Ancestry Visa

Who Can Apply For A UK Ancestry Visa?

Commonwealth Citizen & Ancestral Lineage

A UK Ancestry Visa is granted to a Commonwealth citizen who can prove a grandparent was born: 

• • • In the UK 
    • The Channel Islands 
    • The Isle of Man or 
    • The Republic of Ireland (if born prior to 31 March 1922). 

The parentage can be either through the male or female line.

Age And Work Intent

You must be 17 year old (there is no upper age limit) and must have an intention to work in the UK. 

Advantages Of The UK Ancestry Visa

A UK Ancestry Visa enables you:

• To stay, study, or work here
• Is issued for 5 years and leads to settlement status
• Can apply to become a British citizen, subject to meeting the British nationality requirements, after holding indefinite leave to remain (settlement) for a further 12 months (less if married to a British citizen)
• Are able to sponsor their partners and dependent children to the UK.

The British Ancestry Visa thereby provides an opportunity for those with an ancestral lineage to the UK to sample life here and thereafter, to settle or become British citizens, bringing the family genealogy full circle. 

Eligibility Requirements For The UK Ancestry Visa 

The Ancestry Visa UK rules are otherwise as follows: 

1. 1. • Are for Commonwealth citizen aged 17 or over 
      • Who are able to work in the UK and intend to do so 
      • Have a grandparent born in the UK, and
      • Are able to maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants without recourse to public funds. 

Commonwealth nationals

A Commonwealth national includes the following:

• • • British overseas territories citizen
    • British National (Overseas)
    • British Overseas Citizen

Click here for a list of Commonwealth countries.

What Are The Benefits Of The UK Ancestry Visa?

• The key benefit of the UK Ancestral visa is it allows an individual to live in the UK for up to 5 years in the UK, followed by the option to settle (apply for indefinite leave to remain) and, thereafter, naturalise as a British citizen. 

• An applicant for a UK Ancestry visa does not require a sponsor and is therefore not dependant on another person to come to the UK.

• Do not require sponsorship from an employer to work in the UK and can work restriction free in any occupation, for any employer. 

• An individual in the UK on the basis of UK ancestry can also engage in self-employment, either as a:

Sole trader, a partner, or through a limited company. 

• For those wishing to study, a student sponsor is not required but they must also intend to engage in economic activity, i.e. work. 

• The UK Ancestry Visa entitles the holder to use the National Health Service but they are not permitted to claim public benefits save in  very limited circumstances. 

How To Apply For A UK Ancestry -  Process And Fees

The initial application for a UK Ancestry Visa must be submitted from abroad through submission of an online visa application; as switching from within the UK is not permitted.

The cost of an ancestry visa and average processing times overseas are:

Once the online application has been submitted and the appropriate fee paid, the applicant must then upload the supporting documents and attend a biometrics appointment through VFS, a third party provider. 

Bring family members to the UK

The Ancestry Visa UK rules enable an applicant to sponsor their partner to the UK. The definition of partner includes a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner.

Dependent children can also be sponsored.

Pathway To Indefinite Leave To Remain And British Citizenship

Indefinite Leave To Remain

Applicants will need to show they have been continuously resident in the UK throughout the 5 year duration of their UK Ancestry Visa.

This means they cannot have been here:

• without permission or
• have been absent for 180 days in any 12 month period. 

The UK Ancestry Visa does not require an individual to work throughout the 5 years, but they must demonstrate an intention to work in the UK.

The most challenging aspect of applying for settlement after 5 years stay can be demonstrating an intention to work in the UK if there have been significant periods of unemployment particularly at date of application.

Applicants for indefinite leave to remain must pass a Life in the UK Test.

Some nationalities may also need to satisfy an English language requirement.

British Citizenship

Once the applicant with UK Ancestry has obtained indefinite leave to remain, they may wish to apply to naturalise as a British citizen. 

If you are married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, this application can be made upon securing ILR, otherwise you will need to hold permanent residence for 12 months before applying.

Why Choose RLegal? Expert Legal Assistance & Support

We can assist with your UK Ancestry Visa application for initial entry or indefinite leave to remain. We will collate your evidence and prepare the application for you based on our extensive experience. 

We will be your representative before the Home Office.

Occasionally, applicants are unable to provide the original evidence required for an application. We can assist in gaining copies of official documents from the National Archive where possible.

We will guide you from start to finish to ensure a successful outcome to your application. 

About the Author

Evan is a solicitor and founding partner of RLegal Solicitors, having practiced immigration law since 1991. His expertise covers all aspects of corporate and private UK immigration work.