Child dependant visas when parents are separated

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Separate three different questions

When parents are separated, check the child's immigration basis, the lawfulness of relocation under family law and practical care arrangements in the UK. The other parent's consent to travel does not automatically satisfy visa requirements. Read any order determining where the child lives in full: it may preserve shared parental powers.

Start with the parent's immigration route and the other parent's position: nationality, UK permission, residence and actual involvement in upbringing. For a work-route dependant application, read Appendix Children ↗ alongside the main visa rules. Individual routes can impose additional restrictions on dependants.

Understand the immigration requirement

CHI 3.2 normally requires both parents to apply with the child or hold appropriate UK permission other than as a visitor. Exceptions include a sole surviving parent, sole responsibility, specified circumstances involving another parent entitled to live in the UK without restriction, or serious and compelling reasons.

Do not claim sole responsibility merely because the parents are divorced or the other parent has signed notarised consent. Home Office guidance ↗ separately addresses shared responsibility with a third party and exceptional circumstances. This concerns the actual situation, rather than the title of one document.

Prepare evidence of the arrangements

Collect the birth certificate, divorce records, court orders and child arrangements agreements, plus information about current care and each parent's involvement. For professional advice, prepare a timeline showing where the child lived, who made significant education and healthcare decisions, and who organised daily life and funded their needs.

Support the account with independent evidence, such as school and medical records, rather than your own statement alone. Explain periods of care by a grandparent or another relative. Translate necessary documents into English or Welsh. Do not conceal the other parent's involvement or ask them to sign an inaccurate statement.

Seek advice before paying application fees

If the other parent remains abroad and participates in upbringing, obtain an individual assessment from a regulated immigration professional before applying. A family lawyer may separately be needed to address permanent relocation. Where a court restriction or dispute exists, travel consent is not a replacement for the necessary legal decision.

Check accommodation, schooling, authority for necessary decisions and the care plan: the child's welfare is considered alongside immigration requirements. Fees, IHS and translation costs follow the chosen route; approval of the adult's visa does not guarantee the child's application. Keep the complete evidence and explanations for future extensions, when the history of parental responsibility may remain relevant.