16th June 2025 | Christine Wang | Immigration, Employment, International

The Child Private Life route under UK immigration law allows children, particularly those who have lived in the UK for a significant period, to apply for permission to remain, based on their private life and best interests. This route is not just about the child, it can ultimately open a path for their immediate family members to settle in the UK.

What is the Child Private Life Route?

The Child Private Life route serves two primary purposes. First, it allows children born in the UK to apply for immediate settlement. Second, it provides a pathway for children who were not born in the UK but have spent a significant amount of time living in the country to apply for leave to remain, which may lead to settlement after a qualifying period of residence.

This article will focus on the latter pathway, initially obtaining leave to remain, with the objective of securing settlement in the UK under this route.  

Who Qualifies for the Child Private Life Route?

The Child Private Life route is designed for children who have spent most of their lives in the UK and formed strong connections through education, friendships, and community life. This route recognises the impact removal would have on a child who has grown up here.

There are two main eligibility categories:

  1. Children under 18 can apply for leave to remain if:
  • They have lived continuously in the UK for at least 7 years, and
  • It would not be reasonable to expect the child to leave the UK.
  1. Young adults Aged 18 to 24 may apply if:
  • They have spent at least half of their life living continuously in the UK.

Please note that ‘continuous residence’ refers to an unbroken period of time spent in the UK. This includes periods during which the individual was present in the UK with or without permission. Time spent in prison or immigration detention does not count towards the qualifying period of continuous residence. However, it does not break the continuity either. Time accrued before and after such periods may still be included.  

How the Route Can Support the Whole Family

Though the route focuses on the child, it can offer powerful protections for the family unit.

If a child is granted leave under the Private Life route, the Home Office may allow parents to remain to care for that child, particularly when removal may breach the child’s rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to private and family life).

A child on the Private Life route can qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) either after 5 years of continuous leave or after 10 years depending on their individual circumstances.

Once the child obtains ILR, this strengthens any future application by parents or siblings to stay on human rights grounds.

In many cases, it’s argued that separating a settled child from their family, or removing family members while the child remains, would be unjustifiably harmful and not to the best interest of the child. Therefore, this opens a path for the whole family to be granted leave to remain on a discretionary basis.

Why This Route Matters

For migrant families, especially those with complex or limited immigration status, the Child Private Life route offers a way to regularise status, and a long-term path to British citizenship for children.

It can be especially powerful when combined with other routes (like Parent of a Child Student visa), forming part of a wider family strategy.

If your child has lived in the UK for seven years or more, and your family’s immigration status is uncertain, this route is worth exploring. It can be the foundation for stability, opportunity, and future settlement for your family.