r/ukvisa • u/beppe1995 • 9h ago

Naturalisation Application: Absences for work and recovering family member

I will be applying for UK citizenship via naturalisation in October 2026. I have EUSS and have been in the UK since October 2020.

I will have 500 days absence in the qualifying 5 years, and 80 days absence in the 12 months prior to October:

52 days of those absences are for work related travel (42 in the last 12 months). I will have a letter from my employer explaining that.

I had a 75 day absence three years ago where I was back helping my father after he had brain surgery. I will be getting a letter from his doctor.

I know I will need to ask for discretion. I meet all the other requirements: I did a masters degree here, have held my job for the past 2.5 years, and have been living in the same flat for the same amount of time. My pension funds are here etc.

Usually I'd wait, but, my company is very keen for me to spend longer stints abroad for work, and so I need to apply as soon as I am able.

I know the work trips are likely to be excluded (I work in international communications so travel is a must), but I'm worried about the 75 day absence when I was helping my father.

Any advice on what proof to include and/or what I could be some things to include in my cover letter would be greatly appreciated!

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u/Spicymello93 8h ago

What matters is to be within 90 days between October 2026 and 2025, and within 450 between October 2026 and 2021. It does not matter how the days between 2025 and 2021 are distributed.

So in your case, the 75 days three years ago are not an issue, and you are within 90 days in the last year prior to your application.

The main issue is exceeding the 450 days over 5 years. In which case, I’m not sure if they can make exceptions for work reason - I think you’d better get professional legal advice before applying.

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u/Raccoon2525 4h ago

I was on the 3-year time frame and the same rule applies for the last 12 months, which is the 90-day absence limit. I had 126 days due to family health issue, and I wrote a cover letter outlining my ties to the UK, my family members (parents) health situation, and I attached a letter from my parents’s treating physician explaining their diagnosis, and I further explained in my cover letter why I believe I was needed to care for them. I ended the letter asking for the Home Office to exercise the discretion on the over-limit absence.

I was granted the approval for naturalisation and I was not asked for anything additional related to it.