Ancestry Visa
United Kingdom
Last updated: December 24, 2025
5 years (renewable)
£682
3 weeks
High
About this Visa
The UK Ancestry Visa lets Commonwealth citizens live and work in the UK if their grandparent was born there. You don't need a job offer first. You can work, study, and bring your family. This visa is special because it's easier than most UK work visas. You don't need an employer to sponsor you. You only need to prove you have UK ancestry and can support yourself financially. It's a family-based immigration route that happens to allow work, rather than a work visa that allows family.
Key Benefits
- Work anywhere without job offer
- Bring spouse, unmarried partner, and children under 18
- Free NHS healthcare after paying health surcharge
- Study any course or university degree
- Apply for permanent residency after 5 years
- Travel in and out of UK freely
- Extend visa multiple times for additional 5-year periods
Eligibility & Requirements
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be 17 or older
- Must be Commonwealth citizen
- Grandparent must be born in UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Ireland before March 31 1922
- Must show intention to work - employed, self-employed, or actively job searching
- Must have enough money to support yourself and dependents
- No unspent criminal convictions
- TB test required if lived in designated countries 6+ months
Financial Requirement
No specific minimum amount. You must prove you can support yourself and any dependents without government help. Show recent bank statements as proof.
Documents
- Valid passportMust be valid throughout visa period
- Your full birth certificateShows both parents
- Parent's full birth certificateEstablishes connection to grandparent
- Grandparent's UK birth certificateProves qualifying ancestry - most critical document
- Bank statementFrom last 31 days showing sufficient funds
- Work proofJob offer OR resume showing job search OR business plan
- TB test certificateRequired if lived in certain countries 6+ months
- Marriage certificate or cohabitation evidenceFor spouse or unmarried partner (2+ years together)
- Children's birth certificatesFor dependent children under 18
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Visa requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Please verify all information with official government sources and consult a qualified immigration attorney before making decisions.