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A UK Ancestry Visa is granted to a Commonwealth citizen aged 17 or over who can prove a grandparent was born:
The parentage can be either through the male or female line.
The applicant must be able and intend to work in the UK and demonstrate they can support and accommodate themselves and any of their dependants without having to resort to UK public funds.
A UK Ancestry Visa enables you:
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.
The Ancestry Visa UK rules are otherwise as follows:
Applicants applying from overseas must be aged 17 when they arrive in the UK.
Demonstrating the ability maintain themselves will depend on the overall circumstances. However, showing savings and providing evidence of suitable accommodation will help.
A Commonwealth national includes the following:
Click here for a list of Commonwealth countries.
Please note applicants from Zimbabwe, Gabon, Togo and Estwani (formerly Swaziland) are eligible to apply.
You must be 17 year old (there is no upper age limit) and must have an intention to work in the UK.
Applicants should provide evidence to show the are capable and intend to work as they decision maker will only consider the information submitted.
Supporting documents could include:
Voluntary work can be taken into account, but the applicant but the applicant will need to show how they could maintain themselves without paid employment.
Although studying can be undertaken, it should not be the main reason for applying to come and you will need to demonstrate an ability to work, but the course itself may be relevant if it enhances your career prospects.
Although there is no upper age limits those who are older will face more scrutiny, particularly if they are retired or have medical issues.
We have dealt with cases where the applicant was over 65.
Sole trader, a partner, or through a limited company.
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.
Switching immigration status will only be considered if the situation merits it and need to be exceptional. This means that you will need to show medical or compassionate issues to do so. For those considering such an application legal advice should be sought.
The cost of an ancestry visa and average processing times overseas are:
| Service level | Fee | Processing time |
| Standard | £682 | 3-5 weeks |
| Priority | £500 plus standard fee | 5 working days |
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.
For those applying from overseas a Tuberculosis Test certificate may be required if they have been living in a specified country.
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.
The dependants become eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain once the main applicant does, see below. This means there is no 5 year qualifying residence requirement for them.
Applicants will need to show they have been continuously resident in the UK throughout the 5 year duration of their UK Ancestry Visa.
Continuous residence means they cannot have been here:
It is possible to rely on previous lawful residence through the UK Ancestry route.
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 - evidence of voluntary work can be be provided.
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 and English language test.
Some nationalities may also need to satisfy an English language requirement.
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.
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.
Evan Remedios 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.
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