What is an Ancestry Dependant Visa?
An Ancestry Dependant visa allows the partner and dependant children of an Ancestry Visa holder to come to or remain in the UK. The Ancestry visa and Ancestry Dependant visa are very versatile visas and provide significant flexibility for holders in terms of working, studying, and residing in the UK. It’s a visa that can be granted for up to 5 years and can then be further extended, or subject to meeting the eligibility criteria, can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain. This, in turn, can lead to British Citizenship via naturalisation.
Ancestry Dependant Visa Eligibility
To qualify for an Ancestry Dependant visa, you need to meet the following criteria:
- Relationship requirement: You must have a direct family relationship with the main applicant who either holds or is applying for the Ancestry visa. This includes being their spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, or dependant child.
- Financial requirement: Both the main applicant and any dependants applying must have sufficient savings to support themselves without relying on public funds.
- Tuberculosis (TB) test: Depending on your country of residence, you may need to undergo a TB test as part of the visa application process.
It’s important to note that currently, there is no English language requirement for Ancestry dependants. However, for subsequent applications related to both residency and citizenship in the immigration journey, you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency.
Relationship Requirement
To be eligible for an Ancestry Dependant visa, you must meet specific criteria related to your relationship with the main applicant. The following individuals are eligible to apply as dependants:
- Spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner: If you are married to or in a civil partnership with the main holder of the Ancestry visa, you can apply as their dependant. Alternatively, if you have been living together in a relationship similar to a marriage or civil partnership for at least two years, you can apply as an unmarried partner.
- Children: Dependent children, including biological children, adopted children, and stepchildren, of the main Ancestry visa holder can apply as dependants. If you have children over 18 in the UK as your dependents, they can also be included in the application if they still live with you.
The UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) requires evidence to establish these relationships, and we will discuss these documentary requirements later in this guide.
Financial Requirement
Unlike most other visas, there isn’t a specified amount that needs to be shown to meet the financial requirement on an Ancestry visa. Instead, the requirement is to “prove you can support yourself and any dependants in the UK.” As the statement is somewhat subjective, we recommend applying the same rules that apply to other visas, such as the Skilled Worker visa. The financial requirements for this visa are as follows:
- Primary applicant: £1,270
- Dependant partner: £285
- First dependant child: £315
- Subsequent dependant children: £200
This means if a family consists of the primary applicant, a partner, and two children, the total maintenance requirement would be £2,070 (£1,270 + £285 + £315 + £200). When submitting your visa application, you will need to provide bank statements demonstrating that the required maintenance funds have been continuously available in your account for at least 28 consecutive days. The final day of this period must also fall within 31 days of your visa application.
Tuberculosis Test Requirement
Any application made by a dependant from outside the UK should check whether they need to provide a Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate. This is a requirement for applications from countries where it is assessed that TB is prevalent. You can check whether this requirement applies to you by viewing our TB Test requirement guide in the knowledge centre.
Documents Required for an Ancestry Dependant Visa
The following documents are required when making an application. The exact requirements will vary based on your circumstances:
- Valid passport: A valid passport should be submitted for each dependant family member applying for the visa. The passport should have at least six months of validity remaining.
- Proof of relationship: It is necessary to provide the necessary paperwork to verify the relationship between the primary applicant and each dependant. This may involve presenting marriage certificates, civil partnership certificates, or evidence of cohabitation for unmarried partners spanning at least 2 years. The cohabitation documentation should consist of records from various sources throughout the past two years. For dependent children, birth certificates or adoption certificates will be necessary. Additionally, for children aged 18 or older, proof of address must be provided to demonstrate their residence with the main applicant.
- TB test results: If the dependants are from a country where a tuberculosis (TB) test is required, you would need to provide the TB test results from an approved clinic.
- Financial documentation: You must provide evidence to prove you can support yourself and any dependents in the UK. This can include bank statements or other financial documents showing that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your dependents.
Rights and Permissions Under an Ancestry Dependant Visa
The Ancestry Dependant visa provides numerous benefits to its holders, granting them various rights about work, education, and overall freedoms.
Visa holders have the ability to:
- Engage in full-time or part-time employment with any employer without requiring sponsorship.
- Pursue full-time or part-time education at recognized schools, colleges, or universities in the UK.
- Enjoy the freedom to enter and exit the UK at their discretion.
- Apply for visa extensions to prolong their stay in the UK.
- Become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after continuously residing in the UK for five years.
It is essential to be aware of certain limitations associated with this visa, particularly concerning access to public funds:
- Generally, Ancestry Dependant visa holders are not entitled to most UK public funds, including welfare benefits and social housing.
- However, there are exceptions, such as access to healthcare services provided by the National Health Service (NHS).
Ancestry Dependant Visa Fees
The fees for an Ancestry Dependant visa are the same as for the main applicant. Therefore, a fee of £637 is payable by each dependant that is applying.
In addition to the application fees, there are also other fees associated with the application process:
- Biometric appointment fee: These appointments can be scheduled online at no cost if booked well in advance. However, most appointments incur a charge, and last-minute appointments cost up to £250.
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): Ancestry Dependant visa holders must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The current cost is £624 per year for each adult and £470 per year for each child under 18 years of age. As the visa is granted for a 5-year period, a payment of £3,120 will need to be paid upfront for each adult and £2,350 for each child.
Ancestry Dependant Visa Processing Time
The clock starts ticking on the processing time once an application has been made online and biometric information has been provided at the scheduled appointment. From this point most applications are assessed and processed within 3 weeks, which is considerably quicker than many other visa types. You may be able to expedite your application, and if applicable, this information will be provided to you by UKVI when you apply.
