Can I get ILR as a parent of a British child?

Yes. If you are the parent of a child who is a British citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 continuous years, you may qualify for leave to remain on the parent route. After 5 years on this route, you can apply for ILR.

Do I need sole responsibility for my child to get ILR on the parent route?

Not necessarily. The parent route covers several scenarios: sole parental responsibility, access rights where the child lives with another parent, and situations where it would not be reasonable for the child to leave the UK. Each has different requirements.

How long does the parent route to ILR take?

The parent route typically requires 5 years of continuous leave before you can apply for ILR. However, if you were granted leave on the 10-year route to settlement (rather than the 5-year route), it will take 10 years.

Can I work while on the parent route?

Yes. If you have been granted leave on the parent route, you have the right to work in the UK without any restrictions. You can be employed or self-employed in any role.

ILR on the Parent Route: Requirements and Process

The parent route to ILR is part of Appendix FM (family migration) of the Immigration Rules. It allows parents of British citizen children or children who have lived in the UK for 7 years to obtain leave to remain and eventually settle. The route typically takes 5 years, though some applicants are placed on a 10-year route. Requirements include demonstrating your relationship with your child and meeting financial and English language thresholds.

Who Qualifies for the Parent Route

The parent route under Appendix FM covers several categories:

Sole parental responsibility: You have sole responsibility for the child's upbringing, and the child is a British citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 continuous years.
Direct access (contact) rights: Your child lives with another parent in the UK, and you have court-ordered or agreed access rights. You must be taking an active role in the child's upbringing.
Unreasonable to leave: It would not be reasonable to expect the child to leave the UK, considering factors such as the child's age, health, and length of residence.

The 5-Year vs 10-Year Route

When you apply on the parent route, the Home Office will place you on either the 5-year or 10-year route to settlement:

5-year route: You meet all the eligibility and suitability requirements, including the financial requirement and English language requirement. You receive 30 months of leave at a time, applied for twice, then apply for ILR.
10-year route: You meet the parent route requirements but there are reasons you do not fully meet the suitability requirements, or you are relying on exceptional circumstances. You receive 30 months of leave, applied for four times, then apply for ILR through long residence or the 10-year family route.

Financial Requirements

The financial requirements on the parent route differ from the spouse route. If you are on the sole parental responsibility route, you need to demonstrate that you can adequately maintain yourself and your child without recourse to public funds.

The adequate maintenance test applies here rather than the specific income threshold used on the spouse route. This means you need to show that your income is at least equivalent to what you would receive in income support, plus housing costs.

Evidence of Your Relationship with Your Child

The Home Office will want to see evidence that you have a genuine and subsisting relationship with your child. This includes:

Your child's birth certificate naming you as a parent
Evidence of your involvement in your child's life (school records, medical appointments, photographs)
Court orders relating to custody or access if applicable
Evidence that you live with your child (for sole responsibility) or evidence of regular contact (for access rights)
Letters from the child's school or doctor confirming your involvement

Requirements for ILR on the Parent Route

When you have completed the qualifying period (5 years on the 5-year route), you can apply for ILR. At this point, you must demonstrate:

Continuous residence: You have lived in the UK for 5 continuous years with no more than 180 days absence in any 12-month period. See our absence rules guide.
English language: You must demonstrate English at CEFR B1 level (speaking and listening). See English language for ILR.
Life in the UK test: You must have passed the Life in the UK test.
Ongoing relationship: You must still be actively involved in your child's life.

For the full list of ILR documents, see our documents checklist.

Processing and Costs

The ILR application on the parent route costs the same as other ILR applications. See our ILR cost breakdown for current fees. Processing times follow the standard timeline outlined in our 2026 processing times guide.

For the official application form and guidance, visit the GOV.UK parent route page.

After ILR on the Parent Route

After receiving ILR, your rights are the same regardless of which route you used. See our ILR rights and benefits guide for what ILR gives you. If you want to pursue British citizenship, see our ILR to citizenship journey.