united-kingdom naturalization
British Naturalisation - more than 90 days absence in any 12-month period
<p>I've come across this webpage<br>
<a href="https://www.sableinternational.com/blog/don-t-do-the-long-distance-thing-extend-your-uk-spouse-visa" rel="nofollow noreferrer">www.sableinternational.com/blog/don-t-do-the-long-distance-thing-extend-your-uk-spouse-visa</a><br>
stating that:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>you cannot be outside of the UK for more than 90 days in any 12-month period in the five years preceding your naturalisation application</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This is not aligned with any other source I found, including the <strong>Guide AN</strong> which states:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>To satisfy the residence requirement you should not have been absent for more than 90 days in the last 12 months.<br>
  If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen the total number of days absence for the whole 3-year period should not exceed 270.<br>
  Otherwise, you should not have been outside the UK for more than 450 days in the 5-year qualifying period.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Absences totaling more than 90 days seem to be allowed as long as they are not within the last 12 months</p>

<p>One more interesting statement is made in the document:<br>
<strong>Nationality policy: Naturalisation as a British citizen by discretion</strong><br>
This guidance tells Home Office staff how to consider applications for naturalisation as a British citizen<br>
Quoted from section: <em>Future intentions requirement</em><br>
subsection: <em>Principal home in the UK</em></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If applicants say their intention is to have their principal home in the UK, you should accept that they meet the requirement if they:<br>
  ...<br>
  there is no information to cast doubt on their intention, for example:<br>
  a recent absence from the UK for a period of 6 months or more</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This is indirectly saying that it would be ok an absence up to almost six months, it obviously wouldn't have to completely fall within the last year</p>

<p>The "Booklet AN" is an official document, released or updated March 2019. The information at Sable International is more a throwaway comment - they are discussing spouse visa rules in detail, and just say "by the way, the rules for naturalisation are different". So normally I would trust the "Booklet AN" more. </p>

<p>To be on the safe side, avoid leaving over 90 days in any consecutive 12 month period. Knowing the UK home office and how they love to mess up people's lives, I wouldn't trust even official advice from them and would stay on the safe side if at all possible. </p>
