Apply for an Ancestry Visa

If you are looking to apply for an ancestry visa to provide you with the right to live, learn, and work in the UK, Latitude Law can assist you and help you to navigate the UK immigration system.

By choosing Latitude Law, you can rest assured that you’ll be in safe hands. Our team has an unrivalled level of experience and understanding of Home Office policies, meaning that your application has the best possible chance of being successful.

Whether you’re in need of help with starting your application, you’re looking to change legal representation, or you wish to challenge a failed visa application, we will approach your case in a systematic and professional manner to generate the best outcome possible.

If you’d like to speak with us about how we can help you or a family member with your ancestry visa to live or remain in the UK, contact us today on 0044 161 234 6800, or complete our contact form and we’ll be in touch at a time that suits you.

Ancestry Visa FAQs

Who can apply for an Ancestry Visa?

You, and any dependants, could be eligible to apply for an ancestry visa if you:

  • Are a Commonwealth citizen
  • Are applying outside of the UK
  • Are able to prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK
  • Are planning to work in the UK
  • Meet the other eligibility requirements

You must be 17 or over to apply for an ancestry visa, and already have sufficient funds to house you and any dependants in the country without support from UK public funds.

The earliest you can apply for your ancestry visa is three months before you travel – the waiting time for a decision is three weeks.

If your visa application is accepted, you can stay in the UK for up to five years, and may even be able to extend this further by applying for a UK ancestry visa renewal, or by applying to settle in the UK.

How much does a UK Ancestry Visa cost?

The fee for a UK ancestry visa is £516, and an Immigration Health Surcharge will also be applied.

Who is considered a dependant?

A spouse or a partner with whom you have been cohabitating for 2 years or more, and children living in the same household under the age of 18, can all be considered dependants for the purposes of a visa application.

What supporting documents will I need to provide alongside my UK Ancestry visa application?

When you apply for a UK ancestry visa you will need to provide the following documents:

  • A valid passport or another travel document, with a blank page to put the visa
  • Proof that you have the finances required to support yourself
  • Your full birth certificate
  • If your married partner or civil partner wants to join you in the UK, you will need to provide the necessary certificates or documents
  • Valid birth certificates of the relative your ancestry claim is based on
  • Adoption papers if you are adopted
  • Proof that you are planning on working in the UK – this can be evidence of job offers you’ve received from a registered UK business, or a legitimate business plan if you are self-employed

You will also need to provide tuberculosis test results if you are traveling from a country where the test is required.

Do I need a good knowledge of the English language to apply for an Ancestry visa?

No. There is no English language requirement in this immigration category.

Can a sponsor or relative support me financially if I’m arriving through the Ancestral Route?

No – you must provide evidence that you are able to maintain and accommodate yourself without recourse to public funds.

Can I extend an Ancestry visa and if so, how long is the application process?

Your initial visa will be valid for 5 years; it is not usually necessary to apply for an ancestry visa extension unless you have not passed the Life in the UK test and cannot apply for settlement.

When can I apply for Settlement?

After 5 years’ continuous residence in this category, you can apply for settlement, which will grant you indefinite leave to stay in the UK.

What happens if my Ancestry visa is refused?

If your ancestry visa application is refused, you have a right to an administrative review of the decision – this is an internal UKVI review.

How can Latitude Law help you?

We understand that applying for a UK ancestry visa can be stressful and complicated, but it doesn’t have to be this way. With our support, we can help make the application process as understandable and simple as possible, at every step of the way.

Gaining a UK ancestry visa can often require lots of paperwork and documentation regarding your ancestors’ birthrights. We can help you compile the right documentation to help speed up the process and reduce the chances of your application being delayed or sent back for amendments.

With over a decade of experience, Latitude Law has assisted thousands of cases and helped many individuals and their families realise their ambitions of living and working in the UK.

As experts in immigration law, nationality law, and public law, we can provide a wide range of support with your visa application. Our immigration services include:

  • Working Visas
  • Spouse Visas
  • Graduate Immigration Route
  • Family Visits to the UK
  • Deportation Appeals
  • EU Settlement Scheme
  • Study in the UK
  • Naturalisation & Registration for British Citizenship
  • Refugees Support and Guidance
  • Brexit UK Immigration Guidance

If you already reside in the UK, we can help to support visa renewals, as well as assisting with the navigation of immigration issues.

No matter which stage you are at with your UK ancestry visa application, we will work tirelessly to ensure that you and your family have the best possible chances of living and working in the UK.

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Contact Us

If you are looking to begin your life here in the UK, or require assistance with a visa renewal, Latitude Law is well placed to assist you with your application and understanding.

Speak to our team of experienced solicitors today by calling 0044 161 234 6800, or fill in our contact form and we’ll get in touch at a time that’s convenient for you.

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What our clients say…

Stalled EU Settlement Scheme application

Just to thank you all for the help given with Bodil's EU Settlement Scheme application, which came through in the last few days.

A good friend of ours once said: "People do not employ lawyers because they help; they employ them because they make a difference".

I'm convinced that referral to Latitude did jolt the Home Office into progressing consideration of the application, and it made all the difference.

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Allowed Appeal

To Gemma and the team, Thank you very much for your amazing job done. You are life savers.

Four British passports

The British passports of my four children successfully reached us this week.

I wanted to thank the Latitude Law Firm for the constant professional support provided to us throughout the process. Your services have been helpful for us at each stage of the process. We would be happy to hire you again in the future for the process of my husband, and would also recommend your firm to others around us.

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate the hard work of Joel Reiss towards the successful completion of our case. His support for all of us from day 1 till the very last day has been commendable. Me and my children are very thankful to him for the smooth execution.

Looking forward to hiring the firm for our next case as well.

All content on this page was reviewed by Latitude Law and is accurate as of 11/02/2019