All about the UK Ancestry Visa & How to Apply

The UK Ancestry visa route (also known as British Ancestor visa) is one of the easiest ways to move to the UK, to live and work there permanently. This UK visa route grants Commonwealth and British Overseas citizens and nationals whose grandparent(s) was born in the UK the right to live, study and work in the UK. This means that before you can get the UK Ancestry visa, you must be a Commonwealth citizen, and must also be an immediate descendant of UK nationals. With the UK Ancestry visa, you can live and work anywhere in the UK. You can also establish your own business (self-employment) in the UK. In this article, you will learn all about UK ancestry visa program, the visa validity period, eligibility and document requirements, commonwealth countries eligible to apply for the visa, the visa cost, step by step visa application guide, and other FAQs and answers.

What is the Validity Period of UK Ancestry Visa?

The validity period of UK Ancestry visa is 5 years, after which you either apply to extend your visa for another 5 years, or you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in order to get UK permanent residency permit.

Eligibility Requirements for UK Ancestry Visa

In order to be eligible for UK Ancestry visa you must meet the following criteria:

You must be 17 years old and above.
You must be a Commonwealth citizen, British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, a British national (overseas), or a citizen of Zimbabwe
Also, you must apply from outside of UK.
You must have enough evidence to prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands.
You must be able to work, and also have plans to work in the UK.
Finally, you must have enough funds to support yourself and your dependents (if any), without help from public funds.

NOTE: As an applicant of UK Ancestry visa, you must be able to prove that at least one of your grandparents was born on a British-registered aircraft or ship; or in the UK, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man; or before 31st March 1922 in what is now known as the Republic of Ireland.

Commonwealth Countries

The Commonwealth countries include:

Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Botswana, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cameroon, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kiribati, Kenya, Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Malta, Mozambique, Malaysia, Maldives, Namibia, Nigeria, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Pacific, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Zambia.

Documents Required for UK Ancestry Visa Application

You will need to get a number of documents ready before you apply for UK Ancestry visa. Most of these documents are evidences to prove your claim of having a UK ancestry. You will be told the documents to send. But here is a list of some of the documents that might be required for UK Ancestry visa application:

Your current passport, or another alternative travel document.
Your full birth certificate.
The full birth certificates of your parent and grandparent on which you based your UK ancestry claim on.
Proof that you plan to work in the UK. You can bring evidence of a UK job offer, or a feasible business plan if you wish to be self-employed in the UK.
Proof that you have enough funds to support yourself and your dependents (if any) in the UK. You can use a bank statement, dated within 31 days from the date you are to submit your visa application.
Tuberculosis (TB) test result, if you are a citizen of a country where this test is compulsory.
Evidence of change of name, if your parents or grandparents have changed their name since birth. Some of the eligible proofs include: deed poll or marriage or civil partnership certificates.
Legal adoption documents, if your parents or grandparents were adopted.
Your marriage certificate or civil partnership document, if your spouse of civil partner is moving to the UK with you.

NOTE: The documents that will be required of you may vary from the above list, depending on your circumstances. You are advised to seek the advice of a professional immigration lawyer or solicitor for proper guide.

How much does the UK Ancestry Visa Cost?

The UK Ancestry visa application fee is £516, and you must apply from outside the UK. Then you also pay £19.20 for your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). Also, each visa applicant will also pay the NHS healthcare surcharge of £624 per year for each adult, and £470 per year for anyone under 18 years of age. This NHS healthcare surcharge permits the UK Ancestry visa holders and their dependents to use the UK National Health Service once they move over there.

Optionally, if you wish to opt for priority service, you will pay an additional fee of £500 (if you wish to get a decision on your visa within 5 working days), or a super-priority service fee of £800 (if you wish to get a decision on your visa by the end of the next working day).

How long does it take to Process the UK Ancestry Visa?

It takes up to 3 weeks to get a decision from the UKVI on your Ancestry visa application. But you can fast-track your UK Ancestry visa decision by paying an extra fee for either the priority service (£500) or the super-priority service (£800).

Also note that the earliest you can apply for UK Ancestry visa is 3 months before you travel.

Guide on How to Apply for UK Ancestry Visa

Here are the steps for applying for a UK Ancestry visa:

First, complete the online visa application form. You need to do this before you travel to the UK (at least 3 months before you travel to the UK). If your dependents are moving to the UK with you, each of them will apply separately.
Next, upload the required documents for the UK Ancestry visa application (you can check the above list for guidance).
Then pay the visa application fees, BRP fee and healthcare surcharge.
After making the necessary payments, book an appointment with a visa application center in your current country of residence. This is to enable the enrollment of your biometric information (your photograph and fingerprints) which will be used to process your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
After that, you wait to get a decision on your UK Ancestry visa application. It can take up to 3 weeks.

For more details, plus visa application link, check this guide: Apply for UK Ancestry Visa.

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Conclusion

You have learnt all about UK ancestry visa program, the visa validity period, eligibility and document requirements, commonwealth countries eligible to apply for the visa, visa cost, step by step visa application guide, and other FAQs and answers. If your country of eligible, and if you met the visa requirements, you can go ahead and apply.