UK Ancestry Visa Application

2006-10-18

These pages explain what the Immigration Rules say about Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom and Islands (the Islands include the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man). They are only a guide and aim to answer frequently asked questions.

Note: Zimbabwean applications, with immediate effect all UK ancestry cases should be submitted via the postal route.

As a Commonwealth citizen with a grandparent born in the United Kingdom and Islands, can I come to the United Kingdom to work?

You can come to the United Kingdom to work as long as you can show that:

you are a Commonwealth citizen;
you hold a valid United Kingdom entry clearance on the basis of United Kingdom ancestry or you have previously been granted an extension of stay in this category ;
you are 17 or over;
you have a grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom and Islands;
you are able to work and you plan to do so in the United Kingdom; and
you can support and accommodate yourself and any dependants adequately without help from public funds.

You must get entry clearance for United Kingdom ancestry before you travel to the United Kingdom.

What is entry clearance?

Entry clearance is a visa or entry clearance certificate that you are given so you can travel to the United Kingdom. You must apply for entry clearance to the British Embassy, High Commission or other British Diplomatic Mission (known as British Diplomatic Posts) in the country where you live.

You can get advice about which British Diplomatic Posts can issue entry clearance from any British Diplomatic Post abroad.

You can get guidance leaflets and information about visas from UK visas. Please write to:

Visa Correspondence Section
UKvisas
London
SW1A 2AH
United Kingdom.

General enquiries: +44 (0)20 7008 8438
Application forms: +44 (0)20 7008 8308
Fax numbers: +44 (0)20 7008 8359/8361

What are public funds?

If you come to live or stay in the United Kingdom, you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without claiming certain state benefits. These are:

Income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA);
Income support;
Child tax credit
Working tax credit;
a social fund payment;
Child benefit;
Housing benefit;
Council tax benefit;
State pension credit;
Housing and homelessness assistance;
Attendance allowance;
Severe disablement allowance;
Carer's allowance;
Disability living allowance;

Can I switch to UK Ancestry if I entered the United Kingdom under a different category?

If you entered the United Kingdom under a different category and made your application for UK Ancestry before 25th October 2004 you will still be able to switch into UK Ancestry under the old rules.

But from the 25th October, 2004, you cannot switch into this category after your entry to the United Kingdom. The Home Office will now only grant you leave to remain on the basis of UK ancestry if:

you entered the United Kingdom holding an entry clearance based on your UK Ancestry; or
we have already granted you leave to remain on the basis of UK Ancestry.

Do I need a work permit?

No, you do not need a work permit.

How long can I stay?

If you arrive with a United Kingdom ancestry entry clearance you will be allowed to stay for four years.

What happens after four years?

After four years, you will be eligible to apply to live in the UK permanently as long as you continue to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules for United Kingdom ancestry and you have worked for four years continuously in the United Kingdom.

If you want to apply for indefinite leave to remain, get form SET(O).

If you are in any doubt as to which form you should use please telephone the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau on 0870 606 7766 or ask in our Ancestry Forum

You should send the completed form, by post to IND, before your permission to stay ends. The application form will give you details of all the documents you will need to send with your application and where you should send it.

If you need to travel urgently, you can apply in person at one of the Home Offices's public enquiry offices.

All documents should be originals unless you have a good reason why you cannot produce them with your application. We will not normally accept photocopies.