A child under 18 who has lived in the UK for at least seven continuous years can be granted leave to remain where it would not be reasonable to expect them to leave the UK. The child's parent, or the parent with care, can usually be granted leave at the same time. Neither the child nor the parent needs to have had lawful status.

Who qualifies

The child is under 18 at the date of application and has lived in the UK for seven continuous years; time as a baby counts, short trips abroad do not break continuity.
It would not be reasonable to expect the child to leave the UK.
For the parent: you are the parent or carer of that child, you have an active role in their life, and they live with you or you have direct access.

The reasonableness test

The question is about the child, not the parents' immigration history. Factors that matter: how settled the child is in school and in their community, their age and stage of education, friendships, health, whether they have ever lived in or speak the language of the other country, and what would happen to their education and welfare there. The longer the residence and the older the child, the stronger the case; a child at secondary school who has lived here seven years is in a strong position. The parents' conduct is relevant to the public interest but cannot make it reasonable to remove a child when it otherwise would not be.

Evidence

School records and letters, GP registration, evidence of the child's activities and friendships, statements from teachers and others, the child's own words where age-appropriate, and evidence of conditions in the other country where relevant. We prepare this as a structured bundle.

This is not a complete list. What you need depends on your circumstances, and the documents vary from case to case. Your solicitor will tell you exactly what applies to you.

What is granted

Leave of two years and six months on the ten-year route to settlement, extended in the same periods. Once the child is settled or British, the parent may be able to move to the five-year parent route if the other requirements are met. A child who has lived here ten years may be eligible to register as British; see British citizenship.

Fees and timing

Fee £1,407 per person plus the health surcharge of £1,035 a year for adults and £776 a year for children; a fee waiver is available where you cannot afford it. In-country decisions on this basis currently take about 12 months. Figures correct on 13 October 2026.

What we do

We assess the child's case honestly, gather the evidence in the form the Home Office expects, and if refused we run the appeal, where the Tribunal considers the child's best interests afresh. Legal aid may be available in some cases; ask us.

Ask a question

If you are not sure which route applies, ask a solicitor and we will reply by phone or email. For an open discussion with other applicants, see ukspousevisa.co.uk, our separate site about partner visas.

Child route after seven years in the UK