UK Ancestry Visa

In order to qualify for a UK Ancestry Visa, you must meet the following requirements:

• be 17 or over;
• have enough money to support yourself without accessing public funds;
• plan to work in the UK; and
• be a citizen of the Commonwealth.

It is important to note that, even though Zimbabwe is no longer part of the Commonwealth, they are treated as such for the purposes of UK Ancestry applications. Zimbabwean nationals can successfully apply for UK Ancestry if they can satisfy the requirements of the UK Ancestry Visa.

You must also meet one of the following ancestry requirements:

• Have a grandparent born in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man;
• Have a grandparent born in what is now the Republic of Ireland on or before 31st March 1922; and
• Have a grandparent born on a British-registered ship or aircraft.

You can also claim an Ancestry Visa if you or your parent was adopted or was born within or outside marriage in the UK.

You cannot claim UK ancestry through your step-parents.

With a British Ancestry Visa, you can live and work in the UK. You can also study on an Ancestral Visa, UK universities will accept this as a valid visa for their immigration checks.

You can stay in the UK for up to five years on a British Ancestry Visa. After this five year period has elapsed, you can apply to extend your visa or apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

You cannot apply to change or switch to this visa if you are already in the UK.

You also cannot access public funds and may be required to pay the NHS surcharge when making your visa application.

You must make your UK ancestry visa application from outside the UK. In order to apply, you will need the following documents:

• A current passport or another valid travel document.
• Bank statements showing that you have enough money to support yourself.
• Your tuberculosis test results if you are applying from a country where a TB test is required.

In order to prove your eligibility for the UK Ancestry Visa, you will need to provide the following documents:

• Your full birth certificate.
• A marriage certificate or civil partnership registration document if you are applying to take your spouse with you.
• The full birth certificate of the grandparent through whom your ancestry claim is based.
• Marriage certificates for your parents and grandparents, if they were married.
• Adoption papers, if you or your parents are adopted.
• Evidence of your plans to work in the UK, either in the form of a job offer or a business plan if you are planning to be self-employed.

Other documents may be required depending on your circumstances. If you are applying through Immigration Advice Service, we will be able to advise you on which documents are required.

The UK ancestry visa will cost £496. You may also need to pay the NHS healthcare surcharge which is equal to £200 per year.

You cannot apply for the British Ancestry Visa more than three months in advance of your intended travel date. For example, if you plan to travel on 15th September, the earliest you can apply is 16th June. You should get a decision on the outcome of your visa within three weeks.

If you would like to start your British Ancestry Visa application, get in touch with the team at IAS to find out the next steps.

If you have been living in the UK for five years with a UK Ancestry Visa you can apply for a UK Ancestry Visa extension.

This will allow you to remain in the UK for a further five years, during which time you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

An Ancestral Visa UK extension is also useful if you do not intend to stay in the country indefinitely, or have not decided yet but would like more time in the UK.

For more information on UK Ancestry Visa extensions

Applying for a UK Ancestry Visa can be very complex, as it involves providing many documents and proof of your ancestral history.

Our team of expert immigration lawyers is available to help you with your Ancestral Visa application.

Our services include:

• ensuring you have the sufficient documents for your application;
• locating family history using subject access requests for documents to prove that you meet the eligibility requirements;
• preparing a Letter of Representation to accompany your British Ancestry Visa application. This will offer the positives of your case and any relevant UK immigration laws which support it;
• corresponding with the Home Office while your application is processed; and
• competently completing your application in full before its submission.

Contact us to discuss your eligibility and application for a UK Ancestry Visa.