UK Ancestry visa
🇬🇧 United Kingdom visas · Ancestry
What it is
For Commonwealth citizens aged 17 or over with a UK-born grandparent, allowing them to live and work in the UK for 5 years with a route to settlement.
Key facts
- Category
- Ancestry
- Duration
- 5 years per grant, extendable; settlement after 5 years
- Processing time
- 3–8 weeks
- Maximum validity
- 5 years
- Extendable
- Yes
- Path to permanent residence
- Direct route
- Dependants
- Yes
- Age
- 17 or over
- How to apply
- Online
- Health insurance
- Not required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (UK Ancestry visa (5 years))
- GBP 726
- Health surcharge
- GBP 1,035 per year
- Application fee (Extension (further 5 years, per person))
- GBP 1,407
Key requirements
- Commonwealth citizen, British overseas citizen/national, or citizen of Zimbabwe
- Aged 17 or over
- Grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man
- Able to work and intend to do so in the UK
- Sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependants
Working on this visa
Your work can be: paid or voluntary, full-time or part time, in self-employment or in a job where you're employed by someone else.
Bringing family
With a UK Ancestry visa you can: work, study, bring your partner or child.
Money you must show
You must prove that you: are 17 or over, have enough money…
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 19 July 2026.