Ancestry Visa
An Ancestry Visa is a pretty simple visa application compared for instance to the points-based Tier 1 and Tier 2 visa and allows citizens from Commonwealth countries to live and work in the UK provided they have British-born grandparents and meet certain criteria.
With an ancestry visa, you are free to enter the UK without restrictions, may take up employment, start a business or work as an independent contractor, unlike a Work Permit, which carries certain restricitons. Better yet, after 5 years of uninterrupted residency and are able to show ability and intent of employment in the UK, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), as long as you still meet the original requirements and have not been out of the country for longer than permitted.
Qualifying Criteria for an Ancestry Visa
- You must be a citizen of a Commmonwelath country and must apply from that country.
- You must be older than 17 years.
- You must be able to prove that you have a grandparent born in the UK (or the Republic of Ireland before March 31, 1922)
- It will help if you have a firm job offer. If not, you must show that you are willing and able to work in the UK.
- You must be able to prove that you have the funds available to support yourself and any dependants.
- You must have all the necessary documentation, including:
– Your birth certificate
– The birth certificates of the relevant parent and grandparent
– The marriage certificates of the relevant parent and grandparent
– Your marriage certificate, if you’re married
– Adoption papers, if you or any relevant member of your family is adopted.
Any questions?
See our Ancestry Visa forum
More about the Ancestry visa
If you would like to find out more, please visit www.1stcontactvisas.com. Alternatively you could call 0808 141 5508 (UK), 0800 003 163 (SA) or 1800 039 300 (Australia) to speak to a friendly and qualified 1st Contact visa consultant.
