Ancestry Visa

This Visa category is officially known as the, "Five Year UK Ancestry Employment Visa."

An application for an Ancestry Visa is considered on the basis that you have a grandparent born within the shores of the United Kingdom. You must be a Commonwealth citizen and over the age of 17 years in order to be considered for this Visa.

If you or a parent were adopted you may still be eligible to apply, given that there is reasonable proof to show the lineage from your grandparent to you.

An application may be considered via any one of the four grandparents, alive or deceased, who were born in the UK.

The visa is not considered for those applicants who had a great-grandparent born in the UK. This relation is too far removed for the purposes of the visa application.

As of October 2004 it is no longer possible to apply for an Ancestry Visa whilst in the UK, regardless of current visa status. Therefore in any case if you are eligible for United Kingdom Ancestry an application must be lodged via entry clearance from your home country.

If you are currently in the UK and wish to apply we may still be able to advise you, and assist with the application details before you return to your home country to apply via entry clearance.

The Visa is issued for a period of Five Years and during that time you may work without restriction, employed or self-employed. You may also freely exit and re-enter the UK multiple times.

One month before your Ancestry Visa expires, it may be possible to apply for "Indefinite Leave to Remain," (ILR). This status is often referred to as "Full Residency," or, "Permanent Residency." ILR allows the holder to remain in the UK for an indefinite period.

If you have any queries regarding the Five Year UK Ancestry Employment Visa, then please do not hesitate to contact our consultants who will be most happy to advise you.