# Parent of a British or settled child visa eligibility for Indian applicants, 2026

Who qualifies for the Parent of a British or settled child visa from India, the thresholds that apply in 2026 and the tools to check before you pay.

Source: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/parent-of-a-child-visa/eligibility · Updated 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · UK Visa Desk, a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, Patiala, India. WhatsApp +91 91155 80911, Mon to Sat, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST.

- Your child is under 18 at the date of application, lives in the UK, and is a British citizen, settled, or has lived in the UK for 7 continuous years
- You have sole parental responsibility, or the child lives with the other parent or a carer who is British or settled and you have direct access in person by court order or agreement
- You are not in a relationship with the child's other parent that would qualify you as a partner; if you are, you apply on the Partner route instead
- You are taking, and intend to continue taking, an active role in the child's upbringing (E-ECPT.2.4)
- You can maintain and accommodate yourself and the child adequately without public funds, judged against UK income support rates, with no £29,000 minimum
- English at CEFR A1 in speaking and listening from an approved Secure English Language Test, or a degree taught in English confirmed by Ecctis
- A clear tuberculosis certificate from a Home Office approved clinic in India, and no Part 9 suitability issues

## FAQ
**How much does the Parent visa cost from India in 2026?**
£2,064 plus the health surcharge of £1,035 a year, charged for the 33-month grant, so about £4,900 before the A1 test, the TB test and VFS add-ons. Our fee calculator converts the total to rupees at today's rate.

**Do I need to earn £29,000?**
No. That rule applies to the Partner route. The Parent route uses adequate maintenance: your household income after housing costs must be at least what a British family of the same size would get on income support. Savings and the carer's income can count.

**I am divorced from my British wife and our daughter lives with her in London. Can I apply?**
Yes, if you have direct in-person access, usually shown by a court order or a written agreement with her, and you are taking an active role. Evidence of regular calls, visits and money sent for your daughter is the heart of the file.

Full guide: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/parent-of-a-child-visa.md

---
UK Visa Desk is a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, a visa consultancy licensed by the Government of Punjab, India. We are a private company, not affiliated with the UK Government, and we are not regulated by the UK Immigration Advice Authority. We serve applicants who are in India; applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated UK adviser. We do not handle work visas. Information here is general, not legal advice, and no visa outcome is guaranteed.
We do not handle UK work visas. Applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated adviser.