Ancestry
- Ancestry visas are designed to enable commonwealth citizens with one grandparent born in the UK to come to the UK in order to work
- Applicants must demonstrate that:
- they are over 17 years of age
- they are a commonwealth citizen
- they are applying from outside the UK
- they have a job in the UK or they are genuinely intending to find a job in the UK
- they have enough money without help from public funds to support and house themselves and any dependants
- Applicants must also be able to prove that one of their grandparents:
- was born in the UK; or
- was born before 31 March 1922 in what is now the Republic of Ireland; or
- was born on a British-registered ship or aircraft
- Applicants can apply to come to the UK for an initial period of five years
- The visa allows them to work and study and family members can also accompany them
- Access to public funds is not permitted
- Applicants can apply to extend this visa for a further five years
- An application for Indefinite Leave to Remain can be made once an applicant has held an Ancestry visa for at least five years
- Applicant can apply for settlement after completing five years
- they have sufficient knowledge of English language and have passed a Life in the UK test
- Applicant has not breached UK immigration law