The Parent Visa is the family route for a parent who has sole or shared parental responsibility for a child living in the UK, where the parent is not in a relationship with the child’s other parent. It is the route to use when you cannot apply as a partner but your child’s life is here.
Sometimes described as the sole parental responsibility route. If you are eligible to apply as a partner, GOV.UK requires you to apply as a partner instead.
Reviewed by the Morgan Smith Immigration team — IAA-regulated UK immigration specialists. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.
TL;DR
The UK Parent Visa is for a parent with sole or shared parental responsibility for a child under 18 who is British, Irish, settled or has lived in the UK for 7 years. The outside-UK fee is £2,064, initial permission is 2 years 9 months, the outside-UK decision time is 12 weeks, and the route leads to settlement after 5 years.
£2,064
Outside-UK fee (£1,407 inside)
2 years 9 months
Initial stay
12 weeks
Decision (outside UK)
What is the Parent Visa?
The Parent Visa is a family route under the Immigration Rules for a parent whose child lives in the UK and who takes an active role in that child’s upbringing. It exists for parents who are not in a relationship with the child’s other parent and therefore cannot apply as a partner.
The child must be under 18 when you apply, or have been under 18 when you were first granted permission on this route. The child must live in the UK and be a British or Irish citizen, have settled status, hold pre-settled status having arrived before 1 January 2021, or have lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years.
You must have either sole parental responsibility for the child, or shared parental responsibility where the other parent is not your partner and is a British or Irish citizen or settled in the UK. If the child normally lives with the other parent, you must have access to the child in person as agreed with that parent or ordered by a court, and you must show that you are playing an active role in the child’s upbringing and intend to continue.
Permission is granted for 2 years 9 months on a first application from outside the UK, and 2 years 6 months when extending or switching inside the UK. After 5 years’ continuous residence on the parent route you can apply for indefinite leave to remain. Applications made from outside the UK have a 12-week service standard; applications made inside the UK have no service standard and can take up to 12 months.
Eligibility Requirements
You must satisfy all three conditions to qualify as a parent of a child in the UK.
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A Qualifying Child in the UK
Your child must be under 18 on the date you apply, or have been under 18 when you were first granted this permission. The child must live in the UK and be a British or Irish citizen, be settled, hold pre-settled status having arrived before 1 January 2021, or have lived in the UK continuously for 7 years.
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Sole or Shared Parental Responsibility
You must have sole parental responsibility, or shared responsibility where the other parent is not your partner and is British, Irish or settled. Where the child lives with the other parent, you must have in-person access as agreed or ordered, and be able to show you take an active part in the child’s upbringing and will continue to.
£
Finances and English
You must be able to support yourself and any dependants without claiming public funds, taking your income and housing costs into account. You must also prove a good knowledge of English. If you are eligible to apply as a partner, you must use the partner route instead of this one.
What You Can and Cannot Do
Your rights and restrictions while in the UK on the parent route.
✓ You Can
- Live in the UK for 2 years 9 months on a first grant, and extend for 2 years 6 months
- Work and study in the UK during your permission
- Apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years continuous residence on the parent route
- Apply from inside the UK to extend or switch, paying the £1,407 inside-UK fee
- Use the £1,000 super priority service for a faster decision on an inside-UK application
✗ You Cannot
- Use this route if you are eligible to apply as a partner — you must apply as a partner instead
- Claim public funds while on the parent route
- Qualify if the child is 18 or over on a first application
- Qualify on shared responsibility where the other parent is your partner, or is not British, Irish or settled
- Expect a service standard on an inside-UK application — GOV.UK states there is none, and decisions can take up to 12 months
Costs & Fees
Current fees as of 2026. Set by the Home Office — subject to change.
Fees set by the Home Office and subject to change. Last reviewed: September 2026.
| Item | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Application fee — outside the UK | £2,064 per person |
| Application fee — inside the UK (extend or switch) | £1,407 per person |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) — 2 years 9 months | £3,105 per adult |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) — 2 years 6 months | £2,587.50 per adult |
| Super priority service (inside UK) | £1,000 |
| Priority service (outside UK) | Additional fee — check current fees |
How to Apply for a Parent Visa
Five steps from checking the route to a decision.
Check Which Route Applies
Confirm you are not eligible as a partner, that your child qualifies, and whether you hold sole or shared parental responsibility. This decides everything that follows.
Prepare Your Evidence
The child’s status and residence, proof of your parental responsibility or court-ordered access, evidence of your active role in the child’s life, your finances and housing, and your English language evidence.
Apply Online
Submit the family visa application on gov.uk from outside the UK, or inside the UK if you are extending or switching. Pay £2,064 or £1,407 and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Provide Biometrics and Documents
Attend a visa application centre or use the app to give your fingerprints and photo, and upload your supporting documents.
Receive Your Decision
Usually within 12 weeks from outside the UK. Inside the UK there is no service standard and a decision can take up to 12 months, unless you use the super priority service.
Speak to Our Team Today
Fill in the form and an immigration specialist will be in touch within one business day.
Request a Consultation
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Sources
Legal information on this page is based on guidance from GOV.UK, the UK Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration, legislation.gov.uk, and Free Movement. Rules change frequently — speak to our team to confirm current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the parent route and sole parental responsibility.
What is the Parent Visa UK?
It is the family route for a parent who has sole or shared parental responsibility for a child under 18 living in the UK, where the parent cannot apply as a partner. It grants 2 years 9 months on a first application and leads to settlement after 5 years.
What does sole parental responsibility mean?
It means that responsibility for the child’s upbringing rests chiefly with you: you make the major decisions about the child and provide most of their financial and emotional support. Shared responsibility also qualifies, provided the other parent is not your partner and is British, Irish or settled in the UK.
Can I apply as a parent if I am still with the child’s other parent?
No. GOV.UK is clear that if you are eligible to apply as a partner, you must do that instead of applying as a parent. The parent route is for parents who are not in a relationship with the child’s other parent.
How much does the Parent Visa cost in 2026?
£2,064 if you apply from outside the UK and £1,407 if you extend or switch inside the UK. You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is £3,105 for a 2 year 9 month grant and £2,587.50 for a 2 year 6 month grant.
Does the child have to be British?
Not necessarily. The child must be a British or Irish citizen, have settled status, hold pre-settled status having arrived in the UK before 1 January 2021, or have lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years.
Is there a minimum income for the Parent Visa?
You must show you can support yourself and any dependants who live with you without claiming public funds, taking your income and housing costs into account. This is assessed differently from the partner route, so take advice on your own figures.
Do I need to prove my English?
Yes. You must prove a good knowledge of English as part of the application.
How long does a Parent Visa decision take?
Applications made from outside the UK have a 12-week service standard. Applications made inside the UK have no service standard and can take up to 12 months, unless you pay £1,000 for the super priority service.
Can I extend the Parent Visa?
Yes. Extensions and switches inside the UK are granted for 2 years 6 months, provided you still meet the requirements. After 5 years’ continuous residence on the route you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.
What if the child lives with the other parent?
You can still qualify if you have access to the child in person, as agreed with the other parent or ordered by a court, and you can show that you are taking an active role in the child’s upbringing and intend to continue.
Speak to Our Parent Visa Advisers
Our immigration specialists handle everything from sponsor licence checks to visa approval — for employers and applicants alike.