Private Life, Long Residence and Human Rights Applications

The private life routes

Appendix Private Life sets out when a person can be granted leave on the basis of the life they have built in the UK, regardless of how they arrived:

• 20 years' continuous residence (lawful or unlawful) as an adult.
• Children under 18 who have lived in the UK continuously for 7 years, where it would not be reasonable to expect them to leave.
• Young adults aged 18 to 24 who have spent at least half their life in the UK.
• Adults under 20 years who would face very significant obstacles to integration in their country of return.
• Children born in the UK who have lived here for 7 years can be granted settlement immediately in some cases.

Where none of these apply, an application can still succeed under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights if refusal would be disproportionate, taking into account the strength of your family and private life, the best interests of any children and the public interest in immigration control. The 10-year parent route is available to parents with sole or shared responsibility for a British or settled child, or a child who has lived here for 7 years, where the parent does not qualify as a partner.

What makes these applications succeed

The Home Office starts from the position that people without status should leave. To overcome that, the evidence must show the length and depth of your residence, your integration, the obstacles to living elsewhere, and the impact on any children. That means documents covering every year (medical records, school letters, tenancy agreements, bank records, employment, community letters), expert or professional evidence where relevant (for example a social work or country expert report), and detailed witness statements.

A strong legal argument is equally important. We set out how the rules apply, address the suitability grounds (including any criminal history or previous deception) and, where the rules are not met, why refusal would breach Article 8 by reference to the leading cases. If the application is refused, the same material forms the basis of the appeal.

Fee waivers

If you cannot afford the application fee and health surcharge, you can apply for a fee waiver first. The test is whether you can afford the fee after meeting essential living needs. We prepare fee waiver applications with the financial evidence the Home Office requires.

How we work

1. Free assessment

   We identify which rule or argument fits your circumstances and whether an application, a fee waiver, or waiting for a milestone (such as a child's seventh birthday) is the right step.

2. Evidence gathering

   A year-by-year evidence plan, witness statements and expert reports where they will make a difference.

3. Application and representations

   Detailed legal representations with the application, submitted online with the evidence bundle.

4. Decision or appeal

   If refused, we advise on the appeal within the 14-day deadline and represent you in the Tribunal.

Fees and costs

Figures from the Home Office fee table effective 8 October 2026, checked September 2026. Processing of these applications commonly takes 6 to 12 months. We do not offer legal aid; if you need legal aid we can direct you to providers.

Having a British child does not guarantee a Parent visa

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Having a British child does not guarantee a Parent visa

Many people think this route is automatic. It is not. What you actually need to show.

More on this topic:

• Private life and Article 8 applications
• Fee waivers for UK visa applications

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