Residence proof - 5 years

Hi guys,

please help...

I'm applying for naturalisation soon..  need to prove that I've lived in the UK past 5 years. Do I do this with bills, bank acc statements etc? or do I just submit an absent sheet - stamps from older passport? I've been in the UK 12 years, hold ILR.

Thanks!!

They check your passport stamps for time outside of the UK. You also submit your absences from the UK in the application form.

You also must have been present in the UK exactly 5 years before applying.

If you're applying as a spouse of a British citizen you only show proof of living in the UK for 3 years and must have been present in the UK exactly 3 years before applying

I am also applying for citizenship and have just recently submitted the application. I don't have a result yet, so my answers can't be definitive; but FWIW this is what I did:

My understanding is that the primary pieces of evidence for residence are your passport(s), which should show you entered the UK more than five years ago and you haven't been out of the country for more than the allowed number of days; and your BRP, which would show you have ILR and thus are free from immigration restrictions.

In my case, I also scanned and submitted 3~4 pieces of correspondence I received for each of the required three years (I'm married to a UK citizen). Letters from HMRC, NHS, local council; plus bank statements. Similar to what we submitted in previous visa applications (in fact most were reuses of what I had used for my SET(M) application, which was only half a year ago). This should make it clear I have been living in this country for the last three years.

You also must have been present in the UK exactly 5 years before applying.

If you're applying as a spouse of a British citizen you only show proof of living in the UK for 3 years and must have been present in the UK exactly 3 years before applying

Thanks so much! I went on a holiday recently for 2,5 weeks, arrived back on 12 jan.. does that mean I can apply anytime from that date?

12jan 2018-12 jan 2022

Does it just mean I have got to be present in the UK while applying and make sure I wasnt out of the country same date 5 years ago? This bit confuses me a little bit. I know they are very particular about certain details..

I am also applying for citizenship and have just recently submitted the application. I don't have a result yet, so my answers can't be definitive; but FWIW this is what I did:

My understanding is that the primary pieces of evidence for residence are your passport(s), which should show you entered the UK more than five years ago and you haven't been out of the country for more than the allowed number of days; and your BRP, which would show you have ILR and thus are free from immigration restrictions.

In my case, I also scanned and submitted 3~4 pieces of correspondence I received for each of the required three years (I'm married to a UK citizen). Letters from HMRC, NHS, local council; plus bank statements. Similar to what we submitted in previous visa applications (in fact most were reuses of what I had used for my SET(M) application, which was only half a year ago). This should make it clear I have been living in this country for the last three years.

Thanks for your response!
I remember for previous applications i was told to have evidence spread every 3 months or so.. all original letters.

I’ll try find as much as I can. And may be include tenancy agreements too.  As ive moved in to a house with friends where we share it and agency pays for all bills etc. do you think a tenancy agreement is ok for that?

Thanks so much! I went on a holiday recently for 2,5 weeks, arrived back on 12 jan.. does that mean I can apply anytime from that date?

12jan 2018-12 jan 2022

Does it just mean I have got to be present in the UK while applying and make sure I wasnt out of the country same date 5 years ago? This bit confuses me a little bit. I know they are very particular about certain details..

You have to show that:

- you were physically inside the UK exactly 5 years prior to your application date… so, for example, if you were to submit your online application on March 4th 2022, you must be able to show you were inside the UK on March 4th 2017

- you have not been outside the UK for more than 450 days in the last 5 years (2017 to 2022) and no more than 90 of those 450 days can have been in the last 12 months (2021-2022)

When calculating days outside the UK, you do not count the day you left or the day you returned to the UK… because you were physically in the UK for part of those days.

So, if you left the UK on Monday and returned on Friday, that would only count as 3 days outside the UK (Tue, Wed, Thu).


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Thanks for your response!
I remember for previous applications i was told to have evidence spread every 3 months or so.. all original letters.

I’ll try find as much as I can. And may be include tenancy agreements too.  As ive moved in to a house with friends where we share it and agency pays for all bills etc. do you think a tenancy agreement is ok for that?

You should only need to provide your passport(s), which will show your travel history and therefore that that you were residing in the U.K. for the last 5 years.

It’s only if you cannot provide your passport(s) for any reason, that you need to provide other evidence of your residency instead.

From the official naturalisation guidance (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/998195/Guide_AN_final.pdf#page37):

Applications made on the basis of residence in the United Kingdom

Evidence of lawful residence during the 5 years (or, if the applicant is married to or in civil partnership to a British citizen, 3 years) before the date of the application.

• Your passports

• If you are unable to provide your passport explain why and supply letters from
employers (including start and finish dates), payslips, P60s, educational establishments or other government departments indicating the applicant’s presence in the United Kingdom during the relevant period


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You should only need to provide your passport(s), which will show your travel history and therefore that that you were residing in the U.K. for the last 5 years.

It’s only if you cannot provide your passport(s) for any reason, that you need to provide other evidence of your residency instead.

From the official naturalisation guidance (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/998195/Guide_AN_final.pdf#page37):

Applications made on the basis of residence in the United Kingdom

Evidence of lawful residence during the 5 years (or, if the applicant is married to or in civil partnership to a British citizen, 3 years) before the date of the application.

• Your passports

• If you are unable to provide your passport explain why and supply letters from
employers (including start and finish dates), payslips, P60s, educational establishments or other government departments indicating the applicant’s presence in the United Kingdom during the relevant period


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Thanks so much!!
I have both old and current passports so should be ok.

Perfect.
I know this is a topic everyone asks about but i’ve scrolled through the threads, couldnt find if its ok for my manager at work can be my professional referee?

He isn't a CEO of the company though.
I have seen that list of professional bodies on gov website, just want to make sure its ok for him to be my 1st referee..

Thanks for your response!
I remember for previous applications i was told to have evidence spread every 3 months or so.. all original letters.

I’ll try find as much as I can. And may be include tenancy agreements too.  As ive moved in to a house with friends where we share it and agency pays for all bills etc. do you think a tenancy agreement is ok for that?

I don't think you need to go overboard on this; in fact, in your case, your Kazakhstan passport probably gets stamped every time you come back to the UK. So, if the stamps agree with the list of absences you provide, you may not need additional evidence at all.

In my case I have an American passport,  and have been using the e-Passport gate at the UK border. As a result my passport doesn't have any UK immigration stamp after Feb 2019 even though I have been in and out of the country. So I thought I would provide additional evidence for my living here in the form of received correspondences.

I don't think you need to go overboard on this; in fact, in your case, your Kazakhstan passport probably gets stamped every time you come back to the UK. So, if the stamps agree with the list of absences you provide, you may not need additional evidence at all.

In my case I have an American passport,  and have been using the e-Passport gate at the UK border. As a result my passport doesn't have any UK immigration stamp after Feb 2019 even though I have been in and out of the country. So I thought I would provide additional evidence for my living here in the form of received correspondences.

Thanks for your help

I was stressing quite a bit about this.

Guys do I upload everything online (every passport pages even empty ones?)

Or do I book an in person appointment after?

Also I was wondering if I'm ok to use my passport abroad after I've applied for my naturalisation?
While I wait for the response, I wanted to apply for a travel visa to Greece to go on holiday.. wondering if thats ok? Anyone knows?

I assume it should be, as I am allowed to be travelling while my application is pending as I've got my ILR..

Guys do I upload everything online (every passport pages even empty ones?)

Or do I book an in person appointment after?

The order of doing things is:

1) Gather the documents
2) fill out online application
3) Submit online application and pay for it
4) you will be emailed a code to register an account on the UKVCAS website
5) register an account and book your biometrics appointment (this may cost up to £130 depending on what type of appointment you can get)
6) before attending the appointment, upload your documents to the UKVCAS website (every page of your passport must be scanned)
7) attend appointment
8 ) wait for your application to be processed

Also I was wondering if I'm ok to use my passport abroad after I've applied for my naturalisation?
While I wait for the response, I wanted to apply for a travel visa to Greece to go on holiday.. wondering if thats ok? Anyone knows?

I assume it should be, as I am allowed to be travelling while my application is pending as I've got my ILR..

I think you can travel while it is processing.


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Guys do I upload everything online (every passport pages even empty ones?)

Yes, all pages including empty pages, as well as the cover.

Or do I book an in person appointment after?

When I filed the application and went to the UKVCAS/Sopra Steria web site, the first thing I was asked to do was to book a biometric appointment. So I did that first, then uploaded the scans of the documents.

The first available "free" appointment at a location convenient to me was three weeks away, so I reckoned there would be plenty of time to do the scan/upload. Not sure if you can do it the other way round (upload first then book the appointment). One can reschedule the appointment, should one find that more time would be needed.

Also I was wondering if I'm ok to use my passport abroad after I've applied for my naturalisation?
While I wait for the response, I wanted to apply for a travel visa to Greece to go on holiday.. wondering if thats ok? Anyone knows?

I assume it should be, as I am allowed to be travelling while my application is pending as I've got my ILR..

Yes, there's a Citizens Advice guidance that indicates this is allowed (a good overview document by the way). I've also talked to a Citizen's Advice person who confirmed this.

Yes, all pages including empty pages, as well as the cover.

When I filed the application and went to the UKVCAS/Sopra Steria web site, the first thing I was asked to do was to book a biometric appointment. So I did that first, then uploaded the scans of the documents.

The first available "free" appointment at a location convenient to me was three weeks away, so I reckoned there would be plenty of time to do the scan/upload. Not sure if you can do it the other way round (upload first then book the appointment). One can reschedule the appointment, should one find that more time would be needed.

Yes, there's a Citizens Advice guidance that indicates this is allowed (a good overview document by the way). I've also talked to a Citizen's Advice person who confirmed this.

Thanks you

I've gathered all documents and ready to upload. You guys have been so helpful!

Last one, do I need to upload any financial information to prove I can support myself in the UK? Just checking as it was always been required before just in case?

Last one, do I need to upload any financial information to prove I can support myself in the UK? Just checking as it was always been required before just in case?

No, as you are not applying for a visa this time, you are applying for UK citizenship. Only visas have financial requirements, citizenship does not.