Residence 3 years before

[ILROctober2025]

Do I need to be in country three years before biometric appointment
or just date of application (e.g. web submission)

thanks

[alterhase58]

Date of application/submission - biometrics is not a key date, and you wouldn't know what that date is.

Quote from the AN Guidance:

"Requirement to have been in the UK on the first day of the qualifying period
If you are applying under section 6(1), you must have been in the UK exactly 5 years before your application was received. For example, if your application is received on 05/01/2022 you should have been physically present in the UK on 06/01/2017.

If you are applying under section 6(2), as the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen, you must have been in the UK exactly 3 years before your application was received. For example, if your application is received on 05/05/2021, you should have been physically present in the UK on 06/05/2018.

If you cannot meet this requirement, your application is likely to be refused. If you believe there were exceptional circumstances which prevented you from being in the UK on the first day of the qualifying period, please provide details when you apply.

We recognise that occasionally someone might apply without realising that they were not in the UK at the start of the qualifying period. If you did not meet the requirement when you applied, we may see if there is another, later date we can use to allow you to meet the requirement and will consider your application on, or after, that date.

However, please be aware the requirements remain unchanged, and this does not guarantee that the application will be successful if an alternative date cannot be found. It may also result in delays to your application until you can meet the statutory requirements. You must pay the full fee that is in force on any date we use.

You are strongly recommended to make sure you meet the requirement before applying.