UK Ancestry Visa

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The UK Ancestry Visa allows an eligible Commonwealth citizen or other qualifying British national to live and work in the UK where they can prove that a grandparent was born in a qualifying part of the UK or Islands. The visa is normally granted for five years and can lead to settlement.

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At a glance

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Nationality: The applicant must be a Commonwealth citizen or fall within another qualifying category listed by GOV.UK, including a British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British national (overseas) or citizen of Zimbabwe.

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Age: The applicant must be at least 17 years old on the intended date of arrival in the UK. Parental consent requirements apply where the applicant is under 18.

Where to apply: A first UK Ancestry Visa application must be made from outside the UK before travelling. Switching into this route from another UK visa is not permitted.

Length of permission: Five years.

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Work and study: Employment, self-employment, voluntary work and study are permitted, subject to any applicable Academic Technology Approval Scheme requirement. Access to public funds is not permitted.

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Dependants: An eligible partner and dependent children may accompany or join the main applicant.

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Settlement: The route can normally lead to settlement after five continuous years, subject to the continuous-residence and other settlement requirements.

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Main eligibility requirements

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• The applicant must hold a qualifying nationality and meet the age requirement.

• The applicant must have a grandparent who was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

• A grandparent born before 31 March 1922 in what is now Ireland may also qualify.

• Limited provisions cover a grandparent born on a ship or aircraft that was registered in the UK or belonged to the UK Government.

• An ancestry claim can be made where the applicant or their parent was adopted, provided the adoption is legally recognised. The fact that the applicant’s parents or grandparents were not married does not prevent a qualifying ancestry claim.

• A great-grandparent or more distant ancestor is not sufficient. UK ancestry cannot be claimed through a step-parent unless the relationship arose through a legally recognised adoption.​

• The applicant must be able to work and genuinely intend to seek and take employment in the UK. A confirmed job offer is not required.

• The applicant must be able to maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants in the UK without recourse to public funds.

• There is no fixed minimum income or savings requirement, but the financial and accommodation evidence must be credible and sufficient for the applicant’s circumstances.

• The applicant must meet the validity, suitability and tuberculosis-screening requirements.

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Evidence commonly required

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• The applicant’s current passport or other valid travel document and evidence of their qualifying nationality.

• The applicant’s full birth certificate.

• The full birth certificate of the parent through whom the ancestry claim is made.

• The qualifying grandparent’s full birth certificate, demonstrating an unbroken family link between the applicant and grandparent.

• Marriage certificates, civil partnership certificates, deed polls or other official documents explaining name changes or discrepancies across the family records.

• Legal adoption documents where the applicant or their parent was adopted.

• Evidence showing the applicant’s ability and genuine intention to work in the UK. This could include qualifications, employment history, job applications, correspondence with potential employers or recruitment agencies, job offers or a business plan for proposed self-employment.

• Financial evidence showing that the applicant can support and accommodate themselves and any dependants. Bank statements relied upon should normally be dated within 31 days of the application.

• Evidence of the proposed accommodation arrangements in the UK.

• Marriage, civil partnership, relationship and birth evidence for any partner or children applying as dependants.

• A tuberculosis certificate where required.

• Certified translations of documents that are not in English or Welsh.

 

Application process

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• Confirm that the applicant holds a qualifying nationality, meets the age requirement and has a qualifying grandparent.

• Obtain the necessary birth, marriage, adoption and name-change records establishing the family connection between the applicant and grandparent.

• Identify and explain any differences in names, dates or places appearing across the family documents.

• Prepare evidence of the applicant’s ability and genuine intention to work in the UK.

• Prepare the financial, maintenance, accommodation and dependant evidence.

• Complete the online application from outside the UK.

• Pay the applicable application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.

• Enrol the applicant’s biometric information and upload the supporting documents.

• Respond promptly to any further information or document request from UK Visas and Immigration.

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Extension and settlement

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A person already granted permission under the UK Ancestry route can apply from inside the UK to extend their stay for a further five years, provided they continue to meet the relevant requirements. The visa may be extended more than once.

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Settlement will normally require the applicant to have completed five continuous years in the UK with permission under the UK Ancestry route.

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The applicant must normally:

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• Remain a Commonwealth citizen on the date of the settlement application.

• Continue to meet the ancestry, financial and work requirements.

• Show that they are still able to work and intend to work in the UK.

• Maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants without recourse to public funds.

• Meet the continuous-residence requirement. This will usually mean no more than 180 days outside the UK during any 12-month period, subject to the detailed rules and permitted exceptions.

• Meet the applicable English-language requirement.

• Pass the Life in the UK Test unless an exemption applies.

 

For settlement applications made before 26 March 2027, the English-language requirement is normally speaking and listening at CEFR level B1. For applications made on or after 26 March 2027, the required level becomes B2 unless an exemption applies.

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Common issues

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• The grandparent was born in a former British colony, British overseas territory or overseas military base rather than in a qualifying location.

• The application relies on a great-grandparent, step-relative or informal adoption that is not legally recognised.

• A missing birth or marriage certificate breaks the documentary chain between the applicant and qualifying grandparent.

• Names, dates or places differ across the family records and the discrepancies are not adequately explained.

• The applicant provides financial evidence but gives insufficient evidence of a genuine intention or ability to work in the UK.

• Bank statements or other financial documents are not sufficiently recent.

• A first application is submitted from inside the UK even though switching into the UK Ancestry route is not permitted.

 

Frequently asked questions

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Do I need a job offer?

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No. A confirmed job offer is not compulsory, but you must demonstrate that you are able to work and genuinely intend to seek and take employment, self-employment or another permitted form of work in the UK.

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Can I qualify through a great-grandparent?

No. The qualifying person must be your biological grandparent or a grandparent connected to you through a legally recognised adoption.

Can I qualify if my parent or I was adopted?

Yes. An ancestry claim can be made where you or the relevant parent was adopted, provided the adoption is legally recognised and the documentary evidence establishes the required family connection.

Can I qualify through a step-parent?

No. UK ancestry cannot be claimed through a step-parent unless there has been a legally recognised adoption that establishes the qualifying relationship.

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Can I switch to a UK Ancestry Visa from inside the UK?

No. A first UK Ancestry Visa application must be made from outside the UK. In-country applications are generally limited to people who already hold permission under the route and are applying for an extension or settlement.

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Can my partner and children come with me?

An eligible partner and dependent children can normally apply to accompany or join the main UK Ancestry applicant. They must satisfy the relevant relationship, age, care, financial and suitability requirements.

Does the UK Ancestry Visa lead to settlement?

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The route can normally lead to settlement after five continuous years, provided the applicant meets the continuous-residence, work, financial, English-language and Knowledge of Life in the UK requirements.

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