The parent of a child visa is granted by the Home Office UKVI to a parent of a qualifying child to care for the child in the UK. You can apply for parent of a child visa UK if you are parent of a qualifying child and you are not partner of the other partner of the other parent of the child. An application for parent of a child visa can either be made under 5 years or under 10 years route.

Parent of a child visa route is intended for a parent who has responsibility for or access to their child following the breakdown of their relationship with the child’s other parent. The route is also for applicants who:

  • have sole parental responsibility for their child; or
  • do not live with the child (who lives with a British or settled parent or carer), but they have direct access (in person) to the child, as agreed with the parent or carer with whom the child normally lives, or as ordered by a court in the UK; or
  • (for a leave to remain application) are the parent with whom the child normally lives, rather than the child’s other parent who is British or settled.

Ask a question to our specialist team of family visa solicitors for free immigration advice online or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice with one of our specialist family visa solicitors concerning your application for parent of a child visa UK.

As specialist family visa solicitors, we have successfully helped thousands of clients with the applications for parent visa. We can provide fast, friendly, reliable and fixed fee immigration services concerning your application for parent of a child visa UK.

Entry Clearance For Parent Of A Child Visa UK

You can apply for parent of a child visa entry clearance from outside the UK if you are a parent of a qualifying child and you are not partner of the other parent of the child. An application for entry clearance as a parent of a child is made in accordance with requirements as set out in Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules.

For an entry clearance application as a parent of a qualifying child, the Immigration Rules require that the qualifying child must be in the UK at the time of entry clearance application.

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors for parent of a child visa can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis concerning your application for entry clearance as a parent of a child. Read More

Switching Into Parent Of A Child Visa UK

If you are already in the UK and you are a parent of a qualifying child, you can apply for switching into parent of a child visa route from inside the UK. An application for switching into parent of a child visa route can either be made under 5 years route or under 10 years route depending on the personal circumstances of the applicant. An application for switching into parent of a child visa is made in accordance with eligibility rquirements as set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. You can apply for switching into parent of a child visa through Super Priority Visa Service to get a decision on your application within 24 hours.

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis concerning your application for switching into parent of a child visa from inside the UK. Read More

Extension Of Parent Of A Child Visa UK

A person who is already in the UK with parent of a child visa can apply extension/renewal of parent of a child visa from inside the UK prior to the expiry of parent of a child visa. An application for extension can be made either under 5 years route or under 10 years route. An applicant applying for extension of parent of a child visa should meet the requirements of of the Immigration Rules as set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. An application for renewal of parent of a child visa can be submitted to the Home Office UKVI through Super Priority Service to get a decision on the extension application within 24 hours.

Our expert team of family visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis concerning your application for extension of parent of a child visa UK. Read More

ILR As A Parent Of A Child

A peron who is on a parent of a child visa UK can apply for ILR either after 5 years residence in the UK under parent of a child visa (5 years route) or after 10 years residence under parent of a child visa (10 years route). The applicant applying for ILR as a parent of a child should meet all the requirements for ILR as set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. An application for ILR as a parent of a child can be submitted to the Home Office UKVI through Super Priority Service to get a decision on the ILR application within 24 hours.

Our expert team of family visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis concerning your application for ILR as a parent of a child. Read More

Qualifying Child For Parent Of A Child Visa

For your child to be considered as a qualifying child, the following requirements should be met in relation to the child:

  • Child's age: The child must be under the age of 18 at the time of initial application for leave to remain as a parent of a child or if applying for extension or ILR, the child have been under 18 when you were first granted leave and not live an independent life;
  • Residence in the UK: The child must be living in the UK;
  • Nationality/Visa/Residence status of the child: The child must be either:
    • British Citizen; or
    • have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or Settled Status in the UK; or
    • from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and has pre-settled status - he/she must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021;
    • child must have lived in the UK for 7 years continuously and it would be unreasonable to require the child to leave the UK.

Sole or Shared Parental Responsibility

To apply for parent of a child visa, you must have either sole or shared parental responsibility for your child. 

If you share parental responsibility, the child’s other parent must not be your partner. They must also either:

  • be a British or Irish citizen
  • have settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
  • be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status - they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021

If the child lives with their other parent or carer, you must have access to the child in person, as agreed with the other parent or carer or by a court order.

Furthermore, you must be able to prove that you’re taking an active role in your child’s upbringing and you plan to continue after you apply.

Fast Track Service For Parent Of A Child Visa Application

As specialist family visa solicitors, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Priority and Super Priority Service for parent of a child visa UK applications whereby decision on your parent of a child visa application will be made faster by the Home Office UKVI. A parent of a child visa application submitted using UKVCAS Super Priority Service is normally decided by the Home Office UKVI within 24 hours.

Need Priority or Super Priority Service for your parent of a child visa application? Contact our expert team of family visa solicitors for Fast Track Visa Service.

Our best team of family visa solicitors can prepare and submit your parent of a child visa application to the Home Office UKVI and help you with faster decision on your application through UKVCAS Priority and Super Priority Service. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your parent of a child visa application for months (sometimes years).

Book An Appointment With Our Family Visa Solicitors

Using the links below, you can book an appointment online with our specialist immigration advice solicitors for detailed immigration advice and consultation concerning your UK visa and immigration matter:

Alternatively, you can call us on 020 3930 3900 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule an appointment with our specialist immigration solicitors and lawyers for immigration advice and consutlation regarding your matter.

Ask A Question For Free Immigration Advice

Need free immigration advice concerning your UK visa and immigraiton matter? Ask a question to our specialist team of immigration advice solicitors and lawyers in London for free general immigration advice online using the link below:

Alternatively, you can call us on 0044 20 3930 3900 to speak to one of our free immigration advice solicitors in London for free general immigration advice over the phone.