7 Year Child Route Processing Time in the UK

GOV.UK says a private life application for permission to stay usually takes about 12 months to decide. An application for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) on the private life route is usually decided within 6 months of submitting through the UK Immigration: ID Check app, or of giving fingerprints and a photo at a UKVCAS service point. Complex cases, missing evidence or extra checks can make it longer.

Waiting is often the hardest part for families. This page explains what affects the timeline and what you can do while you wait. For the full route, see our 7 year child route guide.

Table of Contents

How long does each type of application take?

Permission to stay takes about 12 months; ILR usually takes up to 6 months from submission (ID Check app) or biometrics (UKVCAS). These are published guide times, not guarantees.

• Permission to stay (30 or 60 months): about 12 months, from submission and biometrics
• ILR on the private life route: usually within 6 months, from ID Check app submission or UKVCAS biometrics
• Fee waiver request: varies, often several weeks, from submission of the waiver request
• Child citizenship registration (MN1): often several months, from submission

If you need a fee waiver first, add the waiver decision time to the overall timeline.

What are the main stages after applying?

Every application moves through the same stages: submission, biometrics, document upload, assessment and decision.

1. Complete the online form and pay the fee, or use an approved fee waiver.
2. Book and attend a biometrics appointment, usually at a UKVCAS centre.
3. Upload supporting documents.
4. The Home Office checks validity, suitability and eligibility.
5. The decision is sent, and status is issued as an eVisa if granted.

You can see which form to use on our application form page.

What can slow down a 7 year child application?

Delays usually come from missing evidence, suitability checks or complex family histories.

• Gaps in the 7 years' residence evidence
• Unclear travel history or absences
• Earlier refusals, overstaying or previous Home Office files
• Criminal record or security checks
• Linked applications for parents that need deciding together
• Home Office requests for more information

GOV.UK says the Home Office will contact you if your application is complex and will take longer, for example, if supporting documents need verifying, you need to attend an interview, or because of personal circumstances such as a criminal conviction.

A well-prepared bundle with a clear timeline is the best way to avoid delay. See our documents checklist.

Can I pay to speed up the decision?

Priority (£500) and super priority (£1,000) services exist for some in-country routes, but availability for private life applications varies. GOV.UK states when a faster decision can be bought for the route you are applying under.

• Priority aims for a decision within 5 working days of biometrics, where offered.
• Super priority aims for the end of the next working day, where offered.
• Complex cases can be taken out of the faster service.

See costs on our application fees page.

Can my child travel or study while waiting?

If the application was made while the child held valid permission, section 3C leave keeps them lawfully in the UK on the same conditions until the decision. Travelling abroad usually withdraws the application.

• Do not leave the UK while the application is pending.
• The child can usually continue at school.
• Children without previous permission can still attend school while waiting.

From 8 October 2026, HC 584 also stops a variation of an application from resetting the deadline to enrol biometrics. See 7 year child rule changes 2026.

What if the child turns 18 while waiting?

Age is fixed at the date of application, so the child stays on the child route. If the child was under 18 when the application was made, turning 18 during processing does not change the test applied.

The same applies to ILR exemptions: a child who applied for ILR before 18 does not need the English or Life in the UK test. See the requirements page.

What can I do if the decision is taking too long?

If the decision is well beyond the published time, you can chase the Home Office and, in serious cases, consider legal action.

• Contact UK Visas and Immigration through the official enquiry channels
• Ask your MP to make an enquiry
• Send a pre-action letter where delay is causing real harm, for example to a child's welfare or education

Judicial review for delay is a last resort, but it is available where a delay is unreasonable.

What happens after a decision?

If granted, the child's status appears as an eVisa in their UKVI account. If refused, the letter explains the reasons and any right of appeal. A refusal of a human rights claim made in the UK usually carries an appeal right with a 14-day deadline. See refusal and appeal.

How Moeen & Co. Solicitors helps reduce delay

We submit complete, well-indexed applications so caseworkers can decide without asking for more. We track progress, respond to Home Office requests quickly and chase delays. Call 0203 959 7755.

Frequently asked questions