Parent of British Child Visa Under 10-Year Route

You may be eligible to apply for a Parent of a British Child Visa under the 10-year route if you don't meet all the Appendix FM requirements.

Call our immigration solicitor in London at 0203 959 7755 for legal assistance with your Parent of a British Child Visa application under the 10-year route.

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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 if they have a British child or a child with settled status.

This visa category is designed for parents who wish to live with their British child (under 18) and be involved in their upbringing, whether on a temporary or permanent basis.

To be eligible for a UK Parent visa, your child must be living in the UK and one of the following must also be true:

• they're a British or Irish citizen
• they've settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
• they're from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status - they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
• if you're applying in the UK, they must have lived in the UK for 7 years continuously and it would not be reasonable for them to leave

What is the parent of a British child visa 10-year route?

UK Parent of a British Child visa under the 10-year route offers a viable option for parents who do not meet all the requirements of Appendix FM of the immigration rules.

Parent of a British Child visa (10-year route) for those who don't meet the financial, language, or other conditions. It lets applicants stay in the UK for 10 years before applying for ILR.

Parent of a British child visa requirements 2025

The Parent of a British Child visa under the 10-year route has slightly different requirements compared to the 5-year route.

To be eligible, both the child and the parent must fulfil specific eligibility criteria:

• Your child must be under 18 years of age at the time of application.
• Your child must be British or settled in the UK.
• You must have sole parental responsibility for your child.
• You must have a genuine and ongoing parental relationship with the child.
• You need to demonstrate that it's in the child's best interest for you to stay in the UK.
• You need to show that the child cannot reasonably live outside the UK.
• You must live with your child or be involved in their care.
• You must not have any criminal convictions.
• You should not have breached UK immigration laws.

What is Sole Parental Responsibility?

The sole parental responsibility requirement is a crucial aspect for parents seeking to apply for a visa as a parent of a British child. This requirement ensures that the parent applying for the visa has the legal authority to make decisions regarding the child's upbringing without the involvement of the other parent or legal guardian.

To meet the sole parental responsibility requirement, the applying parent must demonstrate that they have sole custody or legal guardianship of the British child. This means that they have the exclusive right to make important decisions concerning the child's welfare, such as those related to education, healthcare, and general upbringing.

Documents required for parent of British child visa under the 10-year route

Here is the list of documents you need to provide:

• Your Current passport and any previous ones.
• Your child's birth certificate
• Evidence of your child's British citizenship or settled status.
• Evidence of parental responsibility, like birth certificates.
• Provide evidence to establish your relationship with your British child.
• Proof of your child's schooling, such as enrolment letters or report cards.
• Documents proving it is in your child's best interest for you to remain in the UK.
• Proof of appropriate accommodation is available for you and your child in the UK.
• Any additional documents that illustrate your consistent caregiving role.

Apply as a parent of a British child under a 10-year route

To apply for a Parent of a British Child visa under the 10-year route, follow these steps:

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria:

• You must be the parent of a British child (under 18), a child with settled status, or a child who has lived in the UK for at least 7 years.
• You must have a genuine, ongoing relationship with the child.
• It must be in the child's best interest for you to remain in the UK.

Step 2: Gather Supporting Documents

Prepare key documents such as:

• Your child's British passport.
• Proof of child's citizenship or settled status.
• Your child's birth certificate to show your parental relationship.
• Evidence of your involvement in the child's life (e.g., school reports, healthcare letters).
• Proof that it would not be reasonable for your child to leave the UK.

Step 3: Complete the Application Form

Fill out the application form online on the UK Home Office website. Make sure to include all necessary details and documents.

Step 4: Pay Visa Fees

You'll need to pay the parent of a British child visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for access to NHS services.

Step 5: Book and Attend a Biometric Appointment

After applying, you will be asked to attend a biometric appointment to provide your fingerprints and photo.

Step 6: Await Decision

Once you've completed all the steps, wait for a decision from the Home Office.

The standard processing time for a Parent of a British Child visa is around 8 to 12 weeks.

If your application is approved, you will receive a visa for 30 months (or 33 months if applying from outside the UK). You can then renew your visa every 2.5 years until you qualify for settlement after 10 years.

Parent of a British child visa processing time

The processing time for a Parent of a British Child visa under the 10-year route typically takes up to 8 to 12 weeks from the date of your biometric appointment.

If you pay for priority service, you'll receive a decision within 5 working days, and super priority service offers a decision within 24 hours.

How long is the Parent of a British Child visa valid, and can it be extended?

The Parent of a British Child visa under the 10-year route is initially granted for 30 months (2.5 years) if applied for within the UK, or 33 months (2 years and 9 months) if applied for from outside the UK.

You must apply to extend your Parent of a British Child visa every 2.5 years until you reach the 10-year mark to continue living in the UK with your child.

You must apply for a Parent of a British Child visa extension before your current visa expires. This means no breaks in your residency for the full 10 years. Any gaps could cause problems with your application.

Switching from a 10-year parent route to a 5-year

You can switch to the 5-year route at any time If you hold a valid Parent of a British Child visa under the 10-year route and meet the Appendix FM requirements.

The 5-year route allows you to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) earlier, reducing the settlement period from 10 years to 5 years.

What happens after 10 years on the parent visa route?

After completing 10 years on the Parent of a British Child visa route, you can apply to settle in the UK (ILR). This lets you stay in the UK without needing further visas and eventually apply for British citizenship. To get ILR, you need to:

• Show continuous residency in the UK for the full 10-year period.
• Pass the Life in the UK Test.
• Continue to meet the relationship and character requirements.

How Moeen & Co. Solicitors can assist you

Contact us for legal assistance

Need help with your Parent of a British Child visa application under the 10-year route? We're here to assist. At Moeen & Co. Solicitors, we know the immigration process can be tough. Our team is ready to offer you the help you need, making your application smoother.

Call us at 0203 959 7755 or fill in our online contact form, and we'll guide you through the visa application process.