UK Ancestry Visa for Commonwealth Citizens

Commonwealth Citizens who have a grandparent who was born in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and who wish to migrate to the UK with the freedom to live and work can apply for the UK Ancestry Visa. The visa is granted for a period of five years and gives access to the entire job market without the restrictions of Tier 2 Work visa. 

Applying for UK Ancestry Visa is an option for Commonwealth citizens.

Commonwealth Citizens can stay on UK Ancestry Visa for a period of 5 years. After that period of continuous stay in the UK, you would be eligible to apply to settle in the UK permanently. In order to apply for UK Ancestry Visa, you will need to prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK. This means providing old documents, such as birth or marriage certificates. You will need to apply from outside the UK and meet all the eligibility requirements.

Qualifying criteria for UK Ancestry Visa

In order for your Ancestry Visa application to be successful:

• You will need to be aged 17 or over;
• You will need to have a grandparent who was born in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland prior to 31 March 1922;
• You can adequately support and accommodate yourself and your dependants;
• You have enough money to support and house yourself and your dependants without help from public funds;

What activities are permitted and not permitted on UK Ancestry Visa

Once your visa application is successful, you will be able to start your life in the UK. Your Ancestry visa will allow you to work, study and bring you family members to the UK. You will be able to bring your partner, your children under 18 and your child over 18 if they are currently in the UK as a dependant.

During your stay on the Ancestry visa, you would not be allowed to get public funds. You would not be able to switch into this visa if you are already in the UK on another visa, such as Tier 2 or Tier 4.

What we can do for you to ensure your UK Ancestry Visa is successful

If you are a national of one of the Commonwealth countries and you wish to come to the UK, it is best to seek legal advice to find out the options that may be available to you.  You can find the full list of Commonwealth countries here.

Our solicitors would explore your options with you and advise you on the right route. We would also consider other options with you, such as General Visit Visa if you wish to come to the UK to see friends or family or as a tourist or a Tier 5 Visa.

Requirements for UK Ancestry Visa application

You will need to provide your current passport or other valid travel document together with the required documents. You will also need to prove that you have enough money to support yourself by providing your bank statements that show the amount of your savings.

In addition, you need to submit all the documents evidencing your Ancestry such as your birth certificate, your marriage certificate if relevant and the full birth and marriage certificates of your grandparents. You might come across many difficulties during the preparation of your application and we would be happy to help you to overcome them by providing you with advice tailored to your circumstances.

Legal Advice from UK Immigration Solicitors on UK Ancestry Visa

The evidence required to support a UK Ancestry Visa application is bespoke to each case and you may wish to take legal advice when making your application. Our expert team of lawyers have extensive knowledge of making applications for Ancestry Visa. We can assist you with the preparation of your visa application and ensure that you meet all the requirements of the relevant rules. We will ensure that all key points are substantiated with documentary evidence thereby leading to a successful application and avoiding the unnecessary expense of re-submitting your application to the Home Office.

If you wish to consider your options, please call our Immigration Team so we can assess your matter and if necessary advise you of the next steps you should take in a consultation.

We are based in the legal epicentre of London, just across the road from the Royal Courts of Justice in order to ensure we get the best results for our clients.  We are minutes away from the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice and other central London courts.

If you need professional legal advice about applying for a UK Ancestry Visa please contact us for a case assessment on 02030110276. You can also reach us via our contact form.