If you’re in the UK (or applying) on a Skilled Worker visa, it’s completely normal to want your children with you, school runs, weekends, family life, the whole thing. The skilled worker child dependent visa is the route that lets your child join you or stay with you in the UK as your dependant, as part of a wider worker dependant visa application (with their visa usually ending on the same date as yours).

This guide is focused specifically on children (not civil partners), and it’s written for Skilled Worker visa holders and applicants who want a clear, practical checklist.

What is a Skilled Worker child dependant visa?

It’s an application your child makes to be in the UK as your dependant while you hold permission on the Skilled Worker route, under the Skilled Worker dependent visa category.

A dependant child can be:

• your child under 18 (including a child born in the UK during your stay), or

• your child over 18 only if they already have permission in the UK as your dependant.

Quick eligibility checklist (child)

Your child must generally:

• not be married or in a civil partnership,

• live with you, unless they live away from home in full-time education (e.g., boarding school/university),

• meet the “child” definition for the route (age/permission status).

You’ll also need to provide evidence of your relationship to your child when applying.

Important rule changes that can affect whether your child can apply (care roles + “medium-skilled” roles)

Before you spend money on fees, double-check whether your Skilled Worker sponsorship allows dependants.

Recent policy updates have changed who can bring dependants, particularly for care roles and medium-skilled occupations. You can read more about the latest UK Skilled Worker visa changes and how they may affect your family.

If you’re a care worker or senior care worker

Your child may only be able to apply in limited scenarios, such as if you’ve been continuously employed in the UK in that role and on a valid Skilled Worker visa since before 11 March 2024, or for a child born in the UK, or where you’re the only living parent responsible (or the other parent is also sponsored in those roles) and the application is for permission to stay.

If your occupation code is classed as a “medium-skilled” job

Your child may only be able to apply if (for example) you’ve been continuously employed in the UK on the Skilled Worker route in a “medium skilled” job since before 22 July 2025, or for a child born in the UK, or where you’re the only living parent responsible (or the other parent is also sponsored in a medium skilled job) and the application is for permission to stay.

Why “medium-skilled” matters now

Home Office sponsor guidance confirms that, from 22 July 2025, Skilled Worker sponsorship is generally tied to RQF level 6 roles (with limited exceptions such as roles on specific shortage/salary lists and transitional provisions).

If you’re unsure whether your role is considered “medium-skilled” (or whether transitional provisions apply), it’s worth checking with a skilled worker visa solicitor before applying; this is a common and expensive point of failure.

Children born in the UK: what parents often miss

If your child is born in the UK during your Skilled Worker stay, they do not automatically become a British citizen.
You must apply for your child’s skilled worker dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them, and you’ll need a full UK birth certificate showing both parents’ names.

Do both parents need to be applying?

In many cases, the Home Office expects a child to be joining both parents, or for the UK-based parent to be the sole surviving parent or have sole responsibility, with “serious and compelling” exceptions considered case-by-case.

If one parent is not coming, you should be ready to provide evidence:

• the family members and care arrangements, and

• (often) written permission from the parent who is not travelling/not applying.

This is one of the biggest “it looked simple until we applied” areas, especially in separated-parent situations.

Financial requirement for a child dependant (maintenance funds)

You (or your child) usually must show:

• £315 for one child

• £200 for each additional child

The money must usually be held for 28 consecutive days, with day 28 falling within 31 days of the application.

When you may not need to show funds

You normally don’t need to prove maintenance funds if:

• you’ve all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

• your employer certifies maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Documents checklist (child dependant)

Exact documents vary, but typically you should prepare:

Identity & application linking

• Child’s passport (or valid travel document)

• Your application number (GWF/UAN) to link applications (or a family linking code)

Proof the child is your child

• A full birth certificate showing parents’ names, or equivalent official documents; translations if not in English/Welsh

Proof that the child lives with you (especially important for older children)

GOV.UK suggests evidence such as: bank statement, a driving licence, an NHS registration document, or an official letter from school/college/university.

Maintenance funds evidence (if required)

• Bank statements showing required funds held for the required period

TB certificate (some overseas applications)

If applying from overseas for more than 6 months and your child has lived in a listed country for the prior 6 months, a TB certificate may be required.

How to apply: outside the UK vs inside the UK

Applying from outside the UK (entry clearance)

Your child must apply online before travelling, and will either use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend a visa application centre for biometrics.
A decision is usually made within 3 weeks after identity/documents are provided (priority may be available).

Applying from inside the UK (extend or switch)

Your child can apply to extend or switch online, either at the same time as you or before their current visa expires.
Be careful: switching is not allowed from certain statuses (including visit visas, short-term student visas, and immigration bail, among others).
In-UK processing for work routes is typically around 8 weeks.

Fees & NHS cost (IHS): what to budget for a child

Visa application fee (child dependant)

Fees depend on where you apply and how long you’ll be in the UK.

Standard Skilled Worker application fees range (per person):

• Outside the UK: £769 (up to 3 years) / £1,519 (more than 3 years)

• Inside the UK: £885 (up to 3 years) / £1,751 (more than 3 years)

If your job is on the Immigration Salary List, the fee is lower: £590 (up to 3 years) / £1,160 (more than 3 years).

Key detail for families: if your child applies after you, they still pay fees for the same length of time as your visa (based on your sponsorship period).

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for children

If your child is under 18 at the time of application, the IHS is £776 per year (paid upfront, based on visa length rules), which gives them access to the UK national health service during their stay.

How long will your child’s visa last?

A successful UK skilled worker dependant child visa usually ends on the same date as the main visa holder’s Skilled Worker visa. If parents’ visas expire on different dates, the child’s visa usually ends on the earlier date.

Does a Skilled Worker child dependant visa lead to settlement (ILR)?

Potentially, yes, but the rules are strict.

If you’re planning to settle in the UK long-term, it’s important to understand how your child’s status links to your own Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application as a Skilled Worker visa holder

When you apply for ILR, you can include your child if they:

• have permission as your dependant

• are not married/in a civil partnership

• will live with you and be supported without public funds, and

• both parents are applying to settle at the same time or are already settled (with specific exceptions like sole responsibility/sole surviving parent/serious or compelling reasons).

Extra proof is required for children over 16 (address, financial support, etc.).
Children 18+ can only be included if they were under 18 when first granted dependant permission and still do not live an independent life (plus additional ILR requirements).

Common refusal reasons (and how to avoid them)

• Wrong route/dependant not permitted because of the main applicant’s occupation category (care worker/medium-skilled restrictions).

• Insufficient maintenance evidence (wrong amount, not held long enough, incorrect bank format).

• Weak proof the child lives with you (especially 16+).

• Unclear parental responsibility/consent where one parent is not applying.

• Missing translations or documents that don’t clearly evidence the parent-child relationship.

How InTime Immigration can help

If you’re applying for a Skilled Worker child dependant visa, the form itself isn’t the hard part; it’s proving the right things in the right way.

Most refusals happen because the Home Office isn’t satisfied on one key point:

• dependants aren’t permitted for the main Skilled Worker role,

• the child’s living arrangements/consent from the other parent aren’t clear, or

• the evidence pack doesn’t fully match what caseworkers expect.

That’s where we come in.

With InTime Immigration, you’ll get:

• A clear eligibility check first — so you don’t waste money applying under the wrong rules for your occupation or sponsor circumstances.

• A strong, Home Office-ready evidence pack — relationship documents, proof of residence, and maintenance funds presented in a way that makes sense to a caseworker.

• Support for complex family situations — separated parents, consent/sole responsibility, and children born in the UK, with the supporting documents and explanations handled properly.

Want to know if your child can apply, and what you’ll need?

Whether you’re in Chester, London, Manchester or Stoke On Trent, book a consultation with InTime Immigration today and we’ll map out the fastest, safest route for your family, and exactly what to submit.

FAQs

Can my child apply if they turn 18 in the UK?

Yes, children who turn 18 during your stay can still apply to extend/switch, but over-18 dependants must already have permission in the UK as your dependant.

My child was born in the UK, do they need a visa?

If you want to travel in and out of the UK with them (and for them to have status), you must apply and provide the full UK birth certificate. You can discuss this with our child dependent visa solicitors for more information.

Do I need to show funds for my child?

Often yes: £315 for one child, £200 for each additional child, held for 28 days, unless you’re exempt (e.g., you’ve all been in the UK 12+ months, or your employer certifies).

How long does it take?

Outside the UK, decisions are usually within 3 weeks after identity and documents are provided.
Inside the UK, work route processing is typically around 8 weeks.

Can my child study in the UK?

Yes, dependent children can study. (School/university admissions are separate from immigration.)

Can my child apply from inside the UK if they’re here as a visitor?

No, switching isn’t allowed from a visit visa.