If you have a UK-born grandparent, you could have a direct route to live and work in the United Kingdom through the UK Ancestry Visa. It’s a popular option for Commonwealth citizens, British nationals overseas and citizens of Zimbabwe who want to reconnect with their heritage, build a career or settle long term in the UK.
You can apply if you’re a Commonwealth citizen, British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British national (overseas) or a citizen of Zimbabwe and can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man. The visa is granted for 5 years and is a clear pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and eventually British citizenship.
You must apply from outside the UK, pay a £682 visa fee, and the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year (or £776 for children). Once granted, you can live, work and study freely.
What the visa lets you do
The Ancestry Visa gives you real flexibility:
- Work in almost any role, or be self-employed.
- Study
- Travel freely in and out of the UK.
- Bring your partner and children as dependants.
Why people choose the UK Ancestry route
Unlike the Skilled Worker Visa, you don’t need to be sponsored. Unlike Family Visas, you don’t need a UK partner or relative to sponsor you. Your eligibility comes entirely from your ancestry.
Proving your ancestry
You’ll need to show a clear documentary chain linking you to your UK-born grandparent. Usually that means:
- Your full birth certificate.
- Your parent’s full birth certificate.
- Your grandparent’s full birth certificate showing a UK place of birth.
- Marriage or adoption certificates if any names changed along the way.
Showing you’ll work and support yourself
You don’t have to have a job offer in hand, but you must intend and be able to work once you arrive. Helpful evidence includes:
- An up-to-date CV.
- Recent job applications, recruiter emails or interview invitations.
- A simple business plan if you plan to work for yourself.
You’ll also need to prove you can financially support yourself by providing bank statements showing sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependants without help from public funds.
Applying from outside the UK
The whole process is online:
- Complete the application form on GOV.UK.
- Pay the visa fee (£682) and IHS (£1,035 per year).
- Upload your supporting documents or have them scanned at your VAC appointment.
- Attend your biometrics appointment (priority and super-priority options may be available).
- Wait for a decision – typically within three weeks, or faster if you pay for priority service.
- When your successful decision is received, set up your Evisa account and travel to the UK
Dependants
Your partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants. The same visa and immigration health fees apply and they will also be permitted to work and study in the UK.
Settlement and life after five years
Under the current rules, after five years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain if you:
- Have spent five continuous years in the UK (with no more than 180 days’ absence in any 12-month period).
- Are working or genuinely seeking work.
- Pass the Life in the UK and English language tests (if applicable).
Once you hold ILR, you can usually apply for British citizenship after a further 12 months, or sometimes immediately if you’re married to a British citizen.
Common pitfalls
Most refusals happen because:
- The document chain doesn’t clearly prove ancestry.
- The applicant can’t show credible plans to work.
- Financial maintenance funds aren’t properly evidenced.
- The application is mistakenly made from inside the UK.
Check your paperwork carefully and explain any gaps before you apply.
Key take-aways
- Apply from outside the UK.
- The visa lasts five years and leads to ILR.
- No job offer required, just a genuine intention to work.
- Gather a full set of certificates proving your ancestry.
- Keep clear evidence of finances and employment plans.
If you think you might qualify but aren’t sure, get in touch with our team and we’ll assess your eligibility and help you confirm whether the UK Ancestry Visa is the right route for you.