A Junior ISA (JISA) is a tax-free savings or investment account for children under 18. Parents or guardians open and manage the account, but the money belongs to the child and cannot be accessed until they turn 18. The annual Junior ISA allowance for 2026/27 is £9,000 per child — completely separate from the adult ISA allowance of £20,000, and frozen at this level until April 2031.
How does a Junior ISA work?
A parent or legal guardian opens the account. Once open, anyone — parents, grandparents, other relatives, friends — can contribute up to the annual £9,000 allowance. The money is locked until the child’s 18th birthday, when the Junior ISA automatically converts to an adult ISA and the young person gains full control.
Cash Junior ISA vs Stocks and Shares Junior ISA
Cash Junior ISA — works like a savings account. Interest is earned tax-free. Safe and predictable, but historically delivers lower returns over the long term than investing.
Stocks and Shares Junior ISA — invests in the market. Historically offers higher returns over long periods, but the value can go down as well as up. Given the 18-year timeframe of a Junior ISA, the long investment horizon makes a Stocks and Shares JISA one of the most compelling cases for accepting some investment risk.
You can hold one Cash Junior ISA and one Stocks and Shares Junior ISA simultaneously, as long as combined contributions stay within the £9,000 annual allowance.
Who can open a Junior ISA?
A parent or legal guardian with parental responsibility must open the account. The child must be under 18 and a UK resident. Children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011 may have a Child Trust Fund instead — these can be transferred to a Junior ISA.
What happens when the child turns 18?
The Junior ISA automatically converts to an adult ISA. The young person gains full control and can withdraw the money, keep saving within it using their adult ISA allowance, or invest it further — there are no restrictions or penalties at this point.
How much could a Junior ISA be worth?
Starting from birth and contributing the full £9,000 per year, a Junior ISA could grow substantially by age 18. Use our savings calculator to estimate what regular contributions could grow to at different interest or growth rates over an 18-year period.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Junior ISA allowance for 2026/27?
The Junior ISA allowance for 2026/27 is £9,000 per child. This is separate from the adult ISA allowance of £20,000, and is frozen at this level until April 2031.
Can grandparents contribute to a Junior ISA?
Yes — anyone can contribute to a child’s Junior ISA. Only the parent or legal guardian can open the account, but once open, contributions can come from anyone as long as the total doesn’t exceed £9,000 in the tax year.
Can a child access the money before 18?
No — with the exception of terminal illness or death. The money is locked until the child’s 18th birthday.
Does contributing to a Junior ISA affect my own ISA allowance?
No. Contributions to a child’s Junior ISA do not count toward your own £20,000 annual ISA allowance. They are completely separate.