If you’re living in the UK, but you have a child who’s a non-UK citizen and living abroad, you can sponsor them for a UK Child Dependent Visa. This family visa offers a convenient way for your child to join you in the UK and enables them to obtain permanent residency status in the future.
Continue reading to learn about how to bring your child or children into the United Kingdom and what they need to do to qualify for the visa.
Getting a UK Visa for Children
Getting a UK Children Dependent Visa for your child provides a clear and convenient way for them to gain passage to the United Kingdom and live there with important rights needed for settlement. It enables your child to pursue education in the UK, including higher education, and gain access to local healthcare.
Having a Child Dependent Visa also gives your child the opportunity to qualify for permanent residency status later on. After remaining in the country for at least 5 years, your child will be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status and stay with you in the country without restrictions thereafter, even after they become legal adults.
UK Child Dependent Visa Requirements
As a parent or guardian of the child, you’ll need to sponsor them for the visa. To qualify for this role, you need to hold a certain type of visa or status while in the country. As the sponsor, you must have one of the following:
- Valid UK citizenship
- Settled status in the UK (either through permanent residency or indefinite leave to remain)
- A valid UK Partner Visa
- Limited leave to remain status in the UK (such as through a skilled worker visa or if you’re a specialist worker)
It is worth noting that the child can also apply at the same time a parent or guardian submits their settlement visa application. There are also additional criteria you’ll have to fulfill before you can sponsor your child, which include:
- Having full legal responsibility for your child (custody, parental powers, etc.)
- Meeting minimum income and asset requirements to ensure you can support them
- Having suitable accommodation for your child
- Being able to provide proper schooling for your child
In addition, your child or children must meet the following requirements to qualify for the UK Child Dependent Visa:
- They must be under 18 years of age
- They must not be currently leading an independent life
- They have not been married
- They have not formed an independent family unit
- They must be dependent on the parent or guardian who’s sponsoring them
Required Documents for a UK Child Dependent Visa
Before applying for the visa, you and your child will need to collect and submit a number of documents for the application. The applicant and sponsor need to provide different items for the application packet.
As the sponsor, you need to prepare the following documents:
- Valid UK passport
- Proof of your immigration status in the UK (such as a biometric residence permit)
- Proof of your relationship with your child, if requested (such as photographs)
- Proof of parental responsibility for the child (if applicable)
- Proof of sufficient finances (such as bank statements)
- Proof of suitable accommodation for your child (such as a tenancy contract)
- Details of your nationality and date of birth (only applicable if applying from outside the UK)
For your child, the applicant, you must provide:
- Valid foreign passport
- Birth certificate
- Completed Appendix FM application form
- Tuberculosis medical testing results (only applicable if the applicant is from a country with high tuberculosis cases)
It is important to note that any documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
How to Apply for a UK Child Visa from Thailand
Once all the necessary documentation has been prepared, you and your child can initiate the application by completing the online Appendix FM form. After the application and all documents have been submitted, you will need to pay the visa application fee and the immigration healthcare surcharge.
Once the authorities have received your child’s application, they will request them to book an appointment at the nearest UK VFS center in Thailand to provide their biometrics. After receiving the application, it will be sent to the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI), where the final decision will be made. After approval has been granted, all that’s left to do is to pick up your child’s passport at the nearest visa application center.
Professional Assistance with Your UK Child Dependent Visa
If you want to apply for a UK Child Dependent Visa from Thailand, reach out to Siam Legal for professional guidance with your application. As a full-service law firm and visa consultancy that has been assisting foreigners in Thailand with their immigration needs for over 20 years, our foreign visa lawyers have the expertise to help your child secure their visa swiftly and smoothly.
From gathering all required documents to submitting the application, we’ll make sure your application has the highest chance of approval in the shortest timeframe possible. Contact Siam Legal today and secure a better future for your child in the UK.
Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Much Does it Cost to Acquire a UK Child Visa?
The application fee for your child to apply for a UK Child Dependent Visa is approximately 530 GBP. This does not take into account the amount you need to pay for the health surcharge or to secure certain documents.
How Long Does it Take for a UK Child Visa to be Processed?
The amount of time it takes for your child’s application to be processed depends on whether they are applying for the visa in the UK or abroad. If they are getting it in Thailand, it could take around 12 weeks before they receive a decision. For faster processing times, they can utilize the priority service, which could get them their visa by as early as 5 working days up to a month.
Does My Child Need to Satisfy Any English Language Requirements?
No, unlike many UK visas, the Child Dependent Visa does not include English language requirements or the need to take an exam beforehand.
Can My Child Reapply if Their Application is Rejected?
Yes, depending on why your child’s application was rejected, there is a chance to either reapply or submit an appeal. We advise you to reach out to our foreign visa lawyers for a strong appeal or a higher chance at success when applying again.
What is the Financial Requirement for the UK Child Dependent Visa?
While no financial requirements are required for the applicant, you, as the sponsor, will have to show that you can support your child throughout their stay. As of 2025, you need to have a minimum annual income of 29,000 GBP, along with an additional 3,500 GBP per year for the first child, and 2,400 GBP a year for any additional children you bring afterwards.
Additional income requirements for the visa are different if you are holding a Skilled Worker Visa. If so, you need to have an additional 315 GBP for the first child you bring with you, and 200 GBP for any additional child after that.
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