Naturalisation Eligibility
Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 9:05 pm
Dear All,
I arrived in the UK in 2016 to begin my PhD studies. After completing my PhD, I worked as a Research Fellow for one year before leaving the UK on 3 December 2021. My visa expired on 14 December 2021. I then returned to the UK on 5 April 2022 to take up another position, using a new entry clearance vignette.
As per your previous advice, I understood that this period would break continuous residence for ILR purposes, and I followed your guidance accordingly. I have now been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) through the Global Talent route, effective from 14 March 2025, after completing the required 3 years.
I have an enquiry that I would appreciate your clarification on:
Naturalisation eligibility: I am planning to apply for British naturalisation next March. I meet all the requirements, including:
Absences from the UK in the last five years are well below the 450-day limit.
I will have held ILR for 12 months by the time of application.
I have not breached any immigration laws, including overstaying.
My concern is whether the four-month period I spent outside the UK between December 2021 and April 2022—during which my previous visa had expired—would be considered a break in residence and affect my eligibility for naturalisation, even though I have not breached any immigration laws, such as overstaying, because I understand that lawful residence differs from continuous residence for ILR.
Would this require me to start a new five-year qualifying period from April 2022, or is the naturalisation assessment different from ILR, meaning I would still be eligible to apply next March?
I arrived in the UK in 2016 to begin my PhD studies. After completing my PhD, I worked as a Research Fellow for one year before leaving the UK on 3 December 2021. My visa expired on 14 December 2021. I then returned to the UK on 5 April 2022 to take up another position, using a new entry clearance vignette.
As per your previous advice, I understood that this period would break continuous residence for ILR purposes, and I followed your guidance accordingly. I have now been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) through the Global Talent route, effective from 14 March 2025, after completing the required 3 years.
I have an enquiry that I would appreciate your clarification on:
Naturalisation eligibility: I am planning to apply for British naturalisation next March. I meet all the requirements, including:
Absences from the UK in the last five years are well below the 450-day limit.
I will have held ILR for 12 months by the time of application.
I have not breached any immigration laws, including overstaying.
My concern is whether the four-month period I spent outside the UK between December 2021 and April 2022—during which my previous visa had expired—would be considered a break in residence and affect my eligibility for naturalisation, even though I have not breached any immigration laws, such as overstaying, because I understand that lawful residence differs from continuous residence for ILR.
Would this require me to start a new five-year qualifying period from April 2022, or is the naturalisation assessment different from ILR, meaning I would still be eligible to apply next March?