Who it is for
The parent visa lets a parent live in the UK to care for a child who lives here. The child must be under 18, or have been under 18 when you first got permission on this route. The child must be a British or Irish citizen, have settled status, or meet other residence conditions, and must live with you unless they are in full-time education. The child cannot be married or in a civil partnership.
The key requirements
- Parental responsibility. You must have sole or shared parental responsibility, or be raising the child without the other parent’s involvement.
- An active role. You must show you are taking an active role in the child’s upbringing. Strong evidence includes letters from the child’s school, doctor or the council, and court orders. Photographs and text or social media messages are not strong evidence.
- English. You need a good knowledge of English at the level required for the route.
- No recourse to public funds. You must be able to support yourself without claiming public funds, although there are exceptions when a family is destitute.
Length and settlement
The first visa is for 2 years and 9 months. When you extend, or switch to the route from inside the UK, you are given 2 years and 6 months. You can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five continuous years on a family visa as a parent.
How long it takes
Applications made from outside the UK are usually decided within about 12 weeks. Applications made from inside the UK have recently taken about 12 months. These times change, so check the current position and plan around your permission to stay.
If you cannot afford the fee
Fee waivers are available if you do not have accommodation or cannot afford essential living costs, or if your income is so low that it would affect your child’s wellbeing. A waiver needs evidence of income, expenses and savings, so prepare it carefully.
If you are refused
A refusal of a parent visa will usually carry a right of appeal, because it is a refusal of a human rights claim. The deadline is 14 days if you are in the UK and 28 days if you are outside it. See immigration appeals. In some cases, a fresh application is quicker, so take advice about the route before you choose.
