What does a UK Ancestry visa entitle me to?
The ancestral route entitles a Commonwealth citizen, who has a grandparent born in the UK, to gain entry to the UK. The visa will permit you to take up or seek employment and eventually settle in the UK.
Who qualifies for a UK Ancestry visa?
You can apply for a UK Ancestry visa if you're one of the following: a Commonwealth citizen. a British overseas citizen. a British overseas territories citizen.
How do I get a UK ancestral visa?
Who can apply for a UK Ancestry visa?Be a Commonwealth national.Be 17 years old or over.Have at least one grandparent born in the UK or Islands; Ireland (if before 31 March 1922); or, in certain circumstances, on a British-registered ship or aircraft.Be able to work and intend to seek employment or work in the UK; and.More items...•
How long is a British Ancestry visa valid for?
five yearsThe UK Ancestry visa is valid for five years. After five years in the UK on this visa, the holder should qualify to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
How much money do you need in your account for UK Ancestry visa?
around £1,200 to £1,600UK Ancestry visa financial requirements When applying for an Ancestry visa, you need to have around £1,200 to £1,600 in your account 90 days prior to your date of application. You will need to provide three months' worth of bank statements to prove that you have these funds available to you.
How do I prove my UK ancestry?
Documents you must providea current passport (with a blank page for your visa) or another valid travel document.your full birth certificate.the full birth certificates of the parent and grandparent your ancestry claim is based on.More items...
Who qualifies for ancestral visa?
An Ancestry Visa is for citizens of Commonwealth countries who have a grandparent that was born in the United Kingdom. This permit will allow you to stay in the UK for up to 5 years, whilst here you can work and study.
How long is an ancestry visa valid for?
How many times can I apply for an ancestry visa? The Ancestral visa is granted for five years. After that time, you can apply to extend your visa or you can apply for UK indefinite leave to remain if you can show five years' continuous UK residence.
Do I need a Schengen visa if I have a UK Ancestry visa?
Not every foreigner living or residing temporarily in the UK, is required to obtain a Schengen visa when traveling from the UK to another EU country.
Can you get citizenship through Ancestry?
Americans can acquire Indian citizenship through ancestry in a number of ways. Most methods pertain to specific birth dates surrounding their parents. If you were born between 1950 and 1992 and your father was an Indian citizen by birth, you qualify.
Can you get married in the UK on an Ancestry visa?
as well as gain employment in the UK. You can also bring your family members if you have a spouse, partner or children. They would come as your dependents. If you are living in the UK with this visa you can also get married without any additional immigration permissions.
Who qualifies for ancestral visa?
An Ancestry Visa is for citizens of Commonwealth countries who have a grandparent that was born in the United Kingdom. This permit will allow you to stay in the UK for up to 5 years, whilst here you can work and study.
Can I get UK Ancestry visa through a great grandparent?
Yes, you are eligible to apply for the uk ancestry visa if your grandparents are from the UK, but that does not mean you will get all the UK birthrights. You can work there; there is no provision for that the British nationality will pass on up to three generations maximum not more than that.
Is there an age limit for a UK Ancestry visa?
Eligibility Criteria To qualify you must satisfy the following Ancestry Visa requirements: You must be 17 years of age or over.
Can I apply for a UK Ancestry visa in the UK?
Ancestry Visa eligibility You must be a Commonwealth citizen. You must be applying from outside the UK. You must be able to prove one of your grandparents was born in the UK. You are able and intend to work in the UK.
What are the UK Ancestry Visa requirements?
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...
What can I do on a British Ancestry Visa?
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...
How do I apply for a UK Ancestry Visa?
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 o...
How much does it cost to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa?
The UK ancestry visa will cost £516. You may also need to pay the NHS healthcare surcharge which is generally £624 per year.
How long does the British Ancestry Visa take to process?
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 o...
Can I extend a UK Ancestry Visa?
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 r...
What services does IAS offer?
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 exper...
What is an Ancestry visa?
A UK Ancestry visa is a visa issued by the United Kingdom to Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Ireland (before 1922) who wish to work in the United Kingdom. It is used mainly by young Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians, Malaysians, Singaporeans and South Africans of British descent coming to the UK to work and as a base to explore Europe.
How long does a UK visa last?
The visa is granted for five years in the 'limited leave to enter' category. After this, the holder can apply for an extension (limited leave to remain) or for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). For ILR, the holder must show that he or she has been living continuously in the UK and is currently in continuing employment or has worked throughout the five years. The Home Office's guidance makes clear that if the applicant is working at the time of the ILR application, the applicant needs to show only that his or her current employment will continue. If not working at the time of the ILR application, the applicant will need to show that he or she has been continually working or looking for work throughout the five-year period.
How long does it take to get ILR in the UK?
The increase in the period of time under UK ancestry to five years before ILR can be applied for effectively means that applicants (who are usually not married to British citizens) must wait six years for British citizenship. This is because naturalisation as a British citizen for a person not married to a British citizen requires that ILR or its equivalent be held for twelve months.
What is the ability to support oneself in the UK?
ability, and intention, to undertake employment. ability to support oneself (and one's dependents) in the United Kingdom without recourse to public funds. As a result of the Immigration Act 2014, the applicant may also be required to pay a healthcare surcharge as part of the process.
When did the ancestry route stop?
In March 2006, the announcement of a new points-based system made it clear that the ancestry route to the UK was outside its scope. The abolition of this route was once again brought up by the Home Office in February 2008 in a green paper.
When was the British citizenship clearance revised?
After receiving substantial feedback during consultation, the proposal was revised in July 2008 to preserve the clearance, but to provide that people taking that route to go through a probationary citizenship stage before applying for British citizenship or permanent residence.
When did the UK abolish admission?
On 26 October 2005, The Times published an article outlining possible plans by the British Home Office to abolish admission under UK ancestry in favour of a points-based migration system. The issue had apparently been raised in the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee. The possibility of abolition alarmed many people with British-born grandparents living in Commonwealth countries.
Applying for an ancestry visa
In order to apply for an ancestry visa, you have to be able to prove that you are eligible by giving evidence to the Home Office which shows that one of your grandparents was in fact born in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland until it became the Irish Free State in 1922.
How long you can stay
If your UK ancestry visa application is accepted, you will be given an initial five-year permit to live and work in the UK. After that, if you want to carry on living and working in the UK you can apply for a residence permit. There is a separate set of requirements that you will have to meet in order to be granted this.
Requirements of a UK ancestry visa
In addition to the grandparent rule, you will have to be able to prove that you:
What you can do with an ancestry visa
Once you are granted your ancestry visa, you will be able to work and/or study in the UK, as well as bring family members with you (as long as you have declared them on your initial application).
How long do you have to be in the UK to get an ancestral visa?
This will allow you to live, work and study in the UK. After five years , you can either apply for a renewal or apply for settled status. The Ancestral Visa UK does not require you to have already been offered a job in the UK before you apply. This makes it a much simpler route for those who are eligible.
What happens if your Ancestry visa is refused?
Unfortunately, if your Ancestry Visa application is refused, there is no automatic right of appeal, unless there is a clear error in the decision process.
What is a birth certificate?
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.
Can Zimbabwean nationals apply for UK Ancestry?
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.
Who needs a marriage certificate?
Marriage certificates for your parents and grandparents, if they were married.
Can an immigration lawyer help you get an Ancestry visa?
Our experienced immigration lawyers can work with you to help you secure your UK Ancestry Visa. We will work with you to assess whether your heritage makes you eligible which can include sourcing and locating family history documents for you, to use as evidence for the Home Office.
What is UK Ancestry visa?
You are able to apply for a UK Ancestry visa if all of the below conditions are met:
How to apply for an ancestry visa in the UK?
You have to apply for a UK ancestry visa online before going to the UK. To do so, you need to visit the UK Visa and Immigration Website. If it’s the first time you visit the site, you need to create an account for which you need a verified email address. You need to have access to the email address as the authorities might send you notifications.
What evidence shows that your parents or grandparents have changed their names since birth?
Evidence showing that your parents or grandparents have changed their names since birth, such as a civil partnership certificate, a marriage certificate, or deed poll.
Do you need to include dependents on a visa?
In applying for an extension, you must include the dependents (your partner or children) on your current visa. This comprises children who have turned 18 years old during your stay. They do not need to apply for this separately.
What Is This Ancestry Visa?
If you are from a Commonwealth country and one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or in the Republic of Ireland before 31 st March 1922 then you may be eligible to apply for a UK ancestry visa. If you have a grandparent that was born in the UK before the 31 st March 1922 then this could also help you to apply for an ancestry visa. It is worth noting that only Commonwealth citizens can apply for a UK ancestry visa.
How Long Can I Stay On A Uk Ancestry Visa?
A UK ancestry visa initially gives you five years to live and work in the UK. After that five years is up, you can apply for permanent residence, as long as you meet the necessary requirements. It’s good to know that, whilst you are on an ancestry visa, you can take up full time employment in the UK. Most people who apply for this visa intend to stay in the UK permanently and are looking to apply for permanent residence after their ancestry visa expires.
What is a bank statement for Ancestry?
A bank statement which meets the requirements as stated in the points-based policy guidance relating to your UK Ancestry application.
What is the evidence of permission to be in the country where you are applying from?
Evidence of your permission to be in the country where you are applying from, if you are not a national of that country i.e. a valid visa or a VEVO printout or letter from DIBP (based on Australian residency).
What is a BRP visa?
Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is your actual visa and basically looks like a drivers licence. It holds all your immigration status and entitlements while you are in the UK.
What do they take for a visa application?
The visa application centre will take your “biometric information” which is fingerprints and a photo. At the appointment, they will scan your documentation and hand the documents back to you.
How long does it take to get a visa decision?
On average you will receive a decision on your visa application within 3 weeks of lodging your application but this may vary depending on your country of residence.
What is evidence of you r travel arrangements?
Evidence of you r travel arrangements so flights, accommodation bookings or travel agent documents.
What is a CV in the UK?
Resume/ CV (to prove that you can and intend to work in the UK)
Overview
A UK Ancestry visa is a visa issued by the United Kingdom to Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Ireland (before 1922) who wish to work in the United Kingdom. It is used mainly by young Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans of British descent coming to the UK to work and as a base to explore Europe.
Requirements
The main requirements are:
to have a grandparent born in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man at any time; or a grandparent born in what is now the Republic of Ireland on or before March 31, 1922. to be a citizen of a Commonwealth country (it does not matter how citizenship was acquired), applying from outside the UK. Zimbabwe remains a Commonwealth country for immigration purposes. t…
Terms of visa
The visa is granted for five years in the 'limited leave to enter' category. After this, the holder can apply for an extension (limited leave to remain) or for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). For ILR, the holder must show that he or she has been living continuously in the UK and is currently in continuing employment or has worked throughout the five years. The Home Office's guidance makes clear that if the applicant is working at the time of the ILR application, the applicant need…
British citizenship
After acquiring indefinite leave to remain, it is possible to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after meeting normal residence requirements. See British nationality law.
• The increase in the period of time under UK ancestry to five years before ILR can be applied for effectively means that applicants (who are usually not married to British citizens) must wait six years for British citizenship. This is because naturalisation as a British citizen for a person not m…
Irish-born grandparent
A grandparent born in Northern Ireland at any time, or what is now the Republic of Ireland prior to 1 April 1922, gives rise to an entitlement to a right to admission under UK ancestry. However, there may also be an entitlement to register as an Irish citizen by descent which grants de facto permanent residency in the UK immediately.
This may be possible as an alternative to, or in addition to, a UK Ancestry visa.
2008 abolition proposal
On 26 October 2005, The Times published an article outlining possible plans by the British Home Office to abolish admission under UK ancestry in favour of a points-based migration system. The issue had apparently been raised in the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee. The possibility of abolition alarmed many people with British-born grandparents living in Commonwealth countries.
See also
• British diaspora
• British nationality law
• Indefinite leave to remain
• Permanent residency
• Right of abode