How many of you have or have not been out of the country more than 30 consecutive days in the last 5 years? Include your age too please
Posted by Lost_Garlic1657@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 554 comments
I 31F recently had a screening call with a recruiter. They’re a tech start up working with central gov clients. Since I have been out of the country for more than 30 consecutive days in the last 5 years and it would be a problem to get security clearance, they said they could not progress my application. I was gutted. Since I wasn’t born here, I go back to my home country. I was wondering if the average brit leaves the country for 30 consecutive days at a time. I’d imagine not but could be wrong.
sihasihasi@reddit
55, here. I've never been out of the country for 30 consecutive days.
DaveBeBad@reddit
55 and longest was \~26 days when interrailing. It should have been 31 but a friend spent all his remaining money on carpets in Morocco and we had to come home quick…
Have done 22 days a couple of times recently though.
SnackOverflow90@reddit
At least you’ll have saved some money on flights, travelling by carpet
DaveBeBad@reddit
Luckily we were on a train and the idiot had paid for delivery to his parents…
We visited there a couple of years later and almost every room had one of his carpets in it!
WraithOfEvaBraun@reddit
Never been out at all (51) 🫣
Never even owned a passport
princemephtik@reddit
Do you think you ever will or are you locked in now?
WraithOfEvaBraun@reddit
I can't see it quite honestly...my health is very bad (I had a cardiac arrest last year and turns out, not having oxygen for a while f!cks you up)
I'd always longed for an American road trip, but idk...I'm more worried that I won't get to explore the rest of the UK in person rather than through YT videos quite honestly
If it happens, cool, if not I'm not going to fret about it! I've got this far happily 🤷🏻♀️
princemephtik@reddit
If you want to tick it off then aiming small to begin may be best, depending on where you are then Eurostar direct to Amsterdam will be as easy as many UK destinations. But speaking as someone relatively well travelled I still think you're right to value seeing the UK. I'm pretty trains focused and would love to do the West Highland line, Settle-Carlisle and the English Riviera. /r/uktrains is likely to be very helpful in response to health related queries.
WraithOfEvaBraun@reddit
Oh I heartily endorse the Settle-Carlisle line! I have VERY happy memories of doing that when I was 8 or so with my primary school; we did Howarth and the Moors first and went to the Brontë house and church (which was amazing) then obviously up to Carlisle with the castle and very different fish and chips to what we have in East Anglia haha...the steam train was something else, I'd love to do it again sometime if I can get my physical health back up again!
I do think the UK is underrated really and there's still sooo much I want to see!
I would love to go to the Netherlands though, my paternal g-grandma was half Dutch so it's always been on my list...and at least I'd not have to fly there 😆 thank you for the advice re trains, I'll take a look 🤍
WayOfTheMandalore@reddit
You should try it, get a passport. You can get last minute 1-2 day return trips for less then £200. Some even same day returns for less.
WraithOfEvaBraun@reddit
If my health improves, God willing, I may do....I can't even imagine going anywhere on a same day return though, unless it's the next city to my village! What would be the point when I'd have to come home almost as soon as I'd have arrived 😔 Just to say I put two feet in Paris? I guess it's just not something I feel I'm missing out on
MasticatedBrain@reddit
At least it's not just me. 40 and never been anywhere or had a passport either!
DesignFar6251@reddit
Do you just have no desire to go anywhere abroad?
MasticatedBrain@reddit
Very much, I have just never had the financial means. Buying a passport alone would screw me over for the month.
DesignFar6251@reddit
That's understandable. Hope you do get the chance one day then!
MasticatedBrain@reddit
Cheers!
Mega_whale@reddit
Can I please ask - don’t take this the wrong way - why don’t you have the means? Has your life always been like this? - please I am genuinely concerned
MasticatedBrain@reddit
Ha please don't be concerned - I grew up poor, like poor poor so never went on holiday. When I was in my twenties I probably could have tried to travel a bit but it was just never something I considered because it wasn't something that had ever been part of my life.
I'm 40 now and a part time parent, I can't afford shit these days. Maybe one day when the kids are older.
Also I don't care for a traditional holiday anyway - I want to explore frozen ice fields and remote weird places!
doc1442@reddit
Those can be holidays too! You don’t have to sit on a beach in the med all day. Hopefully you can make it one day.
ooh-sheet@reddit
Not the person you asked but I have a passport and still no desire to go abroad. It’s not a financial issue either other countries just don’t interest me.
DesignFar6251@reddit
That's fair enough. As somebody that loves to travel as much as I possibly can, it's not something I can relate to, but to each their own and all that.
WraithOfEvaBraun@reddit
I honestly don't feel I've missed out too much! There's places I'd like to go, sure, but...I'm honestly happy here and there's so many beautiful places here to explore...I still have loads to go haha
Emergency-Assist-421@reddit
lollll
BionicWallaby@reddit
56 and same
JohnLef@reddit
Same here. More than 30 days? Inconceivable!
rebelallianxe@reddit
49 and same. Longest I've left for was 2 weeks in France in the 90s!
Reallyboringname2@reddit
50 here and I managed a full 17 days once!
T140V@reddit
67 and same, despite doing extensive international travel on business from 1993 to 2006, I was never out for more than 14 days at a time.
IkeTurn@reddit
same age same answer.
Competitive-Peace-54@reddit
To leave the country for 30 consecutive days means you need use all of your available paid holiday in one hit and have an employer who is happy for you to be away from work for a month at a time…
No people in the UK generally don’t do this
dustybakeruk@reddit
Or you have a job that allows you to work from anywhere
Massive_Contact8583@reddit
Or have a job where you have to work internationally for long stretches. Ironically tech startups are known for this.
EmptyRestaurant2410@reddit
There are tax implications when working from other countries, even if your employer is UK based. Most companies would not agree to it.
Beartato4772@reddit
Yep, I can choose to do this, for exactly 30 days a year in fact but of course I could take holiday either side.
thickasabrick89@reddit
We went to Thailand for a month at Christmas just gone.
My work gives between Christmas and NY as a freebie so it was just 3 weeks leave on top of that (I get 6 weeks or 30 days in total per year and can buy an additional week if I want - we also get 26 Flexi days).
My husband's annual leave allocation is Jan-Dec so he used 3 weeks in one annual leave year and another week in the next annual leave year. He also has to take Christmas off as a compulsory thing.
My work offers sabbaticals too, so it just depends on what you want to do really
Colleen987@reddit
Only if you have the bare minimum legal entitlement of leave.
Original_Bad_3416@reddit
I don’t think it’s about the time away it’s more about if you are a spy
dwardo7@reddit
You can take a sabbatical from an employer, I know a few who have done so
emmaa5382@reddit
My sister did, but her employer was pretty okay with it bc she found a dead body on her shift and I think they didn’t want to be in a lawsuit
ThrivingforFailure@reddit
Some employees offer up to 30 days to work from other countries once a year. If you couple that with annual leave then you hit more than 30
EnjoysAGoodRead@reddit
I have left the country for over 30 days at a time a few times with work. I'm 40. Admittedly the last time I did this was just before the pandemic, so not in the last 5 years.
charlottedoo@reddit
We booked a week and 2 days before Christmas and a week after and had 22 days out of country last year. We would have gone longer if his work let us have a few extra.
mendipbigdipper@reddit
Or be self employed. I choose as long or as little time I have off.
Akkatha@reddit
Yeah same - it’s always funny on places like this when you run into people that assume every single other person has the same experience.
Even a video call meeting is a rarity for me!
Embarrassed-Return86@reddit
Or have a gap in between jobs. I had a job start date pushed back last year so took a longer holiday than usual, cos when else will I get the opportunity? (50F)
Purple-Caterpillar-1@reddit
Places that want the sort of security clearance OP is talking about will likely query >14 day gap in continuous employment too!
Real-Apricot-7889@reddit
No I’m 33 and have only left the country for 30 consecutive days once when I went travelling after uni. Otherwise most I’ve done is 2 weeks at a time.
ShortDevelopment905@reddit
That seems terribly strict? 30 days isn't very long.
I know you have to have been resident in the UK for the past ten years or something, but you don't stop being resident until it's been at least 180 days.
xxxdac@reddit
I’m 27 and have been out of the country for just over a month, one time, for work.
It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I think it’s quite unlikely I’ll have a chance like that again.
Necessary_Figure_817@reddit
It's not a hard and fast rule. SC is actually done on a case by case basis.
The fact that you are also not born here and return home on a frequent and substantially long basis will also impact this but this isn't an instant no for SC applications.
If it's a startup, you probably aren't worth the risk and hassle.
SolutionSubject@reddit
F35 I did leave the country for a couple of months to look after my terminally ill mum but that was 6 years ago and since then the most I have left the country for was two weeks
Previous-Ad7618@reddit
girlandhiscat@reddit
I went to Japan for 28 days last year. 32.
chuckiestealady@reddit
The last time I went abroad was before the Covid pandemic for a family holiday. My grandmother started the verbally abuse me so our lifelong relationship broke down.
I don’t enjoy travel enough and can’t justify the expense or carbon emissions.
sing-om@reddit
I’ve never been out for 30 days straight. Just over 10 years ago I did 21 days in one go on a trip to NZ and South Korea. In the last 5 years I have done well over 30 days in total though. Most of that is down to the fact that I work abroad a few times a year for 4/5 days a time.
haikubotichooseyou@reddit
Neat-Ostrich7135@reddit
I have NEVER been out if the country fur more than 39 consecutive days. (51)
New_Line4049@reddit
Ive never been out for that long at 30 and only know two people that have, a married couple that spent time in Australia.
magrandan@reddit
I go to my parents country almost 45 days a year..2 weeks leave and rest working from home. I have an active SC/DV. Whoever is telling you SC cannot be obtained in your case is lying.
Evolutionary_u-turn@reddit
Middle 50s and never been out of the country, unless you count Scotland.
Never been out of the UK, ever
NoSir7320@reddit
54, close to 30 days but think it was only 28/29, and that was a break between jobs.
marquoth_@reddit
30 consecutive days? Not just 30 days total in the last 5 years?
The vast majority of people don't do that. They can't afford to.
The major exception would probably be what I did - an Erasmus year at university. But even that is basically a once in a lifetime thing. I'm fairly certain I'll never do it again.
ConfectionHelpful471@reddit
American Summer camp roles, TEFL roles and gap years would cover it for a lot of people
audigex@reddit
I think "a lot" is a stretch there, although I appreciate it's not a tightly defined term. I suspect you're showing your socio-economic group with that one
But regardless even among fairly wealthy students who have a gap year etc, that's still only really going to apply until you're about 25 when we consider the question was "In the last 5 years"
ConfectionHelpful471@reddit
Given 50% of the population are now attending university it’s less about socio economic group and more about having 3 long summers that need to be filled with something that sets the CV apart
audigex@reddit
I love how you think the 50% of the population gong to Uni can afford it
The fact 50% go to uni doesn't mean everyone's wealthier, it just means more poorer people are going to uni. Those extra students are mostly working over summer
ConfectionHelpful471@reddit
I love how you think that American summer camp work or TEFL roles are unpaid. Both are excellent ways to travel without having to miss out on earning
audigex@reddit
There are 3 million students in the UK, I'm not sure how many of those you think are going abroad to work in the summer
ConfectionHelpful471@reddit
I would put 50k per year in as a minimum - especially when you factor in party island reps, ski instructors and other roles. It might not feel like a lot in the grand scheme of things but when you factor that it could result in 250k meeting this requirement each year (with the 5 year cut off) plus gap year/interrailers/placement year students it soon as up to a sizeable number of
audigex@reddit
That’s still a tiny proportion of people
And honestly I think your 50k is high, even before we consider the fact you can’t extrapolate that out to 250k individuals because many of the same people will either go out for multiple years or take part in several of those activities
Streathamite@reddit
It’s still about socioeconomic group. If you think working class students are routinely spending entire summers abroad then you’re very out of touch
ConfectionHelpful471@reddit
Most students spend summers working as it’s their best time to rack up hours without worrying about lectures or coursework. I would say that the majority of students when I was at university would be classed as working class, yet foreign travel in the summers was pretty common, as were years abroad at other Universities
HellPigeon1912@reddit
This comment is reminding me how much more middle class the average UK Redditor is than mr
sunofdork@reddit
Yeah but for anyone over 25 Camp America would be over 5 years ago, gap years tend to be when you’re young too so I’d say the vast majority haven’t in the last five years
ConfectionHelpful471@reddit
Not always - workplaces now offer sabbaticals so gap years can now happen at any point. Camp America isn’t just for uni students, and students don’t always graduate at 21.
SeoulGalmegi@reddit
Yeah, but I doubt most people do either an American summer camp role, TEFL role, or gap year.
Cardabella@reddit
Most people don't, but a sizeable minority do. Ski seasons too. And very common in certain academic fields. Everyone at my uni who studied French, German, etc spent a year studying in France /Germany /Switzerland / Austria etc. As appropriate. I couldn't afford a gap year but later saved up and took a rtw trip for 7 weeks. And in my early career saved up and scheduled a gap between jobs to travel (take accrued leave during notice period plus delay the new job start to buy a 6to8 week break between jobs). And in my professional field it's required (science field work). As well as sciences, in other professional fields it's normal or necessary to spend time abroad such as in finance, mining, oil, tourism, academia.
So while not something everyone gets to do, it's still unremarkable for someone to have travelled for over 30 days ever, which makes it surprising to me it should be flagged a deal breaking security concern in and of itself.
Gremlin_1989@reddit
All 4 of my siblings have done ski seasons, I haven't so that's 4/5 for just my family, a BIL also did them too. Another BIL has done TEFL teaching abroad as well.
SeoulGalmegi@reddit
I mean, you can see issues with making assumptions based on things like that, can't you?
n3m0sum@reddit
I think that this is a little confirmation bias. In that you move in circles where this is not that uncommon.
But amongst the general population, summer skiing jobs to polish language skills. And taking a couple of months between jobs to travel. Is frankly, fucking rare.
Cardabella@reddit
I didn't say it was common, just that it wasn't such a shocking abberation as to warrant security concerns.
n3m0sum@reddit
It's obviously a sensitive job in the government sector. It warrants security checks. It's not for you say what raises flags or concerns. That's for the security vetting to do.
It sounds like this isn't a complete show stopper. But it would require more security vetting than the company is prepared to go through for OP. No shade to OP, but it's understandable if they are not short of applicants.
SeoulGalmegi@reddit
There's a difference between something being 'unremarkable' (which I agree it is) and something being something that the majority of people probably (possibly? I'd be interested to know) don't do.
Amongst groups of mine where people have done it, pretty much everyone has. Amongst other groups I struggle to think of a single person.
marquoth_@reddit
Again, I'd assume those are typically once in a lifetime. How many people do you think have done TEFL, come home, and then done it again?
And to reiterate we're not saying nobody does this. We're saying the majority don't. "I know this one guy who did" isn't a counterargument.
Helzibob@reddit
Yep summer camp in America. Then an extended holiday as I was made redundant whilst I was away on a 3 week break so extended it to 6 weeks. Lastly I did an adult gap year after I was made redundant. I did have the issue with finance companies not liking me having been out the country for so long and I ended up working in the NHS when I got back.
llksg@reddit
Yep I did summers in Belgium teaching English
Fancy-Professor-7113@reddit
I work as an independent consultant for govt and banks and stuff and I take all the school holidays including the 6 weeks in summer. A lot of people I work with do the same - and we have the SC the OP is talking about.
You're right about the affordability part though, I can only do it because I have a high day rate the other 9 months of the year.
marquoth_@reddit
I work in software and I've considered trying to pursue a self-employed/contractor route to enable having the school holidays off, but even then I wouldn't really be aiming to move abroad because my wife also has a job and she can't really do that.
I do recognise that it's possible for some people but I stand by my previous comment that for the "vast majority" it's out of the question. It baffles me when people see a comment or that type and feel the need to register themselves as an exception as if it means anything at all.
Fancy-Professor-7113@reddit
Pretty much all the people in my working environment have the same experience as me - it's common across other sectors too. Baffles me when other people think their limitations apply to everyone.
I haven't moved abroad, I just spend the holidays abroad. And yes, I realise that is also something not everyone can do and is therefore of no consequence to you.
Colleen987@reddit
I think people are questioning “vast majority”. If I consider even just they 4 people who share my quad of desks at work - I went to South Africa last year from 1st December to 12 January. Guy to my right takes the full 6 weeks every yeah to travel with his kids in the caravan to different euro parks. Guy across did camp America 3 times in uni, girl across has literally just returned from a 6 week honeymoon in Japan and South Korea.
I don’t think this is as exceptional as you’re making out.
mmoonbelly@reddit
Why? It’s easy once you’ve moved countries to move again, because you know how to cope.
Ligeiapoe@reddit
I assume they’ve made a life here? Once you’ve got a spouse and a mortgage that move is no longer simple. Plus there’s kids. Just because you’ve lived abroad or speak other languages is no guarantee your partner has or does, or has a job that would allow them to.
mmoonbelly@reddit
Meh. We moved to the.US as a married couple on L1/L2 visas, then moved to the UK when my wife was 7 months pregnant, moved to NL four years later when she was 3 months pregnant that time and now live in France with the kids in junior and secondary school here.
If you’ve gone through Erasmus, it’s not that different laterz
Ligeiapoe@reddit
Yes but plenty of people have jobs that don’t translate abroad and they aren’t very good with languages. Plus the years you’ve put into your chosen career by the time you’re in your 30s.
Is not nearly as simple as leaving the UK as a single language grad with no connections or ties. I speak with the experience of both.
mmoonbelly@reddit
Yep. I’d just moved back from NL to London, she’d got bored in France and moved to London after studying for a couple of years in China.
Most of our friends from Uni are living in other countries now as well.
It’s kind of the wanderlust that Erasmus gives you. (Which is why I’m surprised at OP)
Ligeiapoe@reddit
But you speak more than one language. Many many people, especially in the UK do not. The man I chose to marry has a very specialised job and is not a linguist. I may speak three languages, but I am no longer able to move abroad like I did once. Partially due to my spouse, but for other reasons like I mentioned above, health, career, family. As you get older there are lots of ties to your country of choice/birth.
It’s really not as simple to live abroad as when we did Erasmus and to state otherwise is either deluded or given from a position of extreme luck.
I don’t have much more to add. It sounds like you and your wife have a cool life and I wish you guys the best. Keep on travelling and enjoy. France especially is a wonderful country
mmoonbelly@reddit
Move to Holland. My wife only speaks French, Spanish, Chinese and English and couldn’t get her head around Germanic languages at all.
No issue for her working there for the six years we lived there.
There are always options.
breadandbutter123456@reddit
Done it loads of times.
Went backpacking in November 2005, came back to the uk October 2006.
Went to east Africa from September 2017 to October 2017.
Went to west Africa in December 2017 to March 2018.
Lived in China from March 2019 to January 2020.
Lived in Thailand from September 2021 to May 2023.
Will almost certainly be out of the country again for longer than 30 days. Was out for three weeks in Feb/March this year.
Dildo_Shaggins-@reddit
The majority of people don't have a job which would permit these long periods of time out of country. Lucky bugger!
rectal_warrior@reddit
You'd be surprised how little you can live on in the developing world, you've just got to quit your job and find a new one when you get back. If you're really good at what you do it shouldn't be a big problem.
breadandbutter123456@reddit
Or not picky. I currently part time drive for agency. Yesterday I woke up at 3am to get to a job for 4am. Meanwhile when im not working, trying to start a business that I can do from anywhere. It takes effort and sacrifice to travel abroad for extended periods but it is entirely possible. Many people do it.
breadandbutter123456@reddit
I don’t have a job that allows me to do this. I leave said job instead. Currently trying to set up my own business to enable me to live extended periods abroad.
But I know many in the travel community who spend long periods of time abroad. I know others who have left the uk to teach abroad. £4/k a month for teaching in China or the Middle East is entirely realistic earnings for those who are Uk passport holders and who have a degree, any degree.
Lots of people go for a gap year before/after university too. I went after university mainly because it wasn’t until I was at university that the whole travel gap year was discovered.
I also know many people who have retired who go on extended travel periods. India is incredibly cheap to travel for those spending £’s.
marquoth_@reddit
I'm truly baffled by people who look at some comment about what's true in most cases and reply with "well I, specifically, myself happen to be an exception"
I've seen this hundreds of times in dozens of contexts and I can only ever draw one conclusion: they aren't very bright
breadandbutter123456@reddit
Why thank you internet stranger. Thank you for your insight. Very kind of you.
I was going to respond in full but I think I’ll save my time and energy. Enjoy your day.
MrReadilyUnready@reddit
It's not uncommon for people who were raised in other countries to spend a month or two back home.
Yeoman1877@reddit
Which is presumably the group of people whom the 30 day filter is designed to weed out.
cdp181@reddit
They want a criminal record check from where ever you visited if its over 30 days.
Suspicious-Movie4993@reddit
I’ve been on holiday for 22 days so far this year, and got another 7 days booked next month. Then I’ll be doing 15 days in the summer and another 10-14 days end of the year. I would do more but I’m limited for annual leave :)
marquoth_@reddit
My comment is very explicitly aimed at clarifying if they meant consecutive or total.
EmptyRestaurant2410@reddit
But that's still not 30 consecutive days
carson63000@reddit
Yeah, spending time living and working overseas is the only time the average person would spend 30 consecutive days out of the country. That was me for a year and a half, 25 years ago. But that’s the only time in my life (I’m 52 and consider myself pretty well traveled) that I’ve gone out of the country for 30 consecutive days.
dwardo7@reddit
Camp America is a big one too, also many people I went to uni with did SE Asia as a gap year or over summer. I went inter railing personally and know a few that did the same, although it’s quite expensive these days and has become less popular.
PossumPeach@reddit
34F - I've never been out of the country for 30 consecutive days.
Obedient-Kink6916@reddit
Ive literally never left for that long. Most people i know haven’t been able to travel for that long ever, apart from the private school gap yah lot
Particular_Tune7990@reddit
55 hear. I did it once in 1995 when I did a 3 month placement in Italy as part of one of my degrees. Next longest was 3 weeks in the USA in 1980 - kind of on my parents that one.
Other than that - never.
rabbithole-xyz@reddit
I've been out of the country since 1970.
HeathenFloki666@reddit
Military:
Every couple of years I live in another country for 4-6 months.
Also, permanently lived in another country for 3 years and did not return to the UK for >1 year.
Also, saved leave days and used them all at once to spend 30 days in a country of my choice.
For me right now, for sure, it's been at least 5 consecutive years of having >30 days outside of the UK. And I know that for at least the next 2-3 years I'll be continuing that trend of being outside of the UK.
After that, I'm going to emigrate (I only have UK citizenship).
no-puedo-encontrar@reddit
32M. Scottish.
In 2025, I was out of the country 3 times for more than 30 consecutive days:
PhoenixBlaze123@reddit
We only get 25 days of holiday per year, you'd want to spread it out. 30 consecutive days abroad is impossible unless you're unemployed (or run an online business)
Budget-Raspberry-211@reddit
Average person is getting 25 days (working days) holidays. They don't use it all in one go. I think the only ones leaving 30 days + consecutively are probably young people or retired people.
Financial-Ad6475@reddit
63, been in and out the country for the last 25 years.
Currently out for the last 3 years, with home visits every 6 months 👍👍👍
Middle--Earth@reddit
25 days once for a university student cultural exchange trip
ClockAccomplished381@reddit
I imagine it's rare amongst the working population, although I started thinking and I do know a few:
One guy alternates between contracting and travelling the globe.
One of my best friends from school married an American, during COVID times they did a massive roadtrip over several months through many states in a motorhome. Incredible life experience for their kids.
Then you get sabbaticals that last 3 months perhaps with holidays tucked on the end.
Plus I have friends that moved to Canada, Australia etc.
I'm mid 40s and never done it but now I think about it it's more common than I expected.
Vequihellin@reddit
I was out of the country for 4 weeks when I was 18 on a family holiday to Canada. Since then, I've been in higher education or employment and taking 30 consecutive days of holiday abroad has not been something I've ever had the money or annual leave entitlement for. My honeymoon was only 2 weeks and pretty much every other holiday has been a week or less. Not sure how my age is relevant unless this is one of those weird data farming questions posed like a story?
srogijogi@reddit
I have been out of UK for 30 days consecutive recently, between February and March, but most of the time I'm away for 3-4 weeks.
The_Stout_Slayer@reddit
30M, and No.
30+ days is basically the arbitrary threshold for 'not just a holiday'. Longest I've been away is 22-23 consecutive days - though tbh I wish I had extended that holiday another week. Unfortunately in your case, the fact you do regularly go to your home country for extended periods is precisely what they're screening for clearance-wise.
Gap years, ski/summer seasons, and travel sabbaticals are the only common reasons working-age brits would be away for that long, and can indeed be an issue for British people getting security clearance depending on where they were. Also afaik can be an issue for
mk6971@reddit
Not in the last 5 years but worked in the UAE for 4 years in the mid-90s.
pacey182@reddit
Went to Australia for a year when I was 25. Went back to UK for a year and now I live in New Zealand.
JavaRuby2000@reddit
I usually have 21 - 25 days so just under your amount. I think anybody in work would struggle to get the time off all at once to have 30 days outside the country. My dad has 3 months in India every year but, he's retired.
hondanlee@reddit
I've spent half the year in Hong Kong each year since I retired 20 years ago (I worked in HK between 1974 and 1989).
One_Courage8443@reddit
Breckill@reddit
all the time, i holiday in Europe for 2 months every year, then a month in the alps for the ski season. good job i'm retired as i would be unenbloyable by the sounds of it.
Particular-Bid-1640@reddit
35 - I got security clearance for working on government projects (non government company) and I'd been out the country for 6 months 2 years ago
My dad works on government sensitive nuclear projects (again non government company) and him and mum had often gone to Australia/NZ for over 30 days to see relatives
TWLemonadeBanana@reddit
F31 - I'm currently working remotely and travelling. I'm probably day 60 now. If you choose the right places to stay it works out cheaper than renting/mortgage/utilities/council tax.
The place I'm currently at was £120 for the week, it's a little bungalow with hot water, kitchen and WiFi. There's a pool, pizzeria and I'm less than 100 metres from the beach.
fussyfella@reddit
Mid 60s British by birth, I have been out of the UK longer than I have been in it for the last 8 years at least and certainly for more than 30 days at a time.
Before that I had often been out of the country for several weeks a year, and that included a few times of more than 30 days.
A very long time ago I spent several months working in Argentina and when I got back to the UK I still got security clearance, despite the fact when I got the clearance was soon after the Falklands war. Admittedly the procedures for clearance have changed since then but not vastly. Sadly I think the recruiter is being more paranoid than the actual clearance itself would be although for the very highest levels of clearance you more or less have to be a citizen from birth.
UniqueTart6744@reddit
Since moving to the UK in 2004, the longest I’ve been out of the country consecutively is 2 weeks. My other trips out of the country have all been 3-4 days maximum.
widdrjb@reddit
66, 55 years ago during my first year of boarding school.
Some of my HGV driving colleagues used to spend six weeks out during the 90s, while Russia was modernising places like Saransk. But that sort of work stopped 25 years ago.
AffectionateComb6664@reddit
Yes I was away for 70+ consecutive days to cycle to Romania about 4 years ago - had to leave my job to do it of course
TheRealPyroManiac@reddit
It’s not uncommon for students either for gap years or for a year studying abroad but for working adults very rare.
notmentat@reddit
Leaving the country isn’t an issue for SC, but you MUST be a resident for a minimum of 5 years. How long were you actually out of the country for?
AYK2026@reddit
The longest I been abroad is 5 wee in the last 5 years when I took my wife and kids to see family in Pakistan. I took paid leave and love it. It's didn't cause me any issue.
max1304@reddit
Akash_nu@reddit
30 days is too long to be honest. There’s not enough annual leave to support that kind of time off.
There are digital nomads who work completely remote and may live long term in some other country but in proportion that’s still a tiny fraction.
DrDantastic@reddit
34M, and I normally end up with work that puts me out of the country for at least 30 days every year. Last year was the record with a total of 210 days working abroad.
In a weird turn, I started my career as a touring sound engineer, then ended up in a role that required clearance, and the time out of the country wasn't an issue for the vetting service.
armegatron99@reddit
If it's SC then it just means you may need to explain it, especially if it's a non typical destination (e.g. Russia). Deffo doesn't forbid you from getting clearance though
FergingtonVonAwesome@reddit
Some companies will absolutely not believe this though. Had to fight a company for about 9 months to even put me forward because of this. Luckily I worked there so was already in the door, but I absolutely believe companies would not hire someone because of this.
The__Pope_@reddit
The company doesn't vet you, it's the UKSV that does
FergingtonVonAwesome@reddit
Yep. The company usually sponsors you though. I'm sure there must be a way to get it as an individual, but usually you get a job, then the company will put you forward (and pay) for your clearance.
Mountain-Orchid-140@reddit
Nope, you have to be sponsored by a government department or agency.
Some companies are so heavily integrated into the security apparatus that they can effectively act as the sponsor from an administrative point of view, but in reality they are exercising delegated authority for the government department they are contracted with.
Also the criteria are not exactly the same between individual departments, so even if you hold an SC or DV, that's not automatically portable, and you may have to be re-vetted to do work for a different part of government (albeit it's normally much quicker to get additional vetting).
FergingtonVonAwesome@reddit
I don't think this is right. It's pretty common in lots of different companies, not just in the defence field, especially just SC level. You can definitely be put forward by a private company, without a particular department in mind, it's quite common in consulting for example.
Mountain-Orchid-140@reddit
It's there in black and white on the UKSV section of .gov.uk
"To become a Sponsor for NSV applications or to have access to a Vetting Status Indicator (VSI) account, you will first need to contact your Departmental Security Authority (DSA) to discuss your requirement."
Once an organisation has been granted sponsor status they can put someone forward, if they can reasonably justify they would need to access PMI as part of their job, referencing back to the Department(s) or Contract(s) that require that company to handle PMI.
Given the way the government gives out consulting contracts like smarties, McKinsey et. al. would not have too much trouble finding some justification for putting people forward, although it's not really good practice.
I have highly specific personal experience of this, but it wouldn't be appropriate to go into it any further just to prove a point on Reddit.
CaptainBonkmood@reddit
This. In consulting folks are put through the process all the time with no government sponsor.
WholeEgg3182@reddit
It expensive for them to try to hire you, go through sv and then have to go through the process of hiring someone else. They're strict about who they hire because they want maximal chance you pass. Of course it's dumb from an individual applicant point of view but I'm sure the numbers add up on the company's end.
Affectionate-Day8307@reddit
Yeah the company is stupid and just doesn't want an application to take a tiny bit longer.
Pristine_Speech4719@reddit
TBF it depends where OP has been. I dropped out of vetting because I'd been working in "friendly" countries in the Middle East and I couldn't be bothered pushing it through for 3 months. (There was someone else that could do the bit of work I needed to do).
If OP was somewhere hostile (Russia, Iran, China) or just chaotic or not inclined to assist (Pakistan, Chad, Cambodia), then OP could be hanging around for aaaages.
Ok_Adhesiveness_8637@reddit
Depends on the level of SC, some companies also have internal policies that can be stricter than the SC they need.
EntirelyRandom1590@reddit
You're using SC when you mean Security Vetting. SC is a level of SV.
Ok_Adhesiveness_8637@reddit
My bad!
TwentythreeFirework@reddit
Yes usually just needs an explanation. I’d been out the country multiple times for longer than 30 days (including living and working abroad) and mine was fine…
EyeAware3519@reddit
It just makes it take ages though and hiring someone then immediately putting them on 6 months gardening leave while they sort their SC out is a massive ball ache. Been there and done that. Just hire someone boring who'll be cleared in 3 weeks.
BeeCharacter1416@reddit
I spend 8 weeks in Bangkok WFH during Covid in summer 2021.
TaoOfPhysics-75@reddit
No you didn't.
IHoppo@reddit
I (57) once had a sabbatical and left the country for 35 days. It was a pain (house insurance) - but also blooming wonderful. I don't know anyone else who has done this.
FOARP@reddit
Not in the last five years. 46M.
I lived in China five years, Taiwan a year, Japan a year, and Poland for four years, but that was all in my 20’s and 30’s.
30 consecutive days is a whole month of time out of the country, not just a typical holiday or business-travel.
knotsazz@reddit
Not recently. I did a long trip (couple of months) a little over a decade ago. Asked work for an unpaid sabbatical and they kindly gave it to me. I was struggling a bit at the time and it was probably cheaper for them than me taking extended sick leave would have been.
scifibaby@reddit
F26, and two of the last five years I spent out of the UK. Realising now why I have been rejected from so many government roles ( spent 15 months in china 🙃)
Alwayslearnin41@reddit
If we can go back 6 years, I did 6 weeks in the US (drove coast to coast with my kids) and 6 weeks in the Spanish islands.
I haven't spent more than a week outside the UK since then though 😔
KaijuicyWizard@reddit
I lived in Korea until 2.5 years ago.
I did get a police check when I left because I work in education.
CurrencyCapital8882@reddit
As a 63 year old American I have never been out of the country for more than 7 days. And that was to visit England when I was 16.
MissJustine@reddit
I am an immigrant and I have never been out of the country for 30 days...
Direct-Fill6249@reddit
Discrimination is hidden on many levels when you're not born in the country
Adventurous-Dog-3786@reddit
Yes I have. Several times. I used to work overseas a lot and have been out of the country for more than 30 many times, but only once in the past 5 years. In the couple of years before that, I was probably out of the country more than I was in it !
ResponsibilityOk4298@reddit
Lived overseas for two stints but in the last 5 years I spent nearly 3 years working in the Middle East, so yeah, out of the country for over 30 days ;-)
Octoboy1@reddit
I'm a professional wrestler, 35, I go out to Japan for 2 or 3 months every few years to wrestle
Practical_Scar4374@reddit
That would be cool!
"Octoboy1 Welcome to MI6 your first assignment is to get intel on X. A Russian Oligarch who is subverting restriction's imposed upon him. We know he frequently visits Casino's in Monte Carlo. Good luck!"
Octoboy1: " X, You have been....Fuck it"
Pile driver through the craps tables. Body Slam through the black jack table. Rik Flair Whooooooooooo to the other clients in the Casino. Clothes line through the Bar then smacks the living shit outta him with a couple of chairs and a poker table.
"Hmmm Octoboy1, you left the country for more than 30 consecutive days. Here's your p45 - Sorry"
achillea4@reddit
I've been asked this before as a contract - particularly for jobs in the finance sector. Longer trips like this, they normally asked for evidence. From a vetting perspective, they have to make sure that you are not engaged in criminal activity and have a right to work in this country.
No-Salt6819@reddit
I don't think I've left the country in the last 5 years, let alone for 30 days
highrouleur@reddit
Haven't left my county for 30 consecutive days m48
ChelseaGem@reddit
At least you can easily straddle England and Wales on the Severn Bridge.
Practical_Scar4374@reddit
Shit in Wales. Piss in England.
rustynoodle3891@reddit
Yeah I haven't been out of the country (unless a few brief trips into Wales count) for about 15 years now.
dwardo7@reddit
I genuinely don’t know how you could do that, I would go insane I think
rustynoodle3891@reddit
I never claimed to be sane!
No-Salt6819@reddit
Oh going to England, didn't think of that! Have also been to Scotland once.
mousey76397@reddit
I think the M40 might be my favourite motorway.
SaltSpot@reddit
Damn, has the traffic been that bad?
Minimum-Activity3009@reddit
r/beatmetoit
Pwsyn@reddit
33 and the longest i've ever been out of the country was 7 days.
manc_franc@reddit
Probably 1%
gompgo@reddit
Never been out more than two weeks.
Quality_Controller@reddit
The only time I’ve been out of the UK for more than 30 days was when I was working in another country for 10 months.
Unless you’re able to take a sabbatical or something from work, no one would be able to take that much holiday time.
Pedantichrist@reddit
I went to school in the seventies.
I have been out of the country for more than 30 consecutive days about once every 3 years, but stopped when Covid happened (coincidentally).
I am British and can trace y family history back to King John.
SuspiciousTreacle433@reddit
Outside-Resist4688@reddit
Longest was 21 days in America. We're bound by annual leave restrictions!!
TomfromLondon@reddit
47 and I lived in Romania due 18 months and Amsterdam 5 years
Salt-Trade-5210@reddit
Between my 20s and late 40s I travelled a lot for work. A couple of times a year I'd be out of the country for 30+ consecutive days. I changed my career mostly because I was tired of the constant travelling and now haven't been outside of the UK for more than a decade.
Enough_Response@reddit
I lived in Gibraltar for a few years aged 40
MrSpaceCool@reddit
33, I’m out of the country for more than 30 days almost every year.
audigex@reddit
Unless you've "been travelling" eg before or after uni, most people have never been out of the country for 30 consecutive days in their life, and most people didn't "go travelling"
I'd venture that vanishingly few people over 25 have done so in the last 5 years
The most I've been out of the country was 22 days when I took a long trip to the US with friends while I was at uni. The only people I know who've done it did eg 3 months in Austrlaia and South East Asia around the same time of their life, or a handful of people who've lived abroad permanently or semi-pernanently
Middle-agedCynic@reddit
Not since 1994 and that was work related. Don't have enough holiday days to use all at once.
Spiritual-Peach-4032@reddit
You can security clear someone who has been out of the country more than 30 days. But clearance will take a while and they shouldn’t resign from their current job until it’s approved. But sounds like they can’t be bothered and are making excuses.
Cold_Introduction_48@reddit
37, and 2 times. Just over a month travelling around Europe. Then, just over a month travelling the US. Didn't know these could be grounds for failing security checks though!
Colleen987@reddit
Me and regularly. I’m 34. It has zero effect on my security clearances. That person may have made that up.
Lazy-Interests@reddit
30 here and I have.
anti-sugar_dependant@reddit
InevitableFox81194@reddit
40 and I have been out of the country for more than 30 consecutive days in 5 yrs. In fact one yr i was out for 5 consecutive weeks. I do hold dual nationality and British is one of them.
No_Jellyfish_7695@reddit
ha, this is interesting as I’ve only just passed that criteria. I used to live abroad and only returned to the Uk q1 2021. since then I’ve endured I’ve never been out for more than 30 days at a time
AgrippAA@reddit
I'm about 6 months a year out of the UK, 6 months back home.
If its SC vetting it should be fine if you can explain it and show supporting evidence. They don't put up arbitrary obstacles, their job is to make sure you aren't a risk of being blackmailed or aren't ideologically committed to an extreme course of action, stuff like that.
FWIW, if the 30 consecutive days out of the country was an automatic failure no questions asked then how would any member of the military every get clearance? The nearly 1000 sailors on board HMS Prince of Wales left port not long ago and they will be out for months. It would be crazy if they were ineligible for security clearence.
Apply for the job, go through the clearance process. Assuming you've not been chilling in Russia for a month or two it should be fine.
JBSven@reddit
31 here. Took a 5 week holiday to NZ last year with the partner.
WayOfTheMandalore@reddit
The average brit can’t afford to be out the country for 30 consecutive days unless they’re working aboard. I had 3 weeks straight away in Singapore/Malaysia over new years 22/23
cfehunter@reddit
36. I've never been out of the country for a full month. Two weeks at most.
batbuild@reddit
Thought this was going to be about home insurance - a lot of insurers won’t cover if you leave the house empty for more than 30 consecutive days. Maybe that’s why we don’t have 30 day holidays, also possibly because most full time jobs makes it hard to do
bars_and_plates@reddit
Yes, lots of times, and planning many in the future.
I tend to try to be efficient with my travel e.g. if you are constantly flying halfway across the world for a week or two then you pay much more in airline costs vs. if you take a longer break.
I think it's just that career types generally don't do it because they allow their job to dictate numbers of days off.
InvisibleTextArea@reddit
Currently flloating around the Republic of Ireland on my boat for tax purposes. Aiming to return to the UK in mid July.
Boat is UK flagged so is considered UK territory for employment purposes.
Psychological-Fox97@reddit
I've worked abroad but at most for 2 weeks
MolassesInevitable53@reddit
When I lived in the UK, I left for more than 30 consecutive days five times. I was visiting New Zealand (three times) and Australia (twice).
That's too far to go, and too much jet lag, for a trip if less than four weeks.
Background-End2272@reddit
I don't think many people will have unless they work in certain industries (offshore for example) it's not that common in my experience
super-freak@reddit
Loads of people do long term travelling. I've met many Brits doing this including myself..
super-freak@reddit
I've spent approximately 1,200 out of the last 2000 days away, so, yes. Coming back today actually after 121 consecutive days away.
blindoptimist13@reddit
I’m actually not sure I’ve ever done that. I vaguely remember a long holiday when I was about 14 that could’ve been 4 weeks, but that’s it
OhNoDobe@reddit
28, I haven't
Fancy-Professor-7113@reddit
That's weird, I'm a digital contractor working in central govt and I've got SC. I'm out of the UK every school summer holiday for about 5 weeks.
Pidge101@reddit
I’ve never been out of the country for 30 consecutive days. The only people I know who have been are people who have been deployed abroad in the armed forces.
shuggy895@reddit
35F, yes, I did 34 days at the beginning of the year. Several years ago I did 31 days.
Khionia@reddit
PanzerPi@reddit
Not in the last 5. But I have done this various times when living in a different country
The only people I know who have done whilst still living in the uk are those that work in oil/gas, mining or military/PMC's.
Some of extended family stay outside of their country of origin, not UK, for over 30 days however this is largely for business.
Ancient-Position-219@reddit
Have done twice (23m) for ‘travelling’ . Slovenia 3 months in 2024 and currently Australia for 11 months on a placement/sandwich year. But I guess these are different circumstances
Mammoth-Turnip-3058@reddit
I wish.
I haven't even left the country in 10+years. And even then it's only been a few times, and half of them were with school.
The wanderlust hurts lol! 36 F
Tollowarn@reddit
Don't have a passport, I'm 61. Only been out of the country twice, 2 weeks in 72 and one week in 85. I think it's been a couple of years since I left the county. The wife has never been abroad!
Actual-Sky-4272@reddit
Plenty of people go travelling? And not just student gap years.
Actual-Sky-4272@reddit
Is the “home country” a potential issue?
PigHillJimster@reddit
54M and we as a family spend the whole of August each year in France.
My wife is French and we travel over by car on the ferry- the whole family. We work remotely from home, but in August home happens to be France. We have one week in the month as our summer holiday.
ikiteimasu@reddit
The most I’ve been out the country in my life is all of 9 days, not even a fortnight!!!
Kapika96@reddit
Been out of the country for the entirety of the last 5 years.
For people who live and work in the UK though, that's exceptionally rare. People don't usually have enough paid holiday to do that. Probably mostly just students during their gap year or something.
Shitelark@reddit
49M. Twice, 1999 31 days Interrail trip. 2005 6 weeks Tour of the Alps Kayaking, (how am I so old now?)
Tell them they are weirdos.
gobuddy99@reddit
60 and never more than 30 days, even when I've been I've been working abroad I've come back every 3-4 weeks.
mcuttin@reddit
62 not in the last 7
CurvePuzzleheaded361@reddit
44 and never been out for 30 consecutive days!
concretelove@reddit
I don't think I've ever been out of the UK for 30 consecutive days? And I'm in my thirties. Think the longest is maybe 2-3 weeks maximum?
mygk@reddit
China 5 months. Could return and work in government services because of that. So I switched to private sector work
mygk@reddit
29m, lived in china approx 27yo.
Appropriate-Falcon75@reddit
I (39M) have (or have come close) a few times, but not in the last 5 years.
2012 India/Sri Lanka, 4 weeks. Agreed with work several months in advance, my wife was between jobs.
2016 Australia/Fiji/New Zealand, 7 weeks. Agreed with work several months in advance, my wife was between jobs.
2019 Australia/Singapore/Indonesia, 4 weeks (meant to be Sri Lanka and 5 weeks total but changed due to terrorist attacks in SL while we were in Singapore). Shared parental leave for both of us.
2025/6 India/Sri Lanka 4 weeks for my wife, 10 days for me and the children. She worked and used her volunteer days while she was away.
Part of it depends on your normal working patterns. I am in IT and most work is project based, so if you are flexible and can do it between projects, it can work well.
skronk61@reddit
36 and never been out of the country for more than 14 days.
Aeysir69@reddit
I haven’t left the country in… 14 years 🥺
Metrobolist3@reddit
Just back from Spain today, and like foreign trips but we only go away for a week and a bit usually. I wouldn't be able to take 30 days off work in one go. Two weeks would be the practical maximum.
Bec21-21@reddit
I wasn’t born in the country I live in. I haven’t been in the country I was born in for more than 14 days at any point since I left.
I was probably 21 last time I was out of the country I live in for more than 30 consecutive days. Who can take an entire month off if they have responsibilities?
Artistic_Option_3822@reddit
55 and yes. Two months every year, for just under twenty years.
Mountain-Orchid-140@reddit
I was out of the country ~250 days last year.
The longest single stretch was 82 days continuously in which time I visited 9 countries back to back.
Smeeble09@reddit
Never been out of the UK for 30 days at once, also not been abroad in over a decade.
I'd say this isn't common, even my retired parents with money to spare haven't been away for a month at a time.
Requirement_Fluid@reddit
Last time I went out of the country was to Paris for 3 days by coach
DeemonPankaik@reddit
The "30 consecutive days" is not an issue when applying for clearance unless you are going for a role that requires DV. Even then, if you can provide good accounts of where you were during that time, it's unlikely to be an issue. If it's a total of 6 months over the past 3 years, that can be an issue.
I think the recruiter is using this an excuse. For example some roles are not available to non-UK nationals.
Mountain-Orchid-140@reddit
Was about to respond with this.
Whilst no longer relevant to my job, when I did have to hold vetting status, travel abroad wasn't disqualifying, it just meant one more topic to go through at significant length during interview with UKSV.
SnooHabits8484@reddit
DV is a pain in the arse at the best of times, I wouldn’t apply for a role that required it.
Smash19@reddit
Surely people in the military are often needing clearance and are out of the country for months at a time.
I can’t imagine that’s a blocker to getting it, unless it was to a particular country!
Agitated_Custard_225@reddit
Spent 60 days on my delayed and extended honeymoon travelling South East Asia, 2 years ago. Aged 41 now.
jodonoghue@reddit
It’s rare, but not unheard of. Some companies (Arm is one I know of) offer an unpaid leave of absence every few years and people often use it for extended trips.
I am surprised this would have any effect on security clearance in the general case. Certain countries might be more problematic, especially if longer trips occur regularly.
Hunter037@reddit
35 I've never been out of the country for longer than 2 weeks
bsensikimori@reddit
30 days consecutive is serious privilege territory
BurnAfterReading75@reddit
ExoticExchange@reddit
Yeah 30 days is quite a long holiday for most people.
In certain demographics it might be a higher % eg those with immigrant parents (but even then a month is quite a while) or younger people who have gone on extended gap years/years abroad during uni, or those with a lot of disposable income in later life.
But this really isn’t that common across whole population.
For the record I have though.
Albert_Herring@reddit
Pretty sure that when I was a migrant I never came back here for as long as 30 days at a stretch. Did go to another European country for a longish holiday, though, but probably only 3 weeks even then
simon-g@reddit
Only when my wife and I went travelling for months in our 30s. Else it’s 3 weeks tops.
The 30+ day thing doesn’t preclude you from security clearance, just requires more explanation and vetting so it can take longer. If they had other candidates that had no concerns on getting clearance then they probably just wanted an easier placement.
wjoe@reddit
Late 30s, I've only been out of the country more than 30 days once in my lifetime, when I went travelling in my gap year for 3 monthsbefore university.
Definitely unusual to do so, most jobs only give you 25 days of holiday, I guess with weekends that could just about take it over 30 days, but most people aren't going to want to use up all of their time off at once. That, and holidays are expensive, so most couldn't afford to go away for that long (obviously a bit of a different situation if you're travelling to stay with family).
That, or just quit your job or take an unpaid sabbatical to go travelling for a while. I do know a couple of people who've done that, but not many.
Ok-Measurement-1575@reddit
Most people can barely afford to go to europe for a fortnight, once a year.
You're obviously a well funded terrorist with a penchant for AK47s if you managed 30 consecutive days abroad.
Sea-Climate6841@reddit
This isn’t a pass/fail question. For your clearance they will need to establish any links outside the UK. Someone can be absolutely fine having travelled outside the UK for 30 days, and can still achieve the clearance level needed.
Your recruiter is being pragmatic, if not a little over zealous, as it may create more work for the recruiting company if you cannot pass the vetting requirements, they then may need to let you go, and recruit someone else.
It won’t necessarily be a problem, but it could be a problem for the company employing the recruiter. For them to reject your application is just them protecting their commission.
teapigsfan@reddit
I feel as if this is not so stealthily weeding out those who aren't originally from here, because the majority of people wouldn't have the time, the means and the reason to do this.
I'm originally from the US, I work in a school (by design; because I need the holiday time to check in on elderly parents back home) and definitely was out of the country last summer for just over 30 days. My usual trip is 3 1/2 weeks but I stayed longer so we could do some major work on my dad's house.
As a family though, we go overseas but our holiday trips would be 2 weeks at most.
AttentionOtherwise80@reddit
My daughter was in Australia for most of 2015. Back in the UK since then. My niece has moved from UK, to Portugal, to Cyprus. Came home to get married, and I assume has returned to Cyprus. She and her husband work remotely.
ShinyHeadedCook@reddit
Longest I've been out the country was in 1995, 3 weeks in Italy with family
Mango5389@reddit
Yeah its hard to get SC clearance without 5 years of continuous residency if youre not born here.
Im not sure if 30 days voids your clearance application but it has to be declared and there a restrictions on certain countries. Id imagine the recruiter wants someone who will likely clear sc as it costs the employer to sponsor you.
I once worked with an Iraqi guy who moved here when he was around 7 but he didnt get his SC when we switched projects and he was unfortunately let go. My guess is that he would often go back to Iraq as he had duel citizenship to visit family and he didn't want to give it up.
Albert_Herring@reddit
Odd_Gap_9491@reddit
45, never. I've always had a job where I couldnt be away that long. 18 days probably my top a couple of years ago
No_Confidence_3264@reddit
31, last year I was out the country for six weeks, this year I will do 32 days in a row, however my fiancée is American and every summer I go out for five/six weeks, this is unusual. I’ve known a few people who have done it in their early twenties when travelling but I don’t think my 62 year old mum has been out the country for more than 30 days in a row since she was 18 and my dad has never been.
I’m a teacher so I have the flexibility
SpecialistAd7120@reddit
When i was like 8 i stayed with my nan in spain for the summer holidays but no never would i be able to stop working for that long
TwiggyPom@reddit
33, last December I worked 2 weeks in Holland then 2 weeks in Ethiopia and finally 2 weeks in Romania. Over the years I have done various stints of work spending over 30 days out of the country.
ForwardAd5837@reddit
Never. Early 30s. Did 28 days in Australia a few years back, that’s the longest I’ve ever been out of the country.
coconutszz@reddit
20s, yes I have and I was told it wouldn't really affect if I wanted to apply for a clearance. I'd say around half my friends have also left the country for 30+ consecutive days in the last 5 years.
stpizz@reddit
I have done it fairly often. But I suspect it is not usual.
Thats-new-to-me@reddit
I was out on Erasmus studying in Belgium for over six months. Right next to the Stella brewery so couldn’t beat that.
Then when I graduated I moved to Germany after I graduated and worked there for a few years. Was the best time of my life and wake up and miss it every single day.
Living abroad has affected my current work, like you say, for clearances. I’ve had restricted passes on RAF bases simply because, as I understand it, it’s a ball ache for them to contact Belgian and German police forces.
Hopefully, I’ll have 1 month or 2 months working in the Seychelles if all goes right.
Other than that I haven’t had any other issues and even the ones I have had have been minor. The experiences of working and living abroad outweigh minor inconveniences.
fblthpthewise@reddit
I do. My parents live in NZ. I grew up there. I don’t think it’s worth going that far for less time, so I go for about a month every 3 years or so.
Itchy-Ad4421@reddit
45M
Been out of the country for more than 30 consecutive days 7 times in the past 5 years (15 times in the last 6 years)
Used to go away every couple of months for long holidays / travel around - haven’t for the past 4 though.
ThrowRAMomVsGF@reddit
32 consecutive days a month ago. Drove through the Nordics, reached the Arctic circle, visited the Baltic countries etc. Took 12 days holiday, 8 days remote work. I guess I am in the minority that does a long road trip every year or two.
grimtalos@reddit
39, been out of the country for 30 days at time 4 times. Once has traveling Asian for a month. Another was traveling America and more parts of Asian for 2 months and then finally a year traveling the world.
Geetar-mumbles@reddit
I’m 35, it’s been 12 years since I was out of the country for a prolonged period and I was based in Cyprus.
kraftymiles@reddit
Yeah, I have. And I'm mid 50s.
Took a month out and went from Christ the Redeemer in Rio to Christ the Redeemer of The Andes in Argentina.
Good times.
Ill_Refrigerator_593@reddit
It's likely the country your were in combined with other factors that could be seen as risk.
High risk countries include China, Russia, Cuba, and bizarrely Belgium.
jajay119@reddit
Me. Haven’t been out the country since 2019.
everybodyctfd@reddit
Yes, I have done this regularly. I spent a month in Barcelona looking after cats last year, I go to visit family in Australia every 2 years for about a month, I used to go work from my sister's houses in Germany and US. I do it less now I have a dog. Joy of working remotely.
nomadmochilero@reddit
32, M, I would spend years at a time backpacking around the world then return for less than a year to save up and do it all over. Spent 10 years in total living like that. Back now, trying my hardest to stay longer term.
EonsOfZaphod@reddit
When I was a student I lived abroad for a year, but since then nothing more than holidays for 2 weeks
Broccoli--Enthusiast@reddit
The country? I don't think iv been out of the town I was born in for 30 consecutive days...
cregamon@reddit
I’m 40, and I’ve only done it once.
Back in 2004, a trip to the USA for around 35 days.
Connect-Banana-4403@reddit
29F, spent ~60d out of the UK consecutively last year, and spend around a month travelling/working abroad every year. My company has a quite flexible working policy so they allow this. I think about 30% of my colleagues in London do this - mostly expats, those who don’t have binding commitment (kids’ school, pet) and those who have a summer house abroad.
Standard_Response_43@reddit
Early 50's.
Most I could afford was 2 weeks...forget about 30 days
gambola@reddit
I work for a tech company doing gov work and we have lots of people from all over the world. Not everyone is eligible for SC but not all gov projects need it. It might be that they were hiring for a specific project with the MOJ or MOD and it’s mandatory. If you’re still looking for something, drop me a PM as depending what you do, we may be hiring.
RockasaurusFlex@reddit
42 - yes. 40 days. Born in UK.
JohnCasey3306@reddit
Born in the UK ... I have never been out of the country for more than 30 consecutive days.
That security clearance policy is almost certainly in place to.cou ter espionage, which would commonly involve foreign nationals, who likely spend more time out of the country.
Psychological-Bag272@reddit
I think most people wouldn't have been out of the country for more than 30 consecutive days. We normally use our annual leave in chunks. However, I work with people from other countries who will take 1 - 1.5 months off mixing both A/L and unpaid leave.
Mudeford_minis@reddit
Dutch father and Italian mother saw us out of the country from mid July until the end of August most years as a child in the 70’s. In the 1980’s I went to Hong Kong for 4 months but other than that I’ve never exceeded 3 weeks.
RoundTwistington@reddit
Not been out of country for more than 10 years, nearing 20 ...
thecheesycheeselover@reddit
No, the only times I’ve been out of the country that long is actually moving to other countries
onionsofwar@reddit
Only when I went to the Taliban training school.
Proud_Ad_8915@reddit
Not even in the last 20 years, always stayed local
johnlooksscared@reddit
Never.
Floss84@reddit
41 and I've never left the country for that longer, other one year as a kid when we moved to Germany as my stepdad was in the army. In the last five years I haven't left the country at all.
b1uep1eb@reddit
47, I spend a month every year in my wife's country. I'm lucky I can use my holiday all together.
setokaiba22@reddit
It’s not normal for most people to be out of the country 30 consecutive days tbh unless they are from another country or have done a big travelling time out
Current-Set-2629@reddit
36 never more than 15 days.
manic47@reddit
58 here, and multiple times over 30 days.
Long holidays abroad basically, next one is 6 weeks long.
dancingsalmon_@reddit
I worked rotations in oil and gas for a few years, and used to spend 40-50 days overseas, come home for a few weeks, then bugger off somewhere else. Never had an issue with anything.
GavinF83@reddit
I’m 40. I did a holiday of just over 3 weeks last year, around 24 days in total. That’s the longest I’ve been out of the country in a while.
I did a year of travelling in my mid 20s so spent about 11 months out of the country. Obviously longer than 5 years ago though.
Ultimately I wouldn’t say it’s very common.
mikepartdeux@reddit
Quite a few times, I work abroad and my partner is American. Last year I worked in Europe for 45 days (roughly) at a time twice and twice to Taiwan for a similar time and spent 5 weeks in the USA over xmas and new year. The longest I've spent out of the UK consecutively was 5 months. I'm 36
PM-me-your-cuppa-tea@reddit
30F
I am out the country a lot and sometimes go in reasonably long holidays, but my maximum has been 28 days, my normal long trips are like 20ish days, and the majority of my trips are like 3 days.
JackfruitPractical84@reddit
I’d say most people because that would involve 4 weeks off work straight which most people don’t get the luxury to take in one go.
El_John_Nada@reddit
I have, but it was because I had to go deal with my mum's stuff in France after she died. But it was only because I could work remotely (and becaus, considering the circumstances, l could tell my manager to sod off and be grateful I was working at all and not just being on extended bereavement leave when he was pushing for me to come back).
But that's a very exceptional case and, apart from that, the only reason why someone would is because they took a sabbatical or something.
Ability_Civil@reddit
33F - I was out of the country for over a month in 2011 (job at a US summer camp), 2018 (Camino de Santiago pilgrimage) and 2019 (lived in monastery in Solomon Islands for 2 months)
So no to the last 5 years! All three of those were amazing bucket list trips - now that I work full time and have kids I'm definitely less likely to do such things.
Lienidus1@reddit
49 been out for 30 days every year for the last 20 years
Livelih00d@reddit
I'm 31, I lived in Spain for three years. It does feel unlikely that most people would be able to go on holiday for over 30 days at a time.
GrumpChorlton@reddit
In the last 5 years the longest I have been away consecutively is 18 days. I did live in the Middle East for over 10 years, though. But, not in the last 5 years 🙂
Graphi_cal@reddit
I have/had family in Germany so spent longer periods in the summer there as a child.
But now I’m middle aged with 3 children, two cats and a full time job and a finite amount of holiday….
No chance
The only person I know who does this, has pre school age children, is a high earner and late to fatherhood.
TheRiddlerTHFC@reddit
Erm, only time ive been out of the country for more than 30 days was when I did Camp America. My wife also went travelling for 9 months.
This was a lot more than 5 years ago.
SpaceJkr@reddit
I think that's a pretty unreasonable ask of a 31 year old. Not ridiculous to think of someone doing some traveling I'm their late 20s.
I did 3 months in South America, but I also worked offshore. Think I spent 90 days in the country that year.
Uncle_Sam_8@reddit
36F. I’ve spent 10 of the last 11 years abroad on working holiday visas. Definitely not eligible for many jobs I’m interested in now I’m home, as I’ve spent so much time away.
T-L-Q@reddit
Was 29M at the time (Now 30M) left the country for 61 days last year, had a job offer a few months later that required an enhanced DBS and had no issues
ManTurnip@reddit
GreeceyChops@reddit
I’m in my 50s.
I think I did 28 days once when I was a kid, staying with my grandparents for 4 weeks in the summer when they lived in Spain. I’ve probably done 3 weeks abroad a couple of times since then.
tinabelcher182@reddit
I feel like a bit of an anomaly but I have been out of the country multiple times for 30+ consecutive days.
But I don’t have a real job so I don’t have to request time off or whatever. I’m self employed and used to work remotely (now I’m only self employed but location specific, so it’s still possible but I can’t work abroad now). I was in a long distance relationship previously so I would work remotely while visiting my ex. Would spend about 88 days abroad per visit (only allowed to stay for 90) and I did that about six times, but also did live in the other country for just under two years. And I have lived in two other countries for a year/six months.
But yeah. I don’t have a career or a typical job. So I see the privilege of doing so but I have sacrificed a lot of other rewards to do it. It’s not common at all.
Dr_momo@reddit
I haven’t been out of the country since 2019. Pandemic + founding a startup + new dog and I ended up holidaying within an hour of my house very occasionally.
When the dog dies, I’ll travel abroad again.
poliver1988@reddit
I'm not a native (EU national on indefine leave) and most of the time longest I've been is 14 days lol a few times, like I don't think I can could manage to be out for more than 28 days tbh cause of the way holidays work out, and staying for more than 3 months without a job is illegal... 38, been here since 21...
CouchAlchemist@reddit
Never been out of the country for 30 days since I started working. Could never get that much time off is the main reason and our data protection rules means we can't access a lot of things outside UK.
Age:40+
MrPogoUK@reddit
My wife is allowed to work remotely from her home country (as the UK based company she worked for was owned by a company based there), but even then I don’t think she’s ever done it for more than about three weeks at a time.
CouchAlchemist@reddit
My wife has the similar rule on outside of UK limited to 2 weeks at a time and total of 4 weeks in a year. Dang both of our wives have better work benefits than us 😁 .
lucyuktv@reddit
46 and been out of the country for more than 30 days several times. I gave up work so have more time than most.
Beartato4772@reddit
Virtually no-one has been out of the country for 30 consecutive days.
Now if you meant non-consecutive it'd be interesting.
WISJG@reddit
35, haven't been out the country for 30 consecutive days since I was 22.
OverdressedShingler@reddit
I've done 30 consecutive days once. And it literally was just 30 days. In 1999 when I went to Italy with my parents in the caravan. We drove all the way done through France, through the Mont Blanc tunnel then set up camp about an hour outside of Florence for a few weeks, before taking another 3 days to go back up through France to home.
lesloid@reddit
Not in the past 5 years. Worked and lived overseas for a couple of years in my twenties but since having kids the longest I’ve been out of the country in one go would be 3 weeks. Most people won’t get more than 2-3 weeks leave from their jobs at one time unless they’re a teacher.
andygoulden@reddit
If it's for security clearance, the fact that you weren't born in the UK and you frequently go to your home country for long periods is probably the deciding factors. This is especially if that country isn't one of the "five eyes" countries.
xnovocaine@reddit
Me - took 6 months off a few years ago and went travelling
evelynsmee@reddit
The only time I was out of the UK for 30 consecutive days was when I emigrated (for 6 months). It is not how most people live. Most people do 2 weeks, maybe 3-4 in some situations (one of my colleagues is going away for 3.5 weeks next month, he's saved up all his leaves for it and can't do it every year)
Consistent_Ad4473@reddit
36 and never? The longest holiday i ever went on was 20 days
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
46, longest I've been out the country in one go is 35 days, but that was 25 years ago.. since then nothing more than 15 days.
ravens_requiem@reddit
Managed about 1,200 once, after that you’re down to like 150, then about 100. M54.
PM_ME_VEG_PICS@reddit
Not in the past 5 years but have in the past 10 years.
Human_Designer4590@reddit
45F I've done it a couple of times, a month long trip to SEA and just spent a year living in Thailand (back now). I would say it's pretty uncommon but hardly unheard of, as others have pointed out plenty of career paths might lead to spending longish stays overseas
Draigwyrdd@reddit
I have been out of the UK for more than 30 consecutive days before, but that was over twenty years ago.
Real_Dependent2919@reddit
FU
atomic_mermaid@reddit
In one go? No. Cumulatively? Yeah.
Specialist_Act_9394@reddit
Think I did about 28 days in Central America last October.
Last time I was out for 30 consecutive was probably 2017.
Old_Insect@reddit
I haven't been back home to the UK since 2014 haha
Ned-Nedley@reddit
Never. 43m. Unless you’re a young student doing a gap year or a retired person doing a round the world cruise I don’t see how you’d do it.
Temporary-Egg2148@reddit
36 here and the longest I’ve been out of the country was 21 days for a summer holiday when I was a kid. Most people only get 20 to 25 days of holiday in a year so it would require spending all or nearly all of your holiday on one trip to be out for 30 consecutive days.
Perpetua11y_C0nfused@reddit
Yep! Since I was 18 I’ve spent 10 years in Nz and two in Cyprus. Currently 38. I went back to NZ for 5 weeks over Xmas.
Just doing a DB check is an absolute ball ache. Security vetting, forget it 🤣
boringgit@reddit
229 days longest. Spanning 2024 and into 2025.
I work on a floaty things.
Sasspishus@reddit
30s F, yes in the last 5 years I have done. I went overseas on a Working Holiday Visa so lived outside the UK for 2 years doing that
Mean-Construction207@reddit
I have, maybe half a dozen times?. Late 30s.
And i require security clearance to do it.
ComfortableJeans@reddit
31 or 32, I can't remember.
I haven't left the country since I was 11. It was the last time we could afford to.
Kayakmedic@reddit
M40s, I've always lived in the UK and I've done at least a dozen trips of more than 30 days in my lifetime. I've had quite a few years of temporary work and I'd go travelling for months at a time once I'd saved enough money. I have a mortgage, a child, and a full time job now though so I'm not going to be doing any more of that until I retire.
jimmywhereareya@reddit
No, never been out of the country for more than 21 days
philonik@reddit
Just got back from being out the country for 80 days straight
CaveJohnson82@reddit
I have once, but that was 20-odd years ago. I studied abroad for a bit.
nfurnoh@reddit
The most I have been out of the country consecutively was 20 days, and that was for work 22 years ago.
Brilliant_Sound_5565@reddit
When I was younger I had a good month or so on fence with my pen friend. Did that die a few consecutive summers, but that was 30 years ago now. Never been out so long since though
Overall-Error4057@reddit
I did previously (just over 5y) lived in germany for a few months from June 2020 until another longer lockdown in Dec 2020 and things went sideways so returned back in Feb 2021. (lost my eu living rights returning..)
This might also be common for students taking an exchange year, or half year abroad. I've had a few exchange students in my university, and some courses did allow exchange years.
But out of country for more than 30 days for holiday isn't really possible for people who are working full time in person
Significant_Air_1662@reddit
45 years old. Spent 36 days in the US in 2024. I have family there and an unconventional employment. Definitely not the norm.
Left_Set_5916@reddit
That's a bit weird as it means if you have week(well 6 days) holiday every year for the last 5 years you can't apply?
Electrical-Tea-4559@reddit
I did 50+ days a couple years ago but that was to family living abroad as I’m immigrated here in the UK. So I stayed with them/didn’t pay accommodation
MoistHD@reddit
In the army, so happens 2-4 times a year.
Z-Z-Z-Z-2@reddit
Dual citizen here and since we moved here my kids regularly spend more than a month abroad every year.
smushs88@reddit
To echo others nope! Think longest I’ve been out the country is 14 consecutive days.
M39
BigDumbGreenMong@reddit
The only other time I've been away for longer than 30 days was backpacking in my 20s.
Suspicious_Banana255@reddit
I have never been out the country for more than 2 weeks at a time and not done that often.
thorn312@reddit
I am mid thirties and haven't been out of the country at all in about 23 years.
Defiant_Practice5260@reddit
Once in the past 10 years
LowAnimator8770@reddit
Leaving for more than 14 days wouldn’t be normal for majority of people.
Lynex_Lineker_Smith@reddit
Just over 300 days way back last century , am in my 50’s
matmah@reddit
The average Brit doesn't due to the way work holidays are structured, but I know a lot of people who do seasonal work and then go overseas for the winter.
Mustardly@reddit
I keep going places for short term jobs and end up staying for a few years. I guess I would be seen as high risk.
The 8 week long trip across Europe and into Turkey / Russia and the old society states would also put a nail in that coffin.
But I am definitely unusual for that.
rabbit92@reddit
F32...I've never left the country for 30 consecutive days. I do like to travel but the longest I've been out of the country is 14 days.
JonJo42@reddit
Did an around the world cruise last year 115 days out of the country (January to May ). 55M
Smidday90@reddit
Never, only recently left the country for the first time in almost 20 years
KoorbB@reddit
Many people will have but perhaps once, when they travelled before Uni on their gap yaaaaaa.
OrganicPoet1823@reddit
Longest I’ve been out is 3 weeks so not more than 30 days
DingoBingoWimbo@reddit
Never been out the country that long. I'm a serf
Hippymam@reddit
I haven't left the country for 30 days in total in the last 5 years. In fact, I haven't left the country at all in that time.
SirTallTree_88@reddit
I have, but it was when I was in the Army so I don’t think it really counts in this case, as I was only there for those periods because I was in the Army. Not only deployed on Operations but also Overseas Training Exercises could definitely take you over 30 days in various locations and countries.
antonylockhart@reddit
I went out of the country for 5 weeks after Xmas. Just got clearance for an upcoming government related contract at work.
Informal_Day372@reddit
I did 6 months out the country 2 years ago (LATAM)
I was away for a month last November, Spain.
December/early Jan was 3 weeks (Germany)
Just got back last month from 2 weeks abroad and I’m doing 2 more beginning of next month.
I’m early 20s though, so flexibility and time are benefits a lot of older brits don’t have
EcstaticAstronaut984@reddit
43M, I'm away from UK every year for 45 to 60 consecutive days (working remotely). And the same goes for my partner, 43F as we work in the same business so we're both allowed to do it.
nfoote@reddit
30 consecutive days is a long time in one go.
Its basically all the annual leave most people would get (including weekends, maybe some strategic bank holidays).
Its a long time to leave work in one go. It's not just a "that can wait until they're back" kind of break.
Its a long time to leave commitments like family, pets, a house, exercise routines etc.
Its a long time to afford holiday accommodation and activities in one go.
Outside of actual "going travelling" in your 20s it seems highly unlikely for most people, however aspirational for some.
Jumpy_Imagination208@reddit
Other than my “gap yah” when I was 19, I have not been out of the country for 30 days or more. I’ve done at least one 18/19 day holiday, but generally they’re around 2 weeks.
Marvel--Jesus@reddit
Never, why would I ? All my stuff is here !
-myeyeshaveseenyou-@reddit
I’m Irish, moved here 10 years ago, longest I’ve been back home and out of the uk is two weeks and that was 9 years ago, at most I usually just manage a few days here and there
AFCBatmouth@reddit
35, me and my wife took a total of consecutitve 2 years away. We quit our jobs and travelled the world, working as we went (this was before the responsibilties of children and mortgages).
She now works at the MoD. I recall security clearance being somewhat of a pain but generally quite straightforward, despite spending time in some "unfriendly" countries.
beckypartybeckyparty@reddit
F34 I lived abroad for about 2 years and 9 months. When I returned I had to wait another 2 years living in the UK to start my career so I could get through security clearance.
Vespa_Alex@reddit
Longest I’ve done was about three weeks, and that was the US and New Zealand so low risk of it being seen as suspicious.
theavocadolady@reddit
Tall_Field9458@reddit
Once when I was at uni and did 7 weeks abroad as a language exchange. Since then 2 weeks at most. My wife travels for work and can spend 8 weeks abroad a year but not in one go, most is 2 weeks.
BVOP83@reddit
I have left the country maybe 7 times in the last 5 years with 5 of them being for 6+ weeks
Ok-Inspection-2019@reddit
Never if youre referring to UK
CatoCensorius88@reddit
I’m leaving the country tomorrow and may well be gone for more than 30 days (my wife is giving birth abroad).
A_In_Wonderland@reddit
Good luck and congratulations!
CatoCensorius88@reddit
Thank you!
iamdarthvin@reddit
51, 52 this year, last time I left the country was Thailand for just over a month when I was 25. Desperately want a break abroad for a similar amount of time but life changes, kids, adult care, business, pets etc. and now with the first year I contemplated a little holiday, a war starts fucking up fuel!
AirBiscuitBarrel@reddit
32, native Brit. I've left the country for that period of time once, ten years ago.
Flat-Ad8256@reddit
Nope. Haven’t been away for more than 30 days for 25 years
Chance-Bread-315@reddit
I'm 29 and have only ever been out of the country for 30(+) consecutive days once, which was in 2019 when I went travelling for \~3 months.
In the last 5 years I haven't been out of the country for 30 days altogether...
Cat-Cuddler1@reddit
Yes we were out of the country for more than 30 days once in the last five years... But only because we got stuck in South Africa when the UK govt banned travel from there. Literally we were not planning on being out of the UK for that long but our own government wouldn't let us return.
merdeauxfraises@reddit
Who the hell has enough money to be out of the country for that amount of time? That's insane to me. I can't fathom more than 2 weeks of vacation, not to mention leave from work.
FourCats44@reddit
Longest for me is I think 10 days. My uncle takes month long road trips across America and Australia for holidays though so they'd be out.
If it makes you feel any better - their application to the vetting team to get clearance costs in the region of £25,000. And that is regardless of if you are successful or not. So they tend to like to have some degree of confidence given the not insubstantial cost.
dinkidoo7693@reddit
Not been out of the country since 2017…
Never been out longer than 14 days.
Thick_Suggestion_@reddit
Got stuck in Poland bc of the Icelandic Volcano eruption. It was over a month. I remember that people were buying coach tickets enmass but we couldn't afford it, so we just cancelled the tickets and got ones when it wasn't too expensive. I was like 11 and this was the best thing that happened for a while lol.
But the mood was kind of shite bc a few day before the eruption Polands president died in an airplane crash. And bc of this, the flights at our airport were so delayed till closing time and then they moved us to a different airport.
Arnoave@reddit
I've been out of the country 15 years and counting. If I were to come home tomorrow and apply for that job, I imagine I'm the sort of person they'd be screening for.
Sea_Kangaroo826@reddit
I moved to the UK 11 years ago and haven't left for 30 consecutive days since
Physical-Egg6682@reddit
I was in new zealand for 33 days in January on holiday
Physical-Egg6682@reddit
Oh and I'm a 38 year old female
Elisecobrauk@reddit
Left the UK to live in Germany in 2021, quite a few days have passed by.
alann72@reddit
Nope, that won’t stop clearance
Sufficient-Low5771@reddit
Yes, in 2023 and 2024 when I spent January in New Zealand and then Thailand/Vietnam.
I can work remotely and even with cat sitters I saved money vs being in London, really dislike January!
Expensive-Article328@reddit
57, never been out that long since I came to live here in 1976
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
I got asked the same question this week and just turned down the whole application because they wanted exact dates and itineraries of all overseas travel in the last five years. In theory I could do this, but it would take me like ten hours to figure it all out.
A_In_Wonderland@reddit
Yes, I’m a teacher and have often gone away for 4-6 weeks during the summer holidays.
keyholes@reddit
I'm probably the exception, but I have, several times. 38, about to emigrate to Belgium - no prizes for guessing where I've been spending my thirty consecutive days.
Some people just don't feel the need to look further afield, some of us can't understand why you wouldn't. It's okay, it'd be boring if we were all the same.
DemonicHedgehogs@reddit
31 here, nope. The longest I was out of the country was two years but I’ve been back for nearly 8 now. Since then I think I the longest I’ve done was 12 consecutive days.
joeparni@reddit
31, went to AUS and NZ for 5 weeks from Jan-Feb 2020
I got back a hairs breadth before covid lol
CMDR_Quillon@reddit
I do quite a lot of travelling, enough that I've come fairly close to hitting the EU's 90-day limit on visa-free Schengen access per year on at least one occasion, but for 30 days consecutively? Never. Longest has been 2 weeks.
Grouchy-Split5667@reddit
I have been out of the country for 90 days in a row a few times. I work from home, so I tend to bounce between Europe and other countries.
Lots-o-bots@reddit
22, only ever been out of the country for > 14 days.
Isgortio@reddit
The only time I've done that is when I quit a terrible job and went travelling 8 years ago. I've not had the time or funds to escape for more than a week since!
plutonium-239@reddit
Italian here. Never went back to Italy for more than 2 weeks in 14 years of residence in the UK.
Throwaway4VPN@reddit
34 and multiple times
172116@reddit
37, last trip out the country over 30 days was when I was 19 and working at a summer camp in the US. Haven't left the country for more than a week since pre -covid, when I had 3 weeks abroad to go trekking. I'm now at a seniority level at work with my team's remit broad enough that I would now struggle to go away for more than 2 weeks. I'm hoping that when I make the next jump up I can become less operational and have senior enough direct reports that a 3 week holiday will be feasible again!
JuicyPossum@reddit
Twice for more than 30 consecutive days in the last 5 years. Both for professional training.
amytee252@reddit
I have been out of the country for more than 30 consecutive days in the last 5 years. Used to live abroad until 2022 and have spent every summer since for between 2-4 months in Germany.
uwatfordm8@reddit
Did 36 days in South America last year, that's the only time so far I've been out of the country for 30 consecutive days though.
Next year I'm planning 5 months abroad though so that'll change.
Glynebbw@reddit
I lived in Brussels for a year over ten years ago. Other than that longest holiday is two weeks.
Deathskitten@reddit
Currently spending 6 weeks travelling around Italy. I work for myself though, if I was still in a regular office job it'd be difficult to take more than 2 weeks in one go.
Robertjr1995@reddit
30 here. I’ve never actually been out the country at all. But that’s changing this year! Got a holiday booked to go Canada in August for 3 weeks. Can’t wait! 😄
WraithOfEvaBraun@reddit
I'm 52 this year and I haven't either (unless England to Wales, and the Scottish border counts 😆)
turnings12@reddit
Aged 83 and have never been out for more than 30 partly because of having to get holiday and home insurance for such a period.
invasionofcamels@reddit
More than 30 consecutive days? In the last 5 years - never. In the last 30 years - once. I’m 49.
dallasp2468@reddit
The last time I left the country was in 2013. Though I'm the exception, as friends go abroad every couple of months on
Jolly-Turn-5996@reddit
Honeymoon across multiple places in Southeast Asia but I am hoping just under 30 days
R2-Scotia@reddit
I got mid level SC just after moving back from USA, but I am a citizen by birth and previously held more serious security clearance when I worked at MoD
fnaaaaar@reddit
Never for 30 consecutive days, rarely more than 14 at a time
WraithOfEvaBraun@reddit
52 this year, live in England, I've never been out of the UK let alone for 30 days, I don't even have a passport...furthest I've been is Wales 😆
dazed1984@reddit
Nope, that would be all my annual leave gone in 1 go.
kbm79@reddit
46, i went to Australia for 8 weeks in 2000, then Canada for 5 weeks in 2006. Just normal 14 days holiday (max) abroad these days.
EntirelyRandom1590@reddit
Shouldn't be a problem for SC unless you were in Russia/Iran/North Korea. Bit more complicated if going for DV.
I've not been out of country for 30 days in the last 5 years, but in the instance I first had security vetting I had been out of country for 45 days consecutively in the 12 months prior. It was Australia. Wasn't an issue.
therealhairykrishna@reddit
Mid 40's. I travel a lot, mostly for work. I don't remember 30 consecutive days in another country - that's quite a few.
Country you were in matters more for SC. 30 days in the US, most of Europe? Not a problem. 30 days in Afghanistan, Somalia or even Pakistan is a potential flag.
Unfortunately it's an easy filter for applications.
No_Pea-1@reddit
28, yes. I cared for family abroad for 4 months.
Emergency-Moose-88@reddit
Yes, I have quite a lot as I do research abroad and have a partner currently working in the US. Within my circle, all of us have spent a lot of time abroad!
Nuthetes@reddit
I didn't even know that was a thing. I live abroad and only come back to England once a year for six weeks.
Soniq268@reddit
I lived overseas and moved back to the UK in 2022 so yea, I was out of the country for 15 years until 2022.
Since then I’ve had a couple of 4/6 week long trips (Mexico, India and a month long trip around France, Switzerland and Italy). I’m 44.
donalmacc@reddit
Once, when I moved.
Mortiis07@reddit
Wishmaster891@reddit
37, never been out for more than 30 days. 2 weeks max when i was a kid i think
SneezlesForNeezles@reddit
My max is 14 days consecutively and that is thrice in 10 years; once for my honeymoon and twice to visit my brother in America and one of those was his wedding.
Two weeks holiday is not common, let alone thirty days.
buginarugsnug@reddit
I’ve never been out the country for more than 14 consecutive days.
Nicktrains22@reddit
DustTechnical4561@reddit
Morganx27@reddit
I'm 26 and the longest I've ever been out of the country is 14 consecutive days
zonked282@reddit
I don't know anyone who's been out of the country for 30 consecutive days, even people I know to have gone on a trip to Australia only had the best part of 20 days 😂
IntentionTop2290@reddit
I haven't been out of the country for more than 30 days since I went traveling in my gap year (not aging myself but it was pre 9/11).
Family are all in the UK, work has never needed me to travel for that long, and the one chance I got, covid turned it into a remote job.
CAElite@reddit
32, hold SC clearance, spent around 6 months of 22/23 working in the US for one 3 week stint and another two 12 week stints.
Was never raised as an issue. Although I was working as a consultant under a UK company.
HerbTP@reddit
Last year, I went to Japan and China for five weeks. I try and take an extended break every other year but covid did interrupt that pattern.
I've also lived abroad for three years and travelled Asia for a year. I'm in my mid 30s.
ToiletDestroyer6000@reddit
I lived abroad for a year 7 years ago and was out of the country for 34 days over Christmas and new year (visiting friends and family abroad),
I was born here and I do work in a field that requires SC clearance for some roles but haven’t had to go through the process yet, I am wondering now whether it will be an issue after seeing your post.
BigFloofRabbit@reddit
Definitely not. I think the longest I was out of the country in that time was about a week visiting relatives. 30 consecutive days is far longer than a typical overseas trip
Goatsandducks@reddit
I'm 32 and I haven't since 2008 if I remember correctly.
cayosonia@reddit
I just moved back after 20 years, as a blanket my company got us all to get basic security clearance because we bid for gov jobs and I got mine ok.
sydney-opera-house@reddit
23 and I've never been out the country, let alone for 30 consecutive days. as someone born here, whose family is here I doubt I'd have a reason to leave the country for 30 days or more at a time
Shoddy-Reply-7217@reddit
I've done that twice in my entire life.
Once in my university summer holidays (BUNAC), and once going travelling when I was 29 (which was 26 years ago.)
It's not common at all, mostly because of working commitments. Once people don't have to work, often they can't afford it or are getting too poorly to travel for very long at a time.
Whitewitchie@reddit
I think there is more to it than being out of the country for more than 30 consecutive days. They may not be able to tell you exactly why either. The only people who would be out of the country for such lengths of time would be military personnel serving abroad, or people who travel for work. People who have been backpacking, or are wealthy enough to go on several long cruises or holidays abroad every year would fall into the same type of category.
YouSayWotNow@reddit
In the last 5 years, 3 times. All holidays. When I'm paying for a longhaul flight, I try to stay as long as I can there, within my leave allowance and budget!
Dutch_Slim@reddit
The security issue doesn’t usually arise unless it’s more than 90 days.
I’ve only been out of the country for 5 days in the last 30 years!
Thingzwithstuff@reddit
Not sure I've left the m25 area in the last 5 years for even 30 hours....
xxxxxxxxxooxxxxxxxxx@reddit
In 2021 I spent 8 weeks in the US visiting my long-distance girlfriend (we’re now married). That’s the longest holiday I’ve ever had.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
Not since I was 21 sadly.
Most people who need a job can't get a month off at a time.
yslmara@reddit
21 today and I’ve actually never left the country. Too poor to.
EyeofAv8@reddit
That’s ridiculous. I know people who upgraded from SC to DV security clearance after taking a year sabbatical to go travelling…
I’m 31 and about to leave the country for 6 months (travelling). Longest I’ve left the country prior was 25 days.
Jezbod@reddit
Been to New Zealand about a dozen times in last 25 years and the states once, all for over 30 days. Not been out of the UK since 2017. I held SC while going on extended stays.
No_Succotash_7643@reddit
dwair@reddit
Im 59. Not reacently but I spent 28 odd years where I was in the UK for much less than 30 consecutive days a year. During the 1990s I probably spent less than 30 days here during the whole decade.
sleepyprojectionist@reddit
I was out of the country for around three months in 2019. I was training for a new job and was based in Toronto for that period.
Since then I have had one holiday and three work trips all of which were one to two weeks.
ptr120@reddit
I currently live outside the UK and have lived outside the UK at various times, and in various countries in the past. I also spent 2-3 months travelling in Australia when I was in my early 20s.
ACharredCell@reddit
Yes, as a PhD student this is very common. Visited another lab overseas for two months to work on a collaborative project with them.
(34F)
goldenhawkes@reddit
Yea I did a summer school abroad for six weeks or so when I was doing my PhD.
Mr_Bumcrest@reddit
Haven't left the county in 6 years. 37
Alive_Forever_9541@reddit
Used to travel for work (Europe, North America, Hong Kong). Last ten years have travelled a lot with up to 5 non-work trips aboard in a single year.
I've never been out of the country for more than 15 days consecutively.
Male, over 50
Agreeable_Guard_7229@reddit
F46. Spent 3 years living and working in Asia
FlatTyres@reddit
The most was 17 days for me. The last few years probably 4 days max.
raymab68@reddit
Twice in the last 5 years. Twice i have also left for ~24 days to go back home for a decent time.
zinasbear@reddit
Twice. I'm 37.
Jesisawesome@reddit
Nice try fed
Eberardo69@reddit
Nice try, Home Office
sufjan12@reddit
41 and just spend around 50 consequtive days abroad
Darkus185@reddit
Yes. I’ve been in South Africa for six month stints at a time since I was 18. I’m now 39.
It still works out as cheaper than living in the UK even with declaring British tax.
CraigL8@reddit
I know of no one who has spent 30 days out of the country. 14 days is my max.
It’s probably uncommon for the average Brit to go on hol for 21 days too, although I know of one who does to the same place.
greytidalwave@reddit
I'm 36, have never been out of the country for longer than 30 consecutive days. My family live abroad so I go regularly but for shorter trips.
akrabat@reddit
50s. The longest for me is 23 consecutive days.
Iammildlyoffended@reddit
Absolutely never! I’d love a month abroad in summer but so far working commitments etc…. I’m 40f
Busy-Doughnut6180@reddit
I don't think most people can get that much time off work. I would say that usually, for most people, a 30 day trip is "travelling", and usually done in between jobs or during a uni break. Or it'd be people who travel for work.
I am around the same age as you and I have been out of the country for 2 days in the last 5 years. I would have no reason to go away for 30 days except for travelling, but that's expensive so I haven't done that yet. Longest I've ever been away on a regular holiday is 2 weeks.
blue_rizla@reddit
I used to live overseas, came back August 2021. After that, definitely not. Probably 12 consecutive days at a max.
Roxygen1@reddit
Mid 30s
I left the country for one summer abroad during my 20s, other than that I've only been abroad for 2 weeks at a time or less.
This-Draft797@reddit
33 - once 15 years ago. It sucks but basically what ever clients or security they need will take too long for the time they want you to start. I would leave it on good terms and suggest if another position opens up to let you know
Ricky_Martins_Vagina@reddit
I'm a tax dodging bastard so I haven't been in the country for 30 consecutive days for the last 17 years 😄
I don't think you'll find too many people living in the UK who spend 30+ days at a time unless they're using their whole year's holiday allowance in one go...
Kezly@reddit
Never been out of the country for that amount of consecutive days. I think the most is 15 consecutive days. I'm 38
frusoh@reddit
I'm late 20s and i have never been out of the country for 30 consecutive days.
L0gic_Laden@reddit
I am 22 and have never been out of the country for that long. Closest I've got to 30 consecutive days is just under 4 weeks when we went to Australia for, among other things, a wedding of a family member who lives there.
Other than that I don't think I've ever been out of the country for much longer than a week.
phjils@reddit
Passport expired in 2018, so I’m out. 47. I’m my 20s sure, went all over Europe for 6 months. Then I got a job and responsibilities, so trips overseas became a week / days.
CupThin5548@reddit
I was not born in this country either and I have quite a bit of family outside the country. Yet, I’ve never been out of the country for more than 30 consecutive days
marcusrizaulait@reddit
(I left the UK in 1986... I've been out of the country for 14,658 days...what do?)
InspiringGecko@reddit
DourFaced@reddit
I suppose it depends on the department and level of clearance you may need. I was out of the country for around 2 months in 2022 and got a government job (with the most basic security clearance) one year after I returned.
EyeAware3519@reddit
In almost 50 years of being alive the longest I've been out of the country at one time is 2 weeks.
beneyh@reddit
Most I’ve done is 26 days consecutively I think. About the same every year for work
Past-Anything9789@reddit
41 here and the longest I've been away is 2 weeks, that was years ago.
No-Locksmith6662@reddit
Longest I’ve ever been out the country is a fortnight in Lanzarote. Unless, like you, they have family abroad I doubt the vast majority of people have been anywhere for that long.
Age 33.
Specialist_Emu7274@reddit
I have twice in my entire life. Last time was 2 years ago (South East Asia), the time before that I was 5 (South Africa). I can't imagine its particulalry common.
MountainMuffin1980@reddit
Very very uncommom for Brits to be away that long. It's either like you, they have family abroad they see for big chunks of time, or students on a gap year/people travelling before starting careers.
There's some jobs that don't even give people 30 days holiday, never mind sign-off on folks being off for a whole month (though my work place will allow sabbaticals if there's cover in place).
I'm surprised they think it precludes you from getting security clearance though. I don't understand the thinking there.
Apprehensive_Oil_808@reddit
Haven't been abroad since my honeymoon 8 years ago. Haven't even got a passport atm, as the likelihood of me going abroad is zero.
doctorace@reddit
I haven’t in the 8.5 years I’ve lived here and I don’t even have indefinite leave to remain.
Extra-Sound-1714@reddit
62, never been out the country that long. I should imagine just rich and retired people would be. Because if you are working an actual job you need annual leave and most employers won't let you go for that long.
Ready-Fox-3264@reddit
I'm 36 and I've not left the country since 2020. And if this matters, I, too, have family outside the UK.
I think a good chunk of the population hasn't left the country since Covid for various reasons, however in your case I'd understand why you'd spend a lot more on average.
It's their loss and means you have plenty more opportunities knocking on your door very soon.
CatoCensorius88@reddit
I’m leaving the country tomorrow and may well be gone for more than 30 days (my wife is giving birth abroad).
VeryTrueThing@reddit
Never. Longest is two weeks.
0rachael0@reddit
yeah not me, i nearly was in 2019 as i went to france for the women’s world cup but due to circumstances i ended up in london with family for a couple nights. other than that think the longest was 12 days for euro 24, i definitely prefer shorter holidays
BiscuitCrumbsInBed@reddit
Derfel60@reddit
Ive never been out of the country for more than 2 weeks at a time.
Apsalar28@reddit
Mid 40's. The longest I've been out of the country in one go is 8 days.
Everywhere I've worked has has a no more than 2 weeks at a time leave policy unless you take an unpaid sabbatical so much as I'd love to spend 6 weeks in Australia that's not going to be happening until I either retire or win the lottery.
Significant-Glove521@reddit
25 days, 2 back to back work trips, technically I was out for 7 days (conference), back for 2 nights and then away for 25 (work and 2 conferences). All were work trips.
Floz1989@reddit
I’m German, living in the UK full time. I’ve not been out of the country for more than 30 days in the last 5 years.
Far-Sir-825@reddit
Nope. Visit family in Oz every couple of years but I think about 18 days the most ever left the UK
ramapyjamadingdong@reddit
I've not left the country, let alone for 30 days plus since 2018.
I have however lived abroad and back packed for 30+days on many occasions over 15 years ago.
BetterCallSeal@reddit
I travel a lot, but I’ve never been away for that kind of extended time (mostly due to annual leave restrictions at work). I’m 31F also, but I’m British born and don’t have a home country to travel to so I’d imagine that makes a difference!
Suspicious_Tax8577@reddit
Have not - 32. Last left the UK for a week at 17.
Scottish_squirrel@reddit
Not for 30 consecutive days no and I'm mid 40s. Maybe I've the year I could add it up to 30 days but I have no where to go for that line in 1 go
Serious_Badger_4145@reddit
Even when i could afford to go visit my family i could take 3 weeks off work max 30 days is difficult when youre working. You're taking all your holiday at once and then some
Sxn747Strangers@reddit
The longest I’ve been out of the country was about a week and it was years ago.
Weylane@reddit
I'm an immigrant, last time I was in another country for more than 30 days was when I lived there hahaha
Can't afford to take holidays for 30 consecutive days in this economy.
QueefInMyKisser@reddit
I’m 46 and haven’t been out of the country for more than 9 consecutive days (one week plus weekends) for about 25 years, and don’t think I’ve ever been out of the country for more than 16 consecutive days (two weeks plus weekends)
Useless_or_inept@reddit
Personally, I lived and worked in a different country, many eons ago. (I also married a foreigner; UKSV seemed less interested in that).
Otherwise it's relatively rare for people to leave the country that long just for a holiday. More than 4 weeks implies more substantial connections - even if you didn't have overseas family, it does rather increase the risk that once you have access to government systems you might get a phonecall from somebody close to your heart, somebody who is abroad but you trust them more than just a hotel waiter, who wants your help with something...
lildogeggs@reddit
If you’ve been travelling then this is very common. Many people I know have done 1 month+ in SE Asia or South America. Extremely common.
ArcadeCrossfire@reddit
35m. I haven’t left the country for 30 days total in the last 15 years, let alone consecutively in 5 🤣
ThrustersToFull@reddit
I'm 40. I've sometimes been away for 5-6 weeks at a time.
mu5tbetheone@reddit
Not in the last 5 years, but as a kid my parents always took us to their villa in Spain for the entire summer holidays, so we were there for nearly 6 weeks at a time, as standard.
Li_Li_Willis@reddit
30, I have never been out the country more than 30 consecutive days. You’re probably right in your assessment that most Brits won’t have left the country for more than 30 consecutive days!
NoCold3997@reddit
Twice a year every year ( 4 months abroad every year)
signol_@reddit
In the last 5 years? No, maximum of 3 1/2 weeks, 25 days. Ever? I've lived abroad on two separate occasions (6 months and 1 year).
MrMikeJJ@reddit
Last time i was out of the country for more than 30 consecutive days was 1989, when I was a kid and my dad was working abroad.
Competitive-Net5837@reddit
Yep, very common with SC-related industries, if you were born abroad it's even harder
Emergency-Assist-421@reddit
Two separate occasions. Both extended holidays.
Icy_Pear1694@reddit
You absolutely can be out of the country for more than the stated 28 days, it just makes security clearance ever so slightly more difficult.
Milvusmilvus@reddit
Never been out of the country for more than 7 consecutive days.
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