HomeSettlementUK Ancestry Visa
UK ancestry visa solicitors
A five-year work visa for Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK. No sponsor needed - the case rests on proving the lineage and your intention to work. Fixed-fee packages from £1,296 + VAT.
Written by Dipendra Fakira, Supervising Immigration Caseworker · Reviewed by Georgette Thomas, Principal Solicitor · Last reviewed 12 July 2026
At a glance
Home Office fee
Plus the immigration health surcharge
Length of grant
Route to indefinite leave to remain
Grandparent
Or Channel Islands / Isle of Man
Age and status
Intending to work in the UK
Home Office fees and thresholds change - check gov.uk for the current figures. We confirm them in writing when we quote you.
Who can apply
The route is open to Commonwealth citizens, British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens, British nationals (overseas) and citizens of Zimbabwe. You must be 17 or over and applying from outside the UK - you cannot switch into this route from another visa.
What you must prove
- One of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man - or before 31 March 1922 in what is now the Republic of Ireland, or on a UK-registered ship or aircraft.
- You can work and plan to work in the UK.
- You have enough money to support and house yourself and any dependants without claiming public funds.
The lineage is proved with a chain of birth and marriage certificates linking you to the grandparent. Tracking those down across countries and name changes is the part people underestimate - it is the part we do for you.
What the visa allows
A successful application gives you five years in the UK. You can work - employed or self-employed, full or part time - study, and bring your partner and children as dependants. You cannot claim public funds.
After five years you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, which makes ancestry one of the more direct routes to settling in the UK.
What it costs
| Service | Our fixed fee |
|---|---|
Full application package Lineage tracing and evidence, the work requirement, forms, submission and updates until the decision | £1,296–£2,700 + VAT |
Initial consultation We confirm whether the route is open to you | from £50 + VAT |
UK Ancestry visa - step-by-step guide
UK Ancestry visa questions
Commonwealth citizens aged 17 or over with a grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or before 31 March 1922 in what is now Ireland. You must intend to work in the UK and be able to support yourself without public funds.
You need full birth certificates showing the chain from you back to your qualifying grandparent, plus marriage certificates where surnames change. Adoption certificates and legitimation records count. Get the originals or certified copies - the Home Office does not accept online transcripts alone.
Five years in a single grant. At the end of that five years you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, provided you have been in the UK on this route and meet the ILR requirements.
You must show a genuine intention to take up work in the UK - not necessarily a specific job offer, but evidence of your ability to work and to look for work, such as skills, qualifications or a plan to be self-employed.
Yes, your partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants. They can work and study in the UK, and can apply for settlement alongside you after five years.
It counts towards indefinite leave to remain. Once you have ILR and have been resident for a further 12 months (or the concurrent qualifying period), you can apply to naturalise as British.
Birth on a British-registered ship or aircraft counts as birth in the UK for these purposes, provided the vessel or craft was registered in the UK at the time. This does come up - keep the ship or aircraft registration details.
Got a UK-born grandparent?
Book an initial consultation, from £50 + VAT. We will confirm whether the ancestry route is open to you and what documents will prove the lineage.