Ancestry Visa Extension

What Is the Ancestry Visa Extension?

A UK Ancestry visa extension is the process of renewing the visa after it expires. If you live in the UK on an Ancestry visa, you can extend your permission to stay for another five years if you meet the eligibility requirements. 

The Home Office allows you to extend your Ancestry visa each time it expires, provided you continue to meet the visa conditions. To ensure a successful application, it is essential to evaluate your eligibility before applying and follow the correct application process.

Our lawyers at IAS can help you determine if you are eligible to extend your visa. Call us at +44 (0)333 414 9244 to discuss your situation.  

Who Is Eligible for an Ancestry Visa Extension?

All UK Ancestry visa holders qualify for an extension if they satisfy the following requirements:

• Are one of the following:
  • A citizen of a Commonwealth country
  • A British overseas citizen 
  • A British overseas territory citizen 
  • A British national (overseas)
  • A citizen of Zimbabwe
• Can demonstrate ancestral links to the UK by proving that one of their grandparents was born:
  • In the UK
  • On a British ship or aircraft, or
  • The Republic of Ireland before 31 March 1922
• Can prove that they have been legally working and living in the UK on an existing Ancestry visa, or are actively searching for new employment
• Can demonstrate that they have been catering for themselves and their dependents without relying on public funds and can continue to do so.
• Can ensure that there are no grounds for refusal on their application, such as a criminal record, false or incomplete information, or violation of immigration laws

When Should You Apply for an Ancestry Visa Extension?

Submit an application for extension of your UK Ancestry visa 28 days before your current permission to stay expires. Doing so gives the Home Office sufficient time to process your extension request without a risk of overstaying your visa. 

If you apply for a visa extension after expiry, the Home Office may reject your application, as you will be considered an overstayer. 

However, you may have a 14-day window after your visa expires to submit an extension if you have a good reason beyond your control for not making an early application. Some exceptional reasons include a medical emergency or the bereavement of a family member. 

The Home Office may also overlook an overstay if you submit a reapplication within 14 days of a refusal.

How Much Does It Cost to Extend an Ancestry Visa?

Here is a breakdown of all fees associated with a UK Ancestry visa extension:

Service	Cost
Extension application fee	£1,407
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	£5,175 (For five years)
Immigration Health Surcharge (Under 18 dependents)	£3,880 (For five years)
Optional Priority Service	£500
Optional Super Priority Service	to discuss your case.  How IAS Can Help With Your Ancestry Visa Extension Application At IAS, we understand the importance of expert guidance during the immigration process; therefore, we are committed to helping you achieve your dream of a continuous stay in the UK through extending your Ancestry visa. Our expert immigration lawyers can offer advice and support tailored to your situation. We can help you prepare the required supporting documents, ensuring a strong application. Our lawyers can also help you explore complicated cases, such as those with criminal records, employment gaps, and if you are applying with dependents. We know how to apply the immigration rules to each situation to increase the chances of a visa approval. If you have recently experienced a denial, we can help you with an administrative review or reapplication, whichever best suits your situation. Our fees are transparent, and our packages suit all applicants.  For immediate help with your Ancestry visa renewal and other UK immigration applications, call us at +44 (0)333 414 9244 or request a call back through our online contact form. We offer immigration advice sessions as face to face appointments at all of our UK offices, or via the phone. Contact Us Written by Immigration Advice Service Ono Okeregha Director – Immigration Advice Service Ono Okeregha is the director of the Immigration Advice Service. He is a committed human rights and immigration lawyer. He was awarded the IoD North West SME of the year award and commended for his work in equality, diversity, and inclusion. Legal Disclaimer The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Immigration Advice Service before making any decisions based on the content provided. Frequently Asked Questions Am I eligible for a UK Ancestry Visa renewal? In order to qualify for a UK Ancestry Visa renewal, you must continue to meet the following requirements: Be 17 or over Have enough money to support yourself without accessing public funds Work in the UK Be a citizen of the Commonwealth You will also need to ensure that you have a Biometric Residence Permit to accompany your application for an Ancestry Visa extension. What does a British Ancestry Visa extension allow me to do? If you renew a UK Ancestry Visa, you can live and work in the UK for another five years after your Ancestry Visa expires. You can also study on your Ancestral Visa, UK universities will accept this as a valid visa for their immigration checks. You can also apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) once you have lived for a continuous period of five years minimum. If you are unable to apply for ILR while on your current UK Ancestry Visa, extending your visa may be a good option to allow you to do this. You cannot apply to change or switch to this visa if you are already in the UK. You also cannot access public funds. How long does a British Ancestry Visa extension process take? A decision will be reached on your UK Ancestry renewal: within eight weeks for postal applications; or the same day with the premium service (generally). You will be contacted if your application is going to take longer to process: if any of your supporting documents need to be verified; if you are summoned to an interview; or for any exceptional personal circumstances (for example, if you have a criminal conviction). What services does IAS offer? Our team of expert immigration lawyers can help you to make sure that you are fully prepared for your application for an Ancestry Visa extension. We will: ensure there are no issues with your documents; complete your Ancestry Visa extension application form to the highest possible standard; liaise with the Home Office, particularly in the case of any exceptional circumstances; assist you with making an application via the Home Office’s Premium Same-Day Service, if you choose this route; and prepare a Letter of Representation to accompany and support your extension application. Contact us on 0333 363 8577 today or make an enquiry online to speak with a qualified immigration lawyer about extending your UK Ancestry Visa. What our clients are saying Immigration Advice Service4.7 Based on 1984 reviews Nesrine Shalabi 23 hours ago My residency was renewed promptly and without glitches. Stephanie Shoemaker 2 days ago My experience with IAS has been fabulous so far Laura Christian was very helpful in taking the time to research what my options were based on my needs and wants can’t recommend her enough Man Chung CHAU 3 days ago Staff are nice, solicitors are reliable and helpful. Tawanda Matonga 5 days ago I spoke with Saima Jabeen about the areas where I needed assistance. She was very helpful and provided me with clear and useful information. I was satisfied with the support and guidance she provided. Nicholas Peasgood 7 days ago Very positive professional experience. My immigration advisor Mariam Adebayo helped my wife successfully obtain her Spouse visa extension. At the very start we had a face to face meeting at their Oldham office to discuss our needs, explain the process and what evidence we would need. We later received a written confirmation of advice laying out everything from timeframes, fees and documentation needed. Through out we had video calls and regular emails for updates and when our input was needed, Mariam even uploaded all of the extensive evidence as part of the application process which I was very happy with as I know from my own experience this can take a while. I would definitely use IAS again, don't be fooled in to opting for cheaper options, I came to IAS after a poor experience with a different company and so came back as I'd had a good experience with IAS way back in the 90's so know that they have been around for a years. Thank you IAS Oldham and Mariam Adebayo. Fatima Babar 7 days ago I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Abdul Mutee for everything he has done throughout my visa process. The past year was incredibly stressful, especially after facing two Canada visa refusals. During this difficult time, Abdul Mutee did not simply provide guidance; he actively worked on my case and supported me every step of the way when I felt overwhelmed and uncertain about my future. Thanks to his dedication, hard work, and continuous support, my UK visa has now been approved. This approval allows me to continue my education and pursue my dream of becoming a dentist. I truly believe that this achievement would not have been possible without his assistance and commitment. Abdul Mutee played a significant role in making this outcome possible, and I am deeply thankful for the relief, hope, and opportunity he has given me. His efforts have made a lasting impact on my life, and I will always be grateful for everything he has done. I will never forget the support, encouragement, and professionalism he showed throughout this journey. Abdul Mutee's help has made a real difference in my future, and I sincerely appreciate all of his hard work and dedication. Elizabeth chuks 7 days ago I had a great experience with Anna Claridge. She was professional, friendly and very helpful throughout our consultation. She explained everything clearly, answered all our questions and made sure we understood the options available to us. I really appreciate her support. Sami Abdi 1 week ago I would like to say a huge thank you to Lauren Blommel for all her help and support with my case. She has been absolutely amazing from start to finish. Lauren was very kind, professional and patient. She explained everything clearly and always made sure I understood what was happening. She worked very hard on my case and did everything she could to help me. I am extremely grateful for everything Lauren has done for me. I am very happy with the service I received and would definitely recommend Lauren to anyone who needs immigration advice and support. Thank you so much, Lauren, for everything. I truly appreciate all your hard work and support. I wish you all the best for the future! Norrian 1 week ago We like to express our deepest thanks to Saimah Razzap. She helped us through our immigration matter with total professionalism; she took the time to explain every step clearly, returned our calls and emails promptly when we contacted her, and, with this, we ultimately won our first case with a great outcome. We felt supported the entire time, and we highly recommend her services. Anna Downie 1 week ago I would highly recommend Jason Griffiths, he was incredibly understanding of our situation and had very constructive ideas. Lee Mcpherson 1 week ago Great service! efficient, quick and available to answer any queries! Our application went seamlessly.. I would highly recommend! Claudia T 1 week ago I used IAS for my first visa and I must say it wasn't a pleasant experience. We didn't receive all the information, we would find out about things along the way and it made it all very stressful even though the application was successful. We were a bit reluctant to do it again for the renewal but went for it anyway due to lack of time. Anne Liu was out caseworker and she was terrific! Super on top of the case! She would review the docs very quickly after we submitted it and would immediately tell us what would be missing. She made herself available when we needed her all the way up to the appointment. Definitely made the experience more stress free! yu zheng 2 weeks ago Alice Jackson 2 weeks ago Anne has been nothing short of exceptional throughout mine and my husbands immigration query. From the very start, she was informative, diligent, understanding, compassionate and helpful. Any immigration matter is delicate and stressful for those involved and Anne met us with patience and kindness throughout, keeping us well informed and calm when everything felt tricky. We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better advisor and we are so grateful for everything that she did for us to get my husbands spousal visa approved. Her dedication and commitment proved enormously valuable and I will be welcoming my husband home tomorrow because of her. Without a doubt we will use her again in 2029 when required and we cannot recommend her enough for anyone going through a similar matter. Thank you Anne, from the bottom of our hearts, we will always appreciate you and remember your engagement fondly. Roger Hall 2 weeks ago Everybody at IAS has been professional and helpful. In particular my case worker, Elena Ampova simply could not have been more patient, friendly and approachable and knowledgeable. Nina and I found it difficult to supply information in the file formats required and Elena spent hours helping us. And the end result has been that my fiancée, Nina's visa application has been approved. Perfect service and a perfect result. Julian Everett 2 weeks ago Dina's explanations were clear and she took time to make sure we understood. The only small worry we now have is that there may be hidden fees which were not specified. However, I'm just checking that through an email. Chaimae Dr 2 weeks ago I received excellent advice from Safa Ali. She was patient, thorough, and took the time to make sure I understood everything. Highly recommended for anyone going through the asylum process. Siraw KEBEDE 3 weeks ago I have had amazing results in a short period of time with Lauren Blommel at Immigration Advice Services. She was very professional and supportive every step of the way, always answering my questions and addressing my concerns quickly. I am very happy with the service I received and would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for immigration assistance. Lili Ayele 3 weeks ago I am extremely grateful for the excellent support and professional service I received from Immigration Advice Service, especially from my caseworker, Lauren Blommel. Lauren supported me throughout my asylum case and kept me informed and reassured during what was a very difficult and stressful process. Thanks to her professionalism, dedication, patience, and hard work, my case was handled with great care and I successfully received my refugee status. I truly appreciate everything Lauren has done for me and all the support she provided from beginning to end. I highly recommend Immigration Advice Service to anyone who needs immigration support. Thank you so much, Lauren, for your outstanding service and for helping me through such an important journey in my life. I will always be grateful. Othman Khunji 3 weeks ago I cannot recommend Mariam Adebayo at IAS highly enough. She supported me thoroughly from A–Z throughout my UK Global Talent Visa journey, ultimately helping me successfully obtain my visa through the Exceptional Talent route. From the very beginning, Mariam was incredibly professional, knowledgeable, patient, and attentive. She guided me through every stage of the process with clarity and reassurance, always making sure that my application was as strong and comprehensive as possible. What stood out most was how consistently she went above and beyond her dedication, responsiveness, and genuine commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for me were evident throughout the entire journey. Thanks to Mariam’s exceptional support and hard work, I now have the incredible opportunity to continue developing and practicing my talent in the UK. This is a truly significant milestone in my professional and creative journey, and I am extremely grateful for the role she played in making it possible. Mariam is an outstanding caseworker and a true asset to IAS. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking immigration support, particularly those applying through the UK Global Talent route. Thank you, Mariam, for your dedication, guidance, and for helping turn this opportunity into a reality. Roy Williams 3 weeks ago Re: Kurshida Begum My wife and I cannot thank our immigration lawyer, Kurshida Begum enough for the professional help and support she gave us to obtain a successful outcome to my wife’s application for her extension visa. I would have no hesitation in recommending her services to anyone seeking help on immigration matters. Scott Graham 3 weeks ago Daniel Lugo Pino 3 weeks ago Saima Maqsood was super helpful in my father's visitor visa application. Very communicative and supportive - we had low odds of a favourable outcome and yet with her guidance we were able to succeed. Virginie 4 weeks ago I had a good exchange with Saima Jabeen, she helped me and it was useful. Peter Welch 4 weeks ago My case worker Mariam Adebayo guided my fiancee, a Belarusian national and me on what documentation and translations were required and checked through everything at every stage. She then made the application on our behalf for a fiancee visa. The application was 100% successful with no other documentation required or any queries raised by UKVI. Mariam further assisted in getting our spouse visa after our marriage in May 2026. Again 100% successful. Mariam has been extremely thorough in every part of our fiancee and spouse visa. Everything went through without a hitch! I have no hesitation in recommending her. Peter and Teresa Welch. We are the UK’s leading immigration specialists IAA Accredited UK Immigration lawyers We’ve had over 25,000 applications approved We are open Mon–Fri, 8:30am–8pm & Sat–Sun, 10am–4pm. How our UK Immigration Lawyers can help At the Immigration Advice Service our lawyers specialise in a wide range of UK visas, nationality and asylum applications and have represented clients in various successful complex and high-profile cases. Contact Us Get in Touch Head Office: Immigration Advice Service Ashwood House, Ellen Street Oldham, OL9 6QR, United Kingdom Head Office Phone: +44 (0)333 414 9244 Email [email protected] We have over 12 offices across the world, find a branch near you. Call us now at +44 (0)333 414 9244 or request a call back using the form below. Your Name Your Email Address Your Telephone Number Your Message Where are you located? What country are you in? Your desired destination? Where do you want to go? I am happy to receive promotional emails from the IAS. Subscribe Newsletter sign up First Name Last Name Email Address Related pages for your continued reading Spouse Visa Obtaining a spouse visa can be nerve racking. You want to get it right the first time and we want that for you as well. Get in touch with us for a personalised spouse visa application service. Fiance Visa A fiance visa is for those who are engaged to a UK national or settled person and want to join them in the UK with plans to get married within six months of joining their partner. Unmarried Partner Visa If you have an unmarried partner who is a foreign national, they may qualify for an unmarried partner visa. Learn about the requirements and process here. Adult Dependent Visa Do you have a parent who depends on you? or another elderly relative? The Adult Dependent visa might be right for them. Learn more here. Child Dependent Visa The UK Child Dependent visa allows holders of certain visas/permits to bring their foreign child to join them in the UK. Family Visit Visa Are you looking to visit your family member who lives in the UK? We can help you obtain a family visit visa. Learn more here. In the news Get in touch with our team Learn about our professional services and find out how we can help. Contact Us x Secure Your Advice Session Today Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 to speak with our friendly team Leading immigration specialists Over 25,000 approvals Accredited immigration lawyers Open 7 days a week Contact Us X Get in Touch Head Office: Immigration Advice Service Ashwood House, Ellen Street Oldham, OL9 6QR, United Kingdom Head Office Phone: +44 (0)333 414 9244 Email [email protected] We have over 12 offices across the world, find a branch near you. Call us now at +44 (0)333 414 9244 or request a call back using the form below. Your Name Your Email Address Your Telephone Number Your Message Where are you located? What country are you in? Your desired destination? Where do you want to go? 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