Ancestry visa UK 2025 (Documents & Requirements)

As a commonwealth citizen, you can apply for an ancestry visa UK to live and settle permanently. We can guide you through ancestry visa documents and requirements.

Under a UK ancestry visa, you may be able to apply for permanent settlement in the UK based on your family’s circumstances. You can talk to our specialist ancestry visa lawyers to learn more about our services.

Deluxe Law Chambers solely specialise in UK visas & immigration and therefore we can deal with your Ancestry visa application. The quality service provided by our immigration lawyers is self-evident from our 5-star Google Reviews.

Apply for Ancestry Visa UK

This guidance tells how to apply for entry clearance, permission to stay, or settlement on the UK Ancestry route.

Appendix UK Ancestry was introduced by Statement of Changes HC 813 and replaced the previous UK Ancestry provisions in Part 5 of the Immigration Rules. It applies to all applications for entry clearance, permission to stay, or settlement made based on UK Ancestry on or after 1 December 2020.

If you are a citizen of a Commonwealth country and one of your grandparents was born in the UK, you may be eligible for a five-year UK Ancestry Visa.

Ancestry visa UK

Definition Of Commonwealth Citizen

A Commonwealth citizen is a citizen or qualified national of a Commonwealth of Nations member state.

The definition of ‘Commonwealth citizen’ has been amended in line with the revised definition in paragraph 6.2 of the Immigration Rules (Statement of Changes HC 1248) to include British Overseas Territories citizens, British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas citizens and British subjects. The previous definition (both in the Rules and in this guidance) inadvertently excluded such British nationals.

What is the UK Ancestry route?

The UK Ancestry route allows Commonwealth citizens who can prove they have a grandparent born in the UK or Islands to live and work in the UK. Applicants must be aged at least 17 on the date of their intended arrival in the UK. There is no upper age limit for this route.

UK Ancestry Visa eligibility requirements

To obtain an Ancestry Visa UK, you must prove that you:

  • are 17 or over
  • have enough money without help from public funds to support and house yourself and any dependants
  • can and plan to work in the UK
  • you must be a Commonwealth citizen, British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, a British national (overseas), or a citizen of Zimbabwe

Applications Under Ancestry Visa UK

Our specialist ancestry visa UK lawyers can help you with the following application under Ancestry visa route:

  • entry clearance or permission to stay as a person with UK Ancestry
  • settlement as a person with UK Ancestry
  • entry clearance or permission to stay for dependants • settlement for dependants

Documents you must provide

You will need to submit these documents in addition to any other documents:

  • valid passport
  • full birth certificate
  • the full birth certificates of the parent and grandparent your ancestry claim is based on
  • evidence that you’re planning to work in the UK
  • evidence that you have sufficient money to support yourself in the UK

Your ancestry

You must show that you have a grandparent born in one of the following circumstances:

  • in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
  • before 31 March 1922 in what is now Ireland
  • on a ship or aircraft that was either registered in the UK or belonged to the UK government

You cannot claim UK ancestry through step-parents.

uk ancestry visa cost

Ancestry visa UK costs £531.

How deluxe law chambers can help?

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How long you can stay on Ancestry visa UK?

You can stay in the UK for 5 years on this visa.

Can I bring my family with me on an Ancestry visa UK?

Yes, you can bring your dependent family members with you on an Ancestry visa. This includes your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and children under the age of 18.

Can I work freely in the UK on an Ancestry visa?

Yes, an Ancestry visa allows you to work in the UK without any restrictions, including self-employment. You can seek employment or start your own business during your stay in the UK.

Can I apply for British citizenship with an Ancestry visa?

Yes, you can apply for British citizenship after living in the UK on an Ancestry visa for at least 5 years. This requires meeting certain residency and other criteria set by the UK Home Office.