Private Life Visa UK – Full 2025 Guide to Applying and Settling

If you’ve been living in the UK for a long time without a clear immigration route, the Private Life visa might help you stay here legally. Whether you arrived as a child, built strong ties through years of living here, or would face real problems returning to your country of origin, this visa could be a way forward.

In this guide, we’ll explain who can apply, what the rules are, how long you can stay, and how to settle in the UK through this route. We’ll also share what documents you’ll need and what to do if your application is refused.

Need legal help? Call 0161 464 4140 or book an appointment online to speak with our Manchester based immigration solicitors.

What Is the Private Life Visa UK?

The Private Life visa lets you stay in the UK based on your personal history here. It’s built on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which protects your right to a private and family life.

Even after Brexit, this right still applies under the Human Rights Act 1998. That means even if you’re undocumented or your visa has expired, you may still have a chance to stay legally, especially if removing you would cause serious hardship or break important family ties.

Who Can Apply for a Private Life Visa?

To apply, you must already be inside the UK and meet one of the following conditions:

• Under 18? You’ve lived in the UK for at least 7 continuous years, and it would be unreasonable to expect you to leave.
• Aged 18 to 24? You’ve lived here for over half your life.
• Over 18? You’ve lived in the UK for less than 20 years but would face very significant obstacles returning to your country.
• Over 18 with 20+ years’ residence? You may qualify based on long-term ties, regardless of your status.
• Born in the UK? If at least one parent has (or is applying for) a Private Life visa, you may qualify too.

Periods spent in the UK without a valid visa can still count, but you’ll need strong proof that you were living here the whole time.

How Long Can You Stay on a Private Life Visa?

Most people get 30 months (2.5 years) of leave to remain. But depending on your age and time in the UK, you might get longer.

You may qualify for a 5-year visa if:

• You’re under 18 and have lived in the UK for 7+ years, or
• You’re aged 18 to 24 and have spent more than half your life here

If you’re on the 2.5 year route, you’ll need to extend your visa multiple times before you can apply for settlement. If you’re on the 5-year route, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) sooner.

How to Apply for a Private Life Visa in 2025

You must apply from inside the UK this visa can’t be applied for from abroad.

The application steps are:

• Fill out the online form (usually FLR (FP))
• Pay the fee: £1,321 from 9 April 2025
• Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035 per year)
• Upload your supporting documents or attend a service centre
• Go to your biometric appointment
• Wait for a decision (can take up to 24 weeks)

There are faster options (Priority or Super Priority) if you pay extra, but not everyone is eligible.

What Documents Do You Need?

To support your application, you’ll need to show that you’ve built a real life in the UK. The Home Office looks for clear and consistent proof.

Typical documents include:

• Your passport or travel document
• Birth certificates (yours or your children’s)
• Tenancy agreements and utility bills
• School or college records
• Medical letters if you have health issues that affect your case
• Evidence of community involvement (church, mosque, local group letters)
• Photos, letters, and anything that proves long-term UK ties

You don’t need everything listed, but you do need enough to show continuous residence and strong ties to the UK.

Common Reasons for Refusal & What to Do

Private Life applications are often refused for the following reasons:

• Gaps in your residence history
• Incomplete documents
• Missing evidence of personal hardship
• Past criminal behaviour
• Providing false or misleading information

If your application is refused, you may be able to appeal under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. But if the Home Office marks your claim as “clearly unfounded”, you might not get a right of appeal.

Even if you can’t appeal, you may still be able to submit a fresh application, especially if your circumstances have changed or you can provide better evidence.

Who Cannot Apply for a Private Life Visa?

You won’t be eligible if:

• You’re under a deportation order
• Your presence isn’t considered to be in the public interest
• You refuse to attend a biometric appointment or submit required info
• You submit false documents or withhold key facts

These issues are taken seriously and can lead to bans or delays in future applications.

Settling in the UK Through the Private Life Route

Once you’ve been in the UK legally for a long enough time, you may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

You may be able to settle:

• After 5 years on the Private Life route (if you started on a 5-year visa)
• After 10 years of continuous lawful residence (with extensions)

Once you’re settled, you’ll no longer need to apply to extend your visa. You may also become eligible to apply for British citizenship after holding ILR for 12 months.

To reach settlement, remember to renew your visa on time and keep solid records of your life in the UK.

Real Life Example: A Young Applicant’s Journey

Sara, a 19 year-old who arrived in the UK aged 8, had lived here for 11 years when she applied. She had no visa for much of that time, but she went to school, volunteered in her local area, and could show dozens of documents proving her residence.

With help from immigration solicitors in Manchester, she was granted 2.5 years leave. She’s now on her second extension and will be eligible for ILR in a few years.

This case shows that even if your immigration history is messy, strong proof and good legal support can make a big difference.

Why Legal Help Matters

The Private Life route is complex and the rules are strict. Many applications are refused due to small mistakes, missing details, or poor evidence.

Having legal support means:

• Your forms are checked thoroughly
• Your evidence is presented clearly
• You understand your rights if refused

Whether you’re applying for the first time or appealing a refusal, we can help.

Call 0161 464 4140 or book your free appointment with our team at Solicitors in Manchester today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for a Private Life visa from outside the UK?

No, you must already be in the UK to apply.

Do I need a visa to count the 7 year child residence rule?

No, even undocumented years can count if there’s proof you were living here continuously.

Can overstayers apply?

Yes, you can still qualify if you’ve lived in the UK long enough and meet the other criteria.

What is the “very significant obstacles” test?

It means you’d face serious challenges returning to your home country such as safety concerns, lack of support, or no connection to life there.

Is it better to apply on the 5 year or 10 year route?

If eligible, the 5 year route is faster for settlement. But many people start on the 10-year path and still reach ILR with proper planning.

Should You Apply?

If your life is rooted in the UK and you’d struggle to start again elsewhere, the Private Life visa could give you the legal stability you need. But success depends on evidence, timing, and knowing the process.

Let our immigration solicitors help you get it right.

Call us on 0161 464 4140 or book a consultation now  we’re here to help you stay or learn more about our other UK visas immigration services.