UK Ancestry visa 2026: 5 years to live and work via a British grandparent
Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK can get an Ancestry visa — 5 years, with the right to work and a route to settlement. The fee is £726.
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The UK Ancestry visa is for citizens of Commonwealth countries with roots in the UK. It gives the right to live and work here for 5 years and leads to permanent residence. For many people from Australia, Canada, South Africa, India and other Commonwealth nations it is a simpler route than work visas.
Who is eligible?
You can apply if you are a Commonwealth citizen, British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British national (overseas) or a citizen of Zimbabwe, and you can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. You must also intend to work in the UK.
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The visa is granted for 5 years. With it you can work — employed or self-employed, full or part time — and study. You can bring a partner and children. You cannot claim public funds, and you cannot switch into this visa from another — it is applied for in advance, from outside the UK.
What happens after 5 years?
After 5 years you may apply for indefinite leave to remain, or extend the visa for another 5 years. Settlement is not automatic — you must meet the requirements at the time you apply.
What does it cost and how do you apply?
The visa fee is £726. On top of that you usually pay the Immigration Health Surcharge — check the amount when you apply. You apply from outside the UK no more than 3 months before you travel; a decision usually comes within 3 weeks, and a faster decision is available for an extra fee.
What to prepare in advance
The key document is your grandparent's birth certificate showing birth in the UK, plus the chain of birth and marriage certificates linking you to that ancestor. Gather them early: it is the documentary proof of the family link that trips applicants up most often.
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