ILR for a child born & lived in the UK for 7 years continuously

Children under the age of 18 years who were born in the UK and have lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Children can apply for immediate settlement on the basis of private life if they meet the eligibility requirements as set out in the Immigration Rules Appendix Private Life. This avoids the need for children to apply for limited leave to remain and extensions repeatedly.

To get legal advice and assistance with an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application, get in touch with our highly experienced UK immigration solicitor today.

Page Contents

1. Settlement (ILR) requirements for a child under 7 years route
2. Documents required for ILR application under 7 years child residence route
3. How to apply for settlement (ILR)?
4. ILR application processing time
5. Super priority service for ILR
6. Solicitors for ILR applications
7. Need legal advice & assistance?

Settlement (ILR) requirements for a child under 7 years route

To qualify for ILR, the applicant typically needs to meet the following criteria:

• The child must be under the age of 18 on the date of application.
• The child was born in the UK.
• The child must have lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years.
• The child must not have any serious criminal convictions or have breached any immigration laws.

Applicants must meet all other requirements depending on their personal circumstances. It is advisable to consult with an immigration solicitor for the eligibility assessment.

Continuous residence requirement

The continuous residence means that the child must have physically lived in the UK without any long breaks or absences for a period of at least seven years. It means the applicant must not have been outside the country for 180 days or more in any consecutive 12 months.

Exemption because of age

Children aged under 18 years on the date of their application are exempt from the KoLL (Knowledge of language and life in the UK) requirement.

Children born outside the UK

The children who were born outside the UK but who have lived in the UK continuously for 7 years will be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years rather than 10 years as is the case at present.

Documents required for ILR application under 7 years child residence route

The applicant must provide the following documents:

• Current valid passport or travel document to prove their identity.
• Provide full birth certificate.
• Evidence of continuous residence such as school records, GP records etc.
• Evidence of any parent's or legal guardian's immigration status in the UK, if applicable.

Above is a general list of documents. You might need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances. Get in touch with our highly experienced immigration solicitors in London to get a comprehensive list of supporting documents for your ILR application.

How to apply for settlement (ILR)?

To apply for settlement for a child after 7 years of continuous residence in the UK, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Verify if the child meets the eligibility criteria.
2. Gather all the necessary documents to support the application.
3. Fill out the appropriate application form online.
4. Pay the required ILR application fee.
5. Submit the completed application form, along with all the supporting documents, to the Home Office.
6. Book a biometrics appointment if required. The child may need to attend a biometrics appointment to provide fingerprints and photographs.
7. After submitting the application, wait for a decision from the Home Office.

ILR application processing time

ILR applications usually take between 3 to 6 months if applied using the standard service. However, it may take longer if your case is complex.

Super priority service for ILR

You may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) using the "Super Priority Service" to get a faster decision by the end of the next working day (within 24 hours). You'll need to pay the "Super Priority Service" fee in addition to the ILR application fee.

Immigration solicitors for ILR applications