The UK Ancestry Visa is a unique immigration pathway for many Commonwealth citizens to live, work and play in the United Kingdom. Unlike the UK Working Holiday Visa, the Ancestry Visa is based on a direct family connection. That family connection being a grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom. This is the visa I had in my passport that allowed me to live and work in the UK. And in this post I am going to show you how you can unlock the UK, just like I did with an Ancestry Visa.

Disclaimer: I am not a visa professional, and cannot help you obtain this visa. You will need to apply to your nearest British High Commission or Consulate for it, just like I did.

 

What is a UK Ancestry Visa?

 

The UK Ancestry Visa is a visa available to people of the Commonwealth who have UK ancestors. Yep, if one of your grandparents was born in the UK, you may be eligible for a five-year UK Ancestry Visa. You read right, five years. This visa will allow you to live, work and study in the UK. After five years, you can either apply for a renewal or apply for settled status known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which is a step towards British citizenship (if that’s what you want).

 

Rights and Benefits under the UK Ancestry Visa

 

The UK Ancestry visa offers several rights and benefits to successful applicants:

• Right to work – One of the best things about this visa is it does not require you to have a job offer, a sponsor, or a specific skill level. However, applicants must show they can work and intend to do so during their stay. You can work in any industry or profession. There is no need for employer sponsorship, and you are free to be self-employed or start a business. 
• Study options – You may enrol in academic or vocational courses without needing additional permission. I enrolled in a few general interest night courses.
• Travel – What I loved most about living in the UK on a UK Ancestry Visa, more specifically London, was its proximity to Europe. And yes, I made good use of being allowed to travel around the United Kingdom and in and out of the UK freely. However, it should be noted prolonged absences may affect your eligibility for settlement. 
• Live – You can live anywhere in the UK. I chose to live in London as it has a good working holiday infrastructure set up.
• Family members – You may bring dependents(spouse, partner, or children). Each dependent must apply separately and pay the applicable fees. You must also show you can support them financially. I was young and single when I applied for this visa, so this didn’t apply to me at the time.

So now you know the benefits of qualifying for the UK Ancestry Visa, here are the eligibility requirements you must meet.

 

UK Ancestry Visa eligibility requirements

 

To qualify for the UK Ancestry visa, you must be:

• a citizen of a Commonwealth country. 
• at least 17 years old at the time of your application.
• able to prove that one of your grandparents was born in The United Kingdom, The Channel Islands, The Isle of Man or Ireland (if born before 31 March 1922). I provided a copy of my mother’s birth certificate that showed my grandmother was born in England.
• of biological or through legal adoption of the grandparent. Step-grandparents do not qualify.
• able to demonstrate your intention and capability to work in the UK, either through employment or self-employment.
• demonstrate you can support yourself (and any dependents) without relying on public funds.

If you believe you are eligible, then gather the following documents for your UK Ancestry Visas application.

 

Documents required for the UK Ancestry Visa Application

 

To apply for a UK Ancestry Visa applicants must submit a range of documents to prove both their eligibility and identity. These include:

• Valid passport
• Full birth certificates for yourself, your parent, and your qualifying grandparent
• Name change certificates, if any names differ across documents
• Proof of intent to work, such as a CV, job applications, or correspondence with potential employers
• Bank statements or financial records showing that you can support yourself
• Tuberculosis test certificate (only for residents of countries where this is required)

 

How to apply for the UK Ancestry Visa

 

Once you have all the documents, you can then start the application process which must be completed online before you travel to the United Kingdom. The steps to apply are:

• Step 1: Apply online. Visit the official UK government website to begin your application. Complete the online application form by providing your personal information and details of your British heritage. 
• Step 2: Upload supporting documents.
• Step 3: Pay the fees. Pay the application fee using a debit or credit card. Be prepared to also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of the process. Currently fees are (note they are in British Pounds): Visa application fee: £637, Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £624 per year (totalling £3,120 for a five-year stay). 
• Step 4: Await a decision. This is the hardest part, the waiting for a decision. Processing time for the UK Ancestry visa is typically between 3 and 8 weeks. You will be notified via email or SMS once the Home Office has made a decision on your application.

Please note prior to January 1, 2025, you needed to attend a biometric appointment to have your fingerprints and photograph obtained for your Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) card. This card would be picked up on your arrival in the UK. BRPs have now been replaced as of January 1, 2025 by an online system called eVisa, which is an online record of your immigration status. 

 

Path to Indefinite Leave to Remain and Citizenship

 

After 5 continuous years in the UK on an ancestry visa, you may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). That’s as long as you meet the following requirements:

• Spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period
• Passed the ‘Life in the UK Test’
• Met the English language requirement

Once you’ve held ILR for at least 12 months, you may then apply for British citizenship, subject to meeting all other requirements.

 

Are You Ready to Unlock the UK with an Ancestry Visa?

 

The UK Ancestry visa is an accessible immigration route for Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK or certain territories. Being allowed to live and work in the UK for 5 years with the opportunity for British citizenship is just one of the best ways to unlock the UK. It was definitely worth my while applying for this visa for all the benefits it offered. Yes, I was lucky. And you can too if you are eligible for the Ancestry Visa for the UK.