What is a UK Ancestry Visa?

The UK Ancestry Visa is a unique type of visa that allows Commonwealth citizens to live and work in the UK, providing they have a grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. The visa is designed for those with a strong ancestral connection to the UK who want to live, work, or study in the UK, embracing their British heritage.

To be eligible for the UK Ancestry Visa, applicants need to demonstrate their UK ancestry, including the birth certificate of their UK-born grandparent and proof that they are a Commonwealth citizen. They must also be able to support themselves financially within the UK without recourse to public funds and show that they intend to work in the UK during their stay.

If granted, the UK Ancestry Visa allows holders to work, study, and live in the UK for up to five years, after which time they may also be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain and, in turn, British citizenship. The UK Ancestry Visa offers a unique opportunity for those with a strong ancestral connection to the UK to live and work in the country for an extended period of time. It’s a visa with far less stringent eligibility criteria than many others and one that doesn’t discriminate against you, regardless of your level of education or occupation. It’s also a visa that benefits from a clear pathway to settlement and British citizenship.

UK Ancestry Visa Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a UK Ancestry Visa, an applicant will need to meet the following requirements:

• Commonwealth Citizenship: The applicant must be a Commonwealth citizen, which includes citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and many other countries. A full list of eligible nationalities is provided further down the page.
• Ancestry Requirement: The applicant must have a grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. The grandparent must have been born before 31 March 1922 if the applicant is applying based on their grandparent’s birth in the Republic of Ireland.
• Age: The applicant must be 17 years or older.
• Financial Requirements: The applicant must be able to support themselves and any dependents financially without relying on public funds. They must prove they have enough money to support themselves in the UK.
• Intention to Work: The applicant must provide evidence of their intention to work in the UK during their stay.
• Applying from Outside the UK: The applicant must apply outside the UK.
• Health Requirement: The applicant and any dependents must produce a tuberculosis (TB) test certificate if they come from a country where TB is prevalent.

Providing you satisfy the above criteria and don’t have any adverse immigration history or criminal convictions, then you will be able to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa successfully.

Can my Family Join me in the UK with an Ancestry Visa?

Applicants for a UK Ancestry Visa are permitted to bring dependents with them to the UK. Typically, this includes spouses, unmarried/civil partners, and dependent children under 18.

Dependents on an Ancestry Visa can apply at the same time as the main applicant or at a later date. Regardless of when they apply, they will be granted the same period of leave to remain as the main applicant. Once they are in the UK, they will also enjoy the same rights and privileges as the primary visa holders, meaning dependents can also take up full-time employment.

If you’re including dependents on your UK Ancestry Visa application, you must demonstrate you can support them without recourse to public funds. Not only does this mean showing increased savings to meet the financial requirements, but you’ll also need to prove you can obtain and afford appropriate accommodation for them within the UK. You will also need to pay separate application fees for each dependant.

Further details are available in our Ancestry Dependant Visa Guide.

How to Apply for a UK Ancestry Visa

All applications for a UK Ancestry Visa must be made from your home country or a country where you are legally resident. Applications are made via an online application form, which captures personal details about you and your UK ancestral history. At the end of the online application, you’ll be prompted to pay the relevant application fees and schedule an appointment to submit your biometric information at a local visa application centre. Once you have paid the fees, you can then submit your application. On submission of your application, you’ll then need to provide your passport and other documentary evidence to support your application.

Once you’ve submitted your documents and your biometric information, a decision should be made on your Ancestry Visa application within 3 weeks. In some instances, applications can take longer if they are complex, incomplete, or if there are other factors to consider. Once your application has been fully assessed, you’ll receive an email confirming a decision has been made on your application.

UK Ancestry Visa Document Checklist

To apply for a UK Ancestry Visa, applicants must provide various documents to prove their eligibility. The exact list of documents required will vary depending on your own individual circumstances, but generally, the following documents will need to be submitted:

• Valid passport or travel document: The applicant must provide a valid passport or travel document that shows their identity, nationality, and personal details.
• UK ancestry documents: The applicant must provide documents to prove their UK ancestry, including the birth certificates of their parent(s) and grandparent(s) on which their ancestry claim is based.
• Proof of financial means: The applicant must provide evidence that they can financially support themselves and any dependents during their stay in the UK without relying on public funds. This may include bank statements and proof of any savings or investments. Note unlike other visas, there is no specific sum you need to show. However, the more funds you can prove, the better.
• Evidence you plan to work in the UK: This is the most subjective area. Most applicants provide a CV, proof of their current employment, and any prospective job roles they’ve found or potential job offers. Self-employed applicants should provide tax returns and self-employment registration documents.
• Tuberculosis test results: If the applicant is from a country requiring a tuberculosis test, they must provide evidence of having undergone a test and obtained the test clearance certificate.
• Supporting documents for dependents: Passports, marriage certificates, and birth certificates should be supplied as appropriate for any dependents you bring to the UK.
• Further supporting documents: Where any individual has been adopted or changed their name since birth, appropriate evidence will need to be supplied. Other supporting documents may also be required based on individual circumstances.

It is important to note that all documents should be original and in English or Welsh. If the documents are not in English or Welsh, they must be translated by an accredited translator.

UK Ancestry Visa Application Fees

The application fee for a UK Ancestry Visa as of 2025 is £682. In addition to the application fee, applicants must also pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee of £1,035. As the visa is granted for 5 years, a total of £5,175 will need to be paid upfront in IHS fees. Therefore, the total fees payable in 2025 for a UK Ancestry Visa will be £5,857.

If you are applying with any dependents, the following fees will apply to each dependent:

• Application fee of £682
• Immigration Health Surcharge fee of £1,035 for any adults / £776 for any children under 18 years old. Over 5 years, the IHS fees total £5,175 for adults and £3,880 for children under 18 years old.

Therefore, the total fees for adult dependents will be £5,857 and £4,562 for children under 18 years old. If you’re applying for an extension of your Ancestry visa within the UK, separate fees apply. Please refer to our Ancestry Visa Extension guide.

UK Ancestry Visa Processing Times

Processing times for the UK Ancestry Visa are much faster than for many other types of visas. Typically, decisions are returned within 3 weeks of attending your appointment at the visa application centre and submitting your biometric information. In some complex cases, a decision can take longer, but this is relatively uncommon.

If you want your application processed more quickly, it’s possible in some visa application centres to pay an additional fee for a priority service. You should check before applying to see whether this service is available in your country of application. Details on the services offered can be found through your local visa application centre.