HomeFamily & Partner VisasParent of a British Child
Parent of a British child visa
If your child is British or settled and lives in the UK, you may be able to apply to enter or stay here as their parent. We will assess and organise the evidence you provide of your role in your child's life and build the case around their best interests. Fixed-fee packages from £358.33 + VAT.
Written by Dipendra Fakira, Supervising Immigration Caseworker · Reviewed by Georgette Thomas, Principal Solicitor · Last reviewed 12 July 2026
At a glance
Home Office fee
Home Office publishes current fees
Decision time
Standard in-country service
Income test
No £29,000 threshold
Length of grant
Extension is 30 months, ILR after 5 years
Home Office fees and thresholds change - check gov.uk for the current figures. We confirm them in writing when we quote you.
Who can apply on the parent route
The route is for a parent whose child is British, settled or otherwise qualifying, and who lives in the UK. Your child must be under 18 on the day you apply, or have been under 18 when you were first granted permission on this route.
It is a route in its own right - you do not apply through the child's other parent, and you cannot use it if you are eligible to apply as that person's partner. If you live with the child's other parent as a couple, the partner visa is usually the correct application.
What you need to show
evidence of who you are and your current permission to be in the UK.
ongoing involvement in the child's life, not just a formal link.
that you can look after yourself and the child without recourse to public funds.
character, conduct and immigration history.
a test from an approved centre, unless an exemption applies.
Evidencing your role in your child's life
These applications turn on the detail of your involvement - contact arrangements, school records, medical appointments, financial support and what the people around your child say. The Home Office must also treat the best interests of the child as a primary consideration, and a well-prepared application addresses that head on rather than leaving it to be inferred.
We tell you exactly what to gather for your circumstances, then check every document before the application goes in.
What it costs
| Service | Our fixed fee |
|---|---|
Full application package Merits assessment, evidence of your role in the child's life, forms, submission and updates until the Home Office decision | £1,998 + VAT |
Single services Application checking, form filling, document perusal, one hour of general advice | £358.33–£936 + VAT |
Initial consultation The quickest way to find out where you stand | from £50 + VAT |
Parent-of-a-British-child questions
A parent of a child under 18 who is either a British citizen, settled in the UK, or who has lived here for seven continuous years. You must have sole parental responsibility, or direct access and be taking an active part in the child's upbringing.
You alone make the important decisions in the child's life - schooling, health, welfare. It is not the same as being the child's only parent. If the other parent is involved, this route may not apply - direct access is the alternative.
You are not the child's main carer, but you see the child regularly and play an active role. Evidence includes court orders, contact schedules, school reports naming you and photographs across time. The other parent's status matters.
The parent route does not carry the same minimum income threshold as the partner route. You must show you can maintain and accommodate yourself and the child without recourse to public funds - a lower and more flexible test.
Usually 33 months of leave, with a further 30-month extension. After five continuous years on the parent route you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, provided you still meet the requirements.
Yes, in any lawful role, employed or self-employed. You cannot claim public funds unless the specific benefit is allowed for people with limited leave - the rules are strict, so ask before you claim.
Once a child has been in the UK for seven continuous years, it becomes possible to argue their removal, or their parent's removal, would be unreasonable. The tests are established in case law and heavily fact-specific. Take advice before deciding to apply under this route.
Find out whether the parent route is open to you
Book an initial consultation, from £50 + VAT. We will tell you plainly whether this route fits your circumstances or whether another one serves you better.