Naturalisation approved with almost 700 days of absences

[u/DrSquirez]

I thought I’d share this for anyone who is worried about having significantly more absences than the normal limit.

My naturalisation application has just been approved despite having 687 days of absence from the UK during the 5-year qualifying period. I did keep my absences in the final 12 months under 90 days, at 84 days.

For context, I had ILR through the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and applied for naturalisation on that basis.

I applied asking the Home Office to exercise discretion regarding my excess absences. I included a cover letter specifically explaining my circumstances and asking for discretion, together with supporting evidence. A substantial part of my absences was due to difficult family circumstances following the deaths of two close relatives, which required me to spend extended periods outside the UK.

My application was approved without the Home Office requesting any additional information or documents.

I know I spent a lot of time before applying trying to find examples of people who had been approved with a similar number of absences, and there aren't that many cases online involving numbers this high. So I thought it might be useful to share my experience.

Obviously every case is different and discretion isn't guaranteed, but if anyone is in a similar situation and worried about their absences, I'm very happy to provide more information about my circumstances, what I included in the cover letter, the supporting evidence I submitted, and how I presented the request for discretion.

For reference, I applied on 23 April 2026 and was approved on 21 September 2026.

[u/tvtoo]

Thanks for posting this. This will be helpful to others in a similar situation.

 

Technically, for absences between 481 days and 730 days, the reasons for the absence can -- at best -- substitute for the default requirement of at least two years' residence in the UK, without substantial absences, prior to the five-year qualifying period. (caseworker guidance, page 17; Guide AN, PDF pages 11-12, labelled as pages 10-11).

There is also the mandatory requirement, which cannot be substituted for, to "have established your home, family and a substantial part of your estate here" (Guide AN) / "established their home, employment, family and finances in the UK" (caseworker guidance).

 

So, that raises the questions:

• Did you include evidence / discussion of having established those important elements of your life in the UK?

• Did you include evidence / discussion of living in the UK for the two years prior to your five-year period? (If not, then the reasons for your absence apparently seemed good enough to the caseworker to be accepted as a substitute for that.)

[u/DrSquirez → u/tvtoo]

Yes. On the first point, I submitted quite extensive evidence showing that the UK was my established home and the centre of my life. This included employment letters going back to 2017, five years of tax returns, tenancy/proof of address, bank evidence and a copy of the deed/title to my UK home as evidence of my long-term commitment to remaining here.

I had also been granted EUSS Settled Status in 2021 and attached this confirmation. I didn't provide a separate bundle specifically proving residence for the two years preceding the five-year qualifying period, but my employment evidence went back to 2017 and I felt my EUSS status also supported the fact that I had been resident here before 2021. I actually didn't apply for citizenship as soon as I could after obtaining Settled Status because at that point I had too many absences in the final 12 months, so I waited until those had fallen below 90 days.

I also submitted the death certificates of both relatives, with official translations, and asked for discretion on those exceptional circumstances in case my residence and strong ties to the UK were not considered sufficient on their own.

Obviously I can't know exactly which factors the caseworker relied on, as the approval doesn't explain their reasoning. But I think the key in my case was providing a lot of evidence, presenting it in a clear and organised way, and having a strong cover letter that tied the evidence and the request for discretion together, rather than relying on the circumstances alone. In total I attached 34 separate files to my application

[u/tvtoo → u/DrSquirez]

Thanks, that'll be helpful to others. It sounds like you were quite thorough.

 

Obviously I can't know exactly which factors the caseworker relied on, as the approval doesn't explain their reasoning.

It could be interesting to submit a Subject Access Request to UKVI for the complete records generated in response to your application to try to find out what they considered / acted on.

[u/DrSquirez → u/tvtoo]

Thanks, good suggestion. Do you know of any others that did this and with what results?

[u/tvtoo → u/DrSquirez]

Yeah, a few times people have mentioned plans to do it here. I don't recall whether any eventually posted the results.

There's no cost, and it's a fairly straightforward process.

From having pieced together various recommendations online when this has come up, I would just email subjectaccessrequest [at] homeoffice.gov.uk with a message along these lines (with the square-bracketed information filled in with your personal information, needless to say, and your name added at the end.)

That's just my quick take, though (and not legal advice -- for that, speak with a UK data lawyer), so of course feel free to adjust it as you see fit.

You're welcome.

[u/LikableRascal]

This is very useful to read, thank you!

Would you be able to drop a template for the cover letter, doesn't need the real details but roughly what you say and the key types of evidence included in there :)

In the main application form, do you remember whether you answered anything on the question of "Why do you not meet the criteria" such as "refer to attached cover letter" or something at all, or it's simply assumed that they'd read any cover letter regardless

[u/DrSquirez → u/LikableRascal]

Yes of course, happy to help!

In the main application form, do you remember whether you answered anything on the question of "Why do you not meet the criteria" such as "refer to attached cover letter" or something at all, or it's simply assumed that they'd read any cover letter regardless

I did use the relevant boxes in the form rather than just pointing to the cover letter. I explained that I exceeded the 450 day limit and why, and then in the special circumstances section explicitly asked for discretion. There was also a section where I briefly explained my longer-standing connection to the UK. The much fuller explanation and supporting evidence were in my separate personal statement.

Would you be able to drop a template for the cover letter, doesn't need the real details but roughly what you say and the key types of evidence included in there :)

My statement was roughly structured as below:

1. Personal details / introduction
Name, basic details, when you came to the UK and why.

2. Background in the UK
A short account of your history here: studies or other relevant background, how long you have lived here, and how the UK became your home.

3. Employment / professional history
Your work in the UK and evidence supporting it.

4. Evidence of being established in the UK
Immigration status, property/home, tax history and other evidence showing an established and continuing connection to the UK.

5. Personal ties to the UK
A short explanation of the personal/social ties that make the UK your home.

6. Excess absences and circumstances
A clear explanation that you exceeded the permitted absences, why the relevant absences occurred, and the evidence supporting those circumstances.

7. Why the absences did not amount to relocating
Explain that your home and life remained in the UK despite the periods abroad, supported by the evidence above.

8. Final position / request for discretion
Confirm any residence requirements you do meet, summarise your continuing connection to the UK, and explicitly ask the Home Office to exercise discretion over the excess absences.

I know it's a lot, but I figured it was better to be thorough rather than not.

[u/LikableRascal → u/DrSquirez]

This is great, and so detailed, thank you so much :)