Ancestry visa guidance

Ancestry visa – key points

Ancestry visa is for Commonwealth citizens who are able to prove that one of their grandparents was born in the UK or Islands. The visa is granted for 5 years and it leads to ILR after 5 years of continuous residence in the UK on the Ancestry visa. Dependant spouse and children may apply at the same time but they may also apply later. What is more, dependants do not need to have the 5 years residence before they can apply for ILR at the same time as the Ancestry visa holder.

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Key requirements for the Ancestry visa:

‘Commonwealth Citizen’

The applicant must be a Commonwealth citizen. To meet this requirement, the applicant must be one of the following:

Age Requirement for ancestry visa

If the applicant is applying for entry clearance, they must be aged at least 17 on the date they intend to arrive in the UK.

In any Ancestry application where the applicant is aged under 18, decision maker will check they meet the parental consent requirement before they can grant it. To meet this requirement, the applicant must have written consent from:

• both of their parents
• one parent, if that parent has sole legal responsibility for the applicant, or
• their legal guardian
• The written consent must confirm support for all of the following:
• the application
• the applicant’s living and care arrangements in the UK
• if applying for entry clearance, the applicant’s travel to, and reception
• arrangements in, the UK

There is no upper age limit on the UK Ancestry route but, in all cases, the applicant must show they are able to and intend to seek and take employment.

UK-born grandparent

The applicant must be able to provide proof that one of their grandparents was born in the UK or Islands. The applicant must provide this evidence with their initial application for entry clearance and any subsequent application for entry clearance, permission to stay or settlement on the Ancestry route.

‘Grandparent” means either the applicant’s blood grandparent, or grandparent by reason of a UK recognised adoption. There is no requirement for the applicant’s relevant parent or qualifying grandparent to have been married at the time of birth. An applicant cannot qualify on this route on the basis of having a great-grandparent, or more distant ancestor, born in the UK or Islands.

Meaning of ‘born in the UK or Islands’

To meet the requirement to have been born in the UK or Islands, the applicant’s qualifying grandparent must have been born in one of the following circumstances:

If the applicant or parent was adopted

If the applicant or their parent is adopted, the applicant will meet the requirement to have a UK-born grandparent if either or both of the following apply:

• the applicant was legally adopted by someone who has a parent born in the UK or Islands
• one of the applicant’s parents was legally adopted by someone born in the UK or Islands

The adoption must be through an adoption process recognised as valid for the purposes of UK law. An applicant cannot claim UK Ancestry through step-parents where no legal adoption has taken place.

Documentary evidence of ancestry

The applicant must submit enough evidence to prove they have a grandparent born in the UK or Islands. Documentary evidence should normally include:

• the applicant’s full birth certificate showing the name of both of their parents
• the full birth certificate of the parent through whom the applicant is claiming a UK ancestry link
• the birth certificate of the relevant grandparent, clearly showing that they were born in the UK or Islands
• legal adoption papers if the applicant, or the applicant’s relevant parent, was adopted
• if the applicant, their parent or grandparent has changed their name since birth, suitable evidence of this – for example, a marriage or civil partnership
• certificate or deed poll

UK Ancestry visa work requirement

All applicants on the UK Ancestry route must be able to work and intend to seek and take employment in the UK.

The applicant does not have to be working or have a confirmed job at the time they apply. They need only demonstrate they are able to work and intend to seek and take employment. Evidence of this could include, but is not limited to:

• job offers from UK employers
• evidence of previous work history (in any country) or relevant qualifications
• evidence of applications they have made to UK employers
• evidence of registration with a UK recruitment agency
• evidence of any steps they have undertaken to improve their chances of finding work – for example, relevant training courses
• a business plan or expressions of interest from potential clients (if they intend to be self-employed)

Voluntary work

Age and disability

Although there is no upper age limit for this route, all applicants must be able and intend to work in the UK. This can include part-time and voluntary work.
The Ancestry application must not be refused solely on the grounds of age or disability, unless it is clear that the applicant does not intend to work or there is no realistic prospect of their being able to work in the future. When decision maker assess this, they will consider whether the applicant:
• has indicated that they have retired and have no intention of looking for any further work (including voluntary work)
• has a serious medical condition that would make it unrealistic for them to undertake any kind of employment (including voluntary work)

Financial requirement (ancestry visa)

Applicant must meet the financial requirement, which means that they need to have enough money to support and accommodate themselves and any family members in the UK. There is no specific figure what funds are required and it depends on the individual circumstances of the applicant.

Switching (permission to stay applications)

If the applicant is applying for permission to stay, decision maker will check that the applicant either entered the UK with a valid UK Ancestry entry clearance, or have previously been granted permission to stay on the UK Ancestry route. This includes permission granted under the UK Ancestry rules in force before 1 December 2020. If the applicant does not meet this requirement (for example, if they entered as a visitor and are applying to switch), decision maker must normally reject the application, unless discretion is justified (e.g. during lockdown due to COVID some applicants applied for Ancestry visa from inside the UK and their applications were successfull).

The UK Ancestry rules do not require the applicant’s most recent grant of permission to have been on the UK Ancestry route. For example, a person who
entered the UK with UK Ancestry entry clearance and switched to another immigration route would meet this validity requirement and be allowed to switch back
to the UK Ancestry route.

Suitability requirements for ancestry visa- ‘good character’

The decision maker must be satisfied that applicant is not subject to a refusal on the grounds relating to criminality, terrorism, etc (‘good character’).

For extension and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILRs) the decision maker must also be satisfied that the applicant is not in the UK in breach of immigration laws or on immigration bail.

Permission to stay or settlement applications

A person with permission on the UK Ancestry route does not have to be continuously employed while in the UK to qualify for further permission to stay or settlement. How decision maker considers an application will depend on whether the applicant is employed or unemployed when they apply.

If the applicant provides satisfactory evidence that they are employed (or self-employed) on the date of application, decision maker must accept that they meet the work requirement, unless they have good reason to believe that the applicant will not continue in employment.

In all cases where the applicant has had long periods of unemployment, decision maker must give particularly careful consideration to how they have supported themselves without a regular income.

If the applicant is unemployed when they apply for further permission to stay or settlement, decision maker must ask for evidence of their employment record throughout their previous 5 years on this route and of any attempts they have made, and are making, to find work (if they have not provided this information with their application). If the applicant has been unemployed for the entire 5 years, decision maker must ask them to explain the reasons for this, if they have not done so on their application form.

If decision maker is not satisfied that the applicant is able to and intends to work, they must refuse the application

Why to seek help from an expert immigration lawyer for ancestry visa application

We have extensive experience in assisting with Ancestry visas and Ancestry ILR applications. Assistance from best immigration lawyers will ensure that your application is successful first time you apply. Equally, if you applied and your Ancestry or Ancestry ILR application has been refused, and you would like to discuss the options, you can reach out to us.

Call us about any immigration matter on your mobile or dial +4402034889710.