Child Dependant Visa UK 2026: Apply from Ghana with Expert Help

A UK Child Dependant Visa allows eligible Ghanaian children to join or remain with a parent in the United Kingdom. However, the correct immigration route depends on the parent’s status and the child’s circumstances.

For example, a child may be:

• Joining a British citizen or a parent who is settled in the UK
• Applying alongside a parent who is entering the UK under the Family visa route
• Joining a parent who already has permission to stay in the UK as a spouse or partner

Children of parents holding UK work or Student visas may need to apply under the relevant work or Student dependant route instead.

A Child Dependant Visa should not be confused with indefinite leave to remain (ILR). Some children may qualify for settlement, while others receive temporary permission linked to their parent’s immigration status.

Page Contents

• Overview of Child Dependant Visa
• Eligibility Requirements For The UK Child Dependant Visa
• Proof of Relationship Requirements
• Suitable Accommodation Requirements
• Child Dependent Visa Application Required Documents
• How to Apply for a UK Dependent Visa for a Child
• Child Dependent Visa UK Costs
• How Long Does it Take to Get a UK Dependent Visa for a Child?
• Child Dependent Visa to Settlement (ILR)
• Can Step-Children be Included in a Child Dependent Visa?
• How Can Total Law Help?

Eligibility depends on the child’s age, family circumstances, and the immigration status of their parent.

A Ghanaian child applying from Ghana will normally need to:

• Be under 18 when applying, unless specific rules allow an older child to continue as a dependant
• Be unmarried and not in a civil partnership
• Not be living an independent life
• Demonstrate a qualifying relationship with the parent they intend to join
• Meet the relevant financial and accommodation requirements
• Satisfy the parental responsibility and care arrangements applicable to their circumstances

Children Joining British or Settled Parents

A Ghanaian child with a British or settled parent may qualify for settlement or another form of family immigration permission.

However, having one British or settled parent does not automatically entitle every child to ILR.

Eligibility depends on factors such as the status of both parents, parental responsibility, and whether there are serious or compelling reasons for the child to join the parent in the UK.

Parents should also check whether the child already has a claim to British citizenship before applying for immigration permission.

Children Joining a Parent on a Family Visa

A Ghanaian child may be able to apply alongside a parent who is moving to the UK as the partner of a British or settled person.

For example, where a Ghanaian mother is applying for a UK Spouse Visa to join her British husband, her child may qualify as a dependant if the relevant relationship and parental responsibility requirements are met.

The child will normally receive limited permission linked to the parent’s family immigration route rather than immediate settlement.

Children of Work or Student Visa Holders

Where the UK-based parent holds a Skilled Worker Visa or Student Visa, the child may need to apply under the dependant provisions of that immigration route.

Eligibility and restrictions differ between visa categories. Not every work or Student visa holder can bring dependent children.

However, below are the general eligibility requirements for a UK Child Dependent visa. The child must:

• Not live independently.
• Not be in a civil partnership, or marriage, must be under 18 years old.
• Must have enough financial support.
• Must have adequate accommodation in the UK.
• Fulfill the proof of relationship requirement.

Ghanaian applicants must demonstrate the child’s qualifying relationship with the parent and provide evidence of the proposed care arrangements.

A birth certificate may help establish parentage, but it does not necessarily prove that one parent has sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing.

Where only one parent is moving to or living in the UK, the Home Office may consider:

• Whether the other parent is deceased
• Whether the UK-based parent has sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing
• Whether serious or compelling family or other considerations justify the child’s admission
• Whether suitable arrangements have been made for the child’s care in the UK

Sole responsibility concerns who exercises continuing control over important decisions in the child’s life, including education, healthcare and general upbringing.

Financial support alone does not necessarily establish sole responsibility.

Can a Child Apply If One Parent Remains in Ghana?

Yes, but eligibility depends on the circumstances.

If the other parent remains in Ghana, the application must address the relevant parental responsibility requirements.

For example, a Ghanaian father living in the UK may need to demonstrate that he has sole responsibility for his child’s upbringing, or establish another qualifying basis under the Immigration Rules.

A letter of consent from the parent remaining in Ghana can support the application, but it does not automatically satisfy the sole responsibility requirement.

Relevant evidence may include school records, medical documents, custody arrangements, financial support records and correspondence showing who makes important decisions for the child.

The child must have suitable accommodation in the UK where required by the applicable immigration route.

Evidence may include a tenancy agreement, property ownership documents or confirmation of accommodation arrangements with family members.

The accommodation must meet the relevant requirements, including those concerning overcrowding and public health.

The family does not necessarily have to own the property or occupy it exclusively. What matters is whether adequate accommodation is lawfully available and meets the applicable rules.

The supporting documents depend on the child’s immigration route and family circumstances.

Ghanaian applicants may need:

• A valid Ghanaian passport
• The child’s birth certificate or other acceptable evidence of parentage
• Evidence of the parent’s British citizenship, settled status or qualifying UK immigration permission
• Relevant marriage, adoption or legal parenthood documents
• Evidence of parental responsibility or custody arrangements
• A death certificate where one parent has died
• Evidence of serious or compelling family circumstances, where applicable
• Financial documents required under the relevant immigration route
• Evidence of suitable accommodation in the UK
• A tuberculosis test certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic, where required
• Certified translations of documents not written in English or Welsh

Where a child has been cared for by relatives in Ghana, evidence explaining those arrangements may also be relevant.

For example, school records, medical correspondence and evidence of parental decision-making may help demonstrate who has been responsible for the child’s upbringing.

A routine police clearance certificate or National Insurance number should not be presented as a standard requirement for every child applying from Ghana.

Does a Ghanaian Child Need a TB Test?

A child applying from Ghana for UK immigration permission lasting more than six months will normally need a tuberculosis test certificate if they meet the relevant residence criteria.

Testing must be completed at a clinic approved by the UK Home Office.

Children under 11 normally undergo a clinical assessment rather than a routine chest X-ray, although further testing may be necessary.

The certificate is generally valid for six months.

Applicants should check the current approved TB testing clinics in Ghana before booking an appointment.

The application process depends on whether the child is applying to join a British or settled parent, accompany a parent on a Family visa, or apply under another dependant route.

The general steps are:

1. Confirm the correct immigration route. Check the parent’s UK status and the child’s eligibility
2. Prepare supporting documents. Gather identity, relationship, parental responsibility, financial and accommodation evidence
3. Complete the relevant online application. Use the application form specified by GOV.UK for the child’s circumstances
4. Pay the applicable charges. Pay the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge where required, unless an exemption or approved fee waiver applies
5. Book a biometric appointment. Follow the instructions for the UK visa application center in Ghana
6. Attend the appointment. Provide the child’s identity documents, photograph and fingerprints where required
7. Await the decision. UKVI may request additional information before deciding the application

Where Are UK Visa Biometrics Taken in Ghana?

UK visa application services in Ghana are provided through VFS Global.

The main visa application center is in Accra, with premium appointment facilities also available in Kumasi and Tamale.

Parents should check the appointment arrangements and any optional service charges before booking.

Children may need to attend in person, even where their age means fingerprints are not required.

The cost of applying for a UK Child Dependant Visa from Ghana depends on the immigration route and whether the child is applying for temporary permission or settlement.

For a standard Family visa application from outside the UK, the published application fee is currently £2,064 per applicant.

However, this amount should not be applied automatically to every child immigration or settlement application.

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is £776 per year for applicants under 18 who are subject to the surcharge.

For example, a child granted 33 months of permission would pay £2,328 in IHS, calculated in accordance with the applicable charging rules.

Children applying for indefinite leave to enter or remain generally do not pay the IHS.

Some applicants may qualify for exemptions or a fee waiver, depending on the immigration route and their circumstances.

Additional expenses may include TB testing, translations and optional visa application centre services.

There is no longer a separate generator shortcode=”uk-uk_bmtrc_enrlmnt_fee”] biometric residence permit charge to add to every application.

Processing times depend on the child’s application category and whether UKVI requires further evidence.

Standard overseas Family visa applications commonly have a published processing timeframe of approximately 12 weeks.

However, this should not be treated as a guaranteed timeframe for every child application, particularly where settlement or complex parental responsibility issues are involved.

Applicants should check the current GOV.UK processing times for their specific route before making travel arrangements.

A Ghanaian child does not automatically receive indefinite leave to remain simply because one parent is British or settled in the UK.

Some children may qualify to apply for indefinite leave to enter or remain if they meet the relevant settlement requirements.

Others may receive temporary permission linked to a parent’s Family visa.

For example, a child accompanying a parent on the partner route may initially receive permission for a period aligned with that parent’s immigration status.

When the parent becomes eligible for settlement, the child may also be able to apply, provided the applicable requirements are met.

There is no universal rule requiring that every child complete 5 years of residence before applying for ILR.

Likewise, completing five years in the UK does not automatically grant settlement.

The child’s eligibility depends on the relevant immigration route, family circumstances and settlement rules in force when the application is made.

Yes, a Ghanaian stepchild may qualify for a UK family immigration route, depending on the circumstances.

However, marriage to the child’s biological parent does not automatically make the stepparent eligible to sponsor the child independently.

The application must establish the qualifying relationship with the child’s biological, adoptive or legally recognised parent and satisfy the applicable parental responsibility requirements.

For example, if a Ghanaian mother is applying to join her British spouse in the UK, her child from a previous relationship may qualify to accompany her.

However, if the child’s other biological parent remains in Ghana, the application may need to demonstrate sole responsibility or another qualifying basis under the Immigration Rules.

A consent letter may be relevant but is not, by itself, proof that the immigration requirements are satisfied.