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Ancestry Visa UK

→ UK Immigration and Visa Advice → ANCESTRY VISA - UK

Table of Contents

Eligibility for Ancestry Visa

To be eligible for the Ancestry visa, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1 Commonwealth Citizen - you are a Commonwealth citizen (56 member countries as at April 2024).

2 Apply from your Country of Residence - you apply for the visa from your country, outside the UK.

3 Grandparent born in the UK - you can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK.

4 Work in the UK - you can work in the UK and intend to work in the UK.

5 Age - Aged 17 years or over.

6 Funds - you have sufficient funds available to support and accommodate yourself and any dependents, without assistance from public funds.

Grandparents - Ancestry Visa

You must prove that you have a grandparent that was born in 1 of the following circumstances:

  • Born in the UK, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man or
  • Born before 31 March 1922 in what is now the Republic of Ireland
  • Born on a British-registered ship or aircraft.

You can claim ancestry if:

  • You or your parent were adopted
  • Your parents or grandparents were not married

Note that you cannot claim UK ancestry through step-parents.

British Citizen with the Right of Abode

Right of Abode - If you have the right of abode then you are completely free from United Kingdom Immigration Control. The right of abode exists for all British citizens, a select group of Commonwealth citizens and citizens of certain other countries. If you have a right of abode then the Home Office issues a Certificate of Entitlement to right of abode in the United Kingdom, as a sticker, that is fixed in a valid passport.

The British Nationality Act 1981 came into force on 1 January 1983 and after that date you will have the right of abode in the UK if, immediately prior to that date, any of the following situations apply:

  • You were a citizen of the UK and Colonies and acquired your citizenship by being born, adopted, naturalised or registered in the United Kingdom.
  • You were a citizen of the UK and Colonies and your parent was at the time of your birth or legal adoption, a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by being born, adopted, naturalised or registered in the United Kingdom.
  • You were a citizen of the UK and Colonies and your parent qualified for the right of abode under the above situation.
  • You were a citizen of the UK and Colonies at any time prior to 1 January 1983, and had been living in the UK for 5 years or more without a break.
  • You were a citizen of the UK and Colonies and were then, or had previously been, the wife of a man with the right of abode in the United Kingdom.
  • You were born in the UK after 31 December 1982 and one of your parents was then a British citizen or legally settled in the United Kingdom.
  • You were born outside the UK after 31 December 1982 and at the time of your birth one parent was a British citizen other than by descent.
  • You were registered or naturalised as a British citizen after 31 December 1982.

Commonwealth Citizen with the Right of Abode

If you have been a citizen of a Commonwealth country up to 1 January 1983 and, immediately prior to that date you will have a right of abode as a Commonwealth citizen if either of the following situations apply:

  • You were a Commonwealth citizen with a parent who, at the time of your birth or legal adoption, was a citizen of the UK and Colonies and acquired their citizenship by being born in the United Kingdom.
  • You were a Commonwealth citizen and are, or were, the wife of a man with the right of abode in the UK.

Citizenship Application Process

  • Apply to the Home Office for the issue of your British passport, with documentary evidence.
  • Applicant must demonstrate knowledge of life in the United Kingdom. This means that the applicant must pass the 'Life in the UK' test.

Processing Time and Costs

For applications submitted outside the UK, the processing time for the Ancestry visa is currently only 3 weeks.

The Government fee for the Ancestry visa is currently £637. In addition, the Applicant will need to pay the Healthcare surcharge. 

Once the Ancestry visa is approved, you can work or study in the UK, and stay in the UK for up to 5 years, with a possibility to apply for an extension of 5 years or Indefinite leave to Remain.

VisaConnect London, UK - Office

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