7 Year Child Private Life Route to ILR: The Requirements in 2026

To qualify under the 7-year child route, the child must be under 18 on the date of application, have lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years, and show it would not be reasonable to expect them to leave. They must also meet the suitability rules and make a valid application on the correct form with the correct fee or fee waiver.

These requirements come from Appendix Private Life of the Immigration Rules, mainly paragraph PL 3.1, as updated on 8 October 2026. This page explains each one in plain English. For the bigger picture, go back to our 7-year child route guide.

Table of Contents

What are the main eligibility requirements?

There are three eligibility requirements: age, residence and reasonableness. All three must be met at the date the application is submitted, not at the date of decision.

1. Age: the child is under 18 on the date of application.
2. Residence: the child has lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years.
3. Reasonableness: it would not be reasonable to expect the child to leave the UK.

If any one fails, the application fails under the Rules. The Home Office may then consider Article 8 outside the Rules, but that is a harder route.

How is the child's age decided?

The child's age is fixed on the date the application is made. If the child is 17 years and 11 months when you submit, they qualify on age, even if they turn 18 while waiting for a decision.

This makes timing critical:

• Apply before the 18th birthday to stay on the child route.
• After 18, the young adult "half of life" test applies instead. See the half-life rule for 18 to 24 year olds.
• Being under 18 at ILR stage also exempts the child from the English and Life in the UK requirements.

What counts as 7 years' continuous residence?

Continuous residence means the child has lived in the UK for an unbroken period of at least 7 years up to the date of application. Time with or without permission counts (PL 7.1), so an overstaying family can still qualify.

Residence is broken if the child:

• Was outside the UK for more than 6 months at one time
• Spent 550 days or more outside the UK in total during the period
• Was removed or deported, or left after an application to enter or stay was refused

We explain absences in depth on our continuous residence and absences page.

What does the reasonableness requirement involve?

The Home Office must decide whether it would be reasonable, in real-world terms, to expect this child to leave the UK. Its guidance says the starting point is that a child with 7 years' residence would not normally be expected to leave. The decision is still made case by case.

The child's best interests are a primary consideration under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. Evidence of school, friendships, health and language usually decides this test. Read the details on our reasonableness test page.

What are the suitability requirements?

Suitability means the child must not fall for refusal on grounds such as deception, criminality or certain unpaid debts. For children, suitability issues are rare but can arise through false documents or earlier applications.

Common suitability issues include:

• False representations or documents in this or a previous application
• Criminal convictions (relevant mainly for older teenagers)
• Unpaid NHS debts or litigation costs owed to the Home Office
• Exclusion or deportation orders

Where a parent made a false statement in an earlier application, take advice before applying. It can affect the whole family.

What makes the application valid?

A valid application uses the specified form, pays the fee and health surcharge (or has an approved fee waiver), and provides biometrics and proof of identity. The child must be in the UK when applying. An invalid application is rejected, not refused, so there is no appeal.

• Correct online form for the type of grant sought
• Fee and Immigration Health Surcharge paid, or fee waiver granted
• Passport or other proof of identity and nationality
• Biometrics enrolled when asked

See our application form page for which form applies.

Does the child get ILR straight away?

It depends on where the child was born. A UK-born child who has lived here continuously since birth for 7 years can apply directly for ILR (PL 13.1 to 13.3). A child born abroad gets 30 or 60 months' permission first (PL 10.1).

• Born in the UK, resident since birth 7+ years: ILR straight away; no further stage needed
• Born abroad, 7+ years' residence: 30 or 60 months' permission first, then ILR after 5 continuous years with permission (PL 14.1)

Compare both routes on our UK-born child and child born abroad pages.

What are the ILR requirements for a child born abroad?

After 5 continuous years with permission on the private life route, the child can apply for ILR if they still meet the route's requirements. At this stage, Appendix Continuous Residence applies: normally no more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12 months.

• Under 18 at the ILR date: no English or Life in the UK test needed
• 18 or over: Life in the UK test and English at B1, rising to B2 for applications made on or after 26 March 2027
• Suitability checks apply again
• ILR fee of £3,226, with no fee waiver available

Who can apply on the child's behalf?

A parent or legal guardian makes the application for a child under 18. The child can apply in their own right, even if the parents have no status. Parents usually apply at the same time on their own basis. See can parents stay.

Need help meeting the 7-year child route requirements?

Meeting the 7-year residence requirement is only part of the application. You must also satisfy the relevant immigration requirements and provide suitable evidence of your child's circumstances and family life in the UK.

Speak to Moeen & Co. Solicitors for expert immigration advice. Call us today on 0203 959 7755 to discuss your child's eligibility and get help preparing your application.

Frequently asked questions