UK Ancestry Visas

Are you a Commonwealth citizen with a grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom (UK), the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man? If so, you may be eligible for a UK ancestry visa. This visa is also referred to as a British ancestry visa, or a UK patriality visa. If your grandparent was born in Ireland before 31 March 1922, the year of partition, you may also be eligible.

The UK ancestry visa will allow you to live and work freely without restriction in the UK for five years, based on your ancestral ties. This will allow you to take up employment or self-employment freely. It will also allow you to leave and re-enter the UK freely.

What are the eligibility requirements for the UK ancestry visa?

Your grandparent can be from either side of your family. You may also be eligible for a UK ancestry visa if you are adopted, or if the parent through whom you are claiming ancestry was adopted.

The main criterion is that you are willing and able to work. It is advantageous, but not necessary, to have a firm offer of employment in the UK.

To qualify for a UK ancestry visa, you must also satisfy the following criteria:

You are a Commonwealth citizen,
you have a grandparent who was born in the UK,
you are 17 years of age or older, and
you are able to work and intent to seek employment or self-employment in the UK.

You must prove your relationship to your ancestors, primarily in the form of birth certificates and marriage certificates. You must also be able to prove adoptions if you or the parent through whom you are claiming ancestry was adopted, by providing legal adoption papers.

Finally, you must be able to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants joining you adequately without turning to public funds. If you would like us to assist you in preparing a successful application, we will guide you through all your documentary evidence requirements.

How do I apply for a UK ancestry visa?

If you wish to live in the UK based on an ancestry visa, then you must obtain entry clearance before travelling to the UK. Once we prepare your application, you will need to apply to the British Consular Post or British High Commission in the country of your usual residence or the country of your nationality for entry clearance based on ancestry. You may be required to undertake an interview.

A successful application will allow you to stay in the UK for an initial period of up to five years. After that, you will need to apply to extend your stay.

You will have to satisfy the entry clearance officer that there are no reasons to refuse you entry on the grounds of your character, your criminal records, or your behaviour. You will also have to satisfy the entry clearance officer that you fulfil the criteria listed above for an ancestry visa.

If you are currently in the UK on another type of visa, we can still prepare your application for you, but once it is complete you may be required to return to your home country to apply for entry clearance based on UK ancestry. There are exceptions to this general rule, which may allow you to change your current visa status to a UK ancestry visa from within the UK.

Can I stay in the UK after four or five years on a UK ancestry visa?

Many people hold a four-year ancestry visa. Others hold a five-year ancestry visa. If you are on a four-year ancestry visa, then you will need to extend your visa at the end of four years. You may be eligible for a further five-year visa extension.

On completion of five years in the UK in the ancestry visa category, you may be entitled to indefinite leave to remain (ILR), more commonly known as settlement or permanent residence, should you wish to continue your stay in the UK.

After a further year of ILR, you may be eligible for UK Naturalisation, more commonly known as Citizenship.

If you do not meet the criteria for ILR at the end of five years, you may be eligible for an extension of stay, that is, a new five-year UK ancestry visa.

Who can accompany the holder of a UK ancestry visa?

A spouse or an unmarried partner, and children under the age of 18 may accompany you to the UK as dependants. Dependants are allowed to stay in the UK for the same period as the principal applicant. There are normally no restrictions on dependants working in the UK.

Dependents are eligible to free health care provided by the National Health Service. Children entering the UK as dependants are entitled to a free public school education.