UK Ancestry Visa

If you have a grandparent born in the UK, the Ancestry visa offers a unique opportunity to live and work in the UK for up to five years. It’s a flexible route that can lead to permanent residency / settlement / Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Key requirements

To qualify, you must:

• Be 17 or older
• Be a Commonwealth citizen or hold certain British nationalities
• Have at least one grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or in what is now the Republic of Ireland before 31 March 1922
• Intend and be able to work in the UK
• Have enough funds to support yourself and any dependants without public funds.

You’ll need clear evidence of your UK ancestry, including birth certificates for you, your parent, and your grandparent. You may also need marriage certificates to confirm any name changes, especially on the maternal line, along with proof that you can and intend to work. You can still apply if you or your parents were adopted.

What does it allow?

The Ancestry visa gives you:

• Five years to live, work, and study in the UK
• Freedom to work in any role, be self-employed, or do voluntary work
• The ability to bring your partner and children.

After five years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and later British citizenship.

How do you apply?

Applications must be made online, from outside the UK. You cannot apply to switch in-country. The process includes:

• Completing the online form
• Providing biometric data at a Visa Application Centre
• Submitting supporting documents.

Fees and health surcharge

Home Office fees vary by category.

You’ll also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, calculated based on how long your visa is granted.

How can we support you?

We’ll make the process clear and stress-free:

• Confirm whether the Ancestry visa is the right route for you
  • If your parent was born in the UK and you have been a Commonwealth citizen since 31 December 1982, you may instead be eligible for a Certificate of Entitlement to prove your Right of Abode. This would allow you to live and work in the UK without restriction
  • If you have a grandparent who was born in the UK and you or your parent were born overseas and would qualify for British citizenship but for historical legislative unfairness (such as the law at the time treating men and women differently, or married and unmarried parents differently), you may be able to register as British
• Guide you through every step of the application
• Advise on your options for extension or settlement before your UK Ancestry visa ends.