Staying after permission ended: private life route, overstay rules and voluntary return
UK
There is no general amnesty in the rules read. A person in the UK, including one without valid status, can apply under Appendix Private Life if they meet its residence or integration tests. Otherwise the official route is to leave. Leaving voluntarily at your own expense can mean a 12-month ban on returning, and removal at public expense a 10-year ban.
Announced changes
- From March 26, 2027 Details with Premium
Moving to United Kingdom
Practical facts for newcomers, from official sources Finance Living
Finance
3
Currency
British Pound
GBP
British Pound
Cost of living
92
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
20–45%
Income tax (national)
VAT 20%social security 8%
Personal allowance GBP 12,570 (tapered away above GBP 100,000); 40% from GBP 50,271 and 45% above GBP 125,140. Scotland sets different bands and rates.
Living
1
Happiness
#27 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Eligibility
Who it’s for: People in the UK whose permission has ended, and adults, young people and children with long residence or strong ties to the UK.
ChildrenPrivate life
Sign in to check this route against your profileUnder-18s need 7 years' continuous residence, and it must not be reasonable to expect them to leave the UK.
7 years
Residence needed (PL 3.1)
- Applies to the Private life route (PL 3.1)
Official wording
PL 3.1: under 18, 7 years' continuous residence, and it must not be reasonable to expect them to leave.
Young adultsPrivate life
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need to be aged 18 to under 25, have arrived before 18, and have spent at least half your life in the UK.
Age and time in the UK (PL 4.1)
- Age
- 18 to under 25
- Arrived
- Before age 18
- Time in UK
- At least half your life
Official wording
PL 4.1: aged 18 to under 25, arrived before 18, and spent at least half their life in the UK.
AdultsPrivate life
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need more than 20 years' continuous residence, or very significant obstacles to integration in the country you would have to live in.
More than 20 years
Residence needed (PL 5.1)
Official wording
PL 5.1: more than 20 years' continuous residence, or very significant obstacles to integration in the country they would have to live in.
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Other routes to United Kingdom
- Visit & tourismElectronic Travel Authorisation
- StudyStudent visa
- Work permitsUK Ancestry visa
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Status in-country in other countries
- GreeceRenew a Greek residence permit or change its category from inside Greece
- Hong Kong SAR ChinaExtend your limit of stay in Hong Kong
- HondurasResidence as rentista, pensioner or investor, and the special residence route (Migration Law art. 21(8), Ministerial Agreement 374-2025)
- 3 more routes with Premium
