What you can do
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Work (including full-time, part-time, and self-employed)
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Study
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Bring dependants (partner or children)
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Settle after 5 years
What you can't do
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Switch to this visa if you entered the UK on a different visa
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Receive public funds
Requirements
Passport
You must have a valid passport.
Commonwealth citizen
You must prove that you are a Commonwealth citizen.
Ancestry
Your grandparent must have been born in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Alternatively, your grandparent was born before 31 March 1922 in what is now Ireland.
Or, your grandparent was born on a ship or aircraft which was registered in the UK or owned by the UK government.
Financial
You must prove that you can adequately maintain and accommodate yourself, and any dependants, in the UK without public funds.
Employment
You must be able to work and intend to seek and take employment in the UK.
Additional
You may require a tuberculosis test depending on the country you are applying from. You may also need to produce a criminal record certificate.
Term & Fees
An application for an ancestry visa can only be made from outside the UK.
The current application fee is £637.
You will also have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year.
Processing
The current processing time for ancestry visa applications is approximately 3 weeks.
Depending on your eligibility and which country you apply from, you may be able to pay for an enhanced service. The 'priority service' should provide you with a decision within 5 working days from the date of your biometrics appointment. The 'super priority service' is even faster, providing a decision within 1 working day.
Outcome
If your application for an ancestry visa is successful, you will receive a visa vignette inside your passport. This will confirm the length and conditions of your entry clearance. You should be given permission to enter and stay in the UK for 5 years.
If your application for an ancestry visa is refused, you will receive a refusal letter outlining the reasons. There is no right of appeal, although you will have a right to administrative review.
