Parents and guardians might use a Junior ISA (JISA) to save or invest money for a child's future. A common question is “How many Junior ISAs can a child have?”, particularly when deciding between cash savings and investments. Understanding the different Junior ISA types and the rules that apply can help people decide which approach may be most suitable for their child's circumstances.
In this guide, we explain how many Junior ISAs a child can have, the different types of Junior ISA available, how the Junior ISA allowance works, who can open and contribute to an account, and what happens when a child turns 18.
This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Whether a Junior ISA is suitable depends on your child’s individual circumstances. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and tax rules may be subject to change in the future.
What is a Junior ISA?
A Junior ISA, or Junior Individual Savings Account, is a long-term savings or investment account designed for children under 18. Junior ISAs can provide tax-efficient benefits because any interest, income, or growth earned within the account is currently protected from UK income tax and capital gains tax under current rules. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.
There are two main types of Junior ISA available: Cash Junior ISAs and Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs. The Junior ISA allowance is set by the UK Government and is currently £9,000 for the 2026/27 tax year, although this may change in future.
While a parent or guardian typically opens and manages the account, children aged 16 and 17 can also open their own account. In any Junior ISA, the money belongs to the child. The child can take control of the account at age 16 and but won't be able to access the money until they turn 18.
Different Junior ISA types
There are two main types of Junior ISA available: a Junior Cash ISA and a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA. Both are designed to help people save or invest money for a child's future, although they each work slightly differently.
Junior Cash ISA
A Junior Cash ISA (sometimes called a Cash Junior ISA) holds money in cash and pays interest, similar to a savings account. The value of the money won't fall due to stock market movements, making it a different approach to investing. However, the interest earned may not always keep pace with inflation, which can reduce the spending power of savings over time.
Scottish Friendly does not offer Junior Cash ISAs.
Junior Stocks and Shares ISA
A Junior Stocks and Shares ISA allows money to be invested in a range of investment options, like shares and bonds. A Stocks and Shares JISA offers the potential for growth over the long term, but investment returns are not guaranteed and the value of investments can fall as well as rise, meaning a child could get back less than has been paid in.
Stocks and Shares Junior ISAs are generally considered more suitable for longer-term investing.
Scottish Friendly is an award-winning Stocks and Shares Junior ISA provider. Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts Awards 'Best Junior ISA provider' 2019-2025.
How many Junior ISAs can a child have?
A child can have a maximum of two Junior ISAs: one Junior Cash ISA and one Junior Stocks and Shares ISA. This means it's possible to hold both types of account at the same time if it suits your child's circumstances.
A child can't hold two of the same type of Junior ISA. For example, they can't have two Junior Cash ISAs or two Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs at the same time. If you wanted to move to a different provider, you would need to transfer the existing account rather than opening a second one.
While a child can hold one of each type of ISA at the same time, the Junior ISA allowance - currently £9,000 for the 2026/27 tax year - applies to all Junior ISAs your child holds combined, not per account. This means any contributions made to a Junior Cash ISA and a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA will count towards the same £9,000 annual limit. This figure is currently set by the UK Government and may change in the future.
How does the Junior ISA allowance work?
The Junior ISA allowance is set by the UK Government and this allowance is currently £9,000 per tax year. This means up to £9,000 can be paid into a child's Junior ISAs during a single tax year, although this figure may change in the future.
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. The annual allowance resets at the start of each new tax year, giving the child a fresh allowance to use. Any unused allowance cannot be carried forward into the next tax year.
If a child has both a Junior Cash ISA and a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA, the Junior ISA allowance can be split between account types. For example, you could pay £4,000 into one account and £5,000 into the other during the same year.
Any interest, income, or growth earned within a Junior ISA is currently protected from UK income tax and capital gains tax under current rules. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.
Who can open a Junior ISA?
Not everyone can open a Junior ISA on behalf of a child. The rules differ depending on the child's age and whether the person opening the account has parental responsibility.
A parent or legal guardian
A parent or guardian with parental responsibility can open and manage Junior ISA account at least until the child turns 16.
The person who opens the account becomes the registered contact, meaning they are responsible for managing the Junior ISA on the child's behalf. Although the account is managed by the child's parent or guardian, the money held within the Junior ISA belongs to the child, and they can take over management of the account from their 16th birthday if they choose.
A child aged 16 or 17
A child aged 16 or 17 can usually open their own Junior ISA and manage the account themselves. However, they won't be able to withdraw or access any money until they turn 18. This means they can make decisions about the account, but the funds remain invested or saved for their future until they reach adulthood.
Who can deposit money in a Junior ISA?
Once the account has been set up, anyone can contribute to a child's Junior ISAs as long as total contributions don't exceed the annual allowance. This includes parents, grandparents, other family members, and friends.
People can contribute through regular payments or by putting money into the account as a lump sum, depending on the provider's rules and their preferences. Once paid in, the money belongs to the child and can't be withdrawn until they turn 18.
The Junior ISA allowance - currently £9,000 for the 2026/27 tax year - applies per child across all JISAs they hold combined, so it's important that everyone contributing to a child's JISAs keeps track of the total amount being paid in.
If contributions to a Junior ISA do exceed the allowance, the excess will normally need to be corrected in line with HMRC guidance, and some of the tax advantages associated with the excess contribution could be lost until the issue is resolved.
How do I open a Junior ISA for my child?
Opening a Junior ISA is usually a straightforward process. Lots of providers allow people to apply for a Junior ISA online, although the exact steps and eligibility requirements can vary. Before opening an account, it's important to consider the type of Junior ISA and provider that best matches your child's circumstances.
Choose your Junior ISA type
The first step is deciding which type of Junior ISA might be best for your child. The two main options are Cash accounts and investment accounts.
Junior Cash accounts hold savings in cash and pay interest, while a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA invests money in the stock market. The most suitable option will depend on your child's circumstances, your attitude to risk, and how long the money is likely to remain invested.
Find a JISA provider
Once you've chosen an account type, you can compare providers. Junior ISAs are available from a range of providers, including banks, building societies, investment companies, mutuals, and friendly societies.
Features, charges, and investment options available within an ISA can vary, so it's worth researching the available choices before applying.
Gather the required documents
Before starting your application for a Junior ISA, make sure you have the information you'll need.
Providers will typically ask for details about the child and the applicant (if different). This may include the child's National Insurance number (if one has been issued), the child's full name and date of birth, and identification for the person opening the account, like proof of name and address.
During setup, some providers may also ask for documents like the child's birth certificate or proof of parental responsibility. If you're making an initial contribution, you'll usually need your own debit card details. Requirements vary between providers.
If the child is aged 16 or 17 and would like to open a Junior ISA for themselves, they'll also need the required documents, which may include proof of address, valid ID, bank account or debt card details, and their national insurance number.
Open the account
Once you've provided the required documents, you can then complete the application process and open the account. Providers may ask you to apply via a paper form or offer the opportunity to complete the application process online.
Save or invest for your child's future
Once the account is open, you can begin to save or invest for your child's future. Contributions can be made as regular payments or lump sums, up to the Junior ISA allowance, which is currently £9,000 for the 2026/27 tax year.
Can I transfer Junior ISAs?
Yes, you can transfer a Junior ISA to a new provider if you find an account that better suits your child's circumstances. Transfers can take place between providers offering the same type of Junior ISA, like moving a Cash JISA to another Cash JISA provider, or between eligible Junior ISA products, for example moving from Junior Cash ISA to a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA.
It's important to use the official Junior ISA transfer process rather than withdrawing money yourself. The full balance must be transferred, and the transfer will not affect any contributions made during the current tax year.
Using the official process helps preserve the account's tax-efficient status under current rules. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.
Transfer a Junior ISA to Scottish Friendly
Can I have a Junior ISA and a Child Trust Fund at the same time?
No, a child cannot hold both a Junior ISA and a Child Trust Fund at the same time. If a child already has a Child Trust Fund (CTF), the money must usually be transferred into a Junior ISA before a Junior ISA can be opened.
Child Trust Funds were available to many children born between September 2002 and January 2011. While new Child Trust Funds can no longer be opened, existing accounts can be transferred to a Junior ISA if the registered contact wishes to do so. Once the transfer is complete, the Child Trust Fund will close and the savings will continue within the rules applicable to Junior ISAs.
There are services available for people to find out whether they have a Child Trust Fund.
What happens to a Junior ISA at 18?
On the child's 18th birthday, the Junior ISA reaches maturity, meaning it automatically becomes an adult ISA. Whilst the funds always belong to the child, they will now gain full control of the account.
They have the right to decide whether to keep the funds invested in the adult ISA with their existing provider, transfer to an alternative provider, or withdraw some or all of the funds.
If they opt to keep the funds in an adult ISA, the funds retain their tax-efficient status under current rules. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.
Do Junior ISA allowances affect my adult ISA allowance?
No. Junior ISA allowances and adult ISA allowances are completely separate. Parents can save up to £9,000 per year in Junior ISAs for their children without having to pay tax on any interest, income, or growth earned within the account under current rules. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.
The Junior ISA annual allowance is currently £9,000 for the 2026/27 tax year, while the adult ISA allowance is currently £20,000 for the 2026/27 tax year. The reason the allowances are separate is that the money held in a Junior ISA belongs to the child, even if a parent or guardian opens and manages the account on their behalf.
This means contributing to a child's Junior ISA will not reduce the amount you can save or invest into your own ISA allowance during the same tax year.
Are there benefits to my child having more than one Junior ISA?
Funds can be split between Cash and Stocks and Shares accounts, so some people choose to use both account types as part of their savings strategy. For example, they may keep some money in cash while investing the rest for longer-term growth potential. The most suitable approach will depend on the child's circumstances.
Holding both types of Junior ISA can also provide flexibility when building a child's nest egg. Contributions can be made through a regular savings plan, lump sums, or a combination of both, up to the Junior ISA allowance, which is currently £9,000 for the 2026/27 tax year and may change in future.
Whether held in one account or two, Junior ISAs can help build tax-free savings for a child and may provide a valuable financial head start when they reach adulthood.
Some key takeaways
A child can hold one Junior Cash ISA and one Stocks and Shares ISA, so up to two Junior ISAs in total.
The £9,000 Junior ISA allowance (2026/27) is shared across all Junior ISAs the child holds, not per account.
A child cannot hold two Junior ISAs of the same type at the same time.
Anyone can contribute to a Junior ISA but, once invested, the money belongs to the child and is usually locked away until age 18.
If you want to change provider, you’ll need to transfer the existing Junior ISA, rather than open a second, new account of the same type.
Important information
The value of stock market investments can go down as well as up, so you or your child could get back less than you’ve paid in.
The funds paid into a Junior ISA belong to the child and can only be accessed by them when they turn 18.
Tax-Free means the investment grows free from tax, with the exception of any tax your provider has already paid on your behalf (for example on dividends from UK shares). Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.
This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute personal financial advice.
Scottish Friendly does not provide financial advice. If you’re unsure whether an ISA or Junior ISA is suitable for your situation, you may want to speak to an independent financial adviser.