What is UK Ancestry Visa?
If you are a Commonwealth citizen and one of your grandparents was born in the UK, you may be eligible for a five-year UK Ancestry Visa. This visa allows you to live, work, and study in the UK. After five years, you can either apply for an extension or for settled status.
The Ancestry Visa does not require a job offer in the UK before you apply, making it a straightforward route for eligible applicants. However, you cannot claim public funds with this visa, so evidence of financial maintenance is crucial.
As you are applying based on your British heritage, you will need to provide detailed evidence proving your grandparent’s birth in the UK. This can sometimes be challenging if your grandparents left the UK a long time ago.
What Can I Do on an Ancestry Visa?
With a UK Ancestry Visa, you can live in the UK and undertake any form of employment, including paid, unpaid, voluntary, or self-employment. You can also bring your partner and dependent children to the UK.
Additionally, you are permitted to study in the UK.
You can stay in the UK for up to five years on a British Ancestry Visa. After this period, you can apply to extend your visa or apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
You cannot switch to this visa if you are already in the UK, and you cannot access public funds while holding this visa.
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UK Ancestry Visa Requirements
To be eligible for a UK Ancestry Visa, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be 17 years of age or older.
- You should have sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependants without recourse to public funds.
- You must plan to work or seek employment in the UK.
- You must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country or one of the following:
- British Overseas Citizen
- British Overseas Territories Citizen
- British National (Overseas)
- Citizen of Zimbabwe
Additionally, you must satisfy one of the following ancestry conditions:
- You have a grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man.
- You have a grandparent who was born in what is now the Republic of Ireland on or before 31st March 1922.
- You have a grandparent who was born on a British-registered ship or aircraft.
You may also qualify if you or your parent were adopted, or if the birth occurred within or outside marriage in the UK.
However, it’s important to note that you cannot claim UK ancestry through step-parents.
How to Apply for a UK Ancestry Visa?
Applications for a UK Ancestry Visa must be made from outside the United Kingdom.
- You need to apply online through the official UK government website.
- As part of your application, you'll be required to book and attend an appointment at a local visa application centre to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph).
- You should submit your application no earlier than three months before your intended date of travel to the UK.
For personalised assistance with your UK Ancestry Visa application, contact Salam Immigration. Our experienced solicitors will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring your application meets all the necessary requirements.
What Documents Do I Need to Apply?
When applying for a UK Ancestry Visa, you will need to provide several important documents:
- A valid passport or travel document.
- Your full birth certificate.
- The full birth certificate of the grandparent through whom you are claiming ancestry.
- Evidence of your intention to work in the UK, such as a job offer or a detailed business plan if you plan to be self-employed.
- Bank statements demonstrating that you have sufficient funds to support yourself without accessing public funds.
Depending on your individual circumstances, you may also need to provide:
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results, if you're applying from a country where TB testing is required.
- Proof of relationship with your spouse or partner and any children if they are accompanying you.
- Marriage certificates for your parents and grandparents, if applicable.
- Adoption papers, if you or your parent were adopted.
- Legal documents showing any name changes of yourself, your parents, or grandparents.
Additional documents may be necessary based on your situation. At Salam Immigration, we can advise you on the specific documents required for your application, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.
Costs & Processing Times for the UK Ancestry Visa
The application fee for the UK Ancestry Visa is £716.
You and any dependants will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which grants you access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). The IHS fee is currently £624 per year for adults and £470 per year for children under 18. The total amount depends on the length of your visa.
There may be additional costs involved, such as fees for translating official documents into English if necessary.
Ancestry Visa applications are typically processed within three weeks. If you require a faster decision, priority processing services may be available at an extra cost.
Obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain with the Ancestry Visa
After residing in the UK for five years on an Ancestry Visa, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), allowing you to settle permanently in the UK.
To qualify for ILR, you must meet the following criteria:
- You have not spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during the five years.
- You have sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependants without recourse to public funds.
- You are working, or able to work, and intend to continue doing so in the UK.
- You remain a citizen of a Commonwealth country or other eligible nation.
- You meet the required English language standards (if you're aged between 18 and 64).
- You have passed the Life in the UK Test (if you're aged between 18 and 64), demonstrating knowledge of British customs and traditions.
Applying for ILR means you can live in the UK indefinitely without needing to renew your visa. You’ll also be able to access public funds if necessary. After holding ILR for one year, you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship.
The fee for applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain is £2,404. You should submit your application no more than 28 days before completing your five-year qualifying period.
UK Ancestry Visa Refusals
Receiving a refusal on your UK Ancestry Visa application can be disappointing. Common reasons for refusal include:
- Not being a citizen of a qualifying country.
- Failing to demonstrate plans to work or seek employment in the UK.
- Inability to provide evidence that your grandparent was born in the UK.
- Not showing adequate funds to support yourself.
- Missing or incorrect information on your application form.
- Failure to submit all required supporting documents.
- Not responding to Home Office requests for additional information.
If your application is refused, you do not have an automatic right of appeal unless there has been a factual error in the decision-making process. In such cases, you may request an administrative review if you believe the refusal was unjustified.
Start your journey to UK residency today—contact Salaam Immigration for expert assistance with your Ancestry Visa application.
How Salam Immigration Can Assist You?
At Salam Immigration, our experienced immigration specialists are dedicated to helping you secure your UK Ancestry Visa. Here’s how we can support you:
- We'll evaluate your ancestry and circumstances to confirm your eligibility, assisting with tracing and verifying family history documents as needed.
- Our team will guide you through completing your application accurately, ensuring all forms are correctly filled out.
- We'll conduct a comprehensive review of your documents to make sure all required evidence is included and meets the Home Office standards.
- We can provide a detailed cover letter referencing your supporting documents and relevant UK immigration laws to strengthen your application.
- From initial consultation to the final decision, we'll be with you every step of the way, addressing any queries or concerns promptly.
Our goal is to maximise your chances of a successful application, making the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
Get Started with Salam Immigration
For personalised assistance with your UK Ancestry Visa application, get in touch with us today. Call us on 0161 839 7396 to speak with one of our expert immigration advisers, or contact us online for more information.
Let Salam Immigration help you embark on your journey to live and work in the UK with confidence.
We offer advice sessions through face-to-face appointments at all our UK offices or over the phone.
