Absent from UK more than 450 days query

[chiran555]

Hi

I am planning to launch my citizenship application with my family member(wife and child 5yrs).
As per my IN and out dates given, i am getting 565 days

Total number of full days absent 565
Trips outside the UK
Details of your trips outside the UK
Country
visited
Reason for trip Departure date Return date Full days
absent
India Visiting family and friends 15 May 2025 6 August 2025 82
India Visiting family and friends 4 September
2023
14 February 2024 162
India Visiting family and friends 28 October 2020 15 September
2021

But from date i am submitting the application March 2nd 2026 to last five years March 2nd 2021. i will get less than 450 days (441 days). I need to mention this anywhere in the application section? please help me on this

Regards
Chiranjeevi

[CR001]

If you apply in March 2026, you are also required to meet the requirement of physically present on the 1 day of the qualifying period, March 2021, which you were not physically present in the UK.

[chiran555]

Thank you for the reply.

I have strucked in india during covid time, where my son born their, after coming back to UK i got ILR to my wife and my son showing the proof of flight cancelled and strucked in india. Can i apply to citizenship showing those proof for long stay or you advice me to apply after physically present September 16th 2021 to September 16th 2026. In April 2026 ILR rule change will that have any impact on my naturalization application?

[chiran555]

Someone reply on my above query

[sam550]

You must be physically present in the UK exactly five years before the date of your citizenship application. This requirement is strictly applied, and there is no discretion to waive it. Exceptional circumstances, including COVID-19 travel disruption or being unable to return to the UK, do not override this rule.

[chiran555]

Hi thank you for the reply

Date of application submitted and paid money online will count as application start date for last five years or biometeric submitted date is counted as application start date

[CR001]

Date of application submitted is the date if application.

Biometrics is only a formality.

[secret.simon]

Naturalisation is an optional application, not a required one. You already have ILR and the ability to live indefinitely in the UK.

So the question you must answer, in request the Home Office to extender discretion, is, why can you not wait until you meet the statutory requirements for naturalisation?

Also keep in mind that naturalisation is not a part of the immigration pathway, which ended at ILR. The provisions for COVID travel were for the immigration pathway and don't apply directly to naturalisation, which is under different laws and had different and stricter requirements.

[contorted_svy]

Just wait until September - only a few months left.