UK Ancestry

What is a UK Ancestry visa

The UK Ancestry visa provides the opportunity for individuals of certain Commonwealth or British overseas nationalities with one grandparent born in the UK, to come and work in the UK.

You can only apply if you are one of the followings:

• a Commonwealth citizen
• a British overseas citizen
• a British overseas territories citizen
• a British national (overseas)
• a citizen of Zimbabwe

General requirements

In order to qualify for a UK Ancestry visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that you meet the following requirements:

• You are a Commonwealth citizen;
• You are aged 17 or over on your date of intended arrival to the UK;
• You are able to provide proof that one of your grandparents was born in the UK or Islands;
• Any such grandparent is your blood grandparent or grandparent by reason of an adoption recognised by UK laws relating to adoption;
• You are able to adequately maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants;
• You are able to work and intend to seek and take employment in the UK;
• If you are under the age of 18, your parent(s) or guardian(s) have consented to the application; and
• You have provided a TB Certificate, if required.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy may vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration specialist for expert advice.

Your ancestry

You must be able to show that you have a grandparent born in one of the following circumstances:

• in the UK, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
• before 31 March 1922 in what is now the Republic of Ireland
• on a British-registered ship or aircraft



You can still claim ancestry if either you or the relevant parent were adopted, or were born within or outside marriage in the UK.

You can’t claim UK ancestry through step-parents.

How long can you stay in the UK

If your application is successful, you will be granted a 5-year visa, which allows you to work and study in the UK.

At the end of your initial visa, you can apply to extend your stay in the UK for a further 5 years.

After 5 years continuous residence in the UK on this route, you will be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain / Settlement, provided you meet all the relevant requirements.

Dependants

Your family members (spouse/partner and any children under 18) can come with you. They will need to apply for a Dependant visa and if successful, will be granted a visa in line with yours.

Processing time and application fees 

The initial applications for an Ancestry visa can only be made from outside of the UK.  The application will usually be processed within 3 weeks. For extension applications made from within the UK, the application will usually be processed within 8 weeks.

Priority service may be available for in-country applications and entry clearance applications made from certain countries, subject to availability and an additional priority fee.

The current visa application fee for standard service is £531 for initial entry clearance application, or £1,048 for in-country extension application.

Applicants will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of the application, set at £624 per year (or £470 per year for Student / Youth Mobility Scheme / applicant under 18). 

How we can help

Our knowledgeable and experienced immigration team can:

• Assess your case and advise whether you are eligible to apply
• Provide you with a tailored & comprehensive document list
• Review all your documents and advise on necessary amendments
• Suggest on how to improve your application
• Complete your application forms in accordance with the UKVI requirements
• Assist you to complete the application submission process
• Provide our representation letter to support your application with necessary legal arguments
• Liaise with UKVI on your behalf

Depending on your need and budget, we have different levels of services that you may choose from. Check out Our Services to see which one is for you. 

Want to discuss your case with an immigration specialist? Contact Us now.