Family & Private Life — protect your life built in the UK
We assess your eligibility under Appendix Private Life and Appendix FM (Article 8 ECHR), gather evidence of your UK life and best interests of any children, and file a clean, on-time application to keep your rights protected.
Family & Private Life — protect your life built in the UK
We assess your eligibility under Appendix Private Life and Appendix FM (Article 8 ECHR), gather evidence of your UK life and best interests of any children, and file a clean, on-time application to keep your rights protected.
At-a-glance
The Family & Private Life route protects people whose removal would disproportionately impact their UK family/private life. It’s usually a 10-year path to settlement and requires careful evidence of your ties and circumstances.
Who may qualify
Partner/Parent route (10-year): where you can’t meet all rules for the 5-year route but removal would be unjustifiably harsh.
Child resident 7+ years: a parent applying on the basis that it’s not reasonable for the child to leave the UK.
Young person 18–24: lived at least half their life in the UK and faces very significant obstacles abroad.
Private life residence: long residence in the UK with very significant obstacles to integration in the country of return.
Other exceptional or compassionate factors engaging Article 8.
We’ll confirm the exact paragraph of Appendix Private Life/FM that fits your circumstances.
Evidence & process
Relationships & residence: partner/child ties, cohabitation, schooling, community links, medical or care needs.
Best interests of children: education, health, stability and support network in the UK.
Adequate maintenance: income and essential outgoings showing you can support your household without public funds (where applicable).
Apply before expiry: valid in-time applications keep your rights protected under Section 3C.
Biometrics/ID & uploads: UKVCAS or app (where eligible) with a clear, indexed evidence bundle.
We structure a concise Article 8 cover letter and bundle your exhibits so the caseworker can follow the story fast.
Who may qualify — pathways
Partner/Parent on 10-year route: you can’t meet all requirements for the 5-year route but removal would be unjustifiably harsh for your family life.
Child resident 7+ years: a parent applying where it’s not reasonable for the child to leave the UK.
Young person 18–24: has lived at least half their life in the UK and would face very significant obstacles abroad.
Private life residence: long UK residence with very significant obstacles to integration in the country of return.
Exceptional/compassionate factors: serious health, care, or safeguarding needs engaging Article 8 ECHR.
Apply before expiry to keep protection under Section 3C while a decision is made.
How we evidence your case
Relationships & ties: partner/child documents, cohabitation, shared bills, photos, travel records, statements.
Residence timeline: continuous UK presence (tenancy, council tax, GP/NHS, school records, HMRC letters).
Best interests of children: school reports, attendance, SEN/EHCP, GP letters, statements from teachers/guardians.
Obstacles abroad: language/cultural barriers, lack of network/housing, healthcare access, country evidence; why relocation would be very significant.
Adequate maintenance: income vs essential outgoings to show you can support your household without public funds (where applicable).
We draft a concise Article 8 cover letter and index exhibits so the caseworker can follow the facts quickly.
Documents checklist (tailored to your path)
Identity & status
Passport(s), BRP/eVisa printout
Previous visas/immigration history (if requested)
Relationships & residence
Birth/marriage certificates, parental responsibility orders/agreements
Cohabitation and address proof (council tax, utilities, tenancy/mortgage)
School, GP/NHS letters confirming residence and involvement
Best interests & obstacles
School reports, SEN/EHCP, safeguarding/GP letters
Evidence of support network in the UK and lack of it abroad
Country information relevant to medical/educational needs
Finances (if applicable)
Income, rent, utilities, childcare, and essential spending
Bank statements (recent 3–6 months)
Translations
Certified translations for any non-English/Welsh documents
Uploads & biometrics
Apply online → pay fee/IHS → upload indexed PDF bundle
UKVCAS appointment or ID Check app (where eligible)
We’ll prepare: a clear narrative of your life in the UK, best-interests analysis for any children, and evidence of why removal would be disproportionate.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The 10-year route considers family/private life under Article 8 and best-interests factors. It’s used where the strict 5-year rules (e.g., financial/English) can’t be met but removal would be disproportionate.
Make your Family & Private Life application decision-ready
We’ll map your exact pathway, structure a clear Article 8 case with best-interests analysis, and file your application on time to protect your status.