UK Ancestry Visa
In this Ancestry visa guidance we’ll elaborate on what the British Ancestry visa is, who is eligible to apply for it, and how you can do it. Besides, a few handful tips will be included to make the process quicker and smoother for you.
What is an Ancestry Visa?
The British Ancestral visa is a document that enables an individual with at least one grandparent who was born on the United Kingdom’s territory to be in the country legally. It doesn’t just provide you with a right to stay on British soil, but also gives you permission to study or get employment.
You can also claim the Ancestral visa if your parents were adopted by the British citizen(s). However, you cannot initiate this procedure if you are an adopted child yourself.
Ancestry Visa Requirements
There’s a strict set of rules that all applicants have to follow before applying for the Ancestry visa. We’ll quickly review each one of them:
- Age. For starters, a candidate for the UK heritage visa should be at least 17 or older.
- Citizenship. Your initial citizenship should be attributed to one of the Commonwealth countries or Zimbabwe. Additionally, you can be a British overseas citizen (that includes British overseas territories).
- Grandparents legal status. Either your grandfather or grandmother must be born in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, or on the territory of Ireland before 31 March 1922.
- Additionally, if at least one of your grandparents was born on a ship/aircraft officially registered in Britain, you can also qualify.
Commonwealth citizenship implies that you should be from one of the countries belonging to that union: Antigua and Barbuda, Botswana, Cameroon, Jamaica, India, and others.
An overseas citizen status denotes a person from Hong Kong born on or after 1 July 1997 or a stateless individual – someone who is not recognised by any country whatsoever. The stateless people have to meet additional requirements.
A British overseas territories citizen is recognized if he or she held the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) citizenship on 31 December 1982 or later.
How to Apply for an Ancestry Visa?
To apply for the UK Ancestry visa, you also should meet the additional eligibility requirements. Among them are:
- Application. The application should be made outside the United Kingdom. If at the time of the procedure you are in Britain, it will be automatically discarded.
- Funding. A candidate making an Ancestry visa application should have enough money to provide for themselves, their dependents, and also to cover all legal fees. You should also be able to afford housing on British territory. It’s forbidden to use public funds for any of those purposes.
- Work. You are expected to prove that you’re capable of working and plan to do so once you arrive in the UK.
Once the requirements are met, you will initiate the application process. Here’s what it looks like.
- Fill out the form on the official website. This should be done at least 3 months prior to your visit to the UK. Dependants, if any, are obliged to make their own applications separately
- Provide documents. Upload the digital copies of the required legal papers.
- Fees. You must cover the application fees.
- Visa center. Then you should get registered at a certified visa application center (VAC) to confirm your identity. For that you will need your and your family members’ ID documents.
- In turn, your biometric data will be recorded at the VAC – this info will be put in your biometric residence permit (BRP).
The Ancestry visa processing time is approximately three weeks. Each applicant has the right to consider his application on a priority basis. It will cost him £1,000. The amount is not included in the Ancestry visa UK cost.
Ancestry Visa Documents Checklist
To make a successful application you need to make sure that all UK Ancestry visa documents are in place Here’s a thorough overview of the legal papers that you’ll need:
- Your documents. Passport issued by your country of residence and the birth certificate to prove your age.
- Ancestry evidence. Birth certificates, adoption papers, or other documents to prove the nationality of your parents and grandparents.
- Work intentions. You should provide documents that confirm your professional qualification, have a job offer made by a British employer, or an approved business plan if you intend to launch your own enterprise in the country. Being self-employed – the freelance worker status – is also accepted.
- Proof of funds. This is necessary to verify that you have enough money to cover your and your dependants’ needs. Such documents include bank statements, job offers issued by the UK employers, evidence of a legal income, or documents that show some assets/property capable of generating regular income for you. All of the financial documents that you provide cannot be older than 31 days starting from the submission day.
- Tuberculosis test (TB test). This is required for the people living in Cameroon, Botswana, and some other countries listed on the government’s website.
- Marriage documents. If you are married, then a marriage certificate or a declaration of a civil partnership are demanded.
Gathering all of the mentioned records is an arduous task. In some cases – depending on your nationality – it can end up with a costly bureaucracy run. If you’re worried you can miss important details, it’d be a better idea to outsource the process to the specialists.
Conditions of Stay for an Ancestry Visa
If your application has been successful, you can relocate to the United Kingdom. While living there, you can study, work, or invite the allowed family members. What you cannot do is:
- Switching to another type of visa.
- Being engaged in any illegal activities.
- Spending more than 180 days during a 5 year period outside the UK.
- Requesting financial relief from the country’s public funds.
How Much Does an Ancestry Visa Cost?
The application fee for an Ancestry Visa is £637. Additionally, you’ll need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which grants you access to the National Health Service (NHS). The IHS is £1,035 per year for each adult and £776 per year for those under 18. Be prepared for other potential costs, such as those for obtaining required documents or translations.
How Long Does an Ancestry Visa Last?
The Ancestral visa is valid for 5 years. During this time you can enrol at a British school or get hired without any restriction.
Before it expires, you have options to:
- Extend the Ancestry visa. Apply for an extension if you continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
- Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. After five years of continuous residence, you may be eligible for ILR, allowing you to live in the UK indefinitely.
Can I Bring My Partner and Dependants to the UK?
Yes, you can bring your partner and dependent children under 18 years old to the UK. Each dependant must apply separately and pay the visa fee and IHS. You’ll need to demonstrate that you can support them financially without accessing public funds.
As stated by the UK’s government, the dependant family members are:
- Partner. It can be either your legally acknowledged spouse or a significant other: girlfriend or boyfriend. If you’re married then you will need documents that prove your marriage, plus they should be officially recognised by the British law. If you are just partners who are not in the civil union, then it’s necessary to prove that either a) You have been living together for at least 2 years b) You have been in a serious relationship for the same period of time. In this case, the prof includes pictures taken together, regular communication via phone calls or chatting, gifts, financial support, knowledge of each other, and so on.
- Children. Children under 18 are also allowed to be taken with you by the UK Ancestry visa. It is dictated that a child should live with you unless it’s impossible due to your education. They also should have no children of their own, and you must be their sole sponsor. As mentioned in the UK Ancestry visa financial requirements – no relief can be provided to them from the public funds.
Does a UK Ancestry Visa Lead to Settlement?
If you’ve met all the criteria of staying in the country, you can fully qualify for the Indefinite Leave to Remain. With the ILR status you can access the public health system, receive financial support from the government, and travel outside the country without any limitations. Eventually, after just one year spent in the ILR status, you can apply for British citizenship.
How Can We Help?
Navigating the UK immigration system can be complex and time-consuming. Professional legal assistance can significantly enhance the likelihood of a successful application. Sterling Law’s legal experts can:
- Determine if you meet all the criteria for the Ancestry visa.
- Help you gather and organise the necessary documents to support your application.
- Provide step-by-step assistance throughout the application process.
- Advise on any complications or issues that may arise during the application.
Seeking professional advice ensures that your application is thorough and complies with all legal requirements, reducing the risk of delays or refusals.