Absence from UK

[sunoo]

Hi all,

I wanted to ask someone in regards to my wife's future ILR application. She was granted an extension in august last year as she is currently holding Spouse visa. My question is in regards to the number of days she can live out of the UK. She left UK on 29th of February and we are currently stranded in Pakistan due to coronavirus and not sure when we are going to get back since all the flights are not operating and as of now Turkish Stupid suspended until 20 May.

My question how many days she can live outside the UK to successfully apply for ILR? What would be the criteria and how this would be calculated?

Thanks

Sunoo

[CR001]

There is NO absence limit for spouse visa holders.

[sunoo]

Thanks CR001. So we should be OK when we will apply for ILR or naturalisation?

[CR001]

Yes.

Note that the rules for citizenship are completely separate and different to those for ILR.

Citizenship has got absence limits.

[sunoo]

What would be the absence limit for naturalisation? What is the criteria?

[CR001]

It is based on 3 years residence and no more than 270 days absence in the whole 3 years and no more than 90 days absence in the last 12 months before applying.

This is in addition to the physically present in the UK at the start of the qualifying period.