UK Ancestry Visa Guide 2025

Section A: What is a UK Ancestry Visa?

The UK ancestry route is open to Commonwealth citizens, British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens, British nationals (overseas) and citizens of Zimbabwe aged 17 years or over who are looking to live in the UK, and who have a grandparent who was born in the UK or Islands, or in Ireland before 31 March 1922, or on a British-registered ship or aircraft. A UK ancestry visa is essentially a visa that will allow individuals with qualifying ancestral links to the UK to live and work in the UK for an initial period of 5 years.

There are broad work rights under an ancestry visa. You can work in the UK in employed or self-employed roles, paid or voluntary, full time or part time, at any skill level.

You may wish to work in an employed role for an employer or, alternatively, you may want to establish your own business to enable you to work for yourself. It is even possible to do both under this type of visa, unlike other visa options that do not provide the same flexible employment options.

You will also be allowed to volunteer and you can also study at the same time that you are working or actively looking for work.

The UK Ancestry Visa allows you to live and work in the UK with wide flexibility. It also provides the opportunity to study and bring family members with you. After five years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if you meet the eligibility requirements. Naturalisation is usually available after holding ILR for 12 months, although applicants married to a British citizen who meet the naturalisation requirements do not need to wait 12 months after ILR.

Section B: Ancestry Visa Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a UK ancestry visa, you need to be aged 17 or over, have a qualifying nationality, and be able to prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, or in what is now Ireland before 31 March 1922, or on a ship or aircraft that was registered in the UK or belonged to the UK government. You also need to be able and planning to work in the UK and meet the financial requirement.

1. Nationality Requirement

You may be eligible to apply for a UK ancestry visa if you fall under one of the following:

a. a Commonwealth citizen

b. a British overseas citizen

c. a British overseas territories citizen

d. a British national (overseas)

e. a citizen of Zimbabwe

To satisfy the ancestry requirement, you need a grandparent born either in the UK, including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, or in what is now Ireland before 31 March 1922, or on a ship or aircraft that was registered in the UK or belonged to the UK government. This ancestry connection can be through either the maternal or paternal line.

The birth of a grandparent in a British colony or a military base overseas does not qualify for the Ancestry visa.

You can still claim ancestry if you or the relevant parent was adopted or born outside of marriage in the UK, although UK ancestry cannot be claimed through step-parents.

The following countries are part of the Commonwealth and citizens of these countries may be eligible to apply for the UK Ancestry visa:

* Zimbabwe appears here because its citizens are eligible for the UK Ancestry visa, although Zimbabwe is not currently a Commonwealth member.

2. Financial Requirement

You need to show you can accommodate and financially support yourself, since you will not be eligible to access public funds in the UK. Evidence usually includes recent bank statements and other documents that credibly show adequate funds for you and any dependants.

3. Work Requirement

You do not need to be working at the time you apply, although you need to have the ability and intention to work in the UK. This means showing you genuinely intend to seek work and that there is a realistic prospect of finding work, for example through a CV, applications or job-related correspondence.

Section C: How to Apply for a UK Ancestry Visa

You have to apply for a UK ancestry visa from outside the UK. You cannot switch into this visa category if you are already in the UK on another type of visa, you have to be overseas to make your application.

1. Ancestry Visa Application Process

The earliest that you can apply for an Ancestry visa is 3 months before you intend to travel. This involves completing the online application form with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), the division of the Home Office responsible for the United Kingdom’s visa system.

As part of your application you will need to prove your identity and nationality. You will need to schedule an appointment at an overseas visa application centre (VAC) to enrol your biometric information, including a scan of your fingerprints and a photograph of your face.

2. Ancestry Visa Supporting Documents

When submitting your application for an Ancestry visa, in addition to providing your current passport or valid travel document, you will need to provide various documents in support to demonstrate that you satisfy the eligibility criteria. Depending on your circumstances and the basis of your eligibility, these documents could include:

You may also need to provide additional documents, depending on your circumstances. These could include written parental consent if you are aged under 18 when you apply. We are able to advise on necessary documents if you are unsure about proving your eligibility.

In relation to the ‘work’ requirement, you do not have to be working at the time you apply for an Ancestry Visa, but you must have the ability and intention to work in the UK. In other words, you must show with reference to documentation that you genuinely intend to seek work in the UK and have a realistic prospect of finding work.

As such, you will either need the offer of a job from a UK employer or, where you plan to work for yourself, a business plan for self-employment.

You can upload your supporting documents into the UKVI online service or have your documents scanned at your VAC appointment.

3. UK Ancestry Visa Application Fee & Costs

The Home Office application fee for a UK ancestry visa is £682.

Depending on which country you are applying from, you may be able to pay an additional fee to get your visa processed faster. You will need to check with your visa application centre as to what priority services are available.

You will also be liable to pay the immigration health surcharge to be able to access the UK’s NHS. This is calculated on an annual basis, payable upfront, for the length of your visa.

4. UK Ancestry Visa Processing Times

Having submitted your application and supporting documentation for a UK ancestry visa, and enrolled any biometric information, a decision will usually be made within 3 weeks.

You may be able to pay for a faster decision, where you will be told this when you apply.

5. Ancestry Visa Application Refused?

There are various reasons why an application for an Ancestry Visa may be refused, for example, where the applicant has failed to prove that they are actively seeking work or where they have been unable to locate their grandparent’s original birth certificate.

However, in the event that your Ancestry visa application is refused, there is no right of appeal.

You will only be able to request an Administrative Review of the decision where you believe that the initial decision was incorrect due to a caseworking error and you can show why the published rules were misapplied. You cannot supply new evidence as part of the Administrative Review process.

In circumstances where your application has been refused on the basis that you failed to meet the eligibility criteria, or to provide the necessary documentation in support, then the refusal decision is unlikely to be overturned on a review.

In most cases, a new application will be needed, with the issues of the refused application addressed.

Take professional advice on your case to understand your options to challenge the Home Office’s decision, or whether a new application or a different immigration route would be appropriate in your circumstances.

You can read our full guidance on your options following a refused visa application here >> 

Section D: Family Members & Dependants

If your application for a UK Ancestry visa is approved, you can bring eligible family members to live with you in the UK. A dependant is your partner, your child under 18, or a child aged 18 or over who was last granted as your dependant. You need sufficient funds to support and accommodate your family in the UK, since neither you nor any family members are eligible to claim UK state benefits. Dependants can work (not as a professional sportsperson or coach) and study, and they generally receive permission in line with your visa.

When applying under the UK Ancestry route, each dependant is required to provide evidence of their relationship with you. You also need to show that, as a family, you have enough money without help from public funds for maintenance and accommodation purposes.

In summary, you need to show:

a. There will be suitable accommodation for you and your partner that you own or occupy, without recourse to public funds

b. You and your partner can maintain yourselves adequately without recourse to public funds

c. Your partner is applying for permission in line with your leave as the primary visa holder

d. Your partner does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal

In addition, specific relationship requirements apply to qualify as the unmarried partner of the primary visa holder, namely:

a. Any previous marriage or civil partnership, or similar relationship, by either partner has ended

b. You are not blood relatives

c. You have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage or a civil partnership for two years or more

d. You both intend to live together during the primary visa holder’s stay in the UK and the relationship is genuine and subsisting

Any dependants apply separately and pay the application fee. They are also each liable to pay the healthcare surcharge. Dependants will usually be granted the same period of leave as the main visa applicant and can take up employment, subject to the restriction on professional sport.

Applications for entry clearance from outside the UK as the partner or dependant of someone with a UK Ancestry visa are made online. It can help if you and your partner submit applications at the same time to allow you to travel together, although your partner can apply later to join you.

Your partner can apply to extend or switch their permission in the UK where eligible. They cannot switch if they are in the UK as a visitor, on a Short-term study visa, on a Parent of a Child Student visa, on a Seasonal Worker visa, on a Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa, on immigration bail, or with permission to stay outside the Immigration Rules. If they hold a Student visa, switching is only possible after completing the sponsored course or after at least 24 months of PhD study. In those ineligible categories, they need to leave the UK and apply from abroad.

As part of the application process for entry clearance and leave to remain, your partner enrols biometric information, being fingerprints and a digital photograph, at a visa application centre overseas or at a UKVCAS service point if applying in the UK.

Having submitted their application and paid the relevant visa fee, your partner also provides the required documentation in support.

Section E: Stay in the UK

After arrival, your focus turns to keeping your status valid and planning ahead. The Ancestry route grants 5 years with wide work rights. You can extend in further 5-year periods if you continue to meet the rules, or apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years of continuous residence. Dependants apply in line with you. If you apply in the UK, travel outside the Common Travel Area before a decision will withdraw the application.

1. Extending a UK Ancestry Visa

When applying for entry clearance on the UK ancestry route, leave is usually granted for 5 years. At the end of this term, you can apply to extend your visa from within the UK for a further 5 years. To be eligible to extend a UK Ancestry visa, you need to show that:

a. you are working or have been actively seeking work in the UK

b. you have been able to adequately maintain and accommodate yourself, together with any dependants, and can continue to do so without recourse to public funds

c. there are no general grounds for refusal

When applying to extend a UK Ancestry visa, you are not required to show continuous employment or self-employment throughout your initial 5-year stay, although you need to be able to work and intend to seek and take employment. If you are out of work, an extension can still be granted where you evidence genuine job seeking and a realistic prospect of work.

To apply for an extension, submit an online application before your current permission expires, with your supporting documentation. Your partner or child’s visa does not extend automatically, so they need to apply to extend their own permission before it expires. You and any dependants will be asked to provide supporting documents and to attend a UKVCAS service point to enrol biometrics. A decision is usually made within 8 weeks. During this time, do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, as leaving the Common Travel Area will withdraw the application. A faster decision may be available for an additional fee, subject to availability.

2. Ancestry Visa to ILR

The UK Ancestry visa is a route to settlement in the UK, also known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR). You can apply to settle after 5 years’ continuous residence as a UK Ancestry visa holder. Continuous residence is assessed under the Home Office rules, which normally allow no more than 180 days’ absence from the UK in any rolling 12-month period during the qualifying time. You also need to meet Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK requirements.

For ILR on the Ancestry route, you are expected to show that you can maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without recourse to public funds and that you can and plan to work in the UK. You also need to continue to hold an eligible nationality for the route.

Apply online with your supporting documentation and pay the relevant fee. There is no healthcare surcharge for ILR applications. If your partner or any children are applying with you, they submit separate applications and, if aged 18 or over, meet the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK requirement and the financial requirement as applicable. Biometric enrolment at a UKVCAS service point is required. A decision is usually made within 6 months using the standard service, with paid priority options sometimes available.

3. UK Ancestry Visa to British Citizenship

Naturalising as a British citizen is a separate process from settlement and involves strict eligibility rules, including residence, absences, good character, and language and life in the UK requirements. In most cases you can apply for citizenship 12 months after being granted ILR, provided you meet the nationality rules. If you are married to a British citizen and meet the statutory requirements for naturalisation, you can apply once you hold ILR without waiting 12 months.

If you were born outside the UK and one or both parents are British citizens, you may already be a British citizen by descent, removing the need to naturalise. Some individuals may also have a separate entitlement to register as British under historic nationality provisions. These pathways are distinct from the Ancestry route and require case-specific assessment. For all routes, fees are set separately; see current citizenship fees and ensure your application fully evidences eligibility.

Section F: Summary

The UK Ancestry Visa offers a unique pathway for individuals with ancestral connections to the UK to live, work, and study in the country. This visa route is dedicated to Commonwealth citizens who can demonstrate their lineage through a UK-born grandparent. While the benefits of this visa are significant, including the potential route to UK settlement and British citizenship, applicants must be prepared to provide extensive and specific documentation to prove their eligibility. By carefully gathering the necessary documents and meeting the outlined requirements, eligible individuals can take advantage of this visa to build a new life in the UK, reconnecting with their heritage and exploring new opportunities.

Section G: Need Assistance?

Securing a UK Ancestry Visa can be life changing. With so much at stake, you will need to ensure you complete the application form correctly and provide all necessary supporting documents to evidence your eligibility.

As UK immigration specialists, DavidsonMorris provide expert guidance on all aspects of the UK ancestry visa, including advice on eligibility and applications and routes to UK settlement and citizenship. If you have a question about the ancestry visa, contact us.

Section H: Ancestry visa FAQs

Who qualifies for UK ancestry visa?

Eligibility requires age 17 or over, qualifying nationality (Commonwealth citizen, British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British national (overseas), or a citizen of Zimbabwe), and a grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, in what is now Ireland before 31 March 1922, or on a UK-registered ship or aircraft. You also need the ability and intention to work, enough funds for maintenance and accommodation without public funds, and you apply from outside the UK.

How much money do you need in your account for a UK ancestry visa?

There is no fixed amount. UKVI expects evidence that you can support and house yourself and any dependants without public funds. Bank statements and other credible financial documents are used to show this. Third-party support can be accepted where it is genuine and evidenced.

How many times can you extend UK ancestry visa?

You can extend in five-year blocks as many times as needed, provided you continue to meet the rules, including being in work or genuinely seeking work and meeting maintenance and accommodation requirements. Many applicants qualify for ILR after five years instead of extending again.

Can you get married on a UK ancestry visa?

Yes. You can marry or form a civil partnership while holding an Ancestry visa. Your immigration conditions do not change because of marriage, and access to public funds remains prohibited.

What documents are required for the application?

A valid passport, your full birth certificate, your parent’s birth certificate, and your UK-born grandparent’s birth certificate to prove lineage. Include evidence of intention and ability to work such as a CV or job applications, financial evidence to show maintenance and accommodation without public funds, TB test results if required, and any relationship documents for dependants.

Can I bring my family with me on a UK Ancestry Visa?

Yes. Dependants are your partner, your child under 18, or a child 18 or over who was last granted as your dependant. Each applies separately, pays the application fee and the healthcare surcharge, and provides relationship evidence. Dependants can work, other than as a professional sportsperson or coach.

Can I extend my UK Ancestry Visa?

Yes. You can apply to extend for a further five years from within the UK if you continue to meet the rules, including being in work or actively seeking work and meeting maintenance and accommodation requirements. A faster service may be available for an additional fee.

Do I need to have a job offer before I apply?

No. A job offer is not required. UKVI expects evidence that you intend to work and have a realistic prospect of finding work, for example a CV, applications or interview correspondence.

What financial evidence is required for the UK Ancestry Visa?

Provide recent bank statements and other credible documents that show you can support and house yourself and any dependants without public funds. Where relied upon, third-party support should be clearly evidenced and sustainable.

Can I apply for British citizenship with a UK Ancestry Visa?

You can usually apply for ILR after five years on the Ancestry route. Most applicants then apply for British citizenship after holding ILR for 12 months, subject to residence, absences, good character, and language and life in the UK requirements. If married to a British citizen and you meet the statutory requirements, you can apply once you hold ILR without the 12-month wait.

Section I: Glossary

Section J: Additional Resources and Links