Child Dependant Visa UK: The Complete 2026 Guide

The Three Routes for Children

The term "child dependant visa" covers more than one immigration category. The correct route depends entirely on the parent's own immigration status in the UK — and getting that right before you apply matters, because the eligibility criteria, the fees, and the long-term settlement outcomes differ significantly between routes. All child visa routes sit within the broader family visas framework.

There are three main routes that allow children to live in the UK with a parent:

• Family Visa (Appendix FM) — Child route: for children of British citizens, settled persons (with ILR), those with refugee or humanitarian protection status, or a parent applying to join their British or settled partner. Children granted under this route may receive ILR immediately if the parent is already settled.
• PBS Dependant: for children whose parent holds a work or study visa under the Points-Based System — Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Innovator Founder, Scale-up Worker, or postgraduate Student visa. Leave is granted in line with the main applicant.
• Child Student Visa: a standalone route for children aged 4 to 17 who wish to study independently at a licensed independent school. This is not a dependant visa in the strict sense — it is the child's own route and requires a school sponsor licence.

This guide focuses primarily on the PBS dependant route, which is the most commonly used route for expats and skilled workers moving to the UK with children, with relevant information on the Appendix FM route where it differs materially.

Who Can Apply: PBS Dependant Eligibility

To apply as a child dependant on a PBS visa, the following conditions must all be met at the time of application:

• Age: the child must be under 18 at the date of application. A child who is already over 18 may still be eligible if they currently hold valid leave in the UK as a dependant and are not living an independent life.
• Not married or in a civil partnership: a child who is married or in a civil partnership does not qualify under the dependant child definition.
• Not living independently: the child must live with the parent, unless they are away from home in full-time education such as boarding school or university.
• Financially supported by the parent: the parent must be providing for the child's day-to-day needs.
• Main applicant is eligible to bring dependants: not all Skilled Worker visa holders may bring dependants — see the restrictions section below.

Appendix FM: children of settled or British parents

Under the Appendix FM child route, the applying child must be under 18, unmarried, and not in a civil partnership. One parent must be British, Irish, or settled in the UK (holding ILR or indefinite leave to enter), or must be applying at the same time as the partner of a British or settled person. The parent with whom the child is living must have sole responsibility for the child, or both parents must be coming to or already living in the UK.

Where the parent is already settled or British, a successful child application under Appendix FM typically results in ILR being granted immediately rather than limited leave — this is a significant difference from the PBS dependant route.

2024 and 2025 Restrictions: Who Cannot Bring Dependants

Two significant restrictions were introduced that affect which Skilled Worker visa holders can bring children as dependants. These are among the most commonly misunderstood aspects of the route and are a frequent cause of wasted application fees.

Care workers: restriction from 11 March 2024

From 11 March 2024, care workers and senior care workers on the Skilled Worker visa are not permitted to bring new dependants — including children — unless one of the following exceptions applies:

• You have been continuously employed in the UK as a care worker or senior care worker on a Skilled Worker visa since before 11 March 2024, and are applying for your child to stay (not to enter for the first time).
• You are the only living parent with responsibility for the child.
• The child's other parent is also sponsored as a care worker or senior care worker on a Skilled Worker visa and is applying for permission for the child at the same time.

Existing dependants who were granted permission before 11 March 2024 are not affected by this change and can extend their visas.

Medium-skilled roles: restriction from 22 July 2025

From 22 July 2025, Skilled Worker visa holders in roles at RQF Level 3 to 5 that appear on the Immigration Salary List — sometimes called "medium-skilled" roles — are generally no longer permitted to bring new dependants. An exception applies if:

• You have been continuously employed in the UK in that medium-skilled role on a Skilled Worker visa since before 22 July 2025.
• You are the only living parent responsible for the child and are applying for permission for the child to stay.
• The child was born in the UK (applying for permission to stay rather than entry).
• The child's other parent is also sponsored in a medium-skilled role and you are both applying for the child at the same time.

Workers in roles at RQF Level 6 and above are not affected by this restriction. If you are unsure of your role's classification, check the occupation code on your Certificate of Sponsorship against Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK.

Documents Required

The documents needed vary slightly depending on the route, but for a PBS dependant child application the following are typically required:

• Full birth certificate showing the names of both parents, or equivalent official document if born outside the UK. If not in English or Welsh, a certified translation is required.
• Child's current passport (or travel document).
• Main applicant's visa details — either the Global Web Form (GWF) number, Unique Application Number (UAN), or a family linking code obtained during the main applicant's application.
• Evidence of relationship to the child — the birth certificate is usually sufficient for biological children. Step-children require evidence of legal parental responsibility such as a court order, parental responsibility agreement, or formal adoption documentation.
• Proof of maintenance funds (if not certified by sponsor) — bank statements showing the required funds held for 28 consecutive days before the application date. For a Skilled Worker applicant, the employer can certify maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship, which removes the need for personal bank statements.
• Consent from the other parent — if only one parent is in the UK and the other parent is abroad, evidence that the parent abroad consents to the child joining the UK parent may be required.
• Tuberculosis certificate — required if the child is applying from outside the UK for a visa of more than six months, and has lived in a listed country for the six months prior to the application.
• Evidence of dependency for children aged 16 or over — for older children, the Home Office may request additional evidence such as a bank statement showing funds provided by the parent, or an official letter from a school, college, or university confirming the child is in full-time education and still financially dependent.

Fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge

Child dependant visa fees follow the same structure as the main applicant's visa. For Skilled Worker dependants, the fee is the same rate as the main Skilled Worker application, based on the length of sponsorship and whether the application is made from inside or outside the UK.

From 8 April 2026, the standard Skilled Worker fees — which dependants also pay — are:

These fees are per person. Each child makes a separate application and pays a separate fee, regardless of whether they apply at the same time as the parent. If a child applies after the parent's visa has already been granted, they still pay the fee that corresponds to the full remaining period of the parent's visa.

Financial Maintenance Requirements

Unless the main applicant's employer certifies maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship, the family must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves. The required amounts, which must be held in a regulated bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before the application date, are:

• £285 for a partner
• £315 for the first child
• £200 for each additional child

Where the employer certifies maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship, the maintenance funds requirement is waived for the main applicant and their dependants. This is common in sponsored employment and removes a significant documentation burden.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the GOV.UK immigration portal. The correct form depends on whether the child is applying from outside the UK or switching from an existing visa within the UK. The application form itself will indicate whether the child can be included in the parent's application or whether they need to apply separately.

Where applying separately, the child will need the parent's GWF number, UAN, or family linking code to link the applications. Biometric enrolment is required — this means a visit to a Visa Application Centre abroad or a UK Visas and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre in the UK for fingerprints and a photograph.

Processing times are typically within three weeks once identity and documents have been provided, though this can vary. Priority processing (£500 for a decision within five working days) and super-priority processing (£1,000 for a decision within one working day) are available in most cases.

What a Child Dependant Can and Cannot Do

A child granted a PBS dependant visa has the right to live, work (once they reach working age), and study in the UK for the duration of their leave. They can access NHS treatment through the IHS they have paid. They are not permitted to access most public funds or the State Pension.

There is one specific restriction on work: a child dependant cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach. All other employment is permitted.

The child's visa ends on the same date as the main applicant's visa. If both parents are in the UK and their visas have different expiry dates, the child's visa will end on the earlier of the two dates.

Settlement: the Path to ILR

After five years of continuous lawful residence in the UK, a child dependant becomes eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). The child can be included in the parent's ILR application if both parents are applying to settle at the same time, or if one parent is already settled and the other is applying. Additional circumstances allow inclusion where one parent has sole responsibility, is the sole surviving parent, or where there are serious and compelling reasons.

Children who were under 18 when first granted dependant leave and who have not since begun living independently may still be included in an ILR application even if they are now over 18, provided they meet the other requirements.

For ILR, the child must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during the qualifying five years. The Life in the UK test and English language requirement at B1 level apply to adults — they do not apply to children applying for ILR on the dependant route. After ILR, the child may in time be eligible to apply for British citizenship.

Step-Children and Sole Responsibility

Step-children can be included in a child dependant application, but additional evidence is required to satisfy the Home Office that the applicant has legal parental responsibility for the child. This can take the form of a court order, parental responsibility agreement, or formal adoption order. The Home Office will not simply infer parental responsibility from the relationship — it must be evidenced.

Where a child is joining only one parent in the UK and the other parent remains abroad, the application must address the other parent's consent or the reason why sole responsibility has transferred to the UK-based parent. The caseworker will look for clear evidence of the living arrangements and the nature of the parental relationship.

Planning Ahead Matters

The child dependant visa is one of the more process-heavy parts of a family's move to the UK — not because the rules are especially complicated at their core, but because the eligibility picture has changed significantly since 2024. The restrictions on care workers and medium-skilled roles caught many families off guard, and the fee structure means a mistaken application is an expensive one. Checking your route and your role classification against the current Immigration Rules before paying anything is the most important step.

For most skilled workers in RQF Level 6 roles, the route remains straightforward: apply online, link the application to your own, pay the fee and IHS upfront, and your child can join you in the UK for the duration of your visa. The documentation requirements are predictable, and the five-year path to settlement follows the same timetable as your own.

Immigration rules in this area have shifted more than once in recent years. Before submitting any application, verify the current rules and fees directly at GOV.UK, where the official guidance is kept up to date. You can also follow the latest UK immigration news for fee changes and policy updates as they happen.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. UK immigration rules change frequently — always check the current rules on GOV.UK before making any application. If your situation is complex, consider seeking advice from an immigration solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or an adviser registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).