FLR(FP)

What is FLR(FP)?

FLR(FP) is the in‑country application to extend leave based on:

• Family life as a partner or parent under Appendix FM; and/or
• Private life under Appendix Private Life

Applications are decided in line with the Article 8 ECHR right to respect for family and private life, relevant suitability rules, and the best interests of the child duty (s.55 BCI Act 2009).

Who can apply for FLR(FP)? (Common Scenarios)

Family Life – Partner

You’re in a genuine and subsisting relationship with a British/Irish or settled partner (or other eligible sponsor categories). If you cannot meet all the standard five‑year route criteria (e.g., income or English language requirements), you may still qualify on the 10‑year route where “insurmountable obstacles” exist to continuing family life outside the UK.

Family Life – Parent

You’re the parent of a British child or a child who has lived in the UK for seven years, and it would be unreasonable to expect the child to leave the UK. The Home Office’s guidance stresses the best interests of the child in all such decisions.

Private Life – Young people & long residence

You may qualify where your private life is established in the UK, including:

• Children with seven years’ continuous residence;
• Young adults (18–24) who have lived at least half of their life continuously in the UK;
• Other private‑life categories under the current Appendix Private Life (amended November/July 2025).

How the Home Office decides

• Genuine relationship / ties: Decision makers weigh evidence of family units, cohabitation, child contact, dependency and community integration.
• Reasonableness & obstacles tests: For children, the “reasonableness” test applies; for partners, the “insurmountable obstacles” test asks whether there are very significant difficulties preventing life together abroad.
• Suitability & credibility: General suitability factors (character, conduct, deception, criminality) apply; supporting documents must correlate with what you put on the application form.
• Best interests of the child: Always a primary consideration where children are affected.

What you can expect if successful

• Length of permission: FLR(FP) usually gives permission to stay for 30 months (2.5 years) on the 10‑year route; some applicants may progress to the five‑year parent route if they later meet all criteria.
• Pathway to settlement: Repeated grants can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain after 10 years (or sooner under specific provisions for children/young adults in Appendix Private Life following 2025 updates).
• Work & study: You can normally work and study (subject to your grant conditions). (General policy position reflected across FLR(FP) guidance and practice.)

Evidence we help you prepare

• Identity & status: passports, BRPs, immigration history.
• Relationship proof (partner/parent): marriage/civil partnership certificates, cohabitation evidence, child birth certificates, school letters, contact/residence orders.
• Private life proof: length and continuity of residence, education, employment/volunteering, community links, medical or welfare evidence where relevant.
• Consistency matters: the Home Office expects documents to match the information declared in your form—discrepancies are a common refusal reason.

Fees & IHS (as of 9 April – December 2025)

• Application fee (in‑country FLR routes): £1,321 per person (standard in‑country family/private life extensions).
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year (most applicants). An FLR grant of 2.5 years typically attracts £2,587.50 per adult; discounted rates apply for children/students.

Fee waivers may be available in family/private life cases facing destitution or very low income. Ask us to assess eligibility and evidence. (Assessed under Family/Private Life policy framework.)

Processing & timescales

There’s no guaranteed or standard processing time. Many FLR(FP) cases are fact‑heavy and can take several months due to the Article 8 assessment and child‑focused inquiries.

Why choose us for FLR(FP)?

• Early route strategy: We test whether you can enter or switch to the 5‑year route sooner (reducing cost/time to ILR) or whether the 10‑year route is the correct protective strategy now—with a plan to upgrade later.
• Child‑centred advocacy: We foreground the best interests of your child and build reasonableness arguments with evidence decision makers recognise.
• Compliance & credibility: We ensure your documents align with declarations to avoid credibility issues and refusals.

Start your FLR(FP) application today

Contact one of our specialist immigration lawyers and we’ll help you collate the correct evidence, reduce risk, and plan the fastest path to settlement appropriate to your case. We can offer you:

• Free initial call to scope your route and timeline
• Bespoke document list and robust legal representations
• Ongoing case management through to decision