UK Ancestry Visa
A UK Ancestry visa lets eligible Commonwealth and related citizens live and work in the UK if they can prove a grandparent was born in the UK. It costs £726 and runs for 5 years. Based on the official GOV.UK page (gov.uk/ancestry-visa), retrieved 2026-10-11.
Who can apply
You can apply for a UK Ancestry visa if you are one of the following:
- a Commonwealth citizen;
- a British overseas citizen;
- a British overseas territories citizen;
- a British national (overseas);
- a citizen of Zimbabwe.
You must also prove one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, and meet the other eligibility requirements on GOV.UK. Zimbabwe is named as a category in its own right on the official list, alongside the Commonwealth and British-national groups.
How long it takes
- The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
- You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
- You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.
Cost
A UK Ancestry visa costs £726. You may also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. The surcharge amount is not stated on this page and is not asserted here — check the current figure on the official healthcare surcharge page before you apply.
How long you can stay
You can stay in the UK for 5 years on this visa. If you have lived in the UK for 5 years on this visa, you may be able to either:
- apply to extend your visa for a further 5 years; or
- apply to settle permanently in the UK (apply for ‘indefinite leave to remain’).
What you can and cannot do
- Can: work, study, and bring your partner or child. Your work can be paid or voluntary, full-time or part-time, in self-employment or in a job where you are employed by someone else.
- Cannot: change (‘switch’) into this visa if you came to the UK on a different visa, or get public funds.
Related
Prepare the paperwork with the UK Ancestry visa documents checklist. For other UK routes see the UK visa documents checklist and the UK Overseas Domestic Worker visa checklist; for a visit, the UK Standard Visitor visa documents checklist. Verify the photo side with the UK passport photo page and the passport photo checker.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for a UK Ancestry visa?
You can apply if you are a Commonwealth citizen, a British overseas citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British national (overseas) or a citizen of Zimbabwe.
What is the grandparent rule?
You must prove one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
How much does a UK Ancestry visa cost?
It costs £726. You may also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.
How long can I stay on a UK Ancestry visa?
You can stay in the UK for 5 years on this visa. After 5 years you may be able to extend for a further 5 years or apply for indefinite leave to remain.
When should I apply for a UK Ancestry visa?
The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel. You should get a decision within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
Can I work and study on a UK Ancestry visa?
Yes. You can work (paid or voluntary, full-time or part-time, employed or self-employed) and study, and bring your partner or child. You cannot get public funds, or switch into this visa if you came on a different visa.
Source: GOV.UK, “UK Ancestry visa” (gov.uk/ancestry-visa) and its eligibility page, retrieved 2026-10-11. Rules and fees change, so confirm the current position before you apply.