You’ve just had your baby, you’re exhausted, overjoyed, and trying to figure out feeding, sleep, and a hundred new things at once. Then someone mentions a word you didn’t expect to be worrying about right now: visa.

Here’s the part that catches many Indian parents off guard: being born in the UK doesn’t automatically make your child British or give them permission to stay. And that can matter sooner than you think, especially if you need to travel, register with services, or avoid unexpected healthcare charges later.

If you’re searching for “visa for child born in uk to indian parents”, you’re usually trying to get clear answers to three urgent questions:

1. Can my baby stay in the UK legally?
2. Do we need a dependant visa, and when should we apply?
3. What happens if we need to travel, use the NHS, or renew our own visas?

This guide walks you through the options clearly, whether you’re in the UK on a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Student, Spouse, Civil Partnership, Partner, or another route.

Step 1: Check if your child is automatically a British citizen

Your baby is usually automatically British if both are true:

●       they were born in the UK on/after 1 January 1983, and

●       one parent was British or settled in the UK at the time of birth.

“Settled” typically means Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), settled status, or another form of permanent permission.

If your baby is British

They do not need a visa. You can generally go straight to a UK passport application (or request confirmation of citizenship if needed).

Step 2: If your baby is not British, what are your UK immigration options?

This is the most common scenario for Indian parents on temporary visas: your child is not British at birth, so you’ll choose one of these paths:

Option A: Apply for a dependant visa under your current route (most common)

If you’re in the UK on a route that allows dependants (for example, Skilled Worker), you can apply for your child as your dependant, including where one parent has sole parental responsibility.

Skilled Worker example (parents in the UK):

●       Your child does not automatically become British.

●       You should apply for your child’s dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK.

●       You’ll need the full UK birth certificate showing both parents’ names.

Important practical note: Even if you don’t plan to travel immediately, many parents still apply soon for peace of mind and healthcare coverage (more on the NHS rule below).

How long will your child’s dependant visa last?

If granted, your child’s visa will usually end on the same date as yours (and if parents have different visa expiry dates, the child’s visa usually ends on the earlier date).

Option B: Add your UK-born child to your next extension

On certain routes, you can wait and include your child the next time you extend, particularly if you won’t be travelling.

If a child is born in the UK, they can usually be added as a dependant on a parent’s next application or apply separately.

(Whether “wait and add later” is sensible depends heavily on your route, travel plans, and NHS considerations.)

Option C: Register your child as British later (when you become settled)

If neither parent was settled at birth, your child may become eligible to register as British later.

This may be possible if:

●       you’re applying for someone under 18, and since their birth, a parent became British or got permanent permission to stay, OR

●       the child lived in the UK until they were 10 or older.

This can be a strong long-term plan for families aiming for settlement, especially once a parent gets ILR.

The NHS “3-month rule” every new parent should know

Even when your baby is born in the UK, free NHS hospital treatment isn’t automatically guaranteed beyond the early newborn period if the child isn’t British and doesn’t have their own immigration status.

In general:

●       children born in the UK to parents who have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) have a 3-month exemption from charges, giving parents time to regularise the child’s status

●       after 3 months, parents may become liable for charges if they haven’t regularised the child’s immigration status

Parent-friendly takeaway:
If your child isn’t British, it’s often wise to start the visa process early, especially if your baby may need ongoing hospital care or you want certainty.

Costs to expect (visa fee + Immigration Health Surcharge)

Most dependant applications involve:

●       a valid visa application fee, and

●       the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) (unless exempt).

If you’re applying for a visa or immigration application inside the UK, you usually need to pay the IHS.
The IHS can sometimes be charged in part-year increments (for example, half the yearly cost for certain in-UK applications of 6 months or less).

Because fees can change and depend on route and length of stay, most parents treat costs as:
(dependant visa fee) + (IHS for the visa duration).

In limited circumstances, some parents may be eligible to apply for a fee waiver, but eligibility depends on individual circumstances and the type of application being made.

Most common scenarios for Indian parents (and what to do)

1) Parents on a Skilled Worker visa

●       Apply for your child as a dependant (inside the UK if the baby is here).

●       Your child’s visa normally ends on the same date as yours.

●       If applying from inside the UK, don’t travel while the application is pending; the application can be withdrawn if the applicant travels outside the common travel area.

Maintenance funds (if required):
Usually £315 for one child, with rules about holding funds for 28 days. You may need to submit financial evidence, such as bank statements, unless an exemption applies.

2) Parents on a Health and Care Worker visa

The position is similar to Skilled Worker routes:

●       a UK-born child is not automatically British

●       you apply for the child’s dependant visa if you want to travel in and out

●       you’ll need the full UK birth certificate

3) Parents on a Student visa

Student dependants are possible only in certain situations.
Only some Student route holders can have dependants, and dependants are limited to a partner and a child.

If you’re unsure whether your particular course or visa permits dependants, it’s important to check early.

4) Parent becomes settled later (ILR / settled status)

This is where registration as British can become an option.
Children under 18 may be able to register as British where, since birth, a parent became British or got permanent residence to stay.

Step-by-step: applying for your baby’s dependant visa (typical process)

While exact steps vary by visa route, most parents should plan for:

1. Register the birth and get the full UK birth certificate
2. Sort a passport for the baby (often an Indian passport unless the baby is British)
3. Apply online as a child dependant (inside the UK if the baby is here)
4. Pay fees + IHS (where applicable)
5. Prove identity/biometrics (via the ID Check app or UKVCAS, depending on instructions)
6. Do not travel while an in-UK application is pending

Typical decision timing (standard service):

●       inside the UK: usually within 8 weeks

●       outside the UK: usually within 3 weeks

FAQs (parents ask these every week)

Does my child born in the UK automatically get British citizenship?

Usually no, unless one parent was British or settled at the time of birth.

Do I need to apply for a visa straight away?

If your child is not British, you’ll generally need a dependant visa before travelling in and out of the UK, and you should be mindful of the NHS 3-month exemption for hospital charges.

Can my child qualify for settlement later?

On routes like Skilled Worker, dependants can eventually become eligible to apply for ILR if they meet the residence requirements.

What if we don’t apply and later need hospital care?

Parents may become liable for NHS charges for certain services after the baby turns 3 months if the child’s status hasn’t been regularised (unless another exemption applies).

How Intime Immigration can help

When you’ve just had a baby, the last thing you need is immigration uncertainty hanging over your family.

Newborn applications can look straightforward until you hit questions like:

●       Which parent should the baby be linked to?

●       Do we apply now or add them to the next extension?

●       What if our UK visas expire on different dates?

●       Will travel plans cause problems?

●       Should we be planning for British registration later?

That’s exactly where we step in. We’ll confirm your child’s best route, prepare the application properly, and help you avoid delays and costly mistakes, so you can focus on your baby, not paperwork.

Intime Immigration Ltd is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

If you want clear advice and a smooth application, you can speak to us in-person in one of our offices in Chester, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, or one of our solicitors can speak to you over the phone. Contact us now!