Get a UK Ancestry visa

If you have a grandparent who was born in the UK, you could be eligible for an Ancestry visa, which lets you live and work in the UK.

Less admin, less stress. We'll help you apply for your visa

A UK Ancestry visa lets you live and work in the UK for up to five years, and leave and re-enter the country whenever you choose. This visa can also lead to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and thereafter British citizenship.

How to get a UK Ancestry visa

You can apply for an Ancestry visa if you:

Are a Commonwealth citizen
Have a grandparent who was born in the UK
Are 17 years or older
Will work in the UK
Are able to financially support yourself and your dependants without needing public funding

This visa allows you to bring your spouse, partner and/or dependant children with you to the UK. They will be able to stay for the same period as you. Your spouse/partner may also work without restrictions in the UK.

Applying for UK ancestry:

You must apply from within your home country. You will need to have your, your parent and your grandparents original birth certificates who hold the ancestral link.

Our offices in Melbourne can assist with applications.

Free visa assessment

Extending your Ancestry visa

If you do not meet the requirements for indefinite leave to remain after five years on the Ancestry visa, you also have the option of extending your visa. This is great if your goal is to obtain indefinite leave to remain and eventually become a UK citizen.

Indefinite leave to remain and British citizenship

Ancestry visas are valid for five years. Once you’ve lived in the UK continuously and you have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months of the last five years you may apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Once you’ve spent 12 months on ILR, you may be eligible to apply to naturalise as a British citizen.

UK visa assessment

Answer a few questions and we'll let you know if you're eligible to live and work in the UK. It takes less than five minutes and it's free of charge or obligation.

Please note: 1^st Contact Visas is a trading name of Philip Gamble and Co. Ltd. Philip Gamble and Co. Ltd is registered in the UK with the Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (OISC) under no. F201100245. Our staff based outside of the UK are not regulated by the OISC and may be involved in some client casework. However, they work to the same high standards as our UK staff and clients receive the same service regardless of which office they engage with.