The United Kingdom has changed the way visas are issued for children travelling to the UK. This change has applied worldwide since February 2006. It's designed to protect vulnerable children, and to ensure they have a safe visit to Britain.
Visas for children aged 17 years and under must now show the name of the adult travelling with the child. Parents will also need to show that they have given permission for the child to travel. From February 2006, the following rules have applied:
1. Parents must state on the visa application who will accompany and care for the child in Britain. Children can continue to travel unaccompanied. But parents will need to explain the child’s care arrangements in Britain.
2. The parent or adult accompanying the child must be named on the visa, and the child can travel only with that named person.
If applicants provide the information required, visas can be issued very quickly.
The new safeguards will create an official and accessible record to tackle the problems associated with the abuse of children. They should deter those who wish to exploit children.
Mark Sedwill, Director of UKvisas, commented: ‘we extend a very warm welcome to all GCC residents wishing to visit the UK. We believe that parents will appreciate these measures to safeguard their children’s safety when travelling to the UK. We will continue to issue family visas very quickly, although we will need a bit more information. We ask travellers not to leave their applications to the last minute. Please apply in good time.’
These new measures were introduced in February 2006 ahead of the seasonal increase in UK visa applications from GCC residents in the summer months. In the 12 months from April 2005 145,000 new UK visas were issued to Gulf residents, of which 31,000 were for children. Over 50% of these applications were made in the three months from May 05 –July 05. June is the most popular month for GCC residents visiting the UK, with 30,383 new visas issued in June 2005.
UKvisas recently launched an advertising campaign in newspapers in the Gulf region to tell GCC residents of the changes. The advertising features a famous image of Britain, one of The Queen’s Footguards, offering protection to a visiting child.
Child visas: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the changes to the visit rules?
A: Children must continue to meet the requirements of the visit rules, and additionally they must show that they have a parent or guardian who is responsible for their care, that they have suitable travel, reception and care arrangements concerning their travel to the UK, and they must travel in the company of the adult identified on their visa.
Q: Who do these changes affect?
A: All visa nationals under the age of 17.
Q: Why are these rules changes coming into effect?
A: To provide a better record of children who travel to the UK as visitors and any adults involved in their travel, and to establish clearly who is responsible for their care prior to the child crossing an international border.
Q: Are these rules changes really necessary?
A: Yes. It is important that we have an accurate record of those persons who are involved in the travel, reception, and care of children travelling to the UK.
Q: Won’t this mean more difficulty for children applying for visas?
A: No. The new rules will provide a better record of where the child is going, in whose company and where to in the UK.
Q: How can a child 'show that they have a parent or guardian who is responsible for their care, and that they have suitable travel, reception and care arrangements for their travel to the UK'?
A: The application form must provide information about the child’s travel plans, and the names and contact details of all the adults who are involved in the application. Additionally there should be evidence of parental consent, either on the visa application form (VAF) as a statement and signature, or as a letter attached to the VAF.
Q: What if the child is travelling with both parents? Who should be on the visa?
A: Two parents can be identified on the visa by their passport numbers. Children’s accompanied visas are only valid if at least one of the parents or adult named on their visa accompanies them. Therefore it is important at application stage to identify the parent and / or adult whose passport numbers will appear on the visa.
If, for example, a child travels with both parents to Paris, and then onwards with one parent to London, the name on the visa must be the parent who is travelling to London. Similarly if a child travels to Paris with both parents, but on to London alone, the child should apply for an unaccompanied visa before beginning the journey, explaining why they are doing so.
Q: Can the child travel with either named person?
A: Yes the child can travel with either of the named individuals on the visa, or with both.
Q: What is the validity of these types of visa?
A: Visas will be endorsed to show whether the child is travelling alone, or in the company of an adult(s). The visa will only be valid for the holder travelling under those circumstances and between 'valid from' and 'valid to' dates on the visa.
Q: Can children apply for long-term visit visas, such as 2, 5 and 10 year visas?
A: Yes they can. But if the child has an accompanied visa the visa will be valid only if the child is travelling with the adult(s) recorded on the visa at the time it was issued. If the child has an accompanied visa and will be accompanied by an adult not named on the visa, or will be travelling alone, they must obtain a new visa before travel. The rules regarding single entry visit visas, and long-term visit visas remain the same and apply to children as well as other types of visitor.
About UKvisas: facts and figures
UKvisas manages over 150 visa sections around the world in UK embassies, high commissions and consulates. The visa operation is largely self-funding through the collection of visa fees. Over 2,200 staff are directly involved in the overseas visa operation of whom around 222 work in London. Visa sections around the world employ 886 UK-based staff drawn from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and from the Home Office and more than one thousand are locally engaged.
The financial year 2004-05 saw a rise in worldwide entry clearance applications of nearly 14% to around 2.5 million, although in some posts the increase was significantly higher.
