UK sets travel limits for British citizenship applicants

Foreign nationals applying for British citizenship must meet limits on the number of days they can spend outside the UK during their qualifying period, according to new Home Office guidance.

The rules apply to applicants under the standard five-year route and the three-year route available to people married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.

Under the five-year route, applicants must normally have spent no more than 450 days outside the UK during the qualifying period. Those applying through the three-year route face a limit of 270 days.

Only full days outside the UK count towards the total. The days of departure and return are excluded.

The Home Office guidance also sets out circumstances in which longer absences may be disregarded.

Under the five-year route, absences of up to 480 days may normally be overlooked, while the corresponding limit for the three-year route is 300 days.

Absences of up to 900 days under the five-year route, or 540 days under the three-year route, may also be disregarded if applicants have established their home, family and a substantial part of their estate in the UK.

For applicants exceeding 730 days of absence under the five-year route or 450 days under the three-year route, the guidance generally expects at least seven or four years of UK residence respectively, unless specific circumstances apply.

The Home Office may also consider absences linked to Crown or designated service, including service in the armed forces.

Other circumstances that may be taken into account include work requiring regular international travel, compelling occupational or compassionate reasons, and an inability to return because of a global pandemic.

The guidance says absences exceeding 900 days under the five-year route or 540 days under the three-year route will only rarely be disregarded. Applications exceeding those limits are likely to be refused.

Final 12-month absence limit

Applicants under both routes must also meet a separate limit for the final 12 months before submitting their citizenship application.

Normally, they must not have spent more than 90 days outside the UK during this period.

Absences of between 101 and 179 days may be disregarded if applicants demonstrate strong ties to the UK, including family connections, an established home and a substantial estate in the country.

Absences exceeding 180 days during the final 12 months will only be overlooked in exceptional circumstances.

The five-year and three-year routes are available to applicants based in the UK. Those applying from outside the country must follow a separate process.