Naturalisation

Hello,i hope i can be helped out of this one by knowledgeable members of the forum.I met my partner on an early visit in 2003,i left back for Senegal and returned back in 2004 July on a visit visa,in november that same year we got married and my visa expired on the last day of november.My wife was then pregnant but she wanted to come along with me to my country for the spousal visa,so i ended up leaving in january 2005 since we needed to sort her medications out.The spousal visa was a success and i was given the visa in march 2005 and on our way out of the Uk no passport stamps were put in my passport.I was granted ILR this month and i need to know that based on the fact that i was in the Uk since 2004 and apart from briefly staying in for about 6 weeks for my wife since she couldnt have come on her own and considering the fact that i was not issued the spouse visa till march,do i qualify for a British passport.Thank you

chankanatuz wrote:Hello,i hope i can be helped out of this one by knowledgeable members of the forum.I met my partner on an early visit in 2003,i left back for Senegal and returned back in 2004 July on a visit visa,in november that same year we got married and my visa expired on the last day of november.My wife was then pregnant but she wanted to come along with me to my country for the spousal visa,so i ended up leaving in january 2005 since we needed to sort her medications out.The spousal visa was a success and i was given the visa in march 2005 and on our way out of the Uk no passport stamps were put in my passport.I was granted ILR this month and i need to know that based on the fact that i was in the Uk since 2004 and apart from briefly staying in for about 6 weeks for my wife since she couldnt have come on her own and considering the fact that i was not issued the spouse visa till march,do i qualify for a British passport.Thank you

As you have ILR and are married to a British citizen, there are four simple questions for you:

1. Were you physically in the UK on the exact day three years beforehand?

2. Have you been absent from the UK for no more than 270 days in the 3 years since?

3. Have you been absent from the UK for no more than 90 days in the last year?

4. Has all your time in the UK during the 3 years period been lawful under the immigration laws?


- There is some leeway on the 270/90 day rules but not much.
- Isle of Man and Channel Islands count as part of UK for nationality
- You need to pass the Life in the UK Test before applying for naturalisation.
- You will also need referees to countersign your application, who have known you for 3+ years.