Table Of Contents:
- What is UK Ancestry Visa
- Do you qualify for a UK Ancestry Visa in 2025
- Applying to extend a UK Ancestry Visa
- Your partner and children can also apply as your ‘dependants’
- They cannot apply to switch to a UK ancestry visa if they’re currently in the UK
- Let’s Summarize
Commonwealth citizens with ancestral links to the UK can apply for an ancestry visa to get the right to live and work in the UK on a long-term basis. The UK Ancestry Visa is one of the most unique and best routes to live, work in the United Kingdom without restrictions. This visa could be open to you if one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man.
This visa is a pathway to settlement in the UK followed by British citizenship.
What is UK Ancestry Visa?
An ancestry visa is a visa that is issued by the Home Office to Commonwealth citizens with strong ancestral connections to the UK. Ancestral connection means one of their grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man.
This is essentially a visa that allows a Commonwealth citizen with qualifying ancestral connections to the UK to live and work in the UK initially for a period of 5 years.
There are generally no restrictions as to the type of work successful ancestry visa applicants can undertake. Effectively, you can carry out any type of work (for example, full-time or part-time, in self-employment, or in a job) in the UK at any skill level.
Do you qualify for a UK Ancestry Visa in 2025?
To qualify for a UK ancestry visa in 2025, you will be required to meet the age and nationality requirements, the ancestral connection to the UK requirements, the maintenance requirements, and the intention to work in the UK requirements.
Let us see these eligibility requirements step by step.
1. Age & Citizenship Requirements
On the date of application, you must be 17 or over and one of the following:
• A Commonwealth (such as Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, and many other countries) Citizen
• A British Overseas Citizen
• A British Overseas Territories Citizen
• A British National (Overseas)
• A Zimbabwe Citizen
2. Ancestry Requirements
You must prove to the Home Office that one of your grandparents was born;
• In the UK (United Kingdom), the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man
• In what is now Ireland before 31 March 1922
• On an aircraft or ship that was either registered in the UK or belonged to the UK government
One can claim ancestry if:
• They or their relevant parent was adopted
• Their parents or grandparents were not married
Claiming UK ancestry through step-parents is not permitted.
You will also not be eligible for an Ancestry visa if the birth of your grandparent took place in a British colony or a military base overseas.
To support the ancestry claim, you will be required to submit the full birth certificates of the parent and grandparent your ancestry claim is based on.
3. Financial Requirement
Even though there is no specific minimum financial threshold to be met, you must prove that you have enough money to support and accommodate yourself and any dependents in the UK without any help from public funds. To satisfy the financial requirement, you will be required to provide evidence, such as bank statements, that proves you can support yourself and any dependents in the UK. The evidence must be dated within 31 days from when you submit your application.
4. Intention to Work Requirement
When we talk about meeting the work requirement, you do not have to be working when you apply to be eligible for a UK Ancestry visa, although you must have the intention and ability to work in the UK. This essentially means that you must be able to demonstrate that you genuinely intend to work in the UK and you have a realistic chance of finding work.
You should include evidence of your planning to work in the UK, for example, a business plan if you’re self-employed, or job offers you’ve received.
5. Health Requirement (If Applicable)
The applicant and any dependents must produce a TB (Tuberculosis) test certificate if they are from a country where they have to take a TB test.
Applying to extend a UK Ancestry Visa
One can apply for an Ancestry visa extension to stay in the UK for a further 5 years. They must apply for it before their current visa expires.
One can extend this visa as many times as they wish, as long as they still meet the eligibility criteria.
The applicant must not travel outside of the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or Ireland until they receive a decision from the Office. If they do, their application will be withdrawn.
Your partner and children can also apply as your ‘dependants’
Your partner and children (if eligible) can apply to join you in the UK as your ‘dependants’.
A ‘dependant’ is any of the following:
• A spouse or partner
• A child aged under 18
• A child aged over 18 or over who was previously on either your or your partner’s visa as a dependant
You’ll need to submit evidence of your relationship with your partner and children when you apply.
They cannot apply to switch to a UK ancestry visa if they’re currently in the UK
• On a UK visitor visa
• on a UK Short-term Study Visa
• On a UK Parent of a Child Student Visa
• On a UK Seasonal Worker Visa
• On a UK Domestic Worker in a Private Household Visa
• On Immigration Bail
• Because they were given leave to remain outside the Immigration rules, for example, on compassionate grounds
If they’re in one of the categories mentioned above, they will have to leave the UK first and then apply for a UK Ancestry visa from overseas.
Your partner or child who is currently in the UK on a UK Student visa can only switch to an Ancestry visa if they have either:
• Completed the course of study they were sponsored for
• Studied for a PhD for at least two years
Let’s Summarize
The UK Ancestry Visa provides a unique pathway for those with ancestral links to the United Kingdom to be able to live and work in the country. This visa route is especially designed for Commonwealth citizens who can show their lineage to the UK. For this, they need to show that one of their grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man.
While the visa offers several benefits, including the potential route to indefinite leave to remain (also known as ‘settlement’) and British citizenship, applicants must be prepared to prove their eligibility by providing extensive and specific documentation.
Read Other Blogs:
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How to Apply for a UK Ancestry Visa
Navigating the UK’s New Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) Scheme