Quick Menu
UK Ancestry Visa
If you qualify for an Ancestry Visa you’re in a very fortunate position! An Ancestry Visa will allow you to work in the United Kingdom for a period of up to 5 years on an unrestricted basis after which time you may apply for Permanent Residence.UK Ancestry is not part of the Government’s 5 Tier Points Based System (PBS) therefore you do not have to worry about gaining points to qualify. So long as you are a Commonwealth Citizen over the age or 17 with a Grandparent born in the UK you should be fine (see Ancestry Visa Requirements below for further information).
How can Commonwealth Contractors help?
At Commonwealth Contractors we can help you to make the most out of your Ancestry Visa status if you are planning on working as a professional consultant while in the UK. As a non EEA national on a temporary UK work visa you may be able to claim more in business related expenses thereby reducing your tax liability and boosting your retention.At Commonwealth Contractors we can help to advise you on the best option available (e.g. Contractor Limited Companies are not normally a good idea for Australians due to the ‘double tax on dividends’ charged by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
For more information call now on 0800 294 4388 or Submit your Details & we will get back to you!
Ancestry Visa Requirements
To qualify for an Ancestry Visa you must be able to show that:- You are a Commonwealth Citizen
- You are aged 17 or over
- You have a Grandparent who was:
- Born in the UK, OR
- Born in the Republic of Ireland before 31st March 1922
- You are able to work AND plan to work in the UK
- You can support yourself (and your dependents) without requiring access to public funds
Ancestry Visa Application Process
To apply for an Ancestry Visa you must submit the application in your country of residence, it is not possible to ‘switch’ to an Ancestry visa whilst in the United Kingdom.Before submitting an application you should ensure that you possess all of the necessary original supporting documents required to allow a Immigration Officer to make a decision, documents include:
- Your Full original Birth Certificate
- Marriage Certificates for your Parents & Grandparents (and legal adoption papers if you or your parents are adopted)
- Full Birth Certificates of the Parent & Grandparent through whose ancestry you are making an application
- Your Marriage Certificate (or Civil Partnership document) if your husband, wife or civil partner intend to join you in the United Kingdom
Once you have prepared all necessary supporting documentation you should:
- Go to www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk & complete the Online UK Ancestry Visa Application: Please ensure that you apply under the ‘Employment (non Points-Based System)’ category, then ‘UK Ancestry’:
- Pay the Visa Application Fee (see www.ukvisas.gov.uk for current fees)
- Book a Biometric Appointment with a Visa Application Centre (VAC)
- Print off all booking confirmations & the VAF2 Employment Form
- Attend the Biometric Appointment: All applicants must provide a Full Face Digital Photo & Digital Fingerprints. Only those under 5 years old are exempt from providing Biometrics
- Submit the Ancestry Visa Application with Form VAF2, Passport, Passport Photos, Biometric Details & Full Supporting Documents (as detailed above)
