Absence on Ancestry Visa - ILR

Hello,

I am hoping to receive some clarification on absences from the UK during the course of a five-year ancestry visa.

I have had two UK ancestry visas (2012-2017, and 2017-2022), and am now approaching the time where I must apply again.

The reason I have not applied for indefinite leave to remain is because I did not end up moving to the UK until the third year (2015) of my first visa, then received my second visa in 2017 while I was living in the UK.

However, I returned to Canada in 2018 to pursue a humanities graduate research degree, to upgrade my qualifications so I could come back to the UK and find work in my sector (museums).

I moved back to the UK after receiving my qualification in 2021 and am currently living here now.

Since I did not have continuous residency in the UK for a full 5 years, I do not believe I am eligible to apply for ILR next year (although I will have technically lived here for 5 years as of June 2023). However, I was wondering if my time away from the UK, which was solely for the purpose of study, is somehow an allowance?

Would someone be able to confirm if there is an allowance for absences, for the purpose of studying/research?

Thanks so much.

No such exemptions exist under the rules. You need 5 years of continuous residence to be eligible for ILR. Extend your visa and apply in 2026

Continuous residence requirement for settlement on the UK Ancestry route

UKA 14.1. The applicant must meet the continuous residence requirement in Appendix Continuous Residence during the period in UKA 13.1.

Thank you. Do you by chance know if it’s possible to apply for the extension more than three months in advance? Hoping to start this process now if possible. The UK gov website only mentions needing to apply no sooner than three months before travel if one is applying for an ancestry visa for the first time.

Possible, if you meet all the requirements.