A child from Pakistan visits the UK on the same Standard Visitor visa as an adult, but the application has to answer extra questions: who the child is travelling with, who will look after them in the UK, and whether the parents agree. Get the consent letter, the relationship documents and the details of the accompanying adult right, and a child’s application is usually straightforward to prepare.
How a child applies
Every child needs their own application, even a baby travelling on a parent’s lap. GOV.UK’s guidance for under-18s says the adult and child can apply at the same time, but each must complete a separate application. The basics are the same as for any Standard Visitor visa:
- the earliest you can apply is 3 months before travel, and a visit is usually up to 6 months;
- the child needs a passport valid for the whole stay;
- the application must show suitable arrangements for the child’s travel and stay, and that the return journey and costs of the visit are covered;
- the child attends a visa application centre for biometrics, so book appointments for the whole family together;
- once approved, the child gets an eVisa, and needs their own UKVI account (a parent can set it up for them).
Children are not expected to have money of their own. UKVI’s visit caseworker guidance says a child visitor is “not expected to have funds in their own name”, so the parents’ or sponsor’s finances do the work. Our guide to supporting documents for a UK visit visa explains what those financial documents should look like.
If you choose a long-term visit visa for a child, note that GOV.UK says it will only be valid for up to 6 months after the child turns 18.
Who is the child travelling with?
This is the question that shapes the whole application.
| Situation | What to include |
|---|---|
| With both parents | The child’s birth certificate; the parents apply at the same time |
| With one parent | Birth certificate; a signed consent letter from the other parent (with contact details and a passport or CNIC copy) is sensible, as Border Force can ask about the relationship |
| With another adult (grandparent, uncle, aunt) | A signed letter from the parent or parents, a copy of a parent’s passport photo page, and the adult named in the application |
| Travelling alone to someone in the UK | A signed parent letter, plus the name, date of birth and address of the person the child will stay with, their relationship to the child and their written consent |
GOV.UK says you can name up to 2 adults in a child’s visa application, and their names will appear on the visa. If the adult is not a parent, you must give specific information about them. Name the adult who will actually travel. If plans change after the visa is issued, a different adult may face questions at the airport or the border.
The parents’ consent letter
GOV.UK’s guide to supporting documents says that where a child is not travelling with their parents, you should provide a signed letter from the parent or guardian confirming the travel arrangements. Use this as your checklist:
- the parent’s or guardian’s consent for the child to travel to the UK;
- who is travelling with the child, with the adult’s passport number;
- who will look after the child in the UK, with their address;
- how the child will travel (flight details if booked);
- the parents’ full contact details: phone, email and home address in Pakistan;
- the dates of the trip and the date the child will return.
With the letter, include a copy of the photo page of at least 1 parent’s passport, showing their signature and passport number, if that parent is not applying too. Many families also add both parents’ CNIC copies, which helps when a parent has no passport. Where both parents are alive and in contact, have both sign.
Birth certificate, B-Form and translations
GOV.UK asks for a legal document showing the relationship between the child and at least 1 parent or guardian, for example a birth certificate or adoption papers. For children from Pakistan, include:
- the computerised birth certificate from the union council or cantonment board, registered with NADRA;
- as supporting evidence, the child’s NADRA Child Registration Certificate (CRC, often called the B-Form), or a Family Registration Certificate, which lists parents and children together.
Pakistani naming often means a child’s surname differs from the father’s or mother’s. GOV.UK says that if the surname is different, you may need a birth certificate showing the relationship, or the parents’ marriage or divorce certificate. A nikahnama with its registration certificate covers this.
Any document not in English needs a full translation. GOV.UK says each translation must include the translator’s confirmation that it is accurate, the date, the translator’s full name and signature, and their contact details. Many union council certificates are partly in Urdu, so check before you upload.
School letters and timing
For a school-age child, GOV.UK lists a letter from the education provider on headed paper confirming enrolment and leave of absence. Even for travel in the summer holidays, a school letter confirming the child is enrolled and expected back shows the child’s life is in Pakistan.
If the child will stay more than 28 days with someone who is not a close relative, and is under 16 (or under 18 with a disability), private fostering rules can apply: the parent, guardian or school must tell the local council. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so check the GOV.UK under-18s page if this could be your situation.
Common mistakes we see from Pakistan applications
- Putting a child “on” a parent’s application instead of making a separate application.
- A consent letter with no phone number, address or passport number for the accompanying adult.
- Naming one uncle in the letter while a different relative actually travels.
- Uploading an Urdu birth certificate without a translation that meets the GOV.UK standard.
- Leaving a surname difference unexplained.
- An invitation letter from the UK host that forgets to mention the child at all; see our guide to sponsor invitation letters.
For more on children’s visits and hosts, ukvisa.blog has detailed guides to the child visitor visa, the family visitor visa and UK sponsors for visitors. Fees change often, so check the current UK visa price in Pakistan before you pay.
FAQ
Does a baby need a separate visa application?
Yes. Every child needs their own passport and their own application, even if they travel with a parent.
Can grandparents take a grandchild to the UK?
Yes, if the parents give written consent with their contact details and the grandparent is named in the child’s application. Include the documents that show how everyone is related.
Does my child need a TB test?
Not for a normal visit of less than 6 months. See our guide to the TB test for UK visas if the stay is longer.
What if the child’s visa is refused?
Read the refusal letter carefully; it explains the reasons. Our guide on what to do after a UK visa refusal covers your options.
Applying from Pakistan? Send us a few lines about your case and we will tell you which route fits and what to prepare.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules and fees change; check GOV.UK before you apply.