It is estimated that there are 215,000 undocumented children living in the UK. At least 1 in 10 children in care in England are not British. Many of those children may have grown up in the UK, and may not even know that they are not British. All will have hopes and dreams for their future life, education and career – but without resolving their status, they may have all of that ripped away from them. It is the responsibility of the people caring for them to ensure that does not happen. 

It’s vital that children have permission to be in the UK, and that their status is resolved before they turn 18. Without it, they will miss out on things like university, driving, housing, employment and benefits. They may even be at risk of removal or deportation from the UK.  

Turning 18 is a cliff edge after which many routes to immigration status and citizenship are closed to a child in care. It is essential that they are identified and supported before then. Often, getting British citizenship before turning 18 will be the best and most secure option, but where that is not possible there are other options.  

The guides cover applications for British citizenship and applying for leave to remain in the UK through other routes. They offer practical advice for social workers in: understanding children’s options; completing applications themselves, where they can; and support with applications where legal representation is needed.

Access the guides: New guides for social workers