Italian looking to gain dual citizenship

[Shloops]

Hello, apologies if there is already a thread about this but I couldn't find one anywhere so I figured I could post in a new one.

I'm a 23 year old Italian citizen but I have lived in the UK for the last 17 years. I went to primary and secondary school here and I did my degree in Nottingham. I started looking into getting a dual citizenship about a week ago but I came across a problem. After graduating I decided to go travelling in South East Asia for just under three month. This, alongside a visit to France and Vienna earlier this year (both were one week holidays), totals the sum of my time spent outside of the UK to 92 days. As the limit for the 'last 12 months' is 90 days, is there any chance that my application will be accepted? The confusing thing about the requirements is the fact that this condition is sub-headed by "And you must usually have:" but does not clarify that the exceptions may be...

I'm growing increasingly worried about this due to the talk of Britain leaving the EU. I would hate to be deported to a country where I barely speak the language...

Any help will be greatly appreciated .

[secret.simon]

When did you take the holidays?

Also remember that the days of leaving and arriving in the UK do not count. Only the whole number of days outside the UK count. Can you check if using this calculation you come under 90 days?

[Shloops]

Thanks for the quick reply! I just checked my passport and the total is actually just over 100 days not including the days I spent travelling

[noajthan]

Thanks for the quick reply! I just checked my passport and the total is actually just over 100 days not including the days I spent travelling

There is some allowance & discretion.

See https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... n_2015.pdf

Ref section 5, (pages 7-8)

Up to 100 days seems acceptable in the last 12 months.
Even 101+ days could be accepted if you can show you have strong ties to UK.
&
Total in last 5 years expected 450 days - accepted up to 480 days.

See also the section for EEA nationals and the requirements about absences in that case.
- pages 10-11

Note: No more than 6 months out of UK in any one of the past 5 years used to qualify for PR.

I think 17+ years of your life lived in UK helps here.

Good luck.

[Shloops]

Oh wow, you're amazing! Thanks so much! Last question, do I pay the £1000 in advance?? I think I remember reading that I do somewhere..

[noajthan]

Oh wow, you're amazing! Thanks so much! Last question, do I pay the £1000 in advance?? I think I remember reading that I do somewhere..

You're welcome.

if you mean the application fee - it's paid with your application;
- pay via NCS if you use a NCS (local council checking service)
or
enclose with your application if applying directly by yourself (by post).

Very important to make sure funds are available so payment will go through when HO try to collect it

Good luck.