.
FAQs
What is a UK child Visa? – A UK child visa is a type of family visa where the applicant is a child who wishes to join their parent living in the UK.
When do I not need to apply for a child visa? – Persons will not need to apply for a child visa if either one of your parents have ILR (indefinite leave to remain) or permanent residence in the UK.
Is there another type of child visa for studying at a school in the UK? – Yes, there is another type of child visa which caters towards those from ages four to seventeen who are looking to study at a school in the UK. This is called the Child Student visa and for more information on the eligibility criteria follow this link: Child Student visa: Overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
If I apply separately from my parent, what information must I include about them? – If you apply separately from my parent the information that you must include about them includes proof of their income. For more information on how and what you must prove under the financial requirement follow this link: Family visas: apply, extend or switch: Information and evidence you must provide – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Am I eligible for the fee waiver whereby I do not have to pay the application fee? – This depends. Persons are only eligible for the fee waiver if you are applying using the Appendix FM form discussed above.
I am having trouble with the online application form; can I get help? – Yes, our team at Henleaze law can assist if you are struggling with the online application form. Alternatively, you can get help by following this link: Get help with your online Home Office application – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
How long are the waiting times to hear back on the success of my UK child visa application? – If you made an application external to the UK the waiting time on your decision is estimated to be within 24 weeks. However, if you made an application internally from the UK then the waiting time on your decision is estimated to be within eight weeks. The latter is extended to twelve months if your parent have leave to enter or remain in the UK on the ten-year settlement route.
Am I able to get a decision within a faster time? – Yes, persons can apply and pay an extra fee for an expediated decision. Follow think link to discover the extra costs involved and how much faster the decision will be made: Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application: Applying for a faster decision – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Summary
In this blog readers have learnt how to make an application for a child visa in Reading with our expert assistance.
Please contact our expert team at Henleaze Law which offer advice UK child visas on 0117 908 4625 or via email.
