UK Immigration Lawyers Guide to the Ancestry Visa Requirements
If your grandparent was born in the UK, you may be able to apply for an Ancestry Visa if you meet all the requirements. An Ancestry Visa can lead to settlement in the UK.
In this article, our UK Immigration Lawyers examine the Ancestry Visa requirements. If you would like a consultation with one of our Ancestry Visa Solicitors in London to discuss the eligibility criteria or to support and guide you through the application process, we can arrange an online consultation for you.
UK Immigration Solicitors and Ancestry Visa Lawyers in London
For advice on Ancestry Visa requirements or for visa representation call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online. Appointments are available for phone, Zoom or Skype consultations or at our offices in London.
What is the UK Ancestry Visa?
The UK Ancestry Visa is for those with an ancestral connection to the UK. The visa is also sometimes referred to as a Heritage Visa, Ancestral Visa or Commonwealth Visa.
If you are granted a visa it can lead to eventual settlement in the UK and to British citizenship and a British passport.
Sometimes those looking to move to the UK assume that they will need a Skilled Worker Visa or Business Visa to be able to live and work in England but they may meet the Ancestry Visa requirements. It’s important to get a specialist Visa Lawyer to check your options as an Ancestry Visa offers greater flexibility than other types of visas.
Ancestral connections for the Ancestry Visa
Your ancestral connections are the key to securing an Ancestry Visa. You must have a grandparent who was born in the UK, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man and you must be a Commonwealth citizen or meet the other citizenship/status criteria.
The Ancestry Visa requirements
There are eight eligibility criteria:
- Age – you must be at least 17 years of age
- Commonwealth or other specified citizenship – you must be a national of a Commonwealth country. A list of Commonwealth countries can be found here. Alternatively, you can be a British overseas citizen, a British overseas territory citizen, a British national (overseas) citizen, a citizen of Zimbabwe or a British subject
- Ancestry – a grandparent must have been born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Manor or have been born on a British-registered ship or aircraft. If you are relying on a grandparent having been born in the Republic of Ireland then the grandparent must have been born before 31 March 1922. You can apply if you or your relatives were adopted or if the extended family were not legally married
- Work – you must intend to work whilst living in the UK
- Financial - you must be able to show that you can financially support yourself (and any dependant family members) without recourse to public funds
- TB certificate - if you are from a country on a prescribed list you need to provide a certificate to say you are clear of TB
- Pass the general eligibility criteria – the Home Office can refuse any visa application if you don’t meet the general eligibility criteria. For example, if you are not considered suitable because of a serious prior conviction or a poor immigration record
- Apply from overseas – you cannot apply for this type of visa from within the UK. For example, if you are in England on a Skilled Worker Visa or Graduate Visa. As the Ancestry Visa is more flexible than most other types of visas that lead to UK settlement it may be in your best interests to leave the UK and apply for the Ancestry Visa from your home country
Documents needed for an Ancestry Visa application
Here is a checklist of the documents you will need to provide to secure an Ancestry Visa:
- Identity evidence – valid passport or travel document
- Heritage documents to prove your ancestral relationship including the birth certificates of yourself, parents and grandparents to evidence the relevant ancestry
- Financial evidence to show that you can maintain yourself without recourse to public funds. The immigration rules do not say that you must prove you have a minimum amount of savings but you will need to show you can support and accommodate yourself
- Work plans – while you don’t need a job offer do need evidence of how you plan to find employment. This could involve providing copies of your qualifications and job history and available UK jobs
- TB test certificate if required. The need for a certificate depends on your circumstances. This government website will check if you need a certificate
- Transcriptions if the documents aren’t in English or Welsh you need an official transcription. The transcriber must be accredited rather than a friend or unofficial transcriber
Why you should consider applying for an Ancestry Visa
There are several reasons why you should consider applying for an Ancestry Visa rather than a Work Visa, Student Visa or Family Visa. These include:
- There is no English language test - you don’t have to sit an English language test or prove that you are exempt from sitting the test
- There is no requirement to work for a UK employer with a sponsor licence – if you enter the UK on a Skilled Worker Visa or Health and Care Worker Visa your employer (and any subsequent employer whilst you are in the UK on a Work Visa) must hold a sponsor licence and pay you the minimum salary threshold for the job you are employed to do. With a Skilled Worker Visa, you can only secure a visa if you are coming to the UK to do a job that is on a prescribed list with an allocated certificate of sponsorship. On an Ancestry Visa, you can take up any type of employment, including a minimum-wage job
- You don’t need a job before you apply for an Ancestry Visa – if you are applying for a Health and Care Worker Visa or Skilled Worker Visa you must have an offer of employment before you can apply for your visa – this is unnecessary with a heritage-based visa although you must intend to work and be able to evidence your plan to work
- There is no business endorsement rule if you plan to set up your own business in the UK – if you enter the UK on an Innovator Founder Visa you must secure an endorsement from an endorsing body before proceeding with your visa application. You also need an ongoing endorsement and to meet business growth rules when applying to extend your visa or to settle in the UK
- There is no requirement to be in a family relationship with a British citizen or someone with Indefinite Leave to Remain. If you secure entry clearance on a UK Family Visa your visa is contingent on your relationship lasting. If it ends, your visa is curtailed
If you aren’t sure if you meet the Ancestry Visa eligibility criteria our specialist Ancestry Visa Solicitors can advise you on whether you meet the requirements and then support you through the application process.
What can you do in the UK on an Ancestry Visa?
The immigration rules require you intend to work but the rules are flexible enough to allow you to study in the UK or bring family members with you if they meet the eligibility criteria for a Dependant Visa. A family member can apply for a Dependant Visa at the same time as your Ancestry Visa application or whilst you are living in the UK on the visa. Dependants can work in the UK and are not restricted to certain jobs or occupations.
Settling in the UK on an Ancestry Visa
Settling in the UK on an Ancestry Visa involves a three-stage process:
- Entry on the Ancestry Visa – the visa lasts for five years
- Application for Indefinite Leave to Remain – provided you meet the ILR residence requirement of five years in the UK and other criteria
- Application for British citizenship – if you prefer you can remain in the UK long term with ILR status
It is possible to apply to extend your Ancestry Visa for a further five years. However, most visa holders prefer to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain if they meet the residence and other requirements. Our Ancestry Visa Lawyers in London can explain your visa extension or settlement options and the evidence you will need to apply for an extension or ILR.
Ancestry Visa Lawyer in London
If you are interested in applying for an Ancestry Visa our expert team of UK Immigration Solicitors can help you secure the visa you need and support you in obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship.
Our top Visa Lawyers in London are specialists in securing Dependant Visas for family members who want to join you in the UK. Our experience is recognised by our inclusion in Legal 500, a leading legal directory.
UK Immigration Solicitors and Ancestry Visa Lawyers in London
For advice on Ancestry Visa requirements call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online. Appointments are available for phone, Zoom or Skype consultations or at our offices in London.
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