The Private Life Route was initially introduced in Part 7 of the Immigration Rules on 9 July 2012, and represents the government’s interpretation of the protection that the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 8 (Article 8 ECHR) should offer to persons in relation to private life claims made within the Rules. Prior to 9 July 2012, persons could apply for settlement on the basis of 14 years spent continuously in the UK, whether lawfully or not (known as the ‘14 years rule’). From 20 June 2022, the route has been set out in simplified format in the Immigration Rules, Appendix Private Life. This includes provision for:

1. •

   adults who have been continuously resident in the UK for 20 years (eg where some or all of that time was unlawful)

2. •

   adults who have not been continuously resident in the UK for 20 years, but who would face very significant obstacles to reintegration into the country where they would have to live if required to leave the UK

3. •

   children who have lived in the UK for seven