A Junior ISA is a long-term, tax-free savings account for a child under 18 who lives in the UK, usually opened by a parent or guardian with parental responsibility. GOV.UK puts the limit, as of Nov 2026, at 9,000 pounds for the 2026 to 2027 tax year, and the money belongs to the child, who can't take it out until 18.
A Junior ISA is one of the simplest ways to put money aside for a child in the UK, and it's also one of the most rule-bound. I've gone through the official GOV.UK guide to Junior Individual Savings Accounts, read on 2 Nov 2026, and pulled out what parents, grandparents and teenagers need to know: the yearly limit, the two account types, who can open and run the account, and what changes when the child turns 16 and 18.
The GOV.UK guide is short, so I've kept to what it says and explained the plain meaning of each rule. Where you need more detail, such as which provider to use or how a particular investment works, you'll need to go to the provider itself, because GOV.UK doesn't compare them.
Who can have a Junior ISA, and the two account types
GOV.UK says the child must be both under 18 and resident in the UK. There's one exception for children who live abroad: they can only get a Junior ISA if you're a Crown servant, for example in the UK's armed forces, diplomatic service or overseas civil service, and the child depends on you for care.
A child can't have a Junior ISA as well as a Child Trust Fund. If your child already has a trust fund and you'd like a Junior ISA instead, GOV.UK says to ask the provider to transfer the trust fund into it. There are two types of Junior ISA, and a child can have one or both:
| Account type | What GOV.UK says is tax-free | How many a child can hold |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Junior ISA | You won't pay tax on interest on the cash saved | 1 |
| Stocks and shares Junior ISA | The cash is invested and you won't pay tax on capital growth or dividends | 1 |
Parents or guardians with parental responsibility open and manage the account, but the money belongs to the child from day one. That's the trade-off at the heart of a Junior ISA: the savings are sheltered from tax, but once money goes in, it's the child's and it stays locked until they're 18, apart from the narrow exceptions further down this page.
The 9,000 pound limit is shared across both accounts
Here's the rule that catches families out. The GOV.UK limit isn't per account: it's the total paid into all of a child's Junior ISAs in one tax year. GOV.UK gives that total, as of Nov 2026, as 9,000 pounds for the 2026 to 2027 tax year. Anyone can pay in, so parents, grandparents and family friends are all drawing on the same allowance.
GOV.UK's own example makes it clear. If a child has 2,000 pounds paid into their cash Junior ISA between 6 Apr 2026 and 5 Apr 2027, only 7,000 pounds could go into their stocks and shares Junior ISA in that same tax year. If several relatives like to give money for birthdays, it's worth one person keeping a simple note of what's gone in, so nobody tops up past the limit.
How to open a Junior ISA, step by step
Only parents or a guardian with parental responsibility can open a Junior ISA for a child under 16. Children aged 16 and 17 can open their own. GOV.UK sets out three steps:
- Choose the type of Junior ISA you want for your child: cash, stocks and shares, or both.
- Choose your account provider. GOV.UK says you can get a Junior ISA from banks, building societies, credit unions, friendly societies and stock brokers.
- Get an application form from that provider and complete it. GOV.UK says to contact providers directly for details of how to open an account with them.
Whoever opens the account becomes the 'registered contact'. GOV.UK says the registered contact is the only person who can change the account from cash to stocks and shares, move it to another provider, or report changes of circumstances such as a new address. You do all of this through the account provider.
Moving money between accounts
You can transfer money between your child's Junior ISAs, and between a Child Trust Fund account and a Junior ISA by contacting the Junior ISA provider. You can't transfer money between a Junior ISA and an adult ISA. If your child moves abroad, GOV.UK says you can still add cash to their Junior ISA.
What changes at 16 and 18, and the exceptions
| Child's age | What GOV.UK says happens |
|---|---|
| Under 16 | A parent or guardian with parental responsibility opens and manages the account as the registered contact |
| 16 and 17 | The child can open their own Junior ISA and can become the registered contact, but still can't withdraw money |
| 18 | The child can take out any money, and the Junior ISA automatically turns into an adult ISA |
If your child lacks the mental capacity to manage their account at 18, GOV.UK says you, or a close friend or relative, need to apply to the Court of Protection for a financial deputyship order. That lets you manage the adult ISA or take money out on their behalf. In Scotland the application goes to the Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland, and in Northern Ireland to the Office of Care and Protection.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
If a child is terminally ill or dies
The registered contact can take money out early if a child is terminally ill, which GOV.UK defines as having a disease or illness that's going to get worse, where the child isn't expected to live more than 6 months. You fill in the terminal illness early access form to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). In England and Wales you have 6 months from the date of diagnosis to take money out, in Northern Ireland 12 months, and in Scotland there's no time limit. If a child dies, the money goes to whoever inherits their estate, and you'll need to tell the provider, who may ask for proof such as a copy of the death certificate.
If you're looking at the wider family budget alongside saving for a child, my guides to money saving apps in the UK and money saving tips that work are a good next read.
My plain advice on Junior ISAs
Read the GOV.UK Junior Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) guide before you open anything, then decide between cash, stocks and shares or both, knowing that the money becomes your child's and they can take all of it out at 18. Keep track of every payment in, because the yearly limit covers both accounts together. GOV.UK doesn't recommend providers, so compare them yourself or speak to a financial adviser if you're unsure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Junior ISA limit?
GOV.UK, as of Nov 2026, gives the Junior ISA savings limit as 9,000 pounds for the 2026 to 2027 tax year. That's the total paid into all of a child's Junior ISAs, not each account.
Who can open a Junior ISA?
A parent or guardian with parental responsibility can open one for a child under 16. Children aged 16 and 17 can open their own. The child must be under 18 and resident in the UK, with an exception for some Crown servants' children.
Can grandparents pay into a Junior ISA?
Yes. GOV.UK says anyone can pay money into a Junior ISA, but the total paid in can't go over the yearly limit.
Can my child have a Junior ISA and a Child Trust Fund?
No. GOV.UK says a child can't have both. If you want a Junior ISA, ask the provider to transfer the trust fund into it.
What happens to a Junior ISA at 18?
It automatically turns into an adult ISA, and the child can take out any money in it.
Can I take money out of my child's Junior ISA?
Generally no. The money belongs to the child and can't be taken out until they're 18. GOV.UK's exceptions are terminal illness, when the registered contact can apply to HMRC for early access, and the death of the child.
