Despite widespread publicity, it is still striking how many UK migrants are unaware of their Ancestry visa entitlements based on their place of birth or the place of birth of their ancestors. It’s thrilling and fulfilling to tell a visa applicant they qualify for an Ancestry visa.
What a UK Ancestry Visa Gives Me What?
Despite being subject to immigration control and not permanent residents, UK Ancestry visa holders enjoy substantial independence. For five years, you may live, work, study, and bring your family with an Ancestry visa. A UK Ancestry visa has several advantages over a work or study visa. You may work for any business, not only licensed sponsors. The number of possible employers increases greatly. Your number of employers, nature of job, and ability to switch employers will not be limited. There are no restrictions on combining job and education. Your work does not need to be RQF level 3 or above, and there are no minimum income restrictions.
Which restrictions apply to UK Ancestry Visa holders?
Few immigration limitations apply to UK Ancestry visa holders. You cannot apply for public funding (government benefits) unless you have permanent residence. A UK Ancestry visa cannot be switched ‘in-country’ from another visa type. In practice, this means you must leave the UK to apply for the visa.
Can I Apply for Permanent Residency with an Ancestry Visa?
Your first five-year term will expire with four options:
- Leave UK
- Change your visa type.
- Extension for Ancestry visa
- Settlement (indefinite permission to stay) is available.
Most migrants who want to stay in the UK will apply for ILR after five years. The absence of the immigration healthcare premium is a key advantage of ILR.
What Are Ancestry Visa Qualifications?
Ancestry visa eligibility has two aspects. Age and finances are the first portion; ancestry is the second.
General needs
You must be 17 and have enough money to support yourself and your family in the UK without public assistance to apply for an Ancestry visa. UK immigration laws require applicants to work and plan to work.
Ancestry needs
Ancestry visa candidates must also meet the following immigration requirements:
- Commonwealth citizens must establish they had at least one grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Ireland, or aboard a UK-registered ship or aircraft before 31 March 1922.
- You may still claim ancestry whether you or your parents were adopted if your grandparents were not married. Step-parent heritage cannot be used to qualify for a UK heritage visa. It’s best to see an immigration solicitor who can rapidly determine whether you qualify for an Ancestry visa.
Which documents do I need for my application?
Ancestry visa applications need unambiguous proof of eligibility, thus providing the right papers is crucial. Your passport, birth certificate, and parents’ and grandparents’ birth certificates are needed for application. Working in the UK requires a job offer or Global Business Mobility Visas. A bank statement indicating you can sustain yourself and your family should also be given. You may also need to provide:
- Proof of name changes, such as marriage or civil partnership certificates or deed polls, valid adoption paperwork, and tuberculosis test results if applicable.
- Your marriage certificate or civil partnership registration paperwork if your spouse wishes to join you in the UK
Wrapping Up
If you can prove your eligibility, applying for an Ancestry visa is easy. Your spouse and children under 18 must apply separately as your defendants. Good luck with your Ancestry visa application and UK life.
