Further Leave to Remain as a Child

Further Leave to Remain as a Child (UK)

Further Leave to Remain as a Child allows eligible children to extend their stay in the UK with a parent under the family visa route, where the relevant requirements are met.

Eligibility Criteria

• Parent’s Status: Your parent must normally be a British or Irish citizen, settled in the UK, or have another qualifying immigration status under the family visa rules.
• Age: You must generally be under 18. If you are 18 or over, you may still qualify if your permission as a child began when you were under 18 and you meet the relevant requirements.
• Relationship: You must provide evidence of your relationship with your parent.
• Living Arrangements: You must normally live with your parent unless you are living away from home for full-time education.
• Marital Status: You must generally not be married or in a civil partnership.

Financial Requirement

The financial requirement depends on the immigration route of the parent.

• If the parent is on the family visa route, the child’s application may need to meet the financial requirement applicable to that parent’s route.
• For example, where the parent is on the Partner route, evidence may be required to show that the applicable financial requirement is met.
• Children are not automatically subject to a separate £29,000 income requirement simply because they are applying as a child.

English Language Requirement

Children under 18 are generally not required to meet an English-language requirement.

If a person aged 18 or over is extending permission that originally began when they were under 18, the applicable requirements will depend on their particular circumstances.

Application Process

• Online Application: Complete the appropriate child-route application online before your current permission expires.
• Documents: Provide evidence of your identity, relationship with your parent, immigration status and living arrangements.
• Biometrics: Provide fingerprints and a photograph where required.
• Decision: UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will assess the application and issue a decision.

If applying from inside the UK, the usual processing time is around 8 weeks, although applications under the 10-year route can take longer.

Fees

The current family visa application fee for an application made inside the UK is £1,407.

For applicants under 18, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is currently £776 per year. The total IHS depends on the length of permission granted.

For example, a child granted 30 months of permission would normally pay £1,940 in IHS, in addition to the £1,407 application fee.

Duration and Settlement

• Duration: The period of permission depends on the parent’s immigration route and the child’s circumstances.
• Further Extension: You may be able to apply for further leave if you continue to meet the requirements.
• ILR: Eligible children may eventually qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) under the relevant settlement route.
• Some applicants may qualify under the 5-year route, while others may be on the 10-year family route.

Important Considerations

• Keep evidence of your relationship with your parent and your living arrangements.
• Check which financial requirements apply based on your parent’s immigration route.
• Make sure your parent continues to meet the relevant immigration requirements.
• Apply before your current immigration permission expires.
• Do not leave the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while an in-country application is pending, as the application may be treated as withdrawn.

Immigration rules and fees can change, so applicants should check the latest UK Government guidance before applying.

Written on: 29 August 2026