Record when you left the UK, when you returned and who travelled. Keep the documents that helped you check the dates.
Start with one year
Trying to remember every trip at once can feel like too much. Start with one year. Search your emails for flight tickets, look at old calendars and check passport stamps.
Put the trips in date order. Keep a note of where you found each date. If two records disagree, mark the date as unsure until you can check it.
A flight booking shows what you planned. It does not always show what happened. You may have cancelled the trip or changed the flight. Look for other records before confirming the dates.
Record both ends of the trip
For each trip, write down the date you left the UK and the date you returned. Add the destination and the name of each person who travelled.
Made-up example: Tariro left on 3 July and returned on 17 July. She records both dates and saves the tickets. She does not copy the dates to her partner’s record without checking when he travelled.
If a flight crossed midnight, check what the time on the ticket refers to. The time the flight left and the time it arrived may fall on different dates.
Check the rules for your next application
Visa renewal, settlement and citizenship are different steps. Settlement is permission to stay in the UK without a time limit. Each step may look at travel in a different way.
Keep the trip dates so you can review the right period later. Do not use one total for every application without checking the rules.
The Home Office guidance below explains travel checks for becoming a British citizen through naturalisation. For renewal or settlement, check the guidance for your own visa route. REKODHA’s travel counters help you prepare; they do not decide whether you qualify.
Add the next trip when you return
After a trip, take a few minutes to add the dates while your tickets and messages are easy to find. Attach the records you used.
Check each family member’s dates. One person may have stayed longer or returned earlier. Keep that difference in their own record.
Keep older passports with your history. If you are unsure about an old trip, say so. A clear gap is more useful than a date that looks certain but was guessed.
A small step you can take today
Use this checklist to review your starting point.
These ticks are a reading aid and are not saved to your account.
How REKODHA can help
Travel →Record when you left, when you returned and who travelled.Family →Keep clear records for each family member.Sources and further reading
These links explain the rules mentioned in this article. The examples are made up. Check the latest official guidance before you act.
REKODHA is independent of the Home Office. It helps you keep records and get ready for your next step. For advice about your own case, speak to a regulated immigration professional.