Parent visa: Indian citizen in India → United Kingdom
Indian citizens apply online for a UK family visa to live in the UK and care for their child, then give biometrics at a UK visa application centre in India.
A UK family visa to live in the UK to care for your child, where the child is under 18 and is a British or Irish citizen or settled in the UK. Granted for 2 years and 9 months.
- Validity
- 2 years and 9 months on this visa (an extension grants a further 2 years and 6 months).
- Entries
- Multiple entry while the visa is valid.
- Max stay per visit
- 2 years and 9 months, after which you can apply to extend.
When to start
Start 30 days–3 months before your travel date.
Getting an appointment in India
- Delhi & Mumbai: usually 1–2 weeks for a slot; peak season can stretch towards 4 weeks.
- Tier-2 centres (Pune, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad) often have earlier slots — a train ticket can beat the wait.
- The New Delhi centre relocated in early 2026 — confirm the current address on the official VFS site before you go.
- Applicants report slots opening 7–21 days out in normal months — book the moment you pay your fee.
You can apply to live in the UK to care for your child.
If you apply outside the UK you'll usually get a decision within 12 weeks.
Your child must be under 18 on the date you apply (or have been under 18 when you were first granted leave) and be a British or Irish citizen or settled in the UK.
Unless you are exempt, you must pass at least level A1 on the CEFR scale or hold a degree taught in English.
Complete the online family visa application as a parent and pay the fee.
Book and attend an appointment at a UK visa application centre to provide your fingerprints and a photo. Take your passport — you'll usually get it back the same day.
What you'll need
- Passport — Your passport, taken to your biometrics appointment; you'll usually get it back the same day. ✓ verified
- Proof of your child's age and status — Evidence your child is under 18 (or was under 18 when you were first granted leave) and is a British or Irish citizen or settled in the UK. ✓ verified
- Evidence of your knowledge of English — A pass at level A1 CEFR or above from an approved provider, or a degree taught in English. ✓ verified· you are not exempt from the English language requirement
Where you'll apply
Apply online from outside the UK, then attend an appointment at a UK visa application centre (VFS Global) in India to give your biometrics.
Fees
| Family visa (parent) applied for outside the UK | GBP 2064 |
Gotchas to watch
- Your child must be under 18 on the date you apply, or have been under 18 when you were first granted leave.
- Applying inside the UK is much slower — it currently takes about 12 months to get a decision, versus about 12 weeks from outside the UK.