UK ANCESTRY VISA Requirements
UK Ancestry visa Route: Embrace Your heritage & Build a Future in UK
UK ancestry visa is available to Commonwealth citizens who have a grandparent born in the UK, allowing them to live and work in the United Kingdom. It's important to note that this visa can only be obtained from outside the UK. On completion of 5 years qualifying period UK permanent residency becomes eligible.
Section headings:
1. Ancestral Qualification Obligations
2. Demonstrating Family Ties to UK
3. Ancestral Ties following adoption & birth outside marriage
4. Maintenance & Accommodation
5. Intention to Work in the UK
6. UK Permanent Residency after 5 years
7. Can I apply for a Ancestral Visa Whilst in the UK?
10. Indefinite Leave to Remain on the basis of UK Heritage
Obligations for Commonwealth Citizens for family visas to the UK:
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Commonwealth citizenship: You must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country.
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Age requirement: You must be 17 years or older at the time of intended arrival in the UK.
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UK ancestral ties: You need to provide evidence that one of your grandparents was born in the UK or Islands.
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Grandparent relationship: The grandparent must be your blood relation or a grandparent through adoption recognized by UK adoption laws.
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Maintenance and accommodation: You should be able to adequately support yourself and any dependents financially and have suitable accommodation in the UK.
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Work intention: You must be able to work and have the intention to seek and take up employment in the UK.
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Consent for minors: If you are under 18 years of age, you need to have consent from your parent(s) or guardian(s) to apply.
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TB Certificate: If required, you must provide a valid TB (tuberculosis) certificate.
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For more information about obtaining an TB Certificate visit our page: TB Certificate
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The specific requirements can vary based on your individual circumstances. For expert advice tailored to your situation, it is recommended to consult an immigration lawyer. To discuss your UK Ancestral visa application, please complete our enquiry form.
In order to demonstrate UK Ancestral ties, it is crucial to establish that you have a grandparent who was born in the UK.
Here are some key points regarding the requirements for demonstrating this:
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Grandparent relationship: The grandparent must be your blood relation, meaning they are biologically related to you, or a grandparent through adoption that is recognized through adoption law in the UK.
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Place of birth: The grandparent must have been born in the UK, which includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. If the grandparent was born in what is now known as the Republic of Ireland, it must have been before March 31, 1922. Birth on a British registered ship or aircraft is also considered acceptable.
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Legitimacy: Unlike claims to British citizenship, the legitimacy of the grandparents, parents, or the applicant's birth is not a requirement. The grandparents or parents may have been born either within or outside of marriage.
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Exclusions: Birth in a British colony or a military base overseas, such as UK Naval base in Bahrain, would not be considered acceptable for establishing UK Ancestral ties.
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It is important to provide appropriate documentation and evidence to demonstrate your claim, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or adoption records. Consider if any of your documentation is not in English you will need to use translating services in UK or overseas to have them translated. Consult with our own immigration adviser Marc, he can provide expert guidance on gathering the necessary documentation and presenting a strong case. For more information about translating services in UK refer to our post or arrange a call with Marc, by completing our contact form at the bottom of this page.
Ancestral claim following adoption and birth outside marriage
To be eligible for UK ancestry visa, you can still claim ancestral ties if the grandparent you are relying on is your blood relative or a grandparent by adoption that is recognized in the UK. This means that either you or your relevant parent may have been adopted.
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It's important to note that unlike claims to British citizenship, the legitimacy of the grandparents, parents, or your own birth does not impact the eligibility for UK ancestry visa claim. The birth may have occurred either within or outside of marriage. However, it's worth mentioning that ancestral claims cannot be made through step-parents. The ancestry connection must be through a blood grandparent or a grandparent by recognized adoption.
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When applying for Residential card through UK ancestry visa route, it is essential to provide supporting documents and evidence that establish your ancestral relationship, such as birth certificates, adoption certificates, or other relevant documentation. Consulting with our immigration adviser can help ensure that the application is properly prepared and meets the necessary requirements.
In order to obtain a visa, the applicant must demonstrate to the Entry Clearance Officer that they can adequately maintain and accommodate themselves without relying on public funds.
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Regarding maintenance, there is no specific minimum amount specified. The adequacy of maintenance will be assessed by considering factors such as income tax, national insurance contributions, and housing costs. The applicant's available income will be evaluated based on whether it is at a level that would be equivalent to income support if they were receiving it here in the UK.
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If the application is successful, entry clearance will be granted for an initial period of five years. Applicants are allowed to include their dependents in the application, and their dependents will be granted leave in line with the main applicant. It is important to provide sufficient evidence and documentation to demonstrate the ability to maintain and accommodate oneself during the visa application process. Consulting with an immigration adviser can provide guidance on the specific requirements and help ensure that the application meets all the necessary criteria.
In order to qualify for a UK visa, the applicant must demonstrate to the Entry Clearance Officer that they are able to work and have the intention to take or seek employment in the UK.
There are two scenarios that can satisfy this requirement:
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Job offer in the UK: The applicant can provide evidence of a job offer from a UK employer. This demonstrates their ability to work and their intention to take up employment in the UK.
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Intention to seek employment/self-employment: The applicant can show that they genuinely intend to seek employment or engage in self-employment in the UK. They must have a realistic prospect of finding suitable employment or self-employment opportunities. Factors such as the applicant's age and health will be considered in assessing their ability to meet this requirement.
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To be eligible for a UK visa, it is not necessary to be currently employed. However, you must be able to demonstrate that you are capable of working and have a genuine intention to take up employment or seek self-employment in the UK as covered above.
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It is important to provide supporting documentation, such as job offers, business plans, or evidence of relevant qualifications or experience, to demonstrate the applicant's ability and intention to work in the UK. Consulting with our immigration consultant can provide guidance on how to best meet this requirement and present a strong case to the Entry Clearance Officer. For help and assistance complete our contact form below.
Once the applicant has resided continuously in the UK for a period of five years, they become eligible for UK permanent residency, permanent residence is a form of indefinite leave to remain it's also be referred to as settlement when obtained through EU Settlement Scheme which all routes to becoming a British Citizen.
Continuous residence is assessed based on the requirements outlined in paragraph 128A(a) of the Immigration Rules. Residence is considered to be broken if the applicant has been absent from the UK for a period exceeding 180 days in any of the five consecutive 12-calendar-month periods leading up to the date of the application. If the applicant has exceeded the 180-day limit, they will not meet the requirements for continuous residence.
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For more information about general requirements for ILR visit our Post-page: Post on ILR Guidance
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However, the Home Office has the discretion to grant UK Permanent Residency outside the Immigration Rules in cases where there were excess absences due to serious or compelling reasons, such as serious illness or natural disasters. In addition to meeting the requirements for continuous residence, the applicant must also satisfy the knowledge of English language and knowledge about life in the United Kingdom, which are important components of the application for acquiring UK Permanent Residency.
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It is essential to carefully consider the requirements and provide appropriate documentation to support the application. Seeking guidance from an immigration consultant can help ensure a thorough understanding of the process and increase the chances of a successful application.
UK Ancestry visa's can only be applied for and obtained from outside the UK. If you are already in the UK on another visa category, you cannot switch into this UK family visas category. You would need to leave the UK and make the application from your home country or another country where you have residence rights to be eligible to apply from. Once your visa is granted, you can then travel to the UK and begin living and working under the terms of the UK Ancestral visa.
The earliest you can apply for a UK Ancestry visa is 3 months before your intended travel date. When you apply from outside the UK, you can generally expect to receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks. However, it's important to note that processing times may vary depending on the volume of applications and other local factors associated to the VAC (Visa processing centre) you are applying through, so it's advisable to apply as close to 3 months prior to your planned travel date to allow for any potential delays.
If your application for a family visas into UK is approved, you will have the right to work and study in the UK. You will also have the option to bring your dependant family members which including spouse visa applicants with you to the UK. As a UK Ancestry visa holder, there are generally no restrictions on the type of work you can do. You have the freedom to engage in paid employment, establish your own business, or pursue a combination of both.
If your family visas application for a UK is successful, you will be granted leave to enter for a period of 5 years. After residing in the UK continuously for 5 years, you will become eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). To qualify for ILR, you will need to provide evidence that you have been working or genuinely seeking work throughout the previous 5 years. Additionally, you must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any of the previous 5 years. If required you will need to met the English language if necessary, including Life in the UK for the ILR application.
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For more information about obtaining ILR go to our page: Indefinite Leave to Remain
For more information about Life in the UK go to our page: Life in the UK
If English is not your native language you will need to sit an SELT English language test there are 3 different language levels required on this occasion you will need to demonstrate you meet the highest level.
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SELT level A1 Test applies for Entry clearance
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SELT level A2 Test applies for Further leave to remain
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SELT level B1 Test applies for Indefinite Leave to remain
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For more information about English Language go to our page: English Language Requirements
Our immigration adviser specializes in assisting individuals worldwide with ancestry claims to acquire family visa or settlement visa for UK work purposes and after completing a 5 year qualify period acquire UK permanent residency. We offer a comprehensive range of services designed to meet your specific needs, including:
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Eligibility assessment: Our consultant will assess your unique circumstances and provide expert guidance on the likelihood of a successful UK Ancestry visa application.
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Application support: We will guide you through the entire application process, ensuring that all necessary documentation is accurately prepared and submitted within the required timeframe.
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Legal representation: In the event of a visa refusal, our immigration adviser can provide professional legal representation to challenge or resubmit your application, increasing the chances of a successful outcome.
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Compliance guidance: We will help you understand and comply with the rules and regulations associated with the UK Ancestry visa, ensuring that you meet all requirements and maintain compliance throughout your stay in the UK on an UK Ancestral visa.
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Personalized service: We take pride in delivering a personalized and client-focused approach. Our immigration consultant will work closely with you, providing clear and reliable advice tailored to your specific circumstances and needs.
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By choosing our services, you can benefit from our expertise and dedication to delivering professional and friendly immigration advice. To discuss your UK Ancestry visa requirements or use our MYG visa check service through our immigration consultant, please complete our enquiry form or contact us directly.
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MYG LTD - Immigration
79 Winchester Street
Salisbury
SP1 1HS​