Extension of Leave to Remain Under the 7 Years Child Residence Route

Written by Deluxe Law Chambers Published13 August 2026 Reading time3 min read Updated21 June 2026

Extension of Leave to Remain Under the 7 Years Child Residence Route

If your child (or you as a parent) were previously granted 30 months’ leave to remain in the UK on the basis of 7 years’ continuous residence of a child, you can apply for an extension of that leave before it expires.

Applications are made from inside the UK only using Form FLR(FP) under the Private Life / Family Life provisions of the Immigration Rules. This route leads to settlement under the 10-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). There is no 5-year settlement route under the 7 years child residence category.

At Deluxe Law Chambers, our specialist immigration solicitors provide expert legal assistance to ensure your extension application is prepared thoroughly and in line with Home Office requirements.

Who Can Apply for an Extension?

You may apply to extend your leave if:

  • You currently hold limited leave to remain granted on the basis of a child’s 7 years’ residence in the UK, and
  • You continue to meet the requirements under the Private Life rules.

You should apply before your current leave expires. Submitting an in-time application protects your lawful status in the UK under Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971.

Eligibility Requirements for Extension (7 Years Child Residence)

To be granted a further 30 months’ leave, the Home Office must be satisfied that:

1. Qualifying Child Requirement

The child must:

  • Be under 18 years of age at the date of application, and
  • Have lived continuously in the UK for at least 7 years (discounting any period of imprisonment).

2. Reasonableness Test

It must still be unreasonable to expect the child to leave the UK.

This is a crucial part of the application. The Home Office will consider:

  • The child’s education and schooling in the UK
  • Social, cultural, and community integration
  • Best interests of the child (Section 55 duty)
  • Family life in the UK
  • Conditions in the country of return

3. Parental/Family Position

Where the application involves parents:

  • The parent must have a genuine and subsisting parental relationship with the child, and
  • The parent must be actively involved in the child’s upbringing.

4. Suitability Requirements

The applicant must not fall for refusal under the suitability grounds (criminality, deception, immigration breaches, etc.).

Length of Grant & Route to Settlement

Successful applicants are usually granted:

  • 30 months’ leave to remain, and
  • Placement on the 10-year route to settlement (ILR).

After completing 10 years of lawful residence on this route, you may qualify to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, subject to meeting the relevant requirements.

Super Priority Service (24-Hour Decision)

Where available, Deluxe Law Chambers can assist in securing the Super Priority Service (SPS) for your application. This allows the Home Office to make a decision within 24 hours of biometric enrolment, subject to UKVI availability.

This service significantly reduces waiting times compared to standard processing.

Our Fees

Our fees are transparent and fixed, subject to case complexity:

ServiceFee
One-Off Immigration Advice & Consultation£35 (including VAT)
One-Off Document Checking Service£330 + VAT
Full Legal Representation for Extension ApplicationFrom £1,000 + VAT to £1,500 + VAT

YOUR SOLICITOR

Muhammad Usman Rasheed — Managing Director

Meet Your Senior Immigration Solicitor, who has over 11 years' experience at leading UK immigration law firms and is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. He has successfully represented thousands of clients across Greater Manchester in cases involving skilled worker visas, ILR, spouse visas, asylum claims, appeals, and Judicial Review proceedings.

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