Ancestry Visa
5 Year visa to live and work in the UK if you have a UK born grandparent
What Is An Ancestry Visa?
The UK Ancestry Visa allows a Commonwealth Citizen to immigrate to the UK. If granted after your UK Ancestry visa application the applicant has the freedom to live and gain employment in the UK on the basis of their UK ancestral ties. Here at WM Immigration we have the knowledge, skills and experience to assist you with your Visa application. If you intend to work in the UK then this UK Ancestry visa is a great option for those that qualify.
Citizens from Commonwealth countries with a grandparent who was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man may enter the UK for a period of five years on a UK Ancestry Visa. This UK Ancestry Visa will allow you to work in any job you want with no restricts like immigrants on a Tier 2 Visa. You will have to provide evidence of your relationship, and this may require spending a lot of time searching for old marriage certificates, birth certificates, etc. Get in touch with our office and we will be able to guide you through the application process to the Home Office to ensure you get approved.
What Are The Main Criteria To Meet For An Ancestry Visa?
- You have a grandparent who was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
- You must be 17 years or older
- You need to be a Commonwealth citizen
- You are willing and able to work
- An offer of employment helps but is not necessary
- You are able to financially support and provide accommodation for yourself and any dependants without recourse to any public funding
Is There Other Ways To Qualify For An Ancestry visa?
Candidates with a Grandparent born in the Republic of Ireland, where the Grandparent was born before March 1922 will also be eligible to apply. The application can be based on your ancestry ties to any one of your four grandparents, alive or deceased. we can advise you what documents would be suitable to ensure you meet the strict Home Office immigration requirements for an Ancestry Visa.
I Don’t think I Qualify For An Ancestry Visa, Is There Any Other Options To Migrate To The UK?
If you don’t qualify for an ancestry visa you may qualify for a Tier 2 sponsored visa if you have skills and qualifications in demand. You may be able to apply for an ancestry visa despite not initially thinking your quality. It is work contacting us to check if you may qualify. This visa ties you into the same employer until you qualify for indefinite leave to remain if you intend to make the UK you place of residence. It is worth contacting us to explore your ancestry links as you may qualify for British citizenship by descent through your parents. You may also qualify for Irish Citizenship by Descent if we can establish an ancestral link.
What to consider when your application to the Home Office is approved?
- Ensure you have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge
- Make sure to keep your Ancestry evidence when in the UK for your next application
- Consider how you are going to seek employment before arriving
- Prepare to Enjoy the British culture
- Don’t forget you can work in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland
- If you are already in the UK when you apply then you will get a BRP card straightaway instead of an entry vignette before a BRP card
Ancestry Visa FAQs
What Can I Do With An Ancestry Visa?
The purpose of this visa is to provide commonwealth citizens with an ancestral link to the UK a way to work within the United Kingdom. You are free to work in whatever industry or capacity you like. The visa is granted for 5 years and if you qualify at the end you can apply to remain permanently in the UK with Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Can I Settle In The UK After Completion Of 5 Years Residence?
After five years continuous stay on a UK Ancestry Visa you may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain as long as you still meet the requirements for the Ancestry visa and you have spent five years in employment in the UK without a break. This form of Leave to Remain is also known as Permanent Residence or ILR. Once you have had ILR for 12 months you are eligible to apply for British Citizenship, which means you can become a British citizen 6 years after entering the UK.
What If I Don’t Want To Work While In The UK?
The Ancestry Visa is for those who want to come and gain employment in the UK. To qualify for settlement you will have to show evidence of economic activity during your 5 years in the UK. You can be unemployed and have gaps in your employment providing you can explain why such as that you were searching for work during this period.
Can I Work As Self-employed While In The UK?
If you have been granted an Ancestry Visa you are free to set up and work in a self-employed capacity. This could be as a Freelancer, contractor or however you see fit. Providing you are paying your taxes you will have no concerned with this type of work. You can also start your own Limited company too.
What Else Can I Do With This Visa?
You can study while in the UK on an ancestry visa. as well as gain employment in the UK. You can also bring your family members if you have a spouse, partner or children. They would come as your dependents. If you are living in the UK with this visa you can also get married without any additional immigration permissions. You can only apply for an Ancestry Visa from your home country and not from within the UK.
Is there anything else I should consider when applying for a UK ancestry visa?
You can study while in the UK on an ancestry visa. as well as gain employment in the UK. You can also bring your family members if you have a spouse, partner or children. They would come as your dependents. If you are living in the UK with this visa you can also get married without any additional immigration permissions. You can only apply from your home country and not from within the UK.
- You must show your birth certificate as you will need to submit this
- You will need to submit your parents and grand parents birth certificate
- Processing times for the visa can take up to 3 months
- You may be able to switch from another visa while in the UK
- Most people apply from outside the UK
- You can work in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Keep your original bank statements
What Tier is an Ancestry Visa?
Ancestry visas do not fall under the Points based system and is a separate visa category on its own to use for gaining employment in the UK for commonwealth nationals who have a grandparent born in the UK
How long does it take to get an ancestry visa?
The processing times vary by country and applicant but can take up to 3 months normally.
Do I qualify for an ancestry visa?
Take a look at our qualifying criteria on this page to see if you can apply via UK ancestry and work in the UK.
What happens after my visa expires?
You can decide to either extend your Ancestry visa by reapplying within the UK or you can apply for Indefinite Leave to remain which will give you permanent residence in the UK and one step closer to British citizenship.
What happens next when my visa is approved?
You can enter the UK. Then after 5 years you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Until then during your 5 year visa period you have no recourse to public funds.
Is Indefinite Leave to Remain hard to Obtain?
There are several criteria required to be met to be eligible for ILR – Indefinite leave to remain under the 5 year route.
- Completed 5 years in the UK
- Have your ancestry documents such as birth certificates
- Have an English language test or from a majority English speaking country
- Passed the Life in the UK test
- Not been out of the UK for extended periods
- If you have lived in the UK for 10 years you will also be able to apply for long Indefinite leave to remain
If you have a grand parent born in the UK and want to make a UK ancestry visa application then get in touch and we can help.
What Are You Waiting For?
To be eligible to apply for a UK under Ancestry visa you must:
- You have a grandparent who was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
- You must be 17 years or older
- You need to be a Commonwealth citizen
- You are willing and able to work
- An offer of employment helps but is not necessary
- You are able to financially support and provide accommodation for yourself and any dependants without recourse to any public funding
How We Can Help?
Here at WM Immigration we have experience in dealing with many different Immigration applications. Our expertise and professionalism will ensure you are given the correct immigration advice. We understand the stress of making your visa application and will endeavour to give you the best chance possible of success. Our company has an established reputation and will provide advice regarding of your location.
Services We Offer
- Eligibility Check
- Tailored guidance on how to meet specific requirements
- Document check
- Review of Application Forms
- Assistance with booking appointments
- Same Day Visa Representation
Visa and ILR Application Premium Service
If you don’t want to wait months for your immigration application to be processed in the UK, we can assist you in getting it processed at the Home Office Premium Service Centre. We can have you booked in for an appointment in a matter of weeks and you will get your visa approved same day. No more stressful waiting! Our experienced representatives will attend with you to ensure a smooth application.
