Parent Of British Child Visa (10 Years Route)

What is the Parent of a British Child Visa? 

The Parent of a British Child visa allows non-British parents to live and work in the UK to care for their child, where the child is a British or Irish citizen, or holds settled or pre-settled status. 

This visa is intended for parents who are not in a relationship with the child’s other parent and who wish to play an active role in the child’s upbringing in the UK. The child must be under 18 and living in the UK at the time of application. 

To qualify, one of the following must apply: 

• The child is a British or Irish citizen 
• The child has settled status (such as ILR, settled status, or permanent residence) 
• The child has pre-settled status (and began living in the UK before 1 January 2021) 
• If applying within the UK, the child has lived here continuously for 7 years, and it would be unreasonable to expect the child to leave the UK 

Parent of a British Child Visa Requirements 2025 

The eligibility criteria for the parent and the child under this visa is given below.  

Child Eligibility Criteria 

For an applicant to be eligible under the 10-year parent route, the child must meet specific criteria set out in Appendix FM and interpreted in Home Office guidance. 

Age Requirement

• The child must be under the age of 18 at the date of application; or 
• If the child is over 18, they must: 
• Have turned 18 after the applicant was first granted leave under the parent route, and 
• Not be leading an independent life or have formed an independent family unit. 

 Immigration and Residence Status

The child must be physically living in the UK at the time of application and must fall into one of the following categories: 

For entry clearance: 

• A British citizen; or 
• Settled in the UK (e.g. holding indefinite leave to remain or permanent residence); or 
• An EEA or Swiss national with limited leave to remain under Appendix EU.  

For leave to remain (applications made within the UK): 

• A British citizen; or 
• Settled in the UK; or 
• An EEA or Swiss national with pre-settled or limited leave under Appendix EU; or 
• A child who has lived in the UK continuously for at least seven years, as it would not be reasonable to expect the child to leave the UK. 

The child must be physically present in the UK at the time of application. A child residing overseas does not qualify the applicant for this visa route. 

Not Leading an Independent Life (for children over 18)

A child is considered not to be leading an independent life if they: 

• Do not have a partner; 
• Live with their parents (unless away in full-time education); 
• Are not employed full-time (unless aged 18 or over); 
• Are mainly or wholly financially dependent on their parents; 
• Are mainly or wholly dependent on their parents for emotional support. 

Parent Eligibility Criteria 

To qualify under the 10-year parent route, the applicant must meet the following requirements: 

Age and Relationship to the Child

• The applicant must be 18 years or older at the date of application. 
• The applicant must be the parent of the qualifying child. Under UK immigration rules, the term “parent” includes: 
  • Biological mother or father; 
  • Stepparent, where the biological parent is deceased; 
  • A parent of an illegitimate child, where paternity is proven; 
  • An adoptive parent (legal or de facto adoption recognised by UK law); 
  • A person with genuine parental responsibility for a UK-born child whose biological parents are unable to care for them. 

Parental Role and Residence

• The applicant must have sole or direct parental responsibility or must have direct access to the child if the child resides with the other parent or a carer. 
• If the child normally lives with the other parent or carer, that person: 
  • Must be a British citizen or settled in the UK; and 
  • Must not be the applicant’s partner. 

This includes those in a relationship of less than 2 years’ duration with the applicant prior to application. 

• The applicant must intend to make the UK their primary place of residence with the child if the application is granted. 

 Not Eligible Under the Partner Route

• An applicant cannot apply under the parent route if they are eligible under the partner route.
  If the applicant is in a genuine and subsisting relationship with the child’s other parent and meets the definition of “partner” of the Immigration Rules, they must apply under the partner route, not the parent route. 

What is Sole Parental Responsibility? 

According to the UK immigration rules, sole parental responsibility means that one parent has full and exclusive responsibility for raising the child, without any involvement from the other parent. It is not the same as having legal custody, and providing financial support alone is not enough to prove sole responsibility.  

To show that a parent has sole parental responsibility, the following points are usually considered: 

• The applicant makes all key decisions about the child’s life such as education, medical treatment, and residence without input from the other parent. 
• The other parent is no longer involved in the child’s upbringing and has stepped away from their parental role. 
• The applicant is solely responsible for guiding and protecting the child.  
• The applicant also manages matters such as the child’s religion, holidays, and legal representation. 

The Home Office acknowledges that it is not realistic to expect a child to have no contact with any adult other than the parent exercising sole parental responsibility. It is accepted that the child may receive care or support from other adults, including relatives or family friends, in practical ways for example, by taking the child to school or assisting with daily activities. Such involvement does not, by itself, disprove a claim of sole parental responsibility, provided the applicant retains overall responsibility for the child’s welfare and makes all major decisions relating to the child’s upbringing. 

Documents Required for Parent of British Child Visa Under the 10-Year Route 

Following is the document checklist required for Parent of a British Child Visa under the 10-year route. 

Key notes:  

• All documents must be in English or officially translated. 
• Evidence of parenting must be recent (ideally under 4 years old). 
• If relying on a court order, written permission from the court to use it in your visa application must be included. 
• If you do not live with the child, evidence of direct access and active involvement is essential. 

How to Apply as a Parent of a British Child Under the 10-Year Route 

To apply under the 10-year parent route, follow these key steps: 

Step 1 – Check Eligibility 

Ensure your circumstances meet the requirements for the 10-year parent route under the UK Immigration Rules. This route is primarily for in-country applications where the applicant does not qualify under the standard 5-year route. 

Step 2 – Gather Supporting Documents 

Prepare your evidence in line with Home Office requirements. Your documents should clearly demonstrate your relationship with the child, the child’s UK status, and your involvement in their upbringing. All documents must be submitted in English or with a certified translation. Ensure they are clear, relevant, and recent. 

Step 3 – Complete the Application Form 

Submit your application online through the official GOV.UK website. Choose the “parent” category and ensure you select the 10-year route option where prompted. 

Follow the instructions carefully and upload your supporting documents when requested. 

Step 4 – Pay Visa Fees 

At the time of submission, you will need to pay: 

• The visa application fee (£1938 for in-country applications) 
• The Immigration Health Surcharge (currently £1,035)  

Payments must be made online as part of the application process. 

Step 5 – Book and Attend a Biometric Appointment 

After submitting your application, book an appointment through UKVCAS to provide your fingerprints, photograph, and signature. You can upload your documents beforehand or take them to the appointment if required. Failing to attend may lead to delays or withdrawal of your application. 

Step 6 – Await a Decision 

Decisions may take up to 12 weeks. Applicants can choose either priority or super priority service to get a faster decision. If successful, you will be granted 30 months’ leave to remain, which can be renewed until you reach 10 years of lawful residence and become eligible for settlement (ILR). 

Parent of a British Child Visa Processing Time 

Applicants submitting an application from outside the UK can generally expect to receive a decision within 12 weeks of attending their biometric appointment. Whereas for applications submitted from within the UK under the 10-year parent route, the decision-making process may take up to 12 months, depending on the complexity of the case and any additional information requested by the Home Office. 

Visa Duration and Extension Under the 10-Year Route 

Individuals granted this visa are typically permitted to remain in the UK for a period of 2 years and 9 months. Following this initial grant of leave, an application for an extension will be required to continue residing in the UK. If you are extending your stay or switching into this visa category from another within the UK, you will normally be granted 2 years and 6 months of leave to remain. 

Switching from the 10-Year Parent Route to the 5-Year Route 

If you currently hold a Parent of a British Child visa under the 10-year route and later meet all the requirements outlined in Appendix FM, you may switch to the 5-year route at any stage, provided your existing leave remains valid. 

By switching to the 5-year route, you become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after completing five years of continuous residence, thereby shortening the overall time required to settle in the UK. 

What Happens After 10 Years on the Parent Visa Route? 

After completing 10 years on the Parent of a British Child visa route, you may become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK, provided you meet the relevant requirements at the time of application. 

Once granted ILR, you will have permanent residence in the UK with no time restrictions and can eventually apply for British citizenship, subject to meeting naturalisation requirements. 

How Sunrise Solicitors Can Assist You 

At Sunrise Solicitors, we have extensive experience in handling applications under the Parent of a British Child visa 10-year route, particularly where applicants do not meet the financial or immigration status requirements of the 5-year route. 

Our team provides comprehensive legal support throughout the process, including: 

• Assessing eligibility under Appendix FM and EX.1 
• Advising on evidential requirements, including sole parental responsibility and active involvement in the child’s upbringing 
• Preparing and submitting complete applications with detailed legal representations 
• Liaising with the Home Office on your behalf 
• Assisting with extensions, refusals, or applications for settlement after 10 years 

We are committed to delivering accurate, timely, and effective legal solutions that safeguard your right to family life in the UK. Contact us today and get help from our expert immigration solicitor.  

Our Fixed Fees For Switching Into UK Visa As A Parent Of A British Child

Fixed fees for application for switching into leave to remain as a parent of a qualified child are as given in the fee table below: