What is the UK Ancestry visa?

For Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK who want to live and work here.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

The UK Ancestry visa lets some Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK live and work here for 5 years.

You must be a Commonwealth citizen (or a British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British national (overseas) or Zimbabwean citizen) aged 17 or over.
One grandparent must have been born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, or in what is now Ireland before 31 March 1922.
You must be able to work and plan to work in the UK.
It costs £726, plus the healthcare surcharge.
After 5 years you may be able to apply to settle.

Key facts

Fee: £726 plus health surcharge
Lasts 5 years
Grandparent born in the UK
Must be 17 or over

What the Ancestry visa lets you do

The UK Ancestry visa is for people from Commonwealth countries who have a family link to the UK through a grandparent. It lasts 5 years.

On this visa you can:

work, including paid, voluntary or self-employed work, full time or part time
study
bring your partner and children with you

You cannot get public funds, which means most benefits. You also cannot switch to this visa from inside the UK if you came here on a different visa.

Who can get it

You must:

be a Commonwealth citizen, British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British national (overseas), or a citizen of Zimbabwe
be 17 or over
have enough money to support and house yourself and any family without public funds
be able to work, and plan to work, in the UK

You must also show that one of your grandparents was born:

in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
in what is now Ireland, before 31 March 1922
on a ship or aircraft registered in the UK or owned by the UK government

You can still claim if you or your parent were adopted, or if your parents or grandparents were not married. You cannot claim through a step-parent.

How much it costs

Cost	Amount
Visa application (from outside the UK)	£726
Healthcare surcharge (adult)	£1,035 a year
Healthcare surcharge (under 18)	£776 a year
Extension for another 5 years	£1,407, plus surcharge
Settlement (indefinite leave to remain)	£3,226

Example: an adult applying for the full 5 years pays £726 plus £5,175 surcharge (£1,035 x 5), so £5,901 in total. A child under 18 joining them pays a surcharge of £3,880 (£776 x 5) on top of their own visa fee.

Documents you need

a current passport
your full birth certificate
full birth certificates for the parent and grandparent your claim is based on
proof you plan to work, such as a job offer or a business plan
proof of money, dated within 31 days of applying
tuberculosis test results if you come from a country where a test is needed

You may also need marriage certificates or a deed poll if names have changed, and adoption papers if relevant.

How to apply

Apply online before you travel. The earliest is 3 months before you go.
Book an appointment at a visa application centre to give your fingerprints and photo.
Upload or send your documents.
Wait for a decision. It is usually within 3 weeks. You may be able to pay for a faster decision.

You get an email with your decision, and your status is held as an eVisa.

Staying longer

After 5 years you can extend for another 5 years. The extension decision usually takes 8 weeks, and you must apply before your visa runs out.

Or you may apply to settle (indefinite leave to remain) after 5 continuous years. You can apply up to 28 days before you reach 5 years. If you are 18 to 64, you must also meet the English language rules and pass the Life in the UK Test.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Apply for an Ancestry visa

Common questions

Can I switch to an Ancestry visa from inside the UK?

No. You cannot switch into this visa if you came to the UK on a different visa. You must apply from outside the UK.

Can I claim ancestry through a step-grandparent?

No. You cannot claim UK ancestry through step-parents. You can claim it if you or your parent were adopted.

Can I get benefits on an Ancestry visa?

No. You cannot get public funds, which includes most benefits.

Official sources

1.UK Ancestry visa (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa
2.UK Ancestry visa: eligibility (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa/eligibility
3.UK Ancestry visa: indefinite leave to remain (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa/indefinite-leave-to-remain

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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