...

UK Visa For Child Under 5

Confused about the right UK visa for your child? With three different visa options: Child Dependant Visa, Child Student Visa, and Child Visitor Visa—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Which one fits your child’s needs best?

Don’t worry! Our experts are here to guide you. For immediate and personalised assistance with your UK Visa for Child under 5 get in touch with our team of expert immigration solicitors at 02033844389.

"*" indicates required fields

How can we help you today?

Name*
Name*
*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

What is a Child Visa UK and Who Can Apply?

Children under the age of 18 whose parents hold a valid British resident visa, or permanent resident visa, or are being admitted for settlement purposes may be eligible for a child visa.

If the child is under five years old and plans to visit the UK for a short period, they may need a visit visa. If they are planning to attend an independent school in the UK, though, they may need a Child Student visa.

UK Child Visa Options for Children Under 5

Children under the age of five can apply for one of three different kinds of visas to enter the United Kingdom: Dependent Child, Child Student, and Child Visitor. Find out which visa is best for you and your dependant kid before you apply.

Child Dependent Visa

Foreign nationals with children younger than five years old can visit their parents in the United Kingdom on a Child Dependent Visa. The parent(s) must have a Long-Term Visa (such as a Skilled Worker Visa) or be applying for one to qualify for the Child Dependent Visa. 

The Home Office grants this visa so that the child’s parents can live in the UK. If a child’s care is solely the duty of one parent, that parent must provide evidence of their presence in the UK.

If the parent staying in the UK who is sponsoring the child cannot prove they are solely responsible for the child, they must provide strong and convincing reasons why the child must join them in the UK.

Child Student Visa

Students wishing to attend an independent school between the ages of 4 and 17 can apply for a Child Student Visa.

To be eligible for this visa, students need to have enrolled in an authorised institution, gotten parental or guardian approval, and shown evidence of sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses.

Students have up to six months before the commencement of their UK degree to apply for this visa.

Child Visitor Visa

Children can apply for a standard visitor visa called a child visitor visa. If your child is younger than 5, they can come to the UK if

  • Your child’s journey and visit to the UK have been meticulously planned.
  • Pay for your child’s return and onward travel.
  • Either you don’t need a job or government assistance to provide for your child, or you have generous friends and relatives who can help out.
  • Most airlines do not allow children under the age of five to travel without an adult, so your child will not be travelling alone. As a parent, your written approval and complete contact information are required for this to be authorised for your child. While in the UK, you’ll also need to show proof that your kid has a safe place to stay. Here is the necessary information to be included:
    • The name, date of birth, and address of your child’s carer
    • Information about the bond between your child and the caretaker
    • Written permission for the child to stay with them in the UK
  • In order to legally travel and stay with an adult who is not a parent or guardian, parents are required to give written approval to their children’s travel and lodging arrangements. This requirement applies to children under the age of 5. When applying for a Child Visitor Visa, you must specify which adult will accompany your little kid on the trip. 
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

UK Child Visa Requirements

Your child’s visa application will be successful if they fulfil the general visa criteria as well as the visa requirements that are unique to the type of child visa you are asking for. Applicants whose children are younger than five years old must fulfil the following criteria in order to be considered:

  • Hold proof of their age (kid must be under 18 and not independent)
  • Being financially supported by you, as their parent, means they won’t have to rely on welfare or public assistance.
  • Show that you have made suitable preparations to care for the child while they are in the UK.
  • No child can be legally admitted to the UK unless at least one parent has a valid visa to enter the country. This parent’s visa can be for joining another parent’s visa (such as the UK Marriage Visa) or for being the only parent in the family.

What are the Financial Requirements for a UK Child Visa?

You, the parent, are responsible for meeting the financial criteria for the Child Visa application. If you want to live in the UK with a dependant kid, you’ll need to prove that you can afford to maintain both of you financially. You and your child will be able to live independently of government assistance.

Every parent wishing to bring their non-EU kid under the age of five into the UK must provide proof of income of at least £29000 per annum, according to the Home Office. You can prove it with your salary and savings. If you intend to bring more than one child to the UK, you are required to provide evidence of additional income for each of your children.

You can demonstrate that you have the necessary funds for the UK Child Visa by providing evidence of any legitimate source of income. Proof may include:

  • UK-earned salary
  • Save more than £16,000 in cash
  • Pension money
  • Non-work income like rent
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

Documents Needed for UK Child Visa (Under 5)

In order to prove that your dependant child qualifies for the UK child Visa, you will need to present the following documents:

  • Two digital images taken within the last year of your child (no older than five years old) in accordance with the UK’s passport requirements for children under five years old
  • Valid identification (passport, birth certificate, adoption decree, etc.) attesting to your and your child’s ages.
  • Documentation verifying your parental status, such as a birth or adoption certificate
  • Proof that you are the only parent or guardian of the child
  • Accommodation information in the UK
  • Financial documents showing that you are able to support your child while they are in the UK, such as bank statements or a letter from the parent’s UK-based company stating the job title, length of service, and current income.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

How to Apply for Child Visa UK?

You need to apply for the appropriate Child Visa online before your child flies to the UK. Once you’ve decided on the sort of Child Visa you want, you may proceed with the application. If your child is under 5, you have to ask for them. A Child Visa application must be submitted at least three months prior to the scheduled travel date of the minor.

To apply for a visa online for your child, you must first gather all of the necessary supporting documents.

If you are applying from outside the UK, you will need to make an appointment with the British Consulate or Embassy in your native country. You could also try looking for Visa Application Centres in your area. Get in touch with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) if you’re submitting your application from within the UK.

Bring the following items to your child’s visa appointment:

  • Make sure to bring your child’s passport or other form of identification when you travel.
  • You must submit sufficient proof to prove that your kid qualifies for the UK kid Visa.

To apply for a UK Child Visa application, older children must bring biometric information (pictures) and fingerprints to the Visa Application Centre on the day of their appointment. However, this is not required for children under the age of five.

Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

Child Visa UK Processing Time

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will make a decision on your application for a child visa after you have verified your identification and supplied the required evidence. Typically, this process takes around three weeks. On the other hand, if additional paperwork or information is needed for your child’s visa application, the processing period could be extended.

The application fee, the kind of visa you’re seeking, and the duration of your child’s stay in the UK will all play a role in calculating your child’s visa cost.

Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

How Long Is a UK Child Visa Valid for Under-5s?

The validity of your visa will determine when your child’s visa expires. The maximum length of stay for a child in the UK is six months when they have a valid Child Visitor Visa.

Common Mistakes That Lead to UK Child Visa Rejection

When applying for a UK visa for children, the chances of success are high. However, some are rejected for:

  • Missing information and incomplete forms
  • Lack of financial resources—not having enough money to sustain your child while they are in the UK
  • Providing insufficient supporting documentation to prove your child’s eligibility for the visa type they are requesting for
  • Missing visa appointment deadlines, not attending appointments, etc.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

How can UK Immigration Solicitors Help me?

In addition to offering immigration services, our immigration lawyers assist individuals from around the world to get a child visa for UK.

In order to get access to a child visa UK application, our immigration lawyers can be of assistance to you in assessing the merits of the application, overcoming challenges, assisting in preparing the application, or representing you in challenging a decision to refuse an application.

Having a proactive approach to understanding and meeting the needs of our clients is something we take pride in. Our team is committed to providing clients with clear and reliable immigration advice within a professional and friendly environment.

By now you would have realised that when it comes to Child Visas, we are the go-to experts. You can also get help from our experts if your access to a child visa is refused. 

We are the original and still the best! Proud to be the UK’s #1 Immigration Law Firm. Dial 02033844389.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most of the time, a child needs a visa in order to live in the UK. For instance, if their parent is a foreign national working or studying in the country, the child may need a Child Dependant Visa.

No, a child on a Standard 6-month Visitor Visa cannot enrol in a program that lasts greater than six months.

Within 28 days of obtaining the decision on your child’s visa, you may be allowed to submit an appeal if your UK visa is refused. If it fails, you can always seek judicial review or a PAP.

Dependent children entering the UK under the age of 18 are exempt from taking the English language test.

It is not possible to travel with a child whose UK visa application is being processed. You are required to stay in the UK until you hear back on your child’s visa.

If you’re planning to stay for 2 years and 6 months, the cost per child (under 18) is £1,940. £4,328 for a duration of two years and nine months. £3,880 for a five-year stay.

Contact Form

Inline form for homepage

"*" indicates required fields

How can we help you today?

Name*
Name*
*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.