UK Ancestry visa
UK Ancestry visa
Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent may qualify for a UK Ancestry visa based on their ancestry. The UK Ancestry visa allows you to live and work in the UK for five years and provides a route to settle permanently. You can also bring your partner and children if you meet the requirements.
Let us help you determine your eligibility. Contact us for a free consultation with advice tailored to your situation.
British Ancestry visa
The British ancestry visa is another name for the UK ancestry visa, which is an immigration visa that allows Commonwealth citizens to live and work in the UK. If an individual is a Commonwealth citizen and is able to show that one of his/her grandparents was born in the UK (including today’s Ireland before 31 March 1922), then he or she may apply for this visa that will allow them to stay in the UK for a period of 5 years.
Main Features of the UK Ancestry visa:
- During the 5 year period, individuals are allowed to work without restriction.
- There is also freedom of re-entry and exit in the UK for multiple times.
- Ancestry visa is issued for a period of 5 years and after the completion of 5 years, the applicant may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR).
- Applying for ILR, the applicant must have spent 5 continuous years in the country and must be employed anywhere.
- Through this route, the spouse or dependents of the applicant are also eligible to apply for a UK ancestry visa.
Requirements For UK Ancestry visa
You are eligible to apply for this visa if you are one of the following:
- a Commonwealth citizen
- a British overseas citizen
- a British overseas territories citizen
- a British national (overseas)
- a citizen of Zimbabwe
Furthermore, you must also provide evidence that one of your grandparents was born within either:
- the UK
- the Channel Islands
- the Isle of Man
- today’s Ireland before 1922
- a ship or aircraft which was registered in the UK or owned by the UK government
To prove the status of your grandparent, you can provide birth certificates or other official records to fulfil this condition.
Additional eligibility requirements for the UK Ancestry visa:
- be 17 years or older
- be capable of financially sustaining yourself and possible dependents without relying on public funds
- intend to work in the UK (either employed or self-employed)
You do not require an employment offer or a sponsor to apply for this
Depending on your specific situation, the requirements you have to meet can be slightly different. It is always recommended to consult an experienced immigration solicitor for accurate guidance.
Applying for a UK Ancestry visa
All Applications must be made online for the UK Ancestry visa before travelling to the U.K. The associated government application fee is currently £531, and you may also have to pay a healthcare surcharge as part of your application.
As a part of the application process, an appointment at a visa application centre will be booked. This is where you will need to prove your identity and provide various documents such as:
- your current passport or travel document
evidence of your UK-born grandparent - proof of your financial situation
confirmation of your intention to work in the UK
After your biometric appointment, you should receive a decision within three weeks. Ancestry visa applications can be submitted at the earliest three months before travelling. Depending on where you are applying from, faster decisions (priority service) may be offered as an additional service.
The benefits of the UK Ancestry visa
A successful UK Ancestry visa application permits you to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years. Furthermore, this visa type allows you to study, travel, and access several public services. It also permits you to bring your partner or children with you if they meet the specific requirements under the Immigration Rules.
After living in the UK for five years on the UK Ancestry visa you may be eligible to either:
- apply to extend your visa for up to five years OR
- apply to permanently settle in the UK (known as applying for indefinite leave to remain)
To settle permanently, you must again meet certain requirements, such as passing an English language test and demonstrating that you have been employed or actively searching for employment for the last five years.
UK Ancestry visa services:
- Free initial consultation to assess your eligibility and circumstances to advise you on the best route.
- Full application service, where we handle every aspect of your application from start to finish.
- Document checking service, where we review your documents and ensure they meet the requirements.
- Interview preparation service, where we coach you in presenting yourself more confidently during the interview.
- Appeal service, where we represent you in case your application is refused or challenged.
- Tailored service to ensure your visa is successful.
- We also provide ongoing support and guidance throughout your residence in the UK.
- Assisting you to extend your visa, apply for British citizenship, or deal with other legal aspects of your new life.
Contact us today to get your process started.
How Axis Solicitors Can Help You
Applying for a UK Ancestry visa can be a complex and time-consuming process. You must gather the correct documentation, complete the online application form accurately, and attend a biometric appointment at a visa application centre. The applicant must also stay updated with this visa category’s latest rules and regulations. Mistakes or omissions in an application can cause delays, rejections, or possibly refusals.
That is why you can benefit from the help of professional and experienced immigration solicitors. At Axis Solicitors, we have a team of dedicated experts who specialise in UK immigration. We have helped many remote clients worldwide who acquire visas to settle in the UK successfully.
UK Ancestry visa Application FAQs
If you want to apply for a UK Ancestry visa, you need to do it from outside the UK. You cannot switch to this visa category or extend your stay if you are already in the UK on another visa.
You can start your UK Ancestry visa application up to 3 months before your planned trip. The processing time for this visa category is usually 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK.
To extend your UK Ancestry visa, you must show that you still meet all the criteria for the initial application.
You can apply even if you are not working at the moment, but you must prove that you are able to work and have a genuine intention to find or take a job in the UK.
If approved you can get an extension of up to 5 years on your UK Ancestry visa.
At Axis Solicitors, we have a team of expert immigration solicitors who can help you challenge a refusal of your UK Ancestry visa application. Whether you applied for entry clearance, further leave to remain or settlement on the basis of UK Ancestry, we can advise you on the best course of action to take.
In case the Home Office made a mistake while applying the Immigration Rules or their own policy to your case, we can request an Administrative Review to correct the error.
If the Home Office acted unlawfully, unreasonably or improperly in refusing your application, we can apply for Judicial Review and represent you in court.
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