Unsure if I Can Apply for Citizenship

[InNeedOfAdvice2025]

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing well. I am currently in the process of understanding if I can apply for citizenship - I have tried to figure it out on my own, and have even contacted and spoken to an advisor (also called the Government's pre-application line, and went to talk to Citizens Advice), but it is still not clear to me if I should apply or not. I have included details of my situation below - apologies in advance for the long entry!

I came to the UK in 2015, as an undergraduate student, and spent 2015 – 2019 in higher education (including a placement year, 2017 – 2018). Afterwards, I went straight into employment between 2019 – 2021.

In July 2021, I obtained my settlement under the EU Settlement Scheme.

In August 2021, I temporarily left the UK due to personal reasons (working throughout COVID-19 proved to be more challenging than expected, particularly in relation to my mental health and overall wellbeing, which led to my decision to take a break), with the intention to always return to the UK in a year’s time.
In September 2022, I returned to the UK into full-time employment – I have been working for the same company ever since.

While I was gone, I did not attempt to work or ‘make a life’ anywhere else – I went to see my parents and then proceeded to travel until roughly beginning of July 2022.

One of the requirements for the citizenship application is that you should not have left the UK for more than 450 days in the past five yeas from the day you apply – while I breach this (I currently have around 540+ days out of the country), I am hoping to argue my case and explain I needed to take a break from employment given it was very intense, with the intention to return (which I have). As part of their guide, they state that ‘if your absences are up to 730 days we would expect you to have been resident in the UK for the last 7 years’, which I believe I have given I came to the UK in 2015 and have been a resident here since – I also counted up my days out of the UK in the past 7 years, and they are around 650+ (certainly under 730).

Regarding 'having lived in the UK for 5 years' - I have looked through all guidelines and supporting documents made available by the Government as part of the citizenship application process, but the following is still unclear to me:
Between Aug 2021 – Sep 2022, I did not have a UK address because I was renting prior to leaving (and I am still renting now), given I do not have my own house / permanent housing in the UK.
Apart from this period, I can show I have rented prior and afterwards (various places around the UK).

In the application for citizenship, the Government asks for where I have lived for the past five years as part of the process. I cannot find anywhere whether I am in breach of this given I did not have a UK address for Aug 21 – Sep 22, particularly as I have obtained my settlement before I left (settlement under EUSS states I can leave the country for up to 5 years before it lapses).

My question is: am I okay to try and apply and argue my case about the fact that I have more than 450 days over the past 5 years, or do I automatically ‘fail’ this because I did not have residence continuously given I did not have a UK address for Aug 21 – Sep 22, therefore meaning I would have to wait until Sep 27 (assuming, by then, I would have 5 years’ worth of ‘continuous residency’)? I am aware that, for settlement or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications, they ask for ‘continuous residency’ for five years, but I wanted to see if my situation is different (i.e., whether the fact that I obtained my settlement prior to leaving means I do not have to ‘worry’ about having a UK address for all five years if I want to apply for citizenship).

Thank you so much in advance for any support and guidance, I really appreciate it!

[contorted_svy]

Let's take this one thing at a time.

- Rules for ILR, or EUSS, don't matter for citizenship - just ignore any definition about continuous residence or any other requirement that may hold in another context.

- Can you please list all your absences in the last 7 years, with date/month/year?

- Having studied or having been employed doesn't matter too much - you do need to prove you lived here, which, if you are a EU citizen, you can't prove through your passport stamps. Do you have letters from your employers/university/schools to prove you lived here, and if not, can you obtain them?

- Where you rented or even the fact you rented vs owning a house doesn't necessarily matter for citizenship. In your case, it may help to build a case where you ask for discretion. Do you currently have a rental contract in your name?


From what I can gather from your post, your case should fall under the discretionary category, though a solution needs to be found for the period you didn't live in the UK. Where did you live at the time?

[InNeedOfAdvice2025]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me, I really, really appreciate it!! I have included all my replies below:

Rules for ILR, or EUSS, don't matter for citizenship - just ignore any definition about continuous residence or any other requirement that may hold in another context.
Many thanks for this - I think I was worried that not having a physical address in the UK between Aug 21 - Sep 22 would consequently imply that I am not eligible.

- Can you please list all your absences in the last 7 years, with date/month/year?
I have gone one step further and have done it for the past 8 years (starting with April 2017). The total number of days out of the country comes to around 671 - the only one I cannot show is going to France by car for a weekend (6/07/2018 - 08/07/2018); apart from that, I should be able to locate all my flight tickets. I have also requested a Subject Access Request via UK Visas and Immigration for the past year (they have provided the official document for all dates in and out of the country from 03/08/2021 - 01/01/2025 - any earlier than that would not have been possible as I changed my passport in Apr 21). A small note - I am aware I currently do not have less than 90 days in the last year. I do not plan to leave the UK again until these go down (July 2025 - when I am hoping to apply):

04/04/2017 - 05/01/2017
04/04/2017 - 20/04/2017
25/08/2017 - 28/08/2017
20/12/2017 - 02/01/2018

28/03/2018 - 08/04/2018
06/07/2018 - 08/07/2018
25/07/2018 - 03/08/2018
04/08/2018 - 03/09/2018
24/12/2018 - 04/01/2019
19/06/2019 - 05/07/2019
19/12/2019 - 07/01/2020

18/12/2020 -07/01/2021

03/08/2021 - 24/08/2021
30/08/2021 - 15/10/2021
27/10/2021 - 06/12/2021
11/12/2021 - 01/09/2022

24/11/2022 - 27/11/2022
21/12/2022 - 26/12/2022

17/05/2023 - 28/05/2023
25/06/2023 - 29/06/2023
29/06/2023 - 09/07/2023
14/09/2023 - 18/09/2023
19/11/2023 - 24/11/2023
18/12/2023 - 26/12/2023

01/02/2024 - 04/02/2024
14/03/2024 - 18/03/2024
22/03/2024 - 28/03/2024
06/04/2024 - 17/04/2024
29/04/2024 - 05/05/2024
15/05/2024 - 22/05/2024
13/06/2024 - 02/07/2024
08/07/2024 - 12/07/2024
14/07/2024 - 05/08/2024
29/08/2024 - 10/09/2024
03/10/2024 - 11/10/2024
06/12/2024 - 01/01/2025

27/03/2025 - 05/04/2025

- Having studied or having been employed doesn't matter too much - you do need to prove you lived here, which, if you are a EU citizen, you can't prove through your passport stamps. Do you have letters from your employers/university/schools to prove you lived here, and if not, can you obtain them?
I am from the EU. I have P60s, P45s, University diploma, rental contracts for all years (there are small gaps of 1-2 weeks max in between contracts where I stayed at friends) - I can also reach out to my previous employer and current one to ask for a letter confirming I worked there.

- Where you rented or even the fact you rented vs owning a house doesn't necessarily matter for citizenship. In your case, it may help to build a case where you ask for discretion. Do you currently have a rental contract in your name?
I do currently have a rental contract in my name and the name of my friend that I am renting with. I have a contract for all years, with the exception of Aug 21 - Sep 22 as I was not renting (given I was out of the country) - I did update my address on GOV's website then to let them know that my 'base' would be at my parents' house outside of the country.

From what I can gather from your post, your case should fall under the discretionary category, though a solution needs to be found for the period you didn't live in the UK. Where did you live at the time?
Between Aug - Dec 21, I stayed at my parents abroad, but traveled back and forth to the UK as my then-partner (not married or anything) was in the UK. We left to travel together between Dec - Jul 22. Jul - Aug 22 I was back at my parents while we were sorting out jobs and housing. Sep 22 we moved in together and started our new jobs. On GOV's website, I put down my parents' address (EU) for that period as it made most sense.

Apologies, again, for the length. Thank you so much for supporting with this, I really appreciate it!

[contorted_svy]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me, I really, really appreciate it!! I have included all my replies below:

Rules for ILR, or EUSS, don't matter for citizenship - just ignore any definition about continuous residence or any other requirement that may hold in another context.
Many thanks for this - I think I was worried that not having a physical address in the UK between Aug 21 - Sep 22 would consequently imply that I am not eligible.

- Can you please list all your absences in the last 7 years, with date/month/year?
I have gone one step further and have done it for the past 8 years (starting with April 2017). The total number of days out of the country comes to around 671 - the only one I cannot show is going to France by car for a weekend (6/07/2018 - 08/07/2018); apart from that, I should be able to locate all my flight tickets. I have also requested a Subject Access Request via UK Visas and Immigration for the past year (they have provided the official document for all dates in and out of the country from 03/08/2021 - 01/01/2025 - any earlier than that would not have been possible as I changed my passport in Apr 21). A small note - I am aware I currently do not have less than 90 days in the last year. I do not plan to leave the UK again until these go down (July 2025 - when I am hoping to apply):

Can you please cpmpute the number of days you were absent for each of these so it is easier for me to look at relevant totals? Remember that the day you left and the day you returned don't count. Flight tickets not necessary.

04/04/2017 - 05/01/2017
04/04/2017 - 20/04/2017
25/08/2017 - 28/08/2017
20/12/2017 - 02/01/2018

28/03/2018 - 08/04/2018
06/07/2018 - 08/07/2018
25/07/2018 - 03/08/2018
04/08/2018 - 03/09/2018
24/12/2018 - 04/01/2019
19/06/2019 - 05/07/2019
19/12/2019 - 07/01/2020

18/12/2020 -07/01/2021

03/08/2021 - 24/08/2021
30/08/2021 - 15/10/2021
27/10/2021 - 06/12/2021
11/12/2021 - 01/09/2022

24/11/2022 - 27/11/2022
21/12/2022 - 26/12/2022

17/05/2023 - 28/05/2023
25/06/2023 - 29/06/2023
29/06/2023 - 09/07/2023
14/09/2023 - 18/09/2023
19/11/2023 - 24/11/2023
18/12/2023 - 26/12/2023

01/02/2024 - 04/02/2024
14/03/2024 - 18/03/2024
22/03/2024 - 28/03/2024
06/04/2024 - 17/04/2024
29/04/2024 - 05/05/2024
15/05/2024 - 22/05/2024
13/06/2024 - 02/07/2024
08/07/2024 - 12/07/2024
14/07/2024 - 05/08/2024
29/08/2024 - 10/09/2024
03/10/2024 - 11/10/2024
06/12/2024 - 01/01/2025

27/03/2025 - 05/04/2025

- Having studied or having been employed doesn't matter too much - you do need to prove you lived here, which, if you are a EU citizen, you can't prove through your passport stamps. Do you have letters from your employers/university/schools to prove you lived here, and if not, can you obtain them?
I am from the EU. I have P60s, P45s, University diploma, rental contracts for all years (there are small gaps of 1-2 weeks max in between contracts where I stayed at friends) - I can also reach out to my previous employer and current one to ask for a letter confirming I worked there. rental contracts not needed, only the current one for requesting discretion. Get your records in order for everything else, especially the period that you were absent - were you working in the UK then, or have any government letters from that period?

- Where you rented or even the fact you rented vs owning a house doesn't necessarily matter for citizenship. In your case, it may help to build a case where you ask for discretion. Do you currently have a rental contract in your name?
I do currently have a rental contract in my name and the name of my friend that I am renting with. I have a contract for all years, with the exception of Aug 21 - Sep 22 as I was not renting (given I was out of the country) - I did update my address on GOV's website then to let them know that my 'base' would be at my parents' house outside of the country.

From what I can gather from your post, your case should fall under the discretionary category, though a solution needs to be found for the period you didn't live in the UK. Where did you live at the time?
Between Aug - Dec 21, I stayed at my parents abroad, but traveled back and forth to the UK as my then-partner (not married or anything) was in the UK. We left to travel together between Dec - Jul 22. Jul - Aug 22 I was back at my parents while we were sorting out jobs and housing. Sep 22 we moved in together and started our new jobs. On GOV's website, I put down my parents' address (EU) for that period as it made most sense.

Apologies, again, for the length. Thank you so much for supporting with this, I really appreciate it!

[InNeedOfAdvice2025]

Thank you so, so much, once again, for all your support - I really cannot stress how grateful I am!! I hope I have clarified everything you mentioned:

Can you please cpmpute the number of days you were absent for each of these so it is easier for me to look at relevant totals? Remember that the day you left and the day you returned don't count. Flight tickets not necessary.

Based on your second reply, I have now done the break-down as follows - I have included the dates, followed by the number of total days out of the country. Here it is, now updated:
04/04/2017 - 20/04/2017 - 15
25/08/2017 - 28/08/2017 - 2
20/12/2017 - 02/01/2018 - 11

28/03/2018 - 08/04/2018 - 10
06/07/2018 - 08/07/2018 - 1
25/07/2018 - 03/08/2018 - 8
04/08/2018 - 03/09/2018 - 29
24/12/2018 - 04/01/2019 - 10
19/06/2019 - 05/07/2019 - 15
19/12/2019 - 07/01/2020 - 18

18/12/2020 -07/01/2021 - 19

03/08/2021 - 24/08/2021 - 20
30/08/2021 - 15/10/2021 - 45
27/10/2021 - 06/12/2021 - 39
11/12/2021 - 01/09/2022 - 263

24/11/2022 - 27/11/2022 - 2
21/12/2022 - 26/12/2022 - 4

17/05/2023 - 28/05/2023 - 10
25/06/2023 - 29/06/2023 - 3
29/06/2023 - 09/07/2023 - 9
14/09/2023 - 18/09/2023 - 3
19/11/2023 - 24/11/2023 - 4
18/12/2023 - 26/12/2023 - 7

01/02/2024 - 04/02/2024 - 2
14/03/2024 - 18/03/2024 - 3
22/03/2024 - 28/03/2024 - 5
06/04/2024 - 17/04/2024 - 10
29/04/2024 - 05/05/2024 - 5
15/05/2024 - 22/05/2024 - 6
13/06/2024 - 02/07/2024 - 18
08/07/2024 - 12/07/2024 - 3
14/07/2024 - 05/08/2024 - 21
29/08/2024 - 10/09/2024 - 11
03/10/2024 - 11/10/2024 - 7
06/12/2024 - 01/01/2025 - 25

27/03/2025 - 05/04/2025 - 8
TOTAL: 671

rental contracts not needed, only the current one for requesting discretion. Get your records in order for everything else, especially the period that you were absent - were you working in the UK then, or have any government letters from that period?
I have included a break-down of the years based on the above - sorry in advance if I misunderstood your question:

2015 - 2019 - undergraduate student in the UK, including a placement year as part of my degree (also took place in the UK). I had various UK addresses over this period and have done 0-hour contract work at my University, as well as full-time work as part of my placement (2017 - 2018).

2019 - 2021 - full-time employment in the UK, working for my University's Students' Union (fixed 2-year contract), had the same accommodation for both years in the UK.

Aug 2021 - Sep 2022 - no employment (in the UK or outside of the UK), updated the Gov's website to state my address was at my parents' home (outside of the UK, in EU).

Sep 2022 to present day - have been working for the same company in the UK. Have had three different renting agreements in UK, currently at my latest one. Just to mention - my current place of work operates remotely from within the UK (and is UK based), which is why I was able to travel and work from my home country over the past year(s), all whilst having my primary address(es) in the UK.

Thank you so much for all your help - I am really grateful!!

[contorted_svy]

Alright, let's have a look at your absences. I will only consider the 2 years before your qualifying period (you said you want to apply in July so I will start from July 2018), then break down the last 5 years and the last year:

2 years before the qualifying period starts
06/07/2018 - 08/07/2018 - 1
25/07/2018 - 03/08/2018 - 8
04/08/2018 - 03/09/2018 - 29
24/12/2018 - 04/01/2019 - 10
19/06/2019 - 05/07/2019 - 15
19/12/2019 - 07/01/2020 - 18

Total 81

5 year qualifying period
18/12/2020 -07/01/2021 - 19

03/08/2021 - 24/08/2021 - 20
30/08/2021 - 15/10/2021 - 45
27/10/2021 - 06/12/2021 - 39
11/12/2021 - 01/09/2022 - 263

24/11/2022 - 27/11/2022 - 2
21/12/2022 - 26/12/2022 - 4

17/05/2023 - 28/05/2023 - 10
25/06/2023 - 29/06/2023 - 3
29/06/2023 - 09/07/2023 - 9
14/09/2023 - 18/09/2023 - 3
19/11/2023 - 24/11/2023 - 4
18/12/2023 - 26/12/2023 - 7

01/02/2024 - 04/02/2024 - 2
14/03/2024 - 18/03/2024 - 3
22/03/2024 - 28/03/2024 - 5
06/04/2024 - 17/04/2024 - 10
29/04/2024 - 05/05/2024 - 5
15/05/2024 - 22/05/2024 - 6
13/06/2024 - 02/07/2024 - 18
08/07/2024 - 12/07/2024 - 3
14/07/2024 - 05/08/2024 - 21
29/08/2024 - 10/09/2024 - 11
03/10/2024 - 11/10/2024 - 7
06/12/2024 - 01/01/2025 - 25

27/03/2025 - 05/04/2025 - 8

Total in 5 years 552 - Total in the last year (starting from 3 July) 75


Now let's look at the guidance

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... bookmark18

Absences
You must check the available evidence to see whether an applicant meets the residence requirements.

The following can be used as evidence of residence:

passports or travel documents which have been stamped to show arrival in the UK and entry and departure from other countries: these should be checked against the list of absences that applicants are asked to provide on the application form

Home Office records

if the applicant does not have passports to cover the qualifying period, other evidence such as employers’ letters or tax and National Insurance letters:

in such cases you should assess whether there is sufficient evidence to show that that applicant has been resident in the UK during the qualifying period, giving them the benefit of any doubt where claimed absences are within the limits we would normally allow and there are no grounds to doubt the accuracy of the claim
You must not normally accept doctors’ letters on their own as proof of residence. However, if nothing else is available and the doctors can confirm that they have seen the applicant on a regular basis during the period concerned these may be accepted.

If there are gaps in a person’s evidence of residence and it is clear from the information available that they could not have travelled, you must accept this. Examples of this might include a refugee who has no means of travel or where immigration records confirm continuous residence.

You must only count whole days’ absences from the UK. You must not count the dates of departure and arrival as absences. For example, a person who left the UK on 22 September and returned on 23 September will not be classed as having been absent from the UK.

An applicant only needs to have been physically present in the UK for the purpose of the act. They do not have to have been ordinarily resident or domiciled here.

Absences during the qualifying period
Where an applicant has spent more than the 450 days for section 6(1) applications, or 270 days for section 6(2) applications, outside of the UK during the qualifying period you must consider exercising discretion if they meet the other requirements.

Where the applicant exceeds the permitted absence by 30 days or less you must exercise discretion unless there are other grounds on which the application falls to be refused.

Where the applicant has absences of between 480 and 900 days for applications under section 6(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981, or 300 and 540 days for applications under section 6(2) and otherwise meets the requirements you must only consider exercising discretion where the applicant has established their home, employment, family and finances in the UK, and one or more of the following applies:

at least 2 years residence (for applications under section 6(1)), or 1 year (for applications under section 6(2)), without substantial absences immediately prior to the beginning of the qualifying period - if the period of absence is greater than 730 days (for section 6(1)) or 450 days (for section 6(2)) the period of residence must be at least 3 or 2 years respectively

the excess absences are the result of:

postings abroad in Crown service under the UK government or in service designated under section 2(3) of the British Nationality act 1981.

accompanying a British citizen spouse or civil partner on an appointment overseas

the excess absences were an unavoidable consequence of the nature of the applicant’s career, such as a merchant seaman or employment with a multinational company based in the UK with frequent travel abroad

exceptionally compelling reasons of an occupational or compassionate nature to justify naturalisation now, such as a firm job offer where British citizenship is a statutory or mandatory requirement

the applicant was prevented from being in the UK because they had been removed from the UK, and the decision to remove them was later overturned

the applicant was incorrectly prevented from resuming permanent residence in the UK following an absence

the excess absences were because the applicant was unable to return to the UK because of global pandemic

Where the applicant’s absence exceeds those covered above as a result of Crown Service overseas, discretion should normally be exercised where:

before an overseas posting the applicant was resident in the UK and Islands

the excess absence was due to either:

a period of absence from the UK and Islands on a posting on Crown service

a period of absence from the UK and Islands accompanying a spouse, civil partner, partner or parent on a posting on Crown service

The person in Crown service should provide evidence of their employment and posting from the relevant Government department.

In other cases, where an applicant’s absences exceed those covered above it is highly unlikely that discretion would be appropriate. You should normally refuse the application and advise them to re-apply when they are able to bring themselves with the statutory requirements, unless there are specific circumstances that warrant exceptional consideration at a senior level.

So if you prove you studied/lived here in 2018/2019, have the majority of your finances here, have a current rental contract as well as all the other evidence for residence in the last 5 years, the year when you didn't have a physical address in the UK should not be a problem. Other members may comment further.

[InNeedOfAdvice2025]

I know I have said this before, but thank you so, so, so much for taking the time to help - I really cannot thank you enough!!

I have also stumbled upon the following bit which you have kindly highlighted before -
An applicant only needs to have been physically present in the UK for the purpose of the act. They do not have to have been ordinarily resident or domiciled here.

It did not really make sense to me at the beginning because it seemed too generalised of a statement, but perhaps it is directly linked to my questions and I have just dismissed it?

So if you prove you studied/lived here in 2018/2019, have the majority of your finances here, have a current rental contract as well as all the other evidence for residence in the last 5 years, the year when you didn't have a physical address in the UK should not be a problem. Other members may comment further.
I can certainly prove this - I need to have a look through official documents and I might need to get in touch with my old employer, but I really do not think there would be an issue.

At this stage, I am weighing up my options as I am worried my justification for my absences would not show enough of a reason for being gone. COVID-19 was really difficult for me, as I was a key worker in my job, with most of my colleagues being on furlough and a lot of challenges to navigate - I was working to support students, in particular regarding their academic experience, so it is safe to say it was a challenging time. I felt the job gave me such burnout and COVID-19 genuinely took a toll on my mental health. On the whole, I did not leave for most of COVID-19, and felt I needed to take a break from employment before I could jump back into it. It's hard as I have seen most people discussing their situations in relation to COVID-19 as an explanation for their absences during that period - for me, it almost feels flipped (I needed to leave after COVID-19 as I had not at all during). I am not sure how this would be strong enough as an argument, but it is the truth.

Once again, thank you so much for everything!!!

[contorted_svy]

Your argument for leaving does not matter, because you have the two years of presence before. I do agree that it probably wouldn't stand - it was your choice to leave after all, you could have taken a career break and stayed in the UK, and also you weren't blocked out of the UK - you could have flown back at any time. However if you follow what I have highlighted and collect all the documents as I explained - it should be fine. I don't think you need UK addresses for the whole qualifying period but other members may comment further. Of course there is the option to ait and apply in Sept 2027 without asking for discretion.

[InNeedOfAdvice2025]

Thank you SO much for all your reflections and your insight - I definitely feel far more prepared to at least make a decision based on everything you mentioned (and my own research).

I am sure I will be back on here in no time - hopefully, as things go on, I will also be able to help others, just as you have done for me!

Thank you!!