The UK Ancestry visa allows eligible Commonwealth citizens with a qualifying grandparent to live and work in the UK without employer sponsorship. It is a five-year route which can lead to settlement.
The UK Ancestry route offers considerable flexibility. There is no employer sponsorship or minimum salary requirement, and successful applicants can work in employment, self-employment or voluntary work.
The main requirement is establishing the qualifying ancestry. Applicants must normally provide a clear documentary link between themselves, their parent and the relevant grandparent.
This usually involves birth certificates and, where relevant, marriage certificates, adoption records or other documents explaining changes of name.
Applicants must also show that they are able to work and intend to seek and take employment in the UK, and that they can maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants without access to public funds.
A main applicant must normally:
For this route, a qualifying grandparent can include someone born in:
The route can also recognise qualifying ancestry through a legal adoption recognised under UK law.
The evidence will normally include:
The documents should establish a clear link from the applicant to the qualifying grandparent.
Where a standard document is genuinely unavailable, alternative evidence may sometimes be considered. The appropriate evidence will depend on the individual circumstances.
UK Ancestry applications often depend on establishing the family connection through accurate documentary evidence.
Our immigration team can assess your eligibility, review the ancestry evidence and assist with preparing your application and supporting documents.
We can also advise on extensions, dependant applications and settlement under the UK Ancestry route.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law and Home Office policy are subject to change, and individual advice should be obtained before making an application.
No.
The qualifying relationship must be through a grandparent. Having a great-grandparent or more distant ancestor does not qualify under the UK Ancestry route.
Not necessarily.
The key requirement is the qualifying grandparent’s place and circumstances of birth rather than simply their nationality.
No.
There is no requirement to have an employer sponsor or a job offer before applying.
However, applicants must demonstrate that they are able to work and genuinely intend to seek and take employment in the UK. Evidence might include previous employment, qualifications, job applications, job offers or plans for self-employment.
The usual evidence is a clear chain of birth and other civil records linking the applicant to the qualifying grandparent.
Where a document is missing, it may be possible to obtain a replacement from the relevant registry. In some circumstances, alternative evidence may also be considered where the usual document is genuinely unavailable.
Eligible partners and dependent children can apply to accompany or join a person on the UK Ancestry route.
They will need to meet the relevant requirements for dependants.
Generally, no.
A person applying for the UK Ancestry route for the first time must obtain the appropriate entry clearance before coming to the UK. Permission to stay on this route is generally available only to someone who has already been granted permission under the UK Ancestry route.
Yes.
A main applicant may be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of continuous residence on the UK Ancestry route.
The applicant must meet the settlement requirements in force at the time of the application, including the continuous residence, work, financial, English language and Life in the UK requirements, unless an exemption applies.
