Immigration Rules Appendix Settlement Family Life
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-11)

This route is for a person who has permission to stay as a partner or parent (or has had a combination of the two) under Appendix FM, and who is eligible to settle in the UK after a qualifying period of 10 years.

The person may also be able to count time with permission on other routes towards the 10 year qualifying period, if certain conditions are met.

Alternatively, partners, parents and their dependent children may qualify for settlement on the basis of 10 years Long Residence in the UK, under paragraphs 276A to 276D or 298 of the rules.

Where a person has permission as a partner and the relationship has broken down due to domestic abuse, the applicant may be able to qualify for settlement as a victim of domestic abuse under Appendix FM.

Where a person has permission as a partner and their partner has died, the applicant may be able to qualify for settlement as a bereaved partner under Appendix FM.

Dependent children of a partner or parent who is applying to settle on this route may also qualify for settlement under these Rules.

Children born in the UK where a parent is settled in the UK will be British citizens by birth. There are registration routes for British Citizenship for children born in the UK before their parent is settled: either once a parent is granted settlement or if the child lives in the UK for the first 10 years of their life. Other children may also apply for registration as a British citizen at the Home Secretary’s discretion: Registration as a British citizen: children - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Settlement as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

Validity requirements for settlement as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 1.1. A person who is applying for settlement must apply online on the gov.uk website on the specified form “Settlement as a partner or parent.”.
- (a) any fee must have been paid; and
- (b) the applicant must have provided biometrics when required; and
- (c) the applicant must have provided a passport or other travel document which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality; and
- (d) the applicant must be in the UK on the date of application.
SETF 1.3. The applicant must have, or have last been granted, permission as a partner or parent under Appendix FM.

SETF 1.4. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for settlement may be rejected as invalid and not considered.

Suitability Requirements for settlement as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 2.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part Suitability.

SETF 2.2. DELETED.

SETF 2.3. The applicant must not fall for refusal under SUI 5.3. of Part Suitability, unless the applicant has completed a qualifying period of 10 years with permission as set out in SETF 2.6 and the applicant has spent at least 5 years with such permission since the end of their sentence.
- (a) involvement in a sham marriage or civil partnership (SUI 8.1. of Part Suitability); or
- (b) use of false documents or information or deception (SUI 9.1. and SUI 10.1. of Part Suitability); or
- (c) litigation debt owed to the Home Office, unless the debt has been paid (SUI 17.1. of Part Suitability); or
- (d) debt to the NHS, unless the debt has been paid, or the total value of outstanding charges is under £500 (SUI 16.1 of Part Suitability); or
- (e) the applicant has breached the conditions of their permission (SUI 11.1. of Part Suitability).
SETF 2.5. Unless the applicant is a child or young adult who was granted on the basis of private life under PL 3.1. or PL 4.1 of Appendix Private Life, if the applicant has entered the UK illegally they must be refused settlement unless the applicant has completed a qualifying period of 10 years with permission under SETF 2.6.
- (a) entry clearance or permission granted as a partner or parent under Appendix FM (except for permission as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner); or
- (b) permission described in the Home Office grant letter as “family permission as a parent” or “family permission as a partner”; or
- (c) permission on the private life route under paragraph 276ADE or 276BE(2) before 20 June 2022 or Appendix Private Life; or
- (d) entry clearance or permission as a child of a person with limited leave as a partner or parent under Appendix FM; or
- (e) permission granted outside the rules as a partner, a parent or child or because of private life on the basis of Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention.
- (a) in breach of immigration laws, except that where the Exceptions for overstayers section of Part Suitability applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
- (b) on immigration bail.
Eligibility requirements for settlement as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

Qualifying period requirement for settlement as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years
- (a) entry clearance or permission granted as a partner or parent under Appendix FM (except for permission as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner); or
- (b) permission described in the Home Office grant letter as “family permission as a parent” or “family permission as a partner”; or
- (c) permission on the private life route under paragraph 276ADE or 276BE(2) before 20 June 2022 or Appendix Private Life; or
- (d) entry clearance or permission as a child of a person with limited leave as a partner or parent under Appendix FM; or
- (e) permission granted outside the rules as a partner, a parent or child or because of private life on the basis of Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention.
- (a) did not enter the UK illegally; and
- (b) has had permission as a partner (if applying as a partner) or parent (if applying as a parent) under Appendix FM for at least one year.
Continuous residence requirement for settlement as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 4.1. The applicant must have met the continuous residence requirement as set out in Appendix Continuous Residence for the qualifying period.

English language requirement for settlement as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 5.1. Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in speaking and listening to at least level B1.

SETF 5.2. The applicant must show they meet the English language requirement as specified in Appendix English Language.

Knowledge of life in the UK requirement for settlement as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 6.1. Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must meet the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement as set out in Appendix KOL UK.

Relationship requirement for settlement as a partner based on a qualifying period of 10 years
- (a) a British citizen who is living in the UK; or
- (b) present and settled in the UK; or
- (c) applying for settlement at the same time as the applicant.
SETF 7.2. The requirements of Appendix Relationship with Partner must be met.

SETF 7.3. The applicant must have had permission based on their relationship with their current partner for at least one year.

Relationship requirement for settlement as a parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 8.1. The applicant must have, or have last had, permission as a parent of a child (C) under Appendix FM (whether or not the child is aged under 18 at the date of the parent’s application for settlement).
- (a) is a British citizen and living in the UK; or
- (b) is present and settled in the UK; or
- (c) is applying for settlement at the same time as the applicant.
- (a) sole parental responsibility; or
- (b) C must normally live with the applicant; or
- (c) the applicant must have direct access (in person) to C, as agreed with the parent or carer with whom C normally lives or as ordered by a court in the UK.
SET 8.4. The applicant must show that they are taking, and intend to continue to take, an active role in the child’s upbringing.

Decision on an application for settlement as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 9.1. If the decision maker is satisfied all the suitability and eligibility requirements for settlement as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years are met the applicant will be granted settlement.
- (a) no additional application fee for permission to stay will be required and the settlement application fee will not be refunded; and
- (b) the Secretary of State will write to the applicant informing them of this variation and, if required, will request the applicant pay any Immigration Health Charge.
SETF 9.3. If the applicant does not pay the requested Immigration Health Charge, or does not request or is granted a fee waiver for the Immigration Health Charge, the application for permission to stay will be rejected as invalid.

SETF 9.4. Where an applicant is granted permission to stay it will be granted for the period as set out in D-LTRP.1.2 or D-LTRPT.1.2 of Appendix FM (as relevant), subject to the conditions in the relevant paragraph.

SETF 9.5. If the decision maker is not satisfied that the applicant meets all the suitability and eligibility requirements for settlement or permission to stay as a partner or parent, the application for settlement will be refused.

Settlement as the child of a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

Validity requirements for settlement as a dependent child of a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 10.1. A child who is applying for settlement on this route must apply online on the gov.uk website on the specified form as follows: “Settlement as a Child (including a child aged over 18 already in the UK as a dependent)”.
- (a) any fee must have been paid; and
- (b) the applicant must have provided biometrics when required; and
- (c) the applicant must have provided a passport or other travel document which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality; and
- (d) the applicant must be in the UK, and
- (i) has made a valid application for settlement in the UK as a partner or parent based on a 10 year qualifying period, and that application has not been decided; or
- (ii) is settled or has become a British citizen, providing P had permission as a partner or parent based on a 10 year qualifying period when P settled.
SETF 10.3. The applicant must have, or have last had, permission to stay in the UK as a dependent child, unless they were born in the UK.

SETF 10.4. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for settlement as a child may be rejected as invalid and not considered.

Suitability requirements for settlement as a child of a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 11.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part Suitability.

SETF 11.2. DELETED.

SETF 11.3. The applicant must not fall for refusal under SUI 5.3. of Part Suitability, unless the applicant has completed a qualifying period of 10 years with permission as set out in SETF 11.6 and the applicant has spent at least 5 years continuous residence with such permission since the end of their sentence.
- (a) involvement in a sham marriage or civil partnership (grounds for refusal under SUI 8.1. of Part Suitability); or
- (b) use of false documents or information or deception (SUI 9.1. and SUI 10.1. of Part Suitability); or
- (c) litigation debt owed to the Home Office, unless the debt has been paid (SUI 17.1. of Part Suitability); or
- (d) debt to the NHS, unless the debt has been paid, or the total value of outstanding charges is under £500 (SUI 16.1. of Part Suitability); or
- (e) the applicant has breached the conditions of their permission (SUI 11.1. of Part Suitability).
SETF 11.5. Unless the applicant is a child or young adult who was granted on the basis of private life under PL 3.1. or PL 4.1. of Appendix Private Life, if the applicant has entered the UK illegally they must be refused settlement unless the applicant has completed a qualifying period of 10 years with permission under SETF 11.6.
- (a) entry clearance or permission granted as a partner or parent under Appendix FM (except for permission as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner); or
- (b) permission described in the Home Office grant letter as “family permission as a parent” or “family permission as a partner”; or
- (c) permission on the private life route under paragraph 276ADE or 276BE(2) before 20 June 2022 or Appendix Private Life; or
- (d) entry clearance or permission as a child of a person with limited leave as a partner or parent under Appendix FM; or
- (e) permission granted outside the rules as a partner, a parent or child or because of private life on the basis of Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention.
- (a) in breach of immigration laws, except that where the Exceptions for overstayers section of Part Suitability applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
- (b) on immigration bail.
Eligibility requirements for settlement as a child of a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

Relationship requirement for settlement as a child of a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years
- (a) P is, at the same time, being granted settlement as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years; or
- (b) P is settled or has become a British citizen, providing P had permission as a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years when they settled.
- (a) the person (P) in SETF 12.1. is the applicant’s sole surviving parent; or
- (b) the person (P) in SETF 12.1. has sole responsibility for the applicant’s upbringing; or
- (c) the decision maker is satisfied that there are serious and compelling reasons to grant the applicant settlement.
Age requirement for settlement as a child of a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 13.1. The applicant must be under the age of 18 on the date of application, unless they were last granted permission as the dependent child of their parent or parents.

SETF 13.2. If the applicant is aged 16 or over on the date of application, they must not be leading an independent life.

Care requirement for settlement as a child of a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 14.1. If the applicant is under the age of 18 on the date of application, there must be suitable arrangements for the child’s care and accommodation in the UK, which must comply with relevant UK law.

English language requirement for settlement as a child of a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 15.1. Unless an exemption applies (for example where the applicant is aged under 18), the applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in speaking and listening of at least level B1.

SETF 15.2. The applicant must show they meet the English language requirement as specified in Appendix English Language.

Knowledge of life in the UK requirement for settlement as a child of a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 16.1. Unless an exemption applies (for example where the applicant is aged under 18), they must meet the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement as set out in Appendix KOL UK.

Decision on an application for settlement as a child of a partner or parent based on a qualifying period of 10 years

SETF 17.1. If the decision maker is satisfied all the suitability and eligibility requirements for settlement are met the applicant will be granted settlement.
- (a) no additional application fee for permission to stay will be required and the settlement application fee will not be refunded; and
- (b) the Secretary of State will write to the applicant informing them of this variation and, if required, will request the applicant pay any Immigration Health Charge.
SETF 17.3 If the applicant does not pay the requested Immigration Health Charge, or does not request and is granted a fee waiver for the Immigration Health Charge, the application for permission to stay will be rejected as invalid.

SETF 17.4. Where an applicant is granted permission to stay they will be granted for the period as set out in paragraph D-LTRC.1.1 of Appendix FM, subject to the conditions in paragraph D-LTRP.1.2 (where their parent has permission as a partner) or D-LTRPT.1.2 (where their parent has permission as a parent).

SETF 17.5. If the decision maker is not satisfied that the applicant meets all the suitability and eligibility requirements for settlement or permission to stay, the application for settlement will be refused.