UK Ancestry Visa
Anyone whose grandparents were born in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man is eligible for a UK Ancestry visa. This visa grants British Overseas and Commonwealth citizens the right to live, work, and study in the United Kingdom.
Call our immigration attorneys at +442080162308 for a no-cost phone consultation or submit an online form to discuss your UK Ancestry Visa application.

What Is The UK Ancestry Visa?
If you can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the United Kingdom and you are a citizen of a Commonwealth nation, you may be eligible for an Ancestry Visa UK. The duration of the visa is five years. Being able to live, work, and attend school in the UK is now a reality. After five years, you can request either a status renewal or a move to “settled.”
There is no need for a work offer in the UK to apply for an Ancestry Visa. For those already on the road, it clears the way considerably. You must show you can cover your costs, as this visa does not allow you to receive public money.
If you want to apply as a relative of a British citizen, you’ll have to prove their citizenship in considerable detail. Those grandparents who have spent a lengthy period abroad from the UK may find it challenging to locate them.
Contact our professional assessment staff at +442080162308 immediately to determine whether you qualify and your choices.
To be eligible for a UK Ancestry Visa, you must fulfil the following requirements:
- Over the age of 17
- You should adequately support yourself and your dependents without tapping into public resources.
- Looking for a job in the UK, and
- Qualify as a citizen of the Commonwealth or any of the following groups:
- An expat who is of British descent
- Living abroad as a British citizen
- a Zimbabwean-born British citizen now residing overseas
A member of your immediate family must also meet the following criteria:
- Where a grandfather was born in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man;
- A prerequisite is having a grandmother born on a ship or aircraft registered in Britain, or having a grandfather born in what is now the Republic of Ireland on or before March 31, 1922.
- Regardless of marital status, anyone born or adopted in the United Kingdom may apply for this visa.
- Your stepparents do not provide proof of your British ancestry.
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Applying for a UK ancestry visa when you are already in the UK is impossible.
Sending in your application is only possible via the gov.uk website.
A meeting at a local visa application facility is also required as part of the application process. They will take a photo of you and your fingerprints as part of your biometrics.
You should submit your application three months before your intended departure for the United Kingdom.
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To apply, you must have the following items:
- A travel document, such as a passport, is valid for travel.
- A complete copy of your certificate of birth.
- If you want to claim a grandparent as an ancestor, you'll need their whole birth certificate.
- On top of that, you have to prove that working in the UK is your goal. A job offer or a plan to start your company may be here.
- Your bank records show you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses.
Depending on your circumstances, you could additionally be required to provide the following documents:
- If you are applying from a nation that requires a tuberculosis test, please provide the findings.
- Bring documentation showing your relationship status when you come with your spouse or children.
- If your parents or grandparents were wed, make sure you have a copy of their marriage licence or other official marriage record.
- Evidence of adoption, either of you or your parents, is required.
- Attestation of a legal name change for one or more of your parents or grandparents.
Depending on the specifics of your case, you may need to submit more documents. We can provide the necessary documents to apply via the Immigration Advice Service.
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Ancestry visas for the United Kingdom cost £637.
The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom will cost an additional £1,035 for you and your dependents. This amounts to £776 for minors and £476 for adults.
Additional fees may apply to some aspects of the application procedure, such as translating official documents into English.
The processing time for an Ancestry visa application is three weeks. If you want your application processed more quickly, you may have to pay more for a priority processing service.
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After five years in the UK on an Ancestry visa, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain, the British word for permanent residency.
For your eligibility to be considered, each of the following must be true:
- You have been continuously present in the UK for the last five years on this visa, and your total annual outside travel time has not exceeded 180 days.
- You also have more than enough money to maintain your current standard of living and your children's.
- You could work in the UK if you so desired.
- You maintain your status as a citizen of a qualifying Commonwealth nation.
- Also, your English proficiency is sufficient if you're between 18 and 64.
- You have completed the Life in the UK exam if your age is between eighteen and sixty-four.
Staying in the UK without needing to renew your status is possible for those with indefinite permission to remain. The government will also make its funds and perks available to you. Additionally, after one year of lawful permanent residence in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship.
The cost of obtaining indefinite permission to remain is £2,885. The deadline for submission is no later than 28 days before the expiration of your 5-year term.
You may find the application on the official UK government website.
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Receiving a denial for your UK Ancestry Visa application may be a very frustrating experience. People often decline requests for the following reasons:
- Your country does not qualify you as a citizen.
- Inadequate evidence of your desire to work in the United Kingdom
- It is impossible to prove one of your grandparents' exact year of birth.
- In the UK, proving you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses is impossible.
- Application missing or incorrect
- Do not include all required supporting papers in the submission
- Resisting the Home Office's demands for more details
Unless there was an obvious error in the decision-making process, you cannot automatically appeal a denial of your Ancestry Visa application.
That is, you have the option to request an official review of the order if you believe your application was undeserving of acceptance.
The immigration lawyers at our firm can assist you in appealing a denial of your application. After reviewing the reasons for its rejection, our staff will advise you on the following steps to take to get your application accepted. Contact our immigration specialists at +442080162308 for assistance.
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A British Ancestry visa allows you to accomplish the following:
- Any employer or job may employ you.● Any employer or job may employ you.
- Find out
- Invite your immediate relatives.
Rest assured:
This visa allows you to transfer from another visa that will enable you to enter the UK. Public monies, such as welfare payments, are also available for application.
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In what ways does an Ancestry visa allow you to remain outside the UK?
Proving continuous five-year residence in the UK is a requirement for immigration law residency (ILR). There has been no year in the last five when you have spent more than 180 days away from the UK. Applicants should also have a strong desire to work in the UK. Excessive travel outside of the UK could hurt your visa application since it shows that this is not your primary goal.
Extension of the UK Ancestry Visa
To remain in the UK for longer than the original 5 years, you may renew or extend your ancestry visa online before your current leave expires. It is possible to renew or extend a UK family visa for those who have resided in the UK continuously for 5 years but do not want to or cannot apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. A pending criminal conviction may be the reason for this.
Before your Ancestry visa expires, you must request an extension. If other dependent family members are applying simultaneously, you may also add them.
According to the laws, you can renew your Ancestry visa in the UK an unlimited number of times provided you continue to meet the conditions.
In addition to the additional expense of NHS healthcare, extending your Ancestry visa costs £1,048.
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What Services Can Immigration Solicitors UK Provide?
Obtain a UK Ancestry visa with the assistance of our knowledgeable immigration attorneys. If you are qualified based on your family history, we can help you determine it. That includes locating documents about your family tree that may serve as evidence while dealing with the Home Office.
With our expertise, we will also review your paperwork and complete your application. We also allow one of our solicitors to draft a letter of representation on your behalf. This letter provides evidence of your application by referencing relevant papers, statutes, and court decisions about immigration to the United Kingdom. This is the most important thing you can do to secure an Ancestry Visa in the United Kingdom.
Contact us online or at +442080162308 to speak with an experienced immigration attorney.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa while living in the UK?
A UK Ancestry Visa needs to be applied for while you are outside the UK.
How much time am I granted with an Ancestry Visa in the UK?
You are permitted to be in the country for up to 5 years. Once you’ve completed five years, you can apply for an extension or Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Is having a job offer required when applying for the Ancestry Visa?
No, you do not need a job offer, but you still need to prove that you are looking for a job in the UK.
Can I bring my family when I apply for an Ancestry Visa?
You may travel with your spouse or partner and dependent children, provided you can support them financially.
What papers can I provide to document my ancestry?
You will need birth certificates for yourself and your parents; if you have grandparents, you will also need a birth certificate. You will also need any papers showing marriages or adoptions, if there are any.