Foreign nationals seeking to travel to the UK would generally need a valid UK visa to travel to the UK port of entry (Generally an Airport). A UK Ancestry visa is a type of visa that is issued to foreign nationals that have some kind of family connection to the UK.

Who can apply for a UK Ancestry Visa?

You can apply for the UK Ancestry visa if you fall under any of the categories below:

• a Commonwealth citizen

• a British overseas citizen

• a British overseas territories citizen

• a British national (overseas)

• a Zimbabwe citizen

Commonwealth countries

Here is a list of all the 56 Commonwealth countries across the globe:

UK Ancestry Visa Requirements

In addition to been a Commonwealth citizen, you also have to meet certain requirements to be eligible to apply for a UK Ancestry visa.

• You must be 17 years and above

• You must have enough fund to support yourself during your stay in the UK

• You can work and plan to work during your stay in the UK

Your Ancestry

To be eligible for a UK Ancestry visa, your grandparent has to be born in one of the following conditions:

• Born in the UK, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man

• Born before 31 March 1992 in what is now Ireland

• Born on a ship or aircraft that was registered in the UK or belonged to the government of the UK

You can also claim ancestry if:

• You or your parent were adopted

• Your parents or grandparents were not married

You cannot claim UK ancestry through step-parents

Required Documents

In order to successfully apply and get a UK Ancestry visa approved, you need to provide the following documents below:

• International Passport: You need to make available a valid international passport with a validity period of 6 months beyond your intended period of stay in the UK

• Birth Certificate: You need to provide your birth certificate and the birth certificate of your parent and grandparent that you based your ancestry claim on.

• Bank Account Statement: You need to provide your bank account statement for the last 6 months. This helps prove that you have enough fund to sponsor and take care of yourself in the UK

• Job Offer or Business Plan: You need to provide a job offer from a UK employer or a business plan. This helps prove that you plan working in the UK (either self-employed or employed by a UK employer).

Additional Documents

Under certain circumstances, you might be required to provide the additional documents listed below:

• Tuberculosis Test Result: You have provide your tuberculosis test result if you are from a listed country

• Marriage Certificate/Birth Certificate of Dependents: If your family members are applying together with you, then you have to prove your relationship with them. You can prove your relationship with your spouse and eligible children by providing your marriage certificate and the birth certificates of your children.

• Adoption Papers: If you or your parents are adopted, you have to make available their legal adoption papers.

• Marriage Certificate of your parents or grandparents: You have to make available the marriage certificate of your parents or grandparents. This helps prove that your parents or grandparents have had a change of name since birth.

UK Ancestry Visa Application Process

Below we have given a step by step breakdown of the UK Ancestry visa application process. Here at Schmick Travel, we have professional consultants with many years of experience in the travel industry. If you want us to assist you with your visa application, kindly get in touch with us and one of our expert consultants will be happy to assist you.

Applying from outside the UK

• Apply Online: The first step of applying for a UK Ancestry visa is to apply online.

• Biometric Submission: As part of your UK Ancestry visa application, you have to submit your biometric information (fingerprint and photo) to the UK visa application center in your home country.

What is the earliest time I can apply from outside the UK?

The earliest you can apply for a UK Ancestry visa is 3 months before you travel to the UK. You are strongly advised not to make any travel arrangements until you get a decision.

How long will it take for me to get a decision on my visa application?

If you are applying from outside the UK, you will usually get a decision on your UK Ancestry visa application within 3 weeks, except their is a complication with your application.

Applying from within the UK

The application process of a UK Ancestry visa from within the UK is practically the same with the application process from outside the UK.

• Apply Online: You have to submit your UK Ancestry visa application visa online

• Biometric Submission: After submitting your application online, you have to book an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to submit your fingerprint and photo (biometric information). You can also use the “UK Immigration: ID Check app” to upload your fingerprint and photo

What is the earliest time I can apply from within the UK?

The earliest you can apply to extend your UK Ancestry visa or switch to a UK Ancestry visa is before your current UK visa expires. You can not switch to a UK Ancestry visa if you are in the UK with the following visa categories:

• Visit visa

• Short term student visa

• Parent of a Child Student visa

• Seasonal worker visa

• Domestic worker in a private household visa

• On Immigration bail

How long will it take for me to get a decision on my visa application?

If you applying to extend your UK Ancestry visa or switching to a UK Ancestry visa from another UK visa category, you are expected to get a decision on your application within 8 weeks after your application. If you want to get a faster decision on your application, you can pay for a super priority service.

What can I do with a UK Ancestry visa?

As a UK Ancestry visa holder, you are permitted to engage in any of the activities below in the UK:

• You can study

• You can do business

• You can travel in and out of the UK

• You can work

• You can apply to settle permanently in the UK (Indefinite leave to remain)

What am I not permitted to do with a UK Ancestry visa?

As a UK Ancestry visa holder, you are not permitted to:

• Claim public fund

• Switch to a UK Ancestry visa if you entered the UK on certain UK visa categories

Can my family members join me in the UK on an Ancestry visa?

Your eligible dependents can apply to join you in the UK on an Ancestry visa. They can either apply together with you or separately. You have to prove your relationship with your partner and eligible children before they can apply to join you.

What are the requirements for my dependents to apply to join me?

In order for your dependents to apply to join you in the UK on an Ancestry visa, the following requirements below must be met:

• You must prove that you are in a civil partnership or legal marriage with your partner that is recognized in the UK

• You have to prove that you have been in a relationship for at least 2 years with your partner at the time of your application.

• You have to prove that your have been in a relationship with your partner for at least 2 years but you cannot leave together because your are working or studying at different locations or it is not permitted in your culture

• You eligible children must be living with you unless they are in a full-time study at a college or university

• Your eligible children must not be in any civil partnership or in a legal marriage

• Your eligible children must not have kids

What is the application process for my dependents?

Your dependents can apply for a UK Ancestry visa together with you or they can choose to apply separately. If they are applying separately, the application process is he same with the process you followed while applying for your own visa.

Here at Schmick Travel, we have expert consultants that will be more than happy to assist you with your Ancestry visa application process. Here, we have listed the process to follow to apply for your dependents to join you.

Application from outside the UK

• Apply Online: Your dependents have to submit their application online

• Biometric Submission: After your dependents (partner and eligible children) submits their application online, they have to book an appointment at the UK visa application center in your home country to submit their fingerprint and passport photo (biometric information). They can also utilize the “UK Immigration: ID Check” app for their identity verification.

Application from within the UK

If your dependents are applying from within the UK, they have to follow the below steps:

• Apply Online: Your dependents have to submit their application online

• Biometric Submission: After your dependents  (partner and eligible children) submits their application online, they must book an appointment at the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to submit their biometric information.

How long can it take for my dependents to get a decision on their application?

If your dependents are applying from outside the UK, it will take within 3 weeks for them to get a decision on their application. But if they are applying from within the UK to extend or switch to a UK Ancestry vis from another UK visa category that is eligible, it will take 8 weeks for them to get a decision.

How early can my dependents apply from outside the UK?

Your dependents can apply 3 months before they travel to the UK. It is highly recommended that no travel arrangements should be made, no flights should be booked, no reservation of a hotel should be made until they get a decision on their application.

How early can my dependents apply from within the UK?

If your dependents are applying from within the UK, they can apply before the expiration of their current visa. It is important to note that they must not travel outside the UK before they get a decision else their application will be withdrawn.

What visas are my dependents not allowed to switch from to an Ancestry visa?

If your dependents are already in the UK, they cannot switch to a UK Ancestry visa if they in the UK on any of the following visa categories below:

• Visit visa

• Short term student visa

• Parent of a Child student visa

• Domestic worker on a private household visa

• on Immigration bail

• Seasonal worker visa

What are my dependents permitted to do on a UK Ancestry visa?

Your dependents are allowed to engage in the following activities on a UK Ancestry visa:

• Study

• Work

• Do business

• Travel out of the UK and return

• Apply to settle permanently in the UK

What are my dependents not permitted to do on a UK Ancestry visa?

Your dependents are not allowed to claim public funds while on a UK Ancestry visa

UK Ancestry visa extension

The UK Ancestry visa has a validity period of 5 years. You and your dependents can apply to extend your Ancestry visa for further 5 years. You can extend your UK Ancestry visa as many times as you want as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

The application to extend your Ancestry visa has to be made before the expiration date of your current visa. Your family members also have to apply to extend their UK Ancestry visa. You still have to meet the requirements listed below to be able to extend your Ancestry visa.

• Still be a citizen of a commonwealth nation

• Have enough funds to support yourself and your dependents if they are also applying to extend their UK Ancestry visa

• Must be willing to work (self-employed or work for someone else)

You will usually get a decision within 8 weeks of applying to extend your UK Ancestry visa.

Cost of applying for a UK Ancestry visa

Here we have given a breakdown of how much it will cost to apply for a UK Ancestry visa:

• UK Ancestry visa: The application fee for a UK Ancestry visa is 637 pounds

• Healthcare Surcharge Fee: The UK healthcare surcharge fee for each year in the UK is 1035 pounds.

Cost of extending a UK Ancestry visa

• UK Ancestry visa extension fee: The fee to extend a UK Ancestry visa is 1,258 pounds

• Healthcare Surcharge fee: The healthcare surcharge fee for each year is 1035 pounds

Can I and my dependents apply to settle permanently in the UK?

You and your dependents can apply to settle permanently in the UK (Indefinite leave to remain) if you have lived in UK for at least 5 years on a UK Ancestry visa which also creates pathway to obtaining a UK citizenship.

Requirements for applying to settle in the UK (Indefinite leave to remain)

In order to apply for an indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you and your dependents have to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• You and your dependents must be knowledgeable in English Language

• You and your dependents must write and pass the Life in the UK Test

• You must prove that you have enough funds to support you and your dependents in the UK

• You must be willing to work or start up a business

• You must not spend more than 180 days outside the UK for each year that you lived in the UK

How early can I and my dependents apply for Indefinite leave to remain?

The earliest you and your dependents can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is 28 days before you clock 5 years in the UK. Your application might be rejected if you apply earlier than that.

What are the benefits of applying to settle permanently in the UK?

There are a lot of benefits that comes with living legally in the UK as a permanent resident. If you are in the UK on an Indefinite leave to remain, you are allowed to do any of the following below:

• Study

• Work

• Do business

• Travel out of the UK and return

• Claim public funds

• Get access to public services like healthcare, school, etc

• Apply for British Citizenship

How long does it take to get a decision for a UK Indefinite leave to remain?

You will usually get a decision for your ILR application within 6 months. you can pay 1,000 pounds to get a faster decision on your application, which is usually:

• By the end of the next working day after submitting your biometric information if your appointment is on a week day.

• By the end of two working days after submitting your biometric information if your visa appointment is at a weekend.

Cost of applying for an Indefinite leave to remain (ILR)

• Application fee: The application fee for an indefinite leave to remain is 2,885 pounds

What visa categories are not eligible for an Indefinite leave to remain (ILR)?

You cannot apply to settle in the UK (indefinite leave to remain) if you are currently in the UK on any of the visa categories listed below:

• Visit visa

• Short term student visa

• Seasonal worker visa

• Parent of a Child student visa

• Domestic worker in a private household visa

• On immigration bail

Application process for indefinite leave to remain (ILR)

The application process for an indefinite leave to remain in the UK is not a complex one. Here at Schmick Travel, we have expert consultants that will be more than happy to assist you with your application. Here we have given a step by step process of a UK indefinite leave to remain application.

• Apply Online: You have to apply for your indefinite leave to remain online

• Biometric Information: After submitting your online application, you have to book an appointment at the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) to submit your fingerprint and photo (biometric information).

You will get a decision on your application within 6 months. You can pay for a super priority service to get a faster decision on your ILR application.