Years Abroad - can I still do retroactive NI contribution

hertsElbows

I was abroad for about 2.5 years. I missed some NI contributions in 2010/11, and all of 11/12 and 12/13. I clicked on the "Check if you can pay for gaps online", answered the questionnaire (I answered yes to I was living abroad)" and now I am waiting for a call back from the Future Pensions helpline - could take 8 weeks for the callback.
Yes, I know I shouldn't have waited this long - April 5 is in about 8 days - but I would really like to know if I am allowed to top up the contributions now for years in which I was not a UK tax resident? Or should I just forget about those years?

molerat

You can make class 3 voluntary contributions in any case but need to meet certain criteria to pay the cheaper class 2.

But ..... do you actually need to fill them, pre 2016 years do not always add to your pension amount.