Introduction

The United Kingdom offers a special visa category called the "UK Child Visa" for non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals who wish to join their British citizen or settled parent in the country. The UK Child Visa has been a popular route for families to reunite with their loved ones in the UK. However, in 2021, the UK government announced changes to the UK Child Visa requirements, with a new set of rules that applicants need to follow to be eligible for the visa. This article aims to provide an overview of the new UK Child Visa requirements and criteria.

Current UK Child Visa Requirements

Before discussing the new UK Child Visa requirements, it is important to understand the current requirements. To obtain a UK Child Visa, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

- The applicant must be under 18 years old

- The applicant must not be married or in a civil partnership

- The applicant must not have children of their own

- The applicant must be financially supported by their parent in the UK

- The applicant must have a parent who is a British citizen or has settled status in the UK

- The applicant must show proof of their relationship to their parent, such as a birth certificate or adoption certificate

- The applicant must demonstrate their knowledge of the English language (if they are over 12 years old)

These requirements have been in place for several years and have been used by many families to reunite their children with them in the UK. However, the UK government has recently announced changes to the UK Child Visa requirements that could potentially make it more difficult for some families to obtain the visa.

New UK Child Visa Requirements

The new UK Child Visa requirements were announced in the UK government's Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules in March 2021. The new requirements are as follows:

- The applicant must be under 18 years old

- The applicant must not be married or in a civil partnership

- The applicant must not have children of their own

- The applicant must be financially supported by their parent in the UK

- The applicant must have a parent who is a British citizen or has settled status in the UK

- The applicant must have lived with their parent for at least two years before making the application (or there must be "serious and compelling reasons" why they have not lived together)

- The applicant must not be in the care of a local authority (unless there are "exceptional circumstances")

The new requirements mean that the applicant must have lived with their parent for at least two years before making the application. This could potentially make it more difficult for families who have been separated for a long period of time to reunite in the UK. Additionally, the requirement that the applicant must not be in the care of a local authority could also make it more difficult for some families to obtain the visa.

Conclusion

The changes to the UK Child Visa requirements may have a significant impact on families who wish to reunite their children with them in the UK. The requirement that the applicant must have lived with their parent for at least two years before making the application may make it more difficult for some families to obtain the visa. However, it is important to note that there are exceptions to this requirement if there are "serious and compelling reasons" why the applicant and parent have not lived together. Despite the changes to the requirements, the UK Child Visa remains an important route for families to reunite in the UK, and it is important for applicants to seek the advice of an immigration lawyer to ensure that they meet all the criteria and requirements before making an application.