Effect of International Secondment on Naturalisation

[SidB]

Hi,

Me and my wife are both holders of ILR and have been since May 2008. We're both currently settled in the UK and are on track to apply for naturalisation in a year's time as our total absences are less than 450 days.

However, my company has just made me an offer for an international secondment lasting 12-18 months after which we'll return to the UK. If I take up the secondment, it will take us both over the 450 day limit.

Does anyone know what is the impact of this on naturalisation? Do you just have to serve extra the number of days you're over by or do you have to wait for another 5 year period where your absences are within limits?

Please advise.

Many thanks.
S

[vinny]

Absences from the United Kingdom during the residential qualifying period

During the residential qualifying period you must not have been absent from the United Kingdom for more than 450 days. You must not have been absent for more than 90 days in the last 12 months.

There is discretion to allow absences above the normal limits. For details of how we apply discretion, you should read the page on discretion when considering absences from the United Kingdom during the residential qualifying period.