registering a child under 3(5)

[Harryl1]

Hi

I am British by descent and was so when my children were born. I am considering applying for citizenship under section 3(5) for my kids. My wife and kids are South African and moved to the UK on a family visa. However they moved here with me, 6 months prior to this on visitors visas, while waiting to apply for the family visa's. My question is, would the time they spent here for 6 months on a visitor visa count towards their 3 years of living here?

This would save me a lot of money if this was the case as there is a small window for me to get them citizenship rather than having to pay for the second round of VISAs.

Thanks