What the UK Ancestry visa is
The UK Ancestry visa is for Commonwealth citizens who have a grandparent born in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. You do not need a sponsor or a job offer. You can work for any employer, full or part time, or be self-employed, study, and bring your partner and children. The visa lasts five years, and after five years you can extend it or apply to settle permanently.
Who can apply
- You are 17 or over.
- You are a Commonwealth citizen, a British overseas citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British national (overseas) or a citizen of Zimbabwe.
- One of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man; or before 31 March 1922 in what is now Ireland; or on a ship or aircraft registered in the UK or belonging to the UK government.
- You can work and plan to work in the UK.
- You can support and house yourself and any dependants without public funds.
You cannot switch into this visa if you came to the UK on a different visa: you must apply from outside the UK.
Counting a grandparent
Any of your four grandparents can qualify, on either side. You can claim ancestry if you or your parent were adopted, or if your parents or grandparents were not married. You cannot claim it through a step-parent. A great-grandparent does not count.
The grandparent evidence
The evidence is the heart of the application. You need an unbroken chain of documents: your own birth certificate naming your parent, your parent’s birth certificate naming their parent, and the grandparent’s birth certificate or other evidence of where they were born. Marriage certificates are needed where a name changed. Where a parent or grandparent was adopted, or the parents were not married, extra evidence is needed. Records can be hard to find, and tracing them early saves time.
Cost and timing
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £726 |
| Immigration health surcharge | £1,035 a year, paid for the five years: £5,175 |
| Earliest application | Three months before you travel |
| Decision | Usually within three weeks from outside the UK |
See the health surcharge guide.
Length and settlement
You can stay for five years. After that you can extend for another five years or apply for indefinite leave to remain. Time on the visa counts towards settlement, so keep records of your work and absences: our absence calculator helps. Settlement also requires the Life in the UK test and English language evidence. See indefinite leave to remain.
Family
Your partner and children can apply as dependants. See dependant visas. You cannot claim public funds on this visa.
If you are refused
A refusal usually carries no right of appeal. The remedy is an administrative review where the caseworker made a clear mistake, or a fresh application. See administrative review.
How we help
We trace the documents, check the chain of evidence, prepare the application and advise on settlement. A consultation costs from £99.
