Junior ISA
Be invested in giving a child a head start. Even small amounts can make a difference over time.
Important information - please keep in mind that the value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Eligibility to invest in a Junior ISA and tax treatment depends on personal circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future. Withdrawals from a Junior ISA will not be possible until the child reaches age 18.
Invest for your child’s future with a Junior ISA
A Junior Stocks and Shares ISA is a tax-efficient way to save for a child. The Junior ISA allowance for the current tax year is £9,000 and the deadline to use it is 5 April. When the child turns 18, the money is theirs. They can either invest in what matters to them, or use it. We don’t charge service fees on Junior ISAs, so more money stays in their account to potentially grow over time, though not guaranteed. Ongoing fund charges and other fees may apply depending on your choice of investments.
Begin saving today
Start from as little as £25. Friends and family can gift money too.
No service fee
We don't charge a service fee on investments held in junior accounts.
Here to help
Our UK and Ireland-based call centres are open six days a week.
A wealth of choice
Choose from thousands of funds and shares to invest in.
Expert guidance
Online tools and insights from our teams of experts to help you decide where to put your money.
Always at your fingertips
Manage investments 24/7 with our secure online service and apps.
You must be the child's parent or guardian to open the Junior ISA. Once it's open, anyone over the age of 18 can pay in to the Junior ISA. All you need to do is start a regular savings plan from £25, or invest a lump sum from as little as £100.
Are Junior ISAs a good idea?
Junior ISAs are a tax-efficient way of saving, and of course putting money away for your child's future has many benefits, but only you can decide if it's the right choice for your child. Below are a list of considerations.
Reasons a Junior ISA may be worth considering
Things to think about when considering a Junior ISA
- You already have a child trust fund set up for your child and don’t want to close it
- You or the child might want access to the money before they turn 18
- You want to save more than £9,000 per tax year which is the annual Junior ISA allowance
- Save up to £9,000 a year, free of income tax and capital gains tax
- Start from as little as £25
- Set up a regular savings plan or pay in lump sums - family and friends can pay in too
- Over 3,000 funds
- Over 2,000 UK and international shares, growing all the time
- Investment trusts and exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
- Our online tools can help you find your next investment
- Manage your child’s Junior ISA 24/7 online or on our app
- Expert guidance emails and articles to help you invest
Let's get started
You must be the child's parent or guardian to open the Junior ISA but, once it's open, anyone over the age of 18 can pay in.
Open a Junior ISA
Start a regular savings plan from £25, or invest a lump sum from as little as £100.
We’re proud to have been recognised with the coveted Boring Money Best Buy JISA award for the last three years running - compiled using customer reviews and Boring Money’s own rigorous testing, charges and customer service evaluations - recognising all-round excellence.
Junior ISA FAQs
A Junior Stock and Shares ISA is a type of savings account that allows you to invest in a wide range of investments. It is a tax efficient way to save on behalf of a child. A Junior ISA is only available to children under the age of 18 who are resident in the UK. Parents or guardians can open the Junior ISA and manage the account but the money belongs to the child and the investment is locked away until the child reaches 18 years old.
Child Trust Funds (CTFs) were available to children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. Junior ISAs replaced CTFs from 1 November 2011. Both products offer long-term tax-efficient savings for children. However, CTFs were opened with a voucher from the government, usually for £250, whereas Junior ISAs are not opened with any government contributions. Both products have an annual contribution limit of £9,000. The CTF contribution year renews on the child’s birthday, whereas the Junior ISA contribution year renews at the beginning of the new tax year.
A child can only hold one Cash and one Stocks and Shares Junior ISA.
The total contribution between both accounts must not exceed the annual allowance of £9,000.
Please note that a child cannot hold both a Junior ISA and Child Trust Fund (CTF).
To open a Fidelity Junior ISA on behalf of a child, you can apply through our straightforward online application.
Anyone (including grandparents, other family members or friends) over the age of 18 can contribute to a Junior ISA. We cannot accept any contribution from the child, even if they are 16. The registered account holder will be able to apply online.
Once the contribution has been made, the money will sit as cash until the registered contact invests it. The contribution cannot be withdrawn from the Junior ISA once made.
Withdrawal from a Junior ISA can only occur after the child reaches 18 years of age. If your child becomes terminally ill, you can request to access money in the Junior ISA by completing the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) terminal illness early access form.
If your child passes away, the Junior ISA will be paid to whoever inherits their estate (usually a parent or legal guardian).
No, a child cannot have both a CTF and a Junior ISA. If they have a CTF, this will need to be transferred into the Junior ISA upon opening one.
