Family
Dependant child of a visa holder for Indian applicants
Direct answer
Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, Visa counsellors, Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd, Patiala. Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024. Last verified .
Home Office fee
£819
about ₹1,08,378 at 132.33 INR/GBP, effective 8 April 2026
Verified 8 October 2026 · source
Health surcharge
Not payable
This route is exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge
Verified 8 October 2026
Processing time from India
3 weeks
Priority 5 working days, super priority 1
Verified 8 October 2026
Our filing price
₹9,999
All-in, GST included
Verified 8 October 2026
Summary
In short
A dependant child under 18 joining a parent on a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa pays £819 for up to 3 years or £1,618 for longer, a child of a PhD or government-sponsored student pays £558 and a child of a Graduate pays £937 (fee table effective 8 April 2026), plus the under-18 health surcharge of £776 a year. The officer tests that both parents are in the UK or applying, or that the UK parent has sole responsibility, and that £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child were held for 28 days unless the sponsor certified maintenance. Standard decisions from India take about 3 weeks. The common Indian mistake is one parent in the UK applying for a child who still lives with the other parent in India.
In practice
Worked example
Example: Arjun and Simran bring their son Kabir to Leeds. A file like the ones the desk prepares; the figures are from the datasets and dated.
The situation
Arjun, from Ludhiana, has a 5-year certificate of sponsorship as a Skilled Worker nurse in Leeds and his wife Simran holds a dependant partner visa granted with his in 2025. Their son Kabir, 9, stayed with his grandparents in Ludhiana to finish the school year. In October 2026 they apply for Kabir to join them for the remaining 4 years of Arjun's visa. Arjun's NHS trust did not certify maintenance on the certificate of sponsorship. Kabir's file has his birth certificate from Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, both parents' eVisa share codes and his school leaving certificate.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Visa fee, dependant of a Skilled Worker, certificate over 3 years | £1,618 (₹2,14,110) |
| Health surcharge, under-18 rate £776 a year, 4 years remaining, charged as 4 years | £3,104 (₹4,10,752) |
| Maintenance funds for the first child, held for 28 days | £315 (₹41,684) |
| TB test | not needed, Kabir is under 11 |
| Priority service, optional, 5 working days | £500 (₹66,165) |
| Notarised consent | not needed, both parents are in the UK |
| Home Office charges before add-ons | £4,722 (₹6,24,862) |
| Standard decision time from biometrics | 3 weeks |
Outcome
The visa was granted in 12 working days, ending on the same date as Arjun's. Because both parents hold UK permission, no sole responsibility evidence was needed. Had Simran stayed in India, Arjun alone could not have brought Kabir without proving sole responsibility, which is rarely accepted while the other parent is involved. Kabir was placed in a Leeds primary school within 3 weeks of arriving.
The officer’s view
What the officer checks
What the entry clearance officer checks on a dependant child file
| What they check | Why it matters | Evidence that answers it |
|---|---|---|
| The parent's route allows child dependants | Appendix Student ST 31 and Appendix Skilled Worker SW 31: only certain routes and course levels permit dependants, and care workers sponsored after 11 March 2024 cannot bring any | The parent's CAS or certificate of sponsorship reference and visa decision letter |
| Both parents are in the UK or applying, or sole responsibility applies | Appendix Children CHI 4.1 to 4.3: a child must be joining both parents, or one parent with sole responsibility, or there must be serious and compelling reasons | Both parents' eVisa share codes, or a family court custody order, the other parent's death certificate or a notarised no-objection affidavit with sole responsibility evidence |
| The child is under 18 at the date of application | CHI 5.1: age is tested on the date the online application is submitted | Passport and birth certificate from the municipal corporation or gram panchayat; the fee payment receipt fixes the date |
| The child is not married and not living independently | CHI 6.1 and 6.2: a child over 16 must still be dependent and not leading an independent life | School bonafide certificate, evidence of living with family, no marriage record |
| Funds of £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child | Appendix Skilled Worker SW 34 and Appendix Finance FIN 3.1: held for 28 days, ending within 31 days of application, unless the sponsor certified maintenance | Bank statements in a parent's name covering the period, or the certification on the certificate of sponsorship |
| The relationship to the parent is proved | Appendix Children CHI 2.1 and Appendix Relationship with Partner for step-children: a biological or legally adopted child of the main applicant or their partner | Birth certificate naming the parents; adoption deed and CARA papers for adopted children |
| Tuberculosis screening for a child aged 11 or over | Appendix Tuberculosis applies to applicants from India staying more than 6 months who are 11 or over | TB certificate from an approved clinic, within 6 months |
| Consistency with the parents' files | Part 9 paragraph 9.7: an inaccurate statement can be treated as a false representation | Same names, spellings, dates of birth and addresses across all family applications |
From the desk
Mistakes we see
From files Indian applicants have brought to the desk after a refusal, most frequent first.
| The mistake | What it costs | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Applying for a child while the other parent remains in India | Refusal under Appendix Children because sole responsibility is not proved and the other parent is involved | Apply for the partner and the child together, or build a sole responsibility file with a custody order and years of evidence |
| Paying the fee after the child's 18th birthday | The child is no longer a dependant child and the route is closed | Submit and pay before the birthday; biometrics can follow later |
| Showing one lump sum for the whole family | The officer cannot see £315 and £200 per child in addition to the partner's £285 and refuses | Show the total of all dependant amounts held for 28 days, or get the sponsor to certify maintenance |
| Birth certificate issued years late with no explanation | The relationship is doubted and the file is refused or delayed for verification | Add the late registration affidavit, school records naming the parents and a hospital birth record if one exists |
| Missing the TB test for a child who turned 11 | Refusal or a request for more information that pushes the decision back by weeks | Check the child's age on the day of the application and book the test at an approved clinic |
| A different spelling of the child's name across passport, birth certificate and form | Verification delays and a credibility note on the file | Match the passport spelling everywhere and add a one-name affidavit where documents differ |
| Expecting the child's visa to outlast the parent's | The child's permission ends with the parent's and must be extended with it | Note the parent's expiry and plan the whole family's extension together |
Step by step
Timeline
From the first document to the decision, in the order Indian applicants actually do it.
Step 1: Confirm the parents' status and the route
Week 0Check that both parents have or are applying for permission and that the route permits child dependants
Step 2: Gather the child's identity documents
Weeks 0 to 2Passport, birth certificate, school certificate, and the consent or custody papers if only one parent is in the UK
Step 3: Hold the funds
Weeks 0 to 4£315 for the first child and £200 for each further child, for 28 days, unless the sponsor certified maintenance
Step 4: TB test for a child aged 11 or over
Week 3Approved clinic appointment; the certificate is valid for 6 months
Step 5: Submit online and pay
Week 4Pay the fee and the under-18 surcharge for the full period; the payment date fixes the child's age
Step 6: Biometrics
Week 5A child under 16 attends VFS with a parent or legal guardian; under-5s give a photograph only
Step 7: Decision
Weeks 6 to 8About 3 weeks on the standard service; priority 5 working days where offered
Step 8: Passport back, eVisa and travel
Weeks 8 to 9 and within 90 daysCreate the child's UKVI account linked to a parent's email, travel on the vignette and apply for a school place through the council
Home Office data
How Indian applicants fare
Most Indian child dependant files are made with a parent's Skilled Worker application, or for a child left with grandparents in Punjab or Gujarat while the parents settled into work in the UK. The rule that causes trouble is the parent rule: both parents must be in the UK or applying, unless one parent has sole responsibility, the other parent has died, or there are serious and compelling reasons. Officers also check the child's funds where the sponsor has not certified maintenance. Decisions from India take about 3 weeks. We file the child's own application only. The parent's work visa and sponsorship are outside our scope and we do not advise on them.
The rules
Eligibility
- One parent holds, or is applying for, permission as a Student (PhD, research degree or government-sponsored), Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Graduate, Global Talent, High Potential Individual or Innovator Founder
- Both parents are in the UK with permission or applying at the same time, or the parent in the UK has sole responsibility, or the other parent has died, or there are serious and compelling reasons
- The child is under 18 on the date of application; a child who turns 18 while holding dependant permission can extend
- The child is not married, not in a civil partnership and not living an independent life
- The child will live with the parent in the UK and will not depend on public funds
- Funds: worker and founder routes need £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child, held for 28 days, unless the sponsor certifies maintenance; student dependants need the monthly rate for up to 9 months
- Graduate route: the child already held Student-dependant permission, or was born in the UK during the parent's Student visa
- TB certificate from an approved clinic in India if the child is 11 or over
Checklist
Documents, named the Indian way
- Child's passport and birth certificate from the municipal corporation or gram panchayat naming both parents, with a late registration affidavit if needed
- Both parents' passports, the UK parent's BRP or eVisa share code and visa decision letter, and the parents' marriage certificate
- Main applicant's certificate of sponsorship reference or CAS, showing the visa length the child's permission will match
- Where only one parent is in the UK: custody order from the family court, the other parent's death certificate, or a notarised no-objection affidavit from the other parent with their ID
- Sole responsibility evidence: school letters naming the UK parent as guardian, fee receipts, money transfers, and decisions about schooling and health taken by that parent
- Bank statements showing the child's funds held for 28 days, ending within 31 days of the application, or the sponsor's maintenance certification
- Child's school leaving or bonafide certificate from the Indian school, and vaccination record
- TB test certificate from an approved clinic in India if the child is 11 or over
- For a child over 16: evidence they still live with the family and are in education, not working or married
- Adoption deed and court order if the child is adopted, with the Central Adoption Resource Authority papers
In rupees
Cost from India, in rupees
| Charge | GBP | INR |
|---|---|---|
| Dependant child of a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker, certificate of sponsorship 3 years or less application fee | £819 | ₹1,08,378 |
| UK Visa Desk all-in filing price, GST includedPaid to Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd. Home Office fees are paid by you on gov.uk. | ₹9,999 | |
| Required Home Office charges plus our filing price | £819 | ₹1,18,377 |
Fees from the Home Office table effective 8 April 2026, verified 8 October 2026; converted at 132.33 INR per GBP (8 October 2026). Pass-through charges paid on gov.uk; card and bank margins extra. Optional lines are not in the total.
Risk
Why Indian applications are refused
- Both parents are not in the UK and sole responsibility is not proved: the parent in India still signs school forms and makes day-to-day decisions
- The main applicant's route does not allow child dependants, such as a taught master's student or a care worker sponsored after 11 March 2024
- The child was 18 or over on the date of application, or is married or living independently
- Funds held for less than 28 days or not shown for each child separately
- Birth certificate missing or registered years late without an explanation, so the relationship to the parent is not proved
- TB certificate missing for a child aged 11 or over
- Details on the child's form do not match the parent's file, such as a different date of birth or spelling of a name
Exclusion or deportation order in force
A mandatory refusal: you were deported from the UK or formally excluded, and that order is still in force. No visa can be granted until the order is revoked.
What to fix: apply for revocation of the deportation order (normally after 10 years, earlier only in exceptional cases) with a UK regulated adviser; do not submit new visa applications while the order stands; each refusal adds to the record.
Decode 9.2.1Presence not conducive to the public good
The officer considers your behaviour, character or associations make you unsuitable, for example extremism, serious dishonesty not covered by other paragraphs, or a pattern of conduct abroad. Used rarely but it is mandatory.
What to fix: obtain the full reasons (ask for the decision notice and consider a Subject Access Request); character evidence and clearance certificates; this ground usually needs legal representation.
Decode 9.3.1Criminality: custodial sentence of 12 months or more, persistent offender, serious harm
A mandatory refusal for a prison sentence of 12 months or more anywhere in the world, or for repeat offending or serious-harm offences. Sentences under 12 months are considered under 9.4.2 to 9.4.5 (discretionary, with time limits for visitors).
What to fix: always declare convictions; non-disclosure leads to a 9.7.1 deception finding on top; for shorter sentences, show the time elapsed and rehabilitation evidence; get the court record and sentence length in English.
Decode 9.4.1Free tools
Tools for this route
Fee calculator in rupees
Every Home Office fee and the health surcharge, totalled in rupees at a dated rate.
Student maintenance calculator
The 28-day funds you must hold, now and from 30 November 2026.
Document checklist generator
A checklist for your route and situation, sent on WhatsApp.
Processing times tracker
Standard, priority and super priority times for Indian applicants, updated monthly.
Refusal reason decoder
Paste the paragraph from your refusal letter and read what it means.
Questions
Questions Indian applicants ask
How much does a UK dependant child visa cost from India?ShowHide
The same as the parent's route fee: £819 or £1,618 for Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker, £558 for a student's child and £937 for a Graduate's child. The health surcharge for under-18s is £776 a year. Use our fee calculator for the rupee total.
Only I am in the UK. My wife stays in India with our son. Can he join me?ShowHide
Only if you have sole responsibility for him, or there are serious and compelling reasons. If your wife is involved in his life, the normal answer is no. The family route is for both parents to apply, or for your wife to come as your dependant partner with the child.
Can my child go to school in the UK?ShowHide
Yes. A dependant child can attend state school. In England, you apply for a place through the local council after arrival, and a child under 5 can use funded nursery hours in most areas.
What funds do I need for each child?ShowHide
On the Skilled Worker and similar routes, £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child, held for 28 days, unless your sponsor has certified maintenance on the certificate of sponsorship. Student dependants need £845 a month in London or £680 outside, for up to 9 months, per child.
My child turns 18 next month. Can we still apply?ShowHide
Yes, if the application is submitted before the 18th birthday. The date of application is the date the fee is paid online, so pay before the birthday even if biometrics come later.
Can a child born in the UK get a dependant visa?ShowHide
A child born in the UK does not need a visa to stay, but they need permission to re-enter after travel. You apply for the child as a dependant from inside the UK. We refer in-UK applications to a regulated UK adviser.
Do you handle my own Skilled Worker visa as well?ShowHide
No. We prepare and file the child's dependant application only. Sponsorship and work visas for the parent are outside our service and we do not advise on them.
How long does the child's visa take from India?ShowHide
About 3 weeks after biometrics for a standard decision. Priority at £500 and super priority at £1,000 are usually available at Indian centres. Apply for the child at the same time as the parent so the decisions arrive together.
- Punjab licence: 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024valid to 22 July 2029
- CIN: U52291PB2024PTC060508Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd
Dataset dates: fees 8 October 2026. No outcome is guaranteed.
Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd, licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024. Applicants outside the UK only; applicants in the UK are referred to a regulated adviser.