Applying for a UK Ancestry visa can be a confusing and time consuming process if you are unsure of how to go about it. Hopefully the following information will set you on the right path.
Of course the first step is to ensure that you qualify for this visa. You will qualify if you can show that:
- you are a Commonwealth citizen
- you are aged 17 or over
- you have a grandparent who was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
- you have a grandparent who was born in what is now the Republic of Ireland before 31 March 1922
- you are able to work and intend to do so in the UK, and
- you can support yourself and any dependants without needing any help from public funds.
If you arrive with a UK Ancestry visa, you will have permission to stay for five years. You must intend to work or look for a job in the UK before you can be considered for entry in this category.
You should include all the documents you can to show that you qualify for entry to the UK through UK Ancestry. If you do not, your application may be refused.
You should include all the documents you can to show that you qualify for entry to the UK through UK Ancestry. If you do not, your application may be refused.
As a guide, you should include:
- Your full birth certificate.
- Marriage certificates of your parents and grandparents, and legal adoption papers if you or your parents are adopted.
- The full birth certificates of the parent and grandparent through whose ancestry you are making your application.
- Your marriage certificate or civil partnership registration document, if your husband, wife or civil partner intends to join you in the UK.
In Australia you need to apply for an ancestry visa online. Visit the British High Commission, Canberra site to apply. Also, you must provide biometric information, 10-digit finger scans and a digital photograph. You need to go to a capital city or Canberra to get this done. An appointment for this procedure is made when you apply for your visa. The visa application fee is $426 per person, payable by credit card, online.
If you wish to use an agent to organise your ancestry visa a company called Visa First can help for a fee of $585. They can also apply for a NIN (National Insurance Number) on your behalf and help open a UK bank account for you for a small fee.