2.1 What is the Private Life route and who can obtain a visa under this route?
The Private Life route allows people who are living in the UK without immigration permission to regularise their immigration status. It includes, among others, children who have lived in the UK for 7 years, young adults aged between 18 and 24 who have spent at least half of their life here, and adults who have lived continuously in the UK for more than 20 years.
2.2 My child has lived in the UK for 7 years. Can they obtain a visa?
They may be eligible if they are under 18, have lived continuously in the UK for at least 7 years, and it would not be reasonable to expect them to leave the UK. The 7 years alone do not guarantee that the application will be successful.
2.3 Do the 7 years have to be from birth, or can the child have been born outside the UK? What happens if they were born in the UK?
No. A child can have been born outside the UK and regularise their immigration status after living here for 7 years.
If the child was born in the UK and has lived here continuously for at least 7 years, they can apply directly for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
2.4 Will my child automatically get a visa or Indefinite Leave to Remain just because they have lived in the UK for 7 years?
Not automatically. In addition to the 7 years, it must be considered whether it would be reasonable to expect the child to leave the UK, taking into account their age, education, ties to the UK, family, health, wellbeing, etc.
2.5 If my child obtains a visa after living in the UK for 7 years, what happens to the parents?
The parents do not automatically receive a visa because their child obtains one. However, the child’s circumstances can provide an important basis for the parents to make their own applications to regularise their immigration status.
2.6 I am between 18 and 24 and have lived in the UK for more than half of my life. Can I regularise my immigration status?
Potentially, yes. Appendix Private Life provides a route for people aged between 18 and 24 who have spent at least half of their life living continuously in the UK.
2.7 I have lived in the UK for 20 years. Can I obtain a visa even if I have been undocumented?
Potentially, yes. An adult who has lived continuously in the UK for more than 20 years may be able to regularise their immigration status under the Private Life route. It does not matter that the person has not had, or does not currently have, lawful immigration status in the UK.
2.8 How can I prove 20 years of residence if I do not have documents for every year?
Ideally, residence can be demonstrated through medical records, NHS documents, school records, bank statements, HMRC records, employment records, tenancy agreements, council tax records, official correspondence and other dated documents.
However, in some cases the Home Office may accept that a person has lived in the UK during that period even if they do not have these types of documents. The important thing is to provide all the available evidence and clearly explain any periods for which there is little documentation.
2.9 If I regularise my immigration status through Private Life, what type of visa will I receive?
Normally, permission to remain is granted for 2 years and 6 months. This permission must be extended until the required 10-year period for settlement/ Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) has been completed.
Certain children and young adults have a faster 5-year route to settlement.
2.10 How much does a Private Life application cost?
Home Office fees change periodically. Currently, the cost is approximately £3,994 per person.
2.11 What can I do if I cannot afford the Home Office fees?
It may be possible to apply for a Fee Waiver first if you genuinely cannot afford the fees.
You will need to demonstrate to the Home Office that you do not have sufficient funds to pay the fees and explain your income and expenditure. The Home Office may also consider whether you have spent money unnecessarily or whether there are funds that you could reasonably use to pay for the application.