UK Ancestry Visa
United Kingdom
Residency
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- Type
- Descent-linked residence
- Family line
- People with a qualifying family connection to the United Kingdom
- Core records
- Family records plus residence documents
- What to know
- Records need to clearly connect you to the qualifying person
- Duration
- Initial validity depends on the permit approval and current local rules.
- Renewal / path
- Renewal and any path to permanence depend on continued eligibility and local law.
Summary
The UK Ancestry visa is a residence route for eligible Commonwealth citizens, Zimbabwe citizens, and British nationals (overseas) who have a qualifying grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, pre-31 March 1922 Ireland, or on a qualifying UK ship or aircraft.
It is not a citizenship-by-descent route. It lets eligible applicants live and work in the UK, and it can lead to settlement after the required residence period.
Eligibility
You may be eligible if all of the following are true:
- You are 17 or older.
- You are a Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of Zimbabwe, or a British national (overseas).
- You have a qualifying biological or legally adoptive grandparent.
- That grandparent was born in the UK or Islands, pre-31 March 1922 Ireland, or on a qualifying UK ship or aircraft.
- You can and intend to work in the UK.
- You can support and house yourself and any dependants without public funds.
- If you are 17, the required parental or guardian consent can be provided.
What Counts As A Qualifying Grandparent
The grandparent must be a biological grandparent or a grandparent through an adoption recognized for UK purposes. A step-grandparent does not count unless there was a legal adoption.
A great-grandparent or older ancestor does not qualify for the UK Ancestry visa, even if they were born in the UK.
What This Route Allows
This route can allow you to live, work, study, and bring eligible dependants to the UK. It is a route to settlement if the residence, work, absence, and other requirements continue to be met.
What This Route Is Not
This is not a route for US citizens unless they also hold an eligible Commonwealth nationality, Zimbabwe citizenship, or BN(O) status. It is also not a route based on general British heritage, a great-grandparent, or a step-family connection without legal adoption.
Next Steps
- Confirm your eligible nationality status.
- Identify the qualifying grandparent and their exact place and date of birth.
- Gather full birth certificates connecting you to the parent and grandparent in the line.
- Gather adoption records if the connection depends on adoption.
- Prepare evidence that you can and intend to work in the UK.
- Prepare evidence that you can support yourself and any dependants.
- Check the current GOV.UK application, fee, healthcare surcharge, and evidence requirements before filing.