Ancestry Visas – An Overview
The UK Ancestry Visa is a unique type of visa that allows individuals who are Commonwealth citizens to live and work in the UK for an initial period of up to five years, providing they have a grandparent who was born in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. The visa is designed for those who have a strong ancestral connection to the UK and want to live and work in the UK, embracing their British heritage.
To be eligible for the UK Ancestry Visa, applicants need to demonstrate their UK ancestry, including the birth certificate of their UK born grandparent and proof that they are a Commonwealth citizen. They must also be able to support themselves financially within the UK without recourse to public funds and show that they intend to work in the UK during their stay.
Once granted, the UK Ancestry Visa allows individuals to work, study and live in the UK for up to five years, after which time they may also be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain and in turn, British citizenship. The UK Ancestry Visa really does offer a unique opportunity for those with a strong ancestral connection to the UK to live and work in the country for an extended period of time, plus the benefit of a pathway to permanent residency and British citizenship.
UK Ancestry Visa Eligibility
To be eligible for a UK Ancestry Visa, an applicant will need to meet the following criteria:
- Commonwealth Citizenship: The applicant must be a Commonwealth citizen, which includes citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and many other countries. A full list of eligible nationalities is provided further down the page.
- Ancestry Requirement: The applicant must have a grandparent who was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. The grandparent must have been born before 31 March 1922 if the applicant is applying based on their grandparent’s birth in the Republic of Ireland.
- Age: The applicant must be 17 years or over.
- Financial Requirements: The applicant must be able to support themselves and any dependents financially without relying on public funds. They must provide evidence that they have enough money to support themselves for the entire duration of their stay in the UK.
- Intention to Work: The applicant must provide evidence of their intention to work in the UK during their stay.
- Applying from Outside the UK: The applicant must be applying from outside the UK
Providing you meet this criteria and don’t have any adverse immigration history or criminal convictions, then you will be able to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa.
UK Ancestry Visa Document List
To apply for a UK Ancestry Visa, an applicant must provide various documents to prove their eligibility. The exact list of required documents will vary depending on you own individual circumstances, but generally, the following documents will be required:
- Valid passport or travel document: The applicant must provide a valid passport or travel document that shows their identity, nationality and personal details.
- UK ancestry documents: The applicant must provide documents to prove their UK ancestry, including the birth certificates of their parent(s) and grandparent(s) that their ancestry claim is based on.
- Proof of financial means: The applicant must provide evidence that they can support themselves and any dependents financially during their stay in the UK without relying on public funds. This may include bank statements, as well as proof of any savings or investments.
- Evidence you’re planning to work in the UK: This is the most subjective area. Most applicants provide a CV and proof of their current employment, as well as any prospective job roles they’ve found or potential job offers. Self employed applicants should provide tax returns and self employment registration documents.
- Tuberculosis test results: If the applicant is from a country where a tuberculosis test is required, they must provide evidence of having undergone a test and obtained the test clearance certificate.
- Supporting documents for dependents: Passports, marriage certificates and birth certificates should be supplied as appropriate for any dependents you plan to bring with you to the UK.
- Further supporting documents: Where any individual has been adopted or changed their name since birth, appropriate evidence will need to be supplied. Other supporting documents may also be required based on individual circumstances.
It is important to note that all document should be original, and in English or Welsh. If the documents are not in English or Welsh, they must be translated by an accredited translator.
Applicants for an Ancestry visa will be permitted to bring dependents with them to the UK. Typically this includes spouses, unmarried/civil partners and dependent children under the age of 18 years old. Other dependents may also be considered, however their eligibility will be assessed based on their individual circumstances, the nature of the relationship and their dependency on the applicant.
Dependents on an Ancestry Visa are able to apply at the same time as the main applicant or at a later date. Regardless of when they apply, they will be granted the same period of leave to remain as the main applicant. They will also enjoy the same rights and privileges once they are in the UK, meaning dependents can also take up employment.
If you’re including dependents on your UK Ancestry Visa application, it’s really important that you demonstrate you can unequivocally support them without recourse to public funds. Not only does this mean showing an increased amount of savings to meet the financial requirements, but you’ll also need to prove you can obtain and afford appropriate accommodation for them within the UK.
UK Ancestry Visa Application Fees
The application fee for a UK Ancestry Visa on 2023 is £531. In addition to the application fee, applicants will also need to pay a £19.20 biometric fee and the annual Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee of £624. As the visa is granted for 5 years, a total of £3,120 will need to be paid upfront in IHS fees. Therefore the total fees payable in 2023 for a UK Ancestry Visa will be £3,670.20.
If you are applying with any dependents, the following fees will apply to each dependent:
- Application fee of £531
- Biometric fee of £19.20
- Immigration Health Surcharge fee of £624 for any adults / £470 for any children under the age of 18 years old. Over 5 years the IHS fees total £3,120 for adults and £2,350 for children under the age of 18 years old.
Therefore the total fees payable for adult dependents will be £3,670.20 and £2,900.20 for children under the age of 18 years old.
UK Ancestry Visa Processing Times
Processing times for UK Ancestry Visa’s are faster than for many other visas. Typically decisions are returned within 3 weeks of attending your appointment at the visa application centre, although complex cases can take longer. If you want your application processed more quickly, it’s possible to pay an additional £250 fee for a 5 day priority service or a £956 fee for a next day super priority service. You should check before applying to see whether this service is available in your country of application. Details on the services offered can be found through your local visa application centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
While no two visa applications are ever exactly the same, most of our clients have very similar questions about Ancestry Visas. So we’ve collated the most commonly asked questions and published answers below to help you better understand the UK Ancestry Visa criteria and process upfront.
