UK Ancestry Visa

You can apply for an Ancestry Visa online but filling out the provided Ancestry Visa application form and submitting the requested supporting documents. You are also required to pay the application fee at the time of submitting your form.

After your application has been received, as part of the application process, you will be required to attend an appointment at a Visa application centre to provide the relevant biometric information– which includes photographs and fingerprints.

UK Ancestry Visa applicants can expect to receive a decision within three weeks of applying. However, this time constraint can vary based on how busy the services are at the time.

When you have been granted your Ancestry Visa, you can expect to receive your biometric residence permit soon after. It is very important that you obtain this before the date you intend to enter the UK.

The UK Ancestry Visa allows a commonwealth citizen to stay and work in the UK for up to five years. After this period, you will likely be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. In order to do so, you must meet the below requirements:

• You have fully satisfied the requirements of your current UK Ancestry Visa
• You have worked for the full five year period you have spent in the UK
• You have not left the UK during the five year period (for more than 90 days)

Indefinite Leave to Remain allows an individual from overseas to live, study, and work indefinitely, completely free of immigration control. After settlement is gained through Indefinite Leave to Remain, the route can lead to applying for British citizenship. The UK Ancestry Visa is a great pathway to gaining more permanent residence in the UK, either visa ILR settlement or British Citizenship (if you come to meet the requirements).

In some instances, those with British ancestors may be eligible to apply for British citizenship. You can register for British citizenship if the following scenarios apply to you:

• You were born in the UK after 1983, to one or more parents who became British citizens after you were born; and
• You lived in the UK until the age of ten years old; or
• You were born outside of the UK to one or more British parents

You can apply to become a British citizen and claim UK ancestry if you meet these requirements.

UK Ancestry Visa applicants will be required to pay the £531 application fee to be considered for entry clearance into the UK.

As well as the application fee above, those wishing to come to the UK from a commonwealth country will be required to pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge for every year they stay in the UK. Applicants can expect to be paying £624 per year.

Payment of the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge allows visa holders to access National Healthcare Service (NHS) amenities as a British citizen would.

One of the main requirements of a UK Ancestry Visa is that the applicant has a genuine intention of working in the UK during their five-year stay.

You must be able to demonstrate this to the Home Office by showing that you have been offered a job, you are looking for a job, or, you have a genuine intention to do so when you are in the UK.

For those hoping to work on a self-employed basis, you should be able to prove this with a solid business in place.

Listed below are some documents that applicants can provide as proof of their desire to work in the country when they are granted a UK Ancestry Visa:

• An official job offer from a UK-based organisation or employer
• Proof of job applications (made via job boards etc)
• Proof of professional qualifications to work in a specified role (training courses, a degree, or, work-related experience)
• A business plan if you plan to work as your own boss in the UK

Compared to various other types of UK visas, the Ancestry Visa is rather non-restrictive to its holders. UK Ancestry Visa holders can do the following:

• Work in the UK
• Study in the UK
• Change job roles or jobs completely
• Bring family members to live with you in the UK
• Extend the visa should you wish to
• Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of continuous residence

Whilst the visa is fairly lenient in its allowances for holders, those with a UK Ancestry visa are not permitted to access public funds or switch to a different UK visa category. If you make an Ancestry Visa application, you are required to remain on the same one for the full time period.

The partner and children of a UK Ancestry Visa holder can apply to join the main applicant in the UK as dependants. To be eligible as a dependant, you must fit into one of the following categories:

• Partner of the main applicant
• Child of the main applicant (under 18 years of age at the time of the application process taking place)

You must be able to prove your relationship to your partner or civil partner by providing proof of a marriage certificate. For those with an unmarried partner, you must be able to prove that both parties have lived at the same address for at least two years prior to applying.

For a child to be classed as a dependant, they must have lived with the main applicant (unless in full-time, boarding education), not be married or pregnant, and be supported by you without the use of public funds and means-tested benefits

Here are simplified steps to follow if your UK Ancestry Visa application is declined:

Review Rejection Letter: Carefully read the rejection letter to understand why your visa was denied, such as missing documents or eligibility issues.

Understand the Reasons: Make sure you fully grasp the reasons for the refusal to address specific problems.

Seek Professional Help: Consider consulting one of our friendly team members to discuss your options, and help you get started with an Appeal if that’s what you wish to proceed with.

Appeal (if applicable): If you believe the decision is unfair, check if you can appeal within the specified timeframe.

Reapply with Corrections: Correct the issues that led to the rejection if reapplication is an option.

Check Eligibility Criteria: Ensure you still meet all Ancestry Visa requirements.

Verify Documents: Confirm your documents are genuine, up-to-date, and meet standards. An immigration lawyers from Birmingham Immigration Lawyers can help you with this.

Financial Proof: If finances were an issue, provide additional evidence of your financial stability.

Language Proficiency: If language proficiency was a concern, consider taking a language test.

Stay Patient and Persistent: Be patient and organised throughout the process, and keep records.

Explore Alternatives: If needed, explore other visa options like work or student visas.