UK Ancestry Visa Background
UK Ancestry Visa Applications are open to those applicants who are Commonwealth citizens and can evidence proof that one of their grandparents was born in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. UK Ancestry Visa Applications, however, cannot be claimed through stepparents although you can make an ancestry claim if you or a relevant parent were born within or outside marriage in the UK or were adopted. Still, there is a need to provide substantial evidence to help validate the lineage and British heritage of an applicant’s family when making a UK Ancestry Visa Application.
UK Ancestry Visa Definition
The UK Ancestry Visa itself is a limited and low volume permit. Crucial to this type of visa is the requirement to be a Commonwealth citizen with a UK born grandparent. Therefore, UK Ancestry Visa Applications are limited only to a certain category of applicants today. Once an applicant has been granted the Ancestry Visa, there are opportunities to live, study and work in the UK. There are further benefits which enable you to bring your family members to the UK too. However, it is not possible to switch to this type of permit if you are already in the UK on another visa type whilst you will not have access to public funds either.
UK Ancestry Visa Eligibility Requirements
To prove eligibility in respect of a UK Ancestry Visa, an applicant should be able to confirm several details about themselves. Therefore, an applicant:
- Should be able to prove their aged 17 or over.
- Should be able to confirm their status as a Commonwealth citizen.
- Should be able to evidence that their self-sufficient and can financially support themselves, a house, and any relevant dependants with no reliance on public funds.
- Should be able to show their intention to undertake work in the UK.
UK Ancestry Visa Documents
An applicant will also have to provide various documentation to prove their eligibility for a UK Ancestry Visa. Accordingly, an applicant will have to present the following documents:
- Full birth certificate.
- Marriage Certificate or Civil Partnership Registration Document.
- Full birth certificate of the relevant grandparent on which your ancestry is founded.
- Adoption papers (the applicant and/or the parent of the applicant if applicable).
- Proof of plans to work in UK (job offer, business plan or other form of verification).
Further papers that are obligatory to your application include:
- A current passport or other valid travel document.
- A Bank statement proving that you have sufficient funds to support yourself.
- A tuberculosis test result (travelling from a country that UK requires TB testing certificate).
Dependants
Dependants refer to an applicant’s spouse, partner, or children all of whom can join the applicant in the UK if their eligibility can be proven. Proof of relationship such as a marriage and civil partnership where an applicant has cohabited with another for longer than 2 years is necessary to meet this eligibility criteria. To qualify as dependants, there should be evidence to show that a child lives with the applicant unless in full-time education either at Boarding School, College or University. The child should not be married, in a civil partnership or have children of its own and the applicant should be able to show its financial support to the child with no reliance on public funds. For children who are aged 18 years or over, there must be evidence of inclusion on a previous visa of the applicant, spouse, or partner to meet the eligibility criteria as a dependant. However, if a person with a UK Ancestry Visa has a child whilst living in the UK then it is possible to make an application for the child to obtain a dependent visa from inside the UK. All visas that are granted to dependants in this way are valid for the same period as that of the person who holds the UK Ancestry Visa.
Application Process
Applications for a UK Ancestry Visa must be made outside of the UK. The earliest that an applicant can apply is 3 months before travelling to the UK and the application should be done online. Applicants should also book a timely appointment at a visa application centre to provide fingerprints and photographs (biometric information) to prove their identity. Although the visa application centre may retain a passport and supporting documents from the applicant, a final decision will often be made within 3 weeks.
Validity
A UK Ancestry Visa is generally granted for 5 years. If an applicant elects to extend their visa, then this should be done prior to its expiration date. After 5 years of lawful residence, an applicant then becomes eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) provided that all other requirements are met. An application for UK citizenship is then possible once an applicant has spent a further 12 months residing in the UK with ILR status. However, it is important that an applicant ensures that all dependants on their current visa are listed on their application to extend. Children who have since turned 18 during their time in the UK need not apply separately and instead can be included on the primary applicant’s visa extension.
UK Ancestry Visa Fees
The UK Ancestry Visa costs £516. There is also an NHS surcharge that you will need to pay although this is variable depending on if you have other family members (dependents) travelling to the UK with you.
Additional Advice
The UK Ancestry Visa application is both complicated and prolonged. There is a need for extensive documentation and evidence in support of your application as well as to help demonstrate your ancestral record. It would be advisable therefore to consult specialist legal advice to better your chance of success. Our team of immigration solicitors are both experienced and knowledgeable in guiding applicants through this difficult visa process. Please do not hesitate to get in contact if you require assistance in respect of your UK Ancestry Visa.
Our experienced immigration lawyers are on hand to offer you expert advice whatever your immigration case, contact us to book your consultation.
Consultations are priced at £199 including VAT.
