Eligibility and Requirements
Essential Requirements for a UK Child Dependent Visa
The eligibility criteria for a UK Child Dependent Visa varies depending on the individual circumstances of the person applying. However, the general requirements typically require that:
The child must be under 18, not married or in a civil partnership
The child must not live an independent life
The UK based parents of the applicant must meet requirements proving their relationship, financial and accommodation arrangements, including:
Must have full legal responsibility for the child
Must show evidence of sufficient funds to support your child’s life in the UK
Must have sufficient rooms for the child and the family
Tip: Start gathering bank statements, tenancy agreements or mortgage documents as evidence.
Financial Requirements for UK Dependent Visa Application
Applying for long-term visas
Applicants for long-term visas, such as the Skilled Worker Visa, who wish to bring their dependent children to the UK must demonstrate that they have adequate financial resources to support them. This means showing evidence of:
£315 for the first child
£200 for each additional child
This is in addition to the £1,270 needed for the main applicant, with the funds held for a minimum of 28 consecutive days before the application date
Applying under family visa
For those applying under the Family Visa route, the main visa holder must also meet a higher income threshold to include dependent children.
In addition to the minimum annual income requirement of £29,000, they must show an extra:
£3,800 for the first child
£2,400 for each additional child
Advice: You can use your income and savings as financial evidence.
Documents Required for Dependent Visa
We view every application for a Child Dependent Visa as unique, which is why we’ll share a documentation list that’s tailored to you. So you can start gathering the documents you need, a typical application will require the following documents as evidence:
Passport of main visa holder
Evidence of immigration status of the main visa holder/UK settled person
Financial and accommodation evidence
Child’s passport
Child’s birth certificate
Proof of sole responsibility, if applicable
Advice: You can use your income and savings as financial evidence.
How much does a Child Dependent Visa cost?
How much a Child Dependent Visa costs depends on which route, family or PBS, you are able to apply through.
On the family route the Child Dependent Visa application fees are:
Inside the UK:
£1,321 per applicant
Outside the UK:
£1,938 per applicant
You are also obliged to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge at a rate of £776 per year.
On the PBS route the Child Dependent Visa application fees are as follows;
Inside the UK:
Up to 3 years - £769
Up to 5 years - £1,519
Outside the UK:
Up to 3 years - £885
Up to 5 years - £1,751
You are obliged to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge at a rate of £776 per year.
Step 1
Eligibility check and tailored advice
Step 2
Document preparation
Step 3
Application completion and submission
Step 4
Payment of Home Office fees
Step 5
Enrolment of biometrics
Step 6
Outcome and next steps
How the Application Process Works
How UK Immigration Pathways Can Help You
At UK Immigration Pathways, we provide professional guidance and support to help you prepare a strong application.
We’ll assess your individual circumstances, advise and ensure all documentation meets Home Office standards, to avoid common pitfalls that lead to refusals.
By handling your application with care and attention to detail, we aim to make the process smooth, stress-free, and increase your chances of a successful outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
A dependent child must be under 18 years old, unmarried (and not in a civil partnership), and not living an independent life.
Children who are over 18 may still qualify as dependents if they were previously granted permission to stay in the UK as a child dependent before turning 18 and continue to live a dependent, non-independent lifestyle.
What is classed as a dependent child in the UK?
The processing time for a UK Child Dependant Visa varies depending on the visa route applied for, as outlined below:
Family Visa route:
Outside the UK – decisions are usually made within 12 weeks
Inside the UK – decisions are typically made within 8 weeks
Dependent of a long-term visa holder (e.g. a Skilled Worker Visa):
Decisions are generally issued within 3 weeks of applying
Child of a settled person:
Applications are normally processed within 6 weeks.
If a faster decision is required, applicants may choose the Super Priority Service (subject to availability) for an additional fee of £1,000, which provides a decision by the end of the next working day. We can advise you on this route and support a Super Priority Service application.
How long does it take to get a UK dependent visa for a child?
Sole responsibility means that the parent living in the UK has full control and authority over their child’s upbringing, making all key decisions about their care, education, health, and wellbeing, even if the child lives with someone else abroad. To demonstrate sole responsibility, the parent must provide evidence showing they are the main decision-maker and provider.
Evidence of sole responsibility can include:
proof of financial support
regular communication
school or medical correspondence
statements from carers or relatives confirming their role in the child’s life
What does Sole Responsibility mean?
If a Child Dependent Visa application is refused under the Family Visa route, the refusal letter will explain why and confirm whether you have the right to appeal. In most cases, an appeal can be made on human rights grounds (Article 8 – right to family life). Alternatively, you can submit a new application with additional evidence to address the reasons for refusal.
If the refusal is under the Points-Based System (PBS) Dependent route for example, where the parent holds a Skilled Worker there is no right of appeal. However, you may be able to request an administrative review if you believe the decision was incorrect, or you can reapply once the issues identified by the Home Office have been resolved.
We can support you with the appeal process if your application is refused.
What happens if my application is refused?
Striving to be better for all...
My vision for UK Immigration Pathways has always been to build a practice grounded in integrity, professionalism, and genuine client care.
Oliver Parker
Director, UK Immigration Pathways
What is a Child Dependent Visa?
A Child Dependent Visa allows a child from overseas to join their parent or parents living in the UK. In most cases, the Home Office expects both parents to be present and living in the UK with the child.
If only one parent is residing in the UK, the sponsoring parent must demonstrate that they have sole parental responsibility for the child. Where sole parental responsibility cannot be proven, the parent must provide evidence of serious or compelling family circumstances showing that it would be undesirable to exclude the child from joining them in the UK.
Under the UK immigration system, Child Dependant Visa applications generally fall into three main categories:
When at least one parent is settled in the UK or is applying for settlement
When at least one parent holds or is applying for a Partner Visa
When at least one parent has Limited Leave to Remain in the UK
