What is a UK Ancestry Visa?
The UK Ancestry Visa is a unique type of visa that allows Commonwealth citizens to live and work in the UK, providing they have a grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. The visa is designed for those with a strong ancestral connection to the UK who want to live, work, or study 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.
If granted, the UK Ancestry Visa allows holders 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 offers 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. It’s a visa with far less stringent eligibility criteria than many others and one that doesn’t discriminate against you, regardless of your level of education or occupation. It’s also a visa that benefits from a clear 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 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 older.
- Financial Requirements: The applicant must be able to support themselves and any dependents financially without relying on public funds. They must prove they have enough money to support themselves 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 apply outside the UK.
- Health Requirement: The applicant and any dependents must produce a TB test certificate if they come from a country where TB is prevalent.
Providing you satisfy the above criteria and don’t have any adverse immigration history or criminal convictions, then you will be able to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa.
Applicants for a UK Ancestry Visa are permitted to bring dependents with them to the UK. Typically, this includes spouses, unmarried/civil partners, and dependent children under 18. 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 can 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 as the primary visa holders once they are in the UK, meaning dependents can also take up full-time employment.
If you’re including dependents on your UK Ancestry Visa application, you must demonstrate you can unequivocally support them without recourse to public funds. Not only does this mean showing increased 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 Document List
To apply for a UK Ancestry Visa, applicants must provide various documents to prove their eligibility. The exact list of documents required will vary depending on your own individual circumstances, but generally, the following documents will need to be submitted:
- 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) on which their ancestry claim is based.
- Proof of financial means: The applicant must provide evidence that they can financially support themselves and any dependents during their stay in the UK without relying on public funds. This may include bank statements and proof of any savings or investments. Note unlike other visas, there is no specific sum you need to show. However, the more funds you can prove, the better.
- Evidence you plan to work in the UK: This is the most subjective area. Most applicants provide a CV, proof of their current employment, and 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 requiring a tuberculosis test, 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 bring 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 documents 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.
UK Ancestry Visa Application Fees
The application fee for a UK Ancestry Visa as of 2023 is £637. In addition to the application fee, applicants must also pay 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 £3,651.
If you are applying with any dependents, the following fees will apply to each dependent:
- Application fee of £637
- Immigration Health Surcharge fee of £624 for any adults / £470 for any children under 18 years old. Over 5 years, the IHS fees total £3,120 for adults and £2,350 for children under 18 years old.
Therefore, the total fees for adult dependents will be £3,757 and £2,987 for children under 18 years old.
UK Ancestry Visa Processing Times
Processing times for the UK Ancestry Visa are much faster than for many other types of visas. Typically, decisions are returned within 3 weeks of attending your appointment at the visa application centre and submitting your biometric information. A decision can take longer in some complex cases, but this is quite uncommon. If you want your application processed more quickly, it’s possible in some visa application centres to pay an additional £500 fee for a 5-day priority service or a £1000 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 the same, most of our clients have similar questions about Ancestry Visas. We’ve collated the most commonly asked questions in our FAQ and published the answers below to help you better understand the UK Ancestry Visa criteria and process. Should you have additional unanswered questions, feel free to contact us to discuss your circumstances.
