Evidence of UK Ancestry
Applicants must meet the UK Ancestry nationality, age and family connection requirements, as well as the other route conditions. The family connection is normally established through the relevant birth and marriage records, with adoption documents where applicable. Applicants must also show that they can and plan to work in the UK and can meet the applicable financial requirements.
We review the family documents and the applicant’s circumstances before confirming whether we can assist with a straightforward UK Ancestry application.
Who This Visa Is For
You may qualify for this visa category if you are:
Commonwealth citizens with at least one grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man
British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens, British Nationals (Overseas), and citizens of Zimbabwe (which remains eligible for this route despite its suspended Commonwealth membership)
Applicants whose qualifying grandparent was born in what is now the Republic of Ireland, before 31 March 1922
Applicants whose qualifying grandparent was born on a ship or aircraft registered in the UK, or belonging to the UK government
What You Can Do on This Visa
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Work in any role, for any employer, without needing sponsorship
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Switch employers freely without needing to notify the Home Office
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Start and run your own business
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Search for work after arriving in the UK, without a job offer secured in advance
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Bring a partner and dependent children as dependants
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, you must:
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Commonwealth citizenship (or one of the related nationalities above)
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You are aged 17 or over
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A qualifying grandparent, born in one of the locations set out above — the link can be through your mother's or father's line, and can be legitimate, illegitimate, or through an adoption recognised under UK law
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You genuinely intend to work in the UK — though there's no requirement for a specific job offer, minimum salary, or sector
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You can support and accommodate yourself, and any dependants, without recourse to public funds
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A TB certificate, if applying from a country on the Home Office's listed countries requiring this.
How We Help — Our Process
Free Initial Consultation
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Genealogical Evidence Gathering
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Financial Evidence
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Application Preparation & Submission
Ongoing Support
Financial Requirement
There's no fixed statutory threshold, but you must satisfy the Home Office that you can support and accommodate yourself, and any dependants, without accessing public funds. In practice, this is usually evidenced through recent bank statements showing a sustained, credible balance — the specific amount expected increases where dependants are included, and we advise on what's realistic for your circumstances rather than relying on a generic figure.
Key Facts
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Visa length: 5 years
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Can only be applied for from outside the UK — you cannot switch into this route from within the UK
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Extensions are possible from inside the UK if you continue to meet the requirements
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Settlement: you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years, and for British citizenship 12 months after that (or sooner if married to a British citizen)
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Work rights: full and unrestricted — employed, self-employed, or running your own business, in any sector