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Child of a Partner or Parent Visa Overview

The Child of a Partner or Parent Visa enables children to join or stay with a parent who holds, or is applying for, a Partner or Parent Visa under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. If the parent has another form of leave, the child may need to apply under different family or dependency routes. Children who are British citizens, have indefinite leave to remain, or are otherwise settled in the UK do not need a visa to enter the UK.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, applicants must show:

  • Child’s Location: The child must be outside the UK.
  • Age: The child must be under 18 at the time of application.
  • Dependency: The child must not have formed an independent family unit or be leading an independent life.
  • Parent’s Immigration Status: One of the child’s parents must hold or be granted a Partner or Parent Visa under Appendix FM.
  • Relationship Requirements: The relationship requirement can be met in one of the following ways:
    – The child’s other parent is the partner of the child’s parent and also holds a Partner or Parent Visa.
    – The parent with the Partner or Parent Visa has sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing.
    – Serious and compelling family or other considerations make exclusion of the
    child undesirable, with suitable arrangements for the child’s care in the UK.
  • Financial and Accommodation Requirements: The child must meet financial and accommodation standards.

Parent Immigration Status Requirement

One parent must either be in the UK with a Partner or Parent Visa under Appendix FM or be abroad and applying for or already granted this visa.

Relationship Requirements

The relationship requirement may be satisfied if:

  • Both parents are applying or hold a Partner or Parent Visa, with one of them also being the partner of the child’s parent.
  • The parent with the Partner or Parent Visa has had sole responsibility for the child.
  • Serious and compelling reasons make it undesirable to exclude the child, and suitable care arrangements are in place.

Understanding Sole Responsibility

Sole responsibility implies that one parent alone makes all significant decisions regarding the child’s care and upbringing. This typically means the child lives with the responsible parent, who has complete care and control, with no shared responsibility from others. Detailed evidence of sole responsibility, such as legal documents and records, is usually required.

Serious and Compelling Family or Other Considerations

The Home Office will assess the child’s welfare and best interests, considering:

  • Family Considerations: Emotional and other welfare needs, sufficiently serious to justify the child’s admission to the UK.
  • Other Considerations: Social, economic, and potential safety issues in the child’s current environment, including possible neglect or abuse.

This assessment requires that suitable care arrangements are available for the child in the UK.

Child Not Forming an Independent Family Unit

The child must remain dependent on the parent and should not be part of another family unit, such as living with a spouse or civil partner in another household.
For further assistance, contact our UK Child Visa immigration adviser at 02033556293.

Child of a Partner or Parent Visa: Key Requirements and Considerations

Common Reasons for Refusal

To qualify, applicants must meet the following requirements:
• Dependent Status: The child must not be living as part of another family unit (e.g., with a fiancé or proposed civil partner) and must not lead an independent life, meaning they are financially and emotionally dependent on their parent(s).

• Parent’s Visa: The child’s parent must hold or be applying for a Partner or Parent Visa
under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.

The financial requirement depends on whether the child is applying as a Child of a Partner
or Child of a Parent:
• As a Child of a Parent: The parent with a Parent Visa must demonstrate adequate maintenance for the family. This is calculated by the formula: (weekly income - weekly accommodation costs) ≥ income support equivalent.

• As a Child of a Partner: The parent or partner must show a gross annual income of £29,000. For those receiving state benefits, the financial requirement changes to "adequate maintenance and accommodation" for the entire family without public funds.

Acceptable sources of income include:
• Employment or self-employment (UK or overseas)
• Pensions (state, occupational, or private)
• Non-employment income, such as rental income or dividends
• Certain benefits, such as maternity allowance
• Cash savings above £16,000 held for at least six months

Different income sources can be combined to meet the requirement. Special considerations
apply if refusal would breach Article 8 of the ECHR, allowing additional financial sources.

The applicant must show that the family has adequate accommodation, which:

• Is legally owned or occupied by the family without relying on public funds
• Allows exclusive occupancy
• Meets public health and overcrowding standards

Documents should verify property ownership or lease agreements and confirm adequate living
space for all family members.

The child does not need to meet an English language requirement, but the parent holding the
Partner or Parent Visa typically does.

Applications may be refused if essential financial or accommodation documentation is missing or incomplete. Consulting with an immigration adviser can help ensure compliance with the complex evidence requirements to meet these standards.
For more information or assistance with your Child of a Partner or Parent Visa application, please contact our UK Child Visa immigration adviser at 02033556293

Child of a Partner or Parent Visa: Key Information

English Language Requirement Children applying for a Child of a Partner or Parent Visa do not need to meet an English language requirement.

Supporting Documents Checklist

The most common reason for refusal is insufficient or incorrect documentation. Since requirements vary case by case, pre-prepared checklists may be unreliable. Consulting an immigration adviser ensures the correct documents are submitted in the proper format, reducing the risk of refusal. Missing or improperly formatted documents can lead to refusal, lengthy appeals, and additional costs.

Application Fees

If you are unable to satisfy the 10-year continuous lawful residence requirement, you may still apply for leave to remain on human rights (private life) grounds

  • Outside the UK: £1,846
  • Switching or Extending within the UK: £1,048
  • Priority Service: Additional fees apply

Processing Times

  • Outside the UK::Standard processing is 24 weeks; Priority Service typically reduces this to 30 working days (no Super Priority Service available).
  • Within the UK: Processing takes up to 8 weeks. The Super Priority Service offers a decision by the next working day

Visa Duration

The visa’s initial duration aligns with the parent’s visa expiration date. Extensions are required before the initial visa expires, typically matching the parent’s extended leave or 30 months if the parent is settled and the child does not qualify for settlement.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

The child can qualify for ILR once they meet Appendix Settlement Family Life requirements, typically after the parent has obtained ILR.

Switching to the Child of a Partner or Parent Visa from Within the UK

Children can switch to this route from within the UK, provided they are under 18 at the time of application and meet the relationship, financial, and accommodation requirements. For assistance with the Child of a Partner or Parent Visa, contact our immigration adviser s at 02033556293.