Family & Private Life ILR — settle after your qualifying residence
We confirm your eligibility under the Family or Private Life routes, map evidence to the Home Office rules (including KoLL where required), and prepare a clean, decision-ready ILR application
Family & Private Life ILR — settle after your qualifying residence
We confirm your eligibility under the Family or Private Life routes, map evidence to the Home Office rules (including KoLL where required), and prepare a clean, decision-ready ILR application
Eligibility at a glance — Family & Private Life (ILR)
We confirm your exact route and qualifying residence (5 or 10 years, depending on category), check continuous residence/absences, KoLL, and suitability before filing.
( Status ) Which route applies?
- Select from:
- * Family life — Partner/Parent under Appendix FM (usually the 10-year route to settlement).
- * Private life — Child, Young Adult, or Adult under Appendix Private Life (some settle after 5 years; most adults after 10 years).
( Residence ) Qualifying period
- We calculate your qualifying residence and any gaps:
- * Family life (10-year): usually 120 months on family route leave.
- * Private life: children & certain young adults can qualify after 5 years; most adults after 10 years.
( Absences ) Continuous residence
- We assess your absences across the qualifying period and evidence UK residence.
- * Listing absences typically triggered at ≥150 days in any 12-month period on the form.
- * Absences of >180 days in any 12-month period can break residence (route rules apply).
( Child factors ) Best interests & residence
- Where children are involved, decisions must consider their best interests.
- * Evidence: passports/BRP, birth certificates, school/GP letters.
- * For Private Life: 7-year residence or other category criteria (as applicable).
( KOLL ) Life in the UK & English
- Most adult applicants must meet KoLL.
- * Life in the UK test pass reference.
- * English at B1 (SELT) or accepted degree — exemptions for age/medical.
( Suitability ) General grounds
- Checks on criminality, deception, NHS debts, and compliance with conditions.
- * We address any risks and prepare mitigation where appropriate.
Documents you’ll usually need
We’ll give you a tailored checklist and assemble a clean, indexed PDF bundle for upload.
Identity & status
- * Current & previous passports (if available)
- * BRP/eVisa and previous grants on the Family/Private Life route
- * Any Home Office correspondence or reference numbers
Residence & absences
- * Address history covering the qualifying period
- * Council tax/tenancy, utility bills, bank statements (spread across the period)
- * Travel history/absence records where relevant
Family life
- * Relationship evidence (cohabitation, joint responsibilities) if applying on a family-life basis
- * Parental responsibility or direct access documents (birth cert, PR agreement/court order)
- * Child-related evidence (school/GP letters) where applicable
Private life
- * Evidence of long residence in the UK (school, GP, HMRC/DWP, community letters)
- * For children/young adults: continuous schooling and residence proofs
- * Community ties and integration where relevant
KOLL
- * Life in the UK test pass reference
- * English at B1 (SELT) or accepted degree (with ECCTIS where required)
- * Exemption evidence (age/medical) if applicable
Other supporting
- * Explanations for gaps, name/address changes
- * Letters from professionals (school/GP/social worker) supporting best-interests where relevant
- * Certified translations for non-English documents
How your Family & Private Life ILR application runs
Step 1 - Route & residence check
Confirm whether you qualify under Family Life or Private Life, calculate your qualifying period (5/10 years), and identify any gaps.
Step 2 - Evidence strategy
Map documents to your route: residence & absences, family relationship/parental responsibility (if relevant), and private life factors.
Step 3 - KoLL readiness
Verify Life in the UK pass reference and English at B1 (or exemption) early so nothing delays filing.
Step 4 - Forms & submissions
Complete the correct ILR form, draft legal representations, confirm fees and any available priority option, and prepare an indexed PDF bundle.
Step 5 - Biometrics & decision
Arrange UKVCAS biometrics/ID verification, monitor your application, respond to any requests, and advise on your eVisa/BRP and next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your category. Some Private Life/child or young adult routes can qualify after 5 years; most adults on Family/Private Life qualify after 10 years. We’ll map your exact category and timeline.