UK Parent Visa Help

Who may qualify

The route is generally for a parent of a child who lives in the UK, where the parent is not eligible to apply as the partner of the child's other parent.

The child's status

The child's own position matters. The rules look at the child's age, where the child lives, and whether the child is British, settled or has lived in the UK for a significant period.

Parental relationship and responsibility

You need to show that you are the child's parent and what part you play in the child's upbringing.

• Sole or shared parental responsibility
• Who the child normally lives with
• Court orders or agreements about the child, where they exist

Contact with your child

Where the child lives with the other parent, the application usually turns on evidence of direct contact and of an active, continuing role in the child's life.

Financial circumstances

The route asks whether you can maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants adequately. This is assessed differently from the financial requirement on the partner routes.

Evidence

• The child's birth certificate and passport or status documents
• Evidence of where the child lives
• Court orders or written agreements
• Letters from school, nursery or health professionals
• Evidence of contact and involvement
• Financial and accommodation documents

Applications from inside and outside the UK

The route can be used from overseas or, for some people, from inside the UK. Which applies depends on your current immigration position.

Documents not issued in English may need to meet applicable translation requirements.

Refusals

If an earlier application was refused, or there is a problem in your immigration history, it is important to understand the reasons given before deciding what to do next.

A new application that does not deal with those reasons is likely to meet the same result.