Private life applications
If you have lived in the UK for a certain period, you might be eligible to apply for leave to remain based on private life under the Immigration Rules, depending on your age and other factors.
The four main categories of applicants who can apply under the private life Immigration Rules are:
- Applicants who have lived continuously in the UK for at least 20 years. This period does not require holding any form of immigration status but excludes any time spent in prison.
- Applicants under the age of 18 who have lived continuously in the UK for at least 7 years (excluding any period of imprisonment), provided it would not be reasonable to expect them to leave the UK.
- Applicants aged between 18 and 25 who have spent at least half of their life living continuously in the UK (excluding any period of imprisonment).
- Applicants aged 18 or older who have lived continuously in the UK for less than 20 years (excluding any period of imprisonment) and would face very significant obstacles to their integration upon returning to their home country.
We can provide guidance on the requirements for a Private Life application and advise you with the preparation of your application.
Complex Private and Family Life Applications
If you have established significant ties to the UK through your work, community involvement, activities, personal relationships, or if there are exceptional, compelling, or compassionate reasons for needing to remain in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for leave to remain based on these factors. Such an application is typically made outside of the Immigration Rules and would rely on the discretion of the Home Office and/or your rights under European law.
Convention of Human Rights
These types of applications typically result in grants of leave for 2.5 years and usually do not entitle you to access public funds (benefits).
Individuals granted leave under this pathway will have the opportunity to apply for settlement, also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), upon completing 10 years of residency in the UK under this category. Consequently, extension applications must be submitted every two and a half years until accumulating ten years of continuous residence in the UK.
We are equipped to offer guidance on the prerequisites for submitting a discretionary or outside-of-the-Immigration-Rules application and aid you in preparing the necessary documentation for your application.
If you require assistance with your human rights visa application, speak to our helpful immigration lawyer by calling us on 0203 442 0292.