The Home Office has announced significant updates to UK immigration law, set to take effect on 29 July 2025. These reforms impact key routes, including Private Life, Continuous Residence, and Long Residence, with transitional provisions in place for applications submitted prior to this date.
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At Gulbenkian Andonian Solicitors, we are closely monitoring these developments to ensure our clients receive timely, accurate advice. Here is a summary of the main changes and their implications for individuals navigating these routes.
Key Changes from 29 July 2025
- Half-life rule restored: Young adults who were granted permission to stay in the UK before 20 June 2022 can now apply for settlement if they have lived in the UK for at least half their lives.
- 5-year route for children: Applies to those with prior dependent leave under Appendix FM or outside the rules.
- UK-born children: Must now meet stricter continuous residence rules, aligned with overseas-born children.
- Crown Dependencies: Time spent in Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man now counts towards continuous residence.
- Deprivation cases: Any period spent in the UK as a British citizen will be excluded from the long residence calculation if that citizenship has since been revoked.
- Transitional rule: The old rules apply if the application is raised before July 29, 2025.
Private Life Route: Expanded Access and Aligned Rules
The Home Office has introduced several amendments to Appendix Private Life to improve fairness and support consistency in decision-making.
Settlement for Young Adults under the “Half-Life” Test
Individuals aged 18 and over who have lived in the UK for at least half of their life and were granted immigration permission under Appendix FM or outside the Immigration Rules before 20 June 2022 will now have a route back to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This revision restores settlement access for a group previously restricted by earlier rule changes.
Five-Year Settlement Pathway for Certain Children
Children who were previously granted, or last held, leave as dependants under Appendix FM or outside the rules prior to 20 June 2022 may now qualify for settlement after five years of residence.
It means the child must have already lived in the UK for long enough, without long gaps or being away too often, to meet the Home Office’s rules for settlement at that time (before 20 June 2022). This adjustment aligns their settlement timeline with that of young adults who meet the half-life requirement.
UK-Born Children: Updated Continuous Residence Rules
The introduction of paragraph PL 15A brings changes to the treatment of continuous residence for children born in the UK. Previously, these children were subject to looser criteria, but the updated guidance now mirrors the standards applied to those born abroad.
Key points include:
- Absences up to 6 months in any 12-month period will not affect continuous residence.
- Absences over 12 months will typically break residence, unless exceptional circumstances apply (such as serious illness, study abroad, or bereavement).
These changes aim to promote fairer and more consistent decisions while continuing to support family unity.
Continuous Residence: Crown Dependencies Now Included
The entire Appendix Continuous Residence has been redrafted. A notable development is the recognition of time spent in the Crown Dependencies, namely the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey, as part of a lawful residence calculation, provided the individual held equivalent immigration permission.
This update benefits individuals who have moved between the UK and its Crown Dependencies under valid immigration routes and wish to apply for settlement under long residence rules.
Long Residence: Stricter Rules for Deprivation Cases
A critical change to Appendix Long Residence relates to individuals who have been deprived of British citizenship. Under the new rules, time spent in the UK as a British citizen will no longer count as lawful residence toward the 10-year continuous residence requirement.
This revision ensures that only time spent under a valid immigration status, excluding periods of citizenship, can be included when applying for ILR on the basis of long residence.
Transitional Provisions
It is essential to note that transitional arrangements are in effect. Applicants who submit their applications before 29 July 2025 may still be considered under the previous rules.
Legal Advice from Our Solicitors
These updates mark some of the most substantial changes to the Private Life and Long Residence routes in recent years. They may have significant implications for those planning to apply for settlement in the UK.
If you are affected by these changes or require advice on your eligibility under the new or existing rules, our expert team at Gulbenkian Andonian Solicitors is here to assist. We provide strategic advice tailored to your individual circumstance.
Contact us today for a confidential consultation.
Dr Bernard Andonian is the Co-Founder of Gulbenkian Andonian Solicitors and a leading authority in UK immigration, human rights, family and civil litigation law. With over 40 years of experience, he brings a wealth of legal knowledge and courtroom expertise. A former Judge and a recipient of a PhD in Law from the University of West London, Dr Andonian has served on the Law Society’s Immigration Law Panel, where he played a key role in shaping national legal standards. His name is featured in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame, recognising his consistent excellence and influence in the field. Known for his practical approach and deep understanding of immigration law, he is frequently consulted for commentary on policy changes and legal reform.
