UK Ancestry Visa

What is the UK Ancestry visa?

The Ancestry route may allow Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man to live and work in the UK for five years, with potential routes to ILR and British citizenship if requirements are met.

Who may qualify

You may qualify if you are 17 or over, a Commonwealth citizen, can prove the grandparent birth link through birth and marriage certificates, and intend to work or be self-employed in the UK.

Work without sponsorship

Unlike Skilled Worker, Ancestry does not require a Certificate of Sponsorship. You may work for any employer or be self-employed subject to visa conditions.

Grandparent lineage documents

Grandparent's full UK birth certificate, parent's birth certificate showing link, your birth certificate, and marriage certificates if surnames changed — all may need certified translations.

Intent to work

CV, job offers, business plans, or accountancy letters may show you intend to work or trade in the UK even if not yet employed on application date.

Maintenance

You must show you can maintain and accommodate yourself without recourse to public funds — bank statements or employment offers help.

How to apply

Apply online (usually from outside the UK for initial entry), upload lineage and maintenance evidence, and attend biometrics. Certificate chains must be complete — gaps often cause delays or refusals.

Costs & processing time

Visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge apply (subject to change as of 2026). Extensions and ILR later involve separate fees — we map the five-year cost profile.

Common reasons applications are refused

• Broken certificate chain proving grandparent UK birth

• Applicant not a Commonwealth citizen

• Weak or missing evidence of intent to work

• Maintenance not demonstrated

• Grandparent born outside qualifying territories

Related guidance: Ancestry Dependants, and Settlement & ILR.