Due to globalisation and migration over the centuries, hundreds of millions of people from around the world can claim some degree of English, Scottish, Welsh, or Northern Irish ancestry. Some people have more recent ties to the United Kingdom within the past few generations. Based on these ancestral connections and a desire to build a Commonwealth legacy, the British Government created the UK Ancestry Visa. Commonwealth citizens and citizens of selected countries with close family ties to the UK are welcome to immigrate to the United Kingdom and build a life in their ancestral homeland.
The UK Ancestry Visa offers a life-changing opportunity for eligible applicants, so you should be sure to meet all requirements and file your application correctly to the Home Office. This article will outline the eligibility requirements for the UK Ancestry Visa and what activities are permitted whilst in the United Kingdom. It will then explain the types of supporting documentation required for applicants, the application process, application costs, and processing times. The article will explain routes to settlement and British citizenship for individuals on a UK Ancestry Visa. Finally, this article will answer commonly asked questions of prospective UK Ancestry Visa applicants.
What is the UK Ancestry Visa?
The UK Ancestry Visa is a unique category intended for individuals with close ancestral ties in the United Kingdom through their parents and/or grandparents. Most importantly, you must meet the nationality requirements and be able to provide documentary evidence that you have a parent and grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom.
If you are eligible for the UK Ancestry Visa, this is one of the simplest and fastest ways to immigrate to the United Kingdom that provides a route to settlement and British citizenship. It has low application fees compared to other routes. It also offers ultimate flexibility to live, work, and study in the United Kingdom and bring dependent family members with you to the country.
Who is eligible for the UK Ancestry Visa?
The UK Ancestry Visa has strict eligibility requirements for applicants, as this is a unique immigration category. Individuals who meet all of the following criteria can apply for the UK Ancestry Visa:
You must meet one of the following nationality categories:
Eligible nationalities for UK Ancestry Visa |
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| You have British overseas citizenship | |||
| You have British overseas territories citizenship | |||
| You have British national (overseas) citizenship | |||
| You have Zimbabwean citizenship | |||
| You have Commonwealth citizenship from one of the following countries: | |||
| Antigua and Barbuda | Australia | Bangladesh | Barbados |
| Belize | Botswana | Brunei Darussalam | Cameroon |
| Canada | Cyprus | Dominica | Fiji |
| Ghana | Grenada | Guyana | India |
| Jamaica | Kenya | Kingdom of Eswatini | Kiribati |
| Lesotho | Malawi | Malaysia | Maldives |
| Malta | Mauritius | Mozambique | Namibia |
| Nauru | New Zealand | Nigeria | Pakistan |
| Papua New Guinea | Rwanda | Saint Lucia | Samoa |
| Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Singapore | Solomon Islands |
| South Africa | Sri Lanka | St Kitts and Nevis | St Vincent and The Grenadines |
| The Bahamas | The Gambia | Tonga | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Tuvalu | Uganda | United Republic of Tanzania | Vanuatu |
| Zambia | |||
You must be able to prove that at least one of your grandparents was born in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. You might be eligible if one or more of your grandparents were born in what is now Ireland before 31 March 1922. You may also qualify if one or more of your grandparents were born on an aircraft or ship registered in the United Kingdom or belonged to the British Government. You would be eligible to claim British ancestry if you or your biological parents were adopted. You would also be eligible to claim British ancestry if your parents or grandparents were not married. Please note that you cannot claim British ancestry through step-parents
You must be at least 17 years old or over. There is no maximum age for applicants on the UK Ancestry Visa.
You must have enough money saved without relying on public funds, also known as benefits, within the United Kingdom to house and support yourself and any family members you bring to the United Kingdom
You must intend to work in the United Kingdom to support yourself and any family members you bring to the United Kingdom
What does the UK Ancestry Visa allow?
The UK Ancestry Visa is an excellent option for eligible applicants because it permits most activities in the United Kingdom for visa-holders. The following activities are allowed on the UK Ancestry Visa:
- You can live in the United Kingdom
- You can study in the United Kingdom
- You can work for any employer
- You can work as a self-employed person
- You can bring your partner/spouse and dependent children
- You can volunteer for any organisation
- You can, if eligible, apply for settlement in the United Kingdom after five years
You will need to wait until your UK Ancestry Visa is approved before commencing any of the above activities in the United Kingdom. You are strongly advised to wait to purchase airline tickets until your application for the UK Ancestry Visa has been approved. The Home Office gives this advice if your application is rejected or delays occur in the process.
Very few activities are not permitted on the UK Ancestry Visa – this makes the UK Ancestry Visa an attractive option for eligible applicants. You cannot apply for public funds, also known as benefits or the social welfare system, in the United Kingdom on the UK Ancestry Visa. You also cannot switch to the UK Ancestry Visa from another visa category within the United Kingdom. You will need to apply for the UK Ancestry Visa from outside the United Kingdom in all circumstances.
UK Ancestry Visa supporting documents
As part of your UK Ancestry Visa application, you will need to provide a number of supporting documents. The most important supporting documents required for the UK Ancestry Visa relate to your ancestral ties to the United Kingdom. You will be required to collect and provide the following supporting documents:
- Your valid passport or travel document with a blank page for your entry clearance visa
- Your full birth certificate
- The full birth certificate(s) of your parent(s) and grandparent(s) upon whose ancestry you depend for the basis of your UK Ancestry Visa
- Documentation proving that you intend to work in the United Kingdom if your UK Ancestry Visa is approved, such as job offers or business plans
- Documentation proving you can support yourself and your dependent family members in the United Kingdom without relying on public funds, such as bank statements. Please note that these bank statements must be dated within 31 days from the point of lodging your online application form
Depending on your circumstances, you may also be required to collect and provide the following supporting documents:
- A valid Tuberculosis screening certificate
- If your spouse/partner wants to join you in the United Kingdom – your marriage certificate or civil partnership registration certificate
- If your parent(s)/grandparent(s) have changed their name since birth – evidence such as a deed poll, marriage certificate, or civil partnership registration certificate
- If your parent(s) were adopted – legal adoption papers
Please note that you must provide all supporting documents in English, Scottish Gaelic, or Welsh. If the original documents are not in one of these languages, you will need to obtain official translations and provide these alongside the original supporting documents.
How to apply for the UK Ancestry Visa
Before preparing to apply for the UK Ancestry Visa, you should be aware that it is only possible to submit your online application from outside the United Kingdom. The earliest you can apply for the UK Ancestry Visa is three months before you intend to come to the United Kingdom.
First, you will need to ensure that you meet all eligibility criteria and requirements for the UK Ancestry Visa. You will need to have sufficient funds, assure that you have legitimate ancestral ties to the United Kingdom through a parent and/or grandparent, and meet the nationality requirements.
Second, you will need to collect all relevant supporting documentation for the UK Ancestry Visa, including evidence of your ancestral ties to the United Kingdom. You will need to wait until you receive the required birth certificates, obtain translations of any required documents into English, and, if relevant, take a Tuberculosis screening test. You will also need to obtain bank statements and evidence that you plan to work in the United Kingdom if your UK Ancestry Visa application is approved.
Next, you need to fill out and submit the online application form for the UK Ancestry Visa. You can find this online application form on the Home Office website. If you are applying with dependent family members such as a spouse/partner and children, each family member will need to submit an application. At the end of your online application form, you will need to pay the relevant application fees and Immigration Health Surcharge fees in full. Once you have paid the fees, your online application is submitted. You will then need to select a suitable biometrics appointment at a local visa application centre.
Finally, you will need to upload all supporting documentation for your UK Ancestry Visa application before attending your biometrics appointment. Alternatively, you can pay to have an employee of the local visa application centre scan and upload each of your supporting documents to the online system. When you attend your biometrics appointment, you will sit down with an employee of the local visa application centre who will finalise the submission of your online application form. They will also confirm that all of your supporting documents have been uploaded or, if you have paid for the service, scan and upload each of your supporting documents to the online system. They will then take a photo of you, scan your fingerprints, and have you record your signature. This same process will be repeated if you are applying with any dependent family members, such as a spouse/partner and children. At the end of your biometrics appointment, the local visa application centre employee will fully submit your UK Ancestry Visa application to the Home Office. As part of the application process, the local visa application centre may need to retain your passport or travel document to insert an entry clearance visa if your application is approved. You will need to wait for a response on your UK Ancestry Visa application before moving to the United Kingdom.
How much does it cost to apply for the UK Ancestry Visa?
The application fees for the UK Ancestry Visa are £531 per person before submitting the online application form. In addition to the application fees, you will be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge fees per person for the entire length of your visa before submitting the online application form. The Immigration Health Surcharge fees currently cost £624 per year of the whole length of your visa, per person. For example, for a five-year UK Ancestry Visa, you will need to pay a total of £3,120 per person in Immigration Health Surcharge fees. For a family of four to come to the United Kingdom on a UK Ancestry Visa, you would need to pay a total of £12,480 in Immigration Health Surcharge fees, not including the application fees.
What are the processing times for the UK Ancestry Visa?
The standard processing times for the UK Ancestry Visa are amongst the fastest available within the UK immigration system. Once you have submitted the online application form, provided your biometric information to confirm your identity, and uploaded all supporting documents, the Home Office estimates that you will usually get a decision within three weeks. It may take longer if you do not accurately or correctly submit your application or supporting documentation.
If you want a faster decision on the outcome of your UK Ancestry Visa application, you can pay an additional fee for priority service or super priority service. In addition to the application fees and Immigration Health Surcharge fees, you can opt to pay £500 per person for a decision to be made on your UK Ancestry Visa application within five working days of your biometrics appointment. In addition to the application fees and Immigration Health Surcharge fees, you can pay £800 per person for a decision to be made on your UK Ancestry Visa application by the end of the next working day after your biometrics appointment.
Please note that priority and super priority processing may be unavailable due to suspensions of these services by the Home Office, so you will need to assess circumstances at the point of submitting your online application. If priority and super priority processing are unavailable at the point of submitting your online application, you will need to opt for standard application processing.
Can I become a permanent resident in the United Kingdom with a UK Ancestry Visa?
After living in the United Kingdom for at least five years on a UK Ancestry Visa, you may become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain – this is sometimes referred to as ‘settlement’, ‘permanent residence’, or ILR. Before applying, you will need to meet the Indefinite Leave to Remain eligibility requirements. You will also need to pay the relevant application fees.
Can I become a British citizen with a UK Ancestry Visa?
After living in the United Kingdom for at least five years on a UK Ancestry Visa and holding Indefinite Leave to Remain for at least 12-months, you may be eligible to naturalise as a British citizen. You will need to meet the eligibility requirements. These requirements include meeting the English language requirement and passing the Life in the UK Test. You will also need to pay the relevant application fees.
Author
Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law, Tax, Human Resources, Immigration & Employment Law.
Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing & Content Agency for the Professional Services Sector.
