ILR 5 year route FLR(M) applicant outside UK

Can someone please advise...

I am British Citizen and my wife on dependent visa FLR(M)

My wife got initial visa in July 2013 and due to work reasons moved to Dubai for 1.5 year(Jan 2014 till May 2015) then came back to U.K and living together since then.

I applied for 2 extensions in 2016 March and 2018 October and current visa expires on 2021 April. After speaking to few friends I have been told there is no specific rule to stay in U.K for 5 year I was suggested I should have applied for ILR rather than 2nd extension in 2018.

Now my wife want to go to India for 2 to 3 months with the newborn and spend some time with family. Currently she is 130 days away in last 4 years.

Could you advise can we apply for ILR now? are there any specific rules for FLR(M) dependent to stay in the U.K continuously for 5 years.

Thanks for your help and advise. Let me know if you need any additional information


Many thanks.

Yes. No absence limit for spouse.

Thanks aman90 for the reply. If i had know this before could have saved 2k