Time Spent Outside UK.

[hmn2905]

Hello,

I need to get a letter proving that I have not obtained British citizenship (form NQ). See link below. I need this to get a document from my home country embassy.

If I get this letter will there be any rule or such preventing me from applying for British citizenship?

Could I, in theory, make an application for British citizenship the day after receiving the letter?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ip-form-nq

[contorted_svy]

Can't see why it would make you ineligible, you are just asking for proof of your status. Completely unrelated to a citizenship application.

[hmn2905]

Hello,

I saw the below requirement on Gov.uk for applying for citizenship in the UK after ILR for more than 1 year.

"You should not have:
spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the 5 years before your application
spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months"

With regards to the 2nd requirement, if I have the following example:

Jan 2024 - 20 days outside UK
April - June 2024 - 60 days outside UK
October 2024 - 15 days outside UK

Total = 95 days outside UK which is more than 90 days.

Would this invalidate my right to apply for naturalisation?

or

Does this mean I have to wait till February 2025 before I apply for naturalisation so that the total number of days outside the UK is not more than 90 days in the last 12 months?

Really appreciate any help on this!

[contorted_svy]

Up to 100 days of absence in the last 12 months are normally disregarded (if all other requirements are met).

[hmn2905]

Thank you for the response.

But if its more than 100 days does it invalidate your right to apply or do you have to wait till there is a period of 12months where you have been out of the UK for less than 100days before you apply?

[contorted_svy]

You would need to prove your strong links to the UK for absences up to 180 days in the last 12 months. However, I must say I do not understand the point of your question as you are under that limit.

[hmn2905]

Thanks again for the response.

My question was based on a hypothetical set of numbers. Essentially I am planning to apply for naturalisation end of the year IA and so was trying to understand this requirement clearly.

Because if I took a few too many holidays between now and end of the year, I might have spent more than 100 days outside the UK. So I am just trying to understand if that would mean that it invalidates my right to apply or it means that I have to delay my application.

Like for example, if instead of December 2024, I applied in August 2025 then alot of my time out of the UK in 2024 would not count if you only look at the last 12 months.

I hope you understand where I am coming from.

[contorted_svy]

You could still apply if you had between 100-180 days of absence in the last 12 months, but you would need to show strong links to the UK through having established your family, employment, finances and estate in the UK. That means submitting extra documents, attaching a cover letter and just a bit of extra stress.

Also worth remembering that the day of departure and day of returning do not count towards your total absences.

[hmn2905]

Thanks again for responding.

I guess another option could be delay applying for naturalisation till you reach a point where the previous 12 months specifically I have not spent more than 90 days outside the UK.

So in my example wait till Aug 2025 and then apply for example.

This could work as well right?

[alterhase58]

That's perfectly ok - there's no compulsion to apply - in my case I waited 30 years after becoming eligible.....

[contorted_svy]

Thanks again for responding.

I guess another option could be delay applying for naturalisation till you reach a point where the previous 12 months specifically I have not spent more than 90 days outside the UK.

So in my example wait till Aug 2025 and then apply for example.

This could work as well right?

That would be fine. As I stated, up to 100 days of absence in the last 12 months are normally disregarded, if that can inform your plans in any way.