Category: UK Working Visa’s

Whilst the ancestry visa relies on having a British grandparent, if you have a British parent then you might be eligible to apply for a ‘right of abode’. Essentially as the child of a British citizen, you have the right to permanent residency. This is a right you inherited at birth. However, to be able to clear customs and live in the UK you’ll need to prove this. You do this by applying for a ‘certificate of entitlement’.

Disclaimer: This is based on Laura’s experience applying for a right of abode certificate of entitlement from Australia and again from within the UK. The steps are applicable to Australians, so please double check the lodgement process in your own area. You should seek professional advice if you are unsure. Go to GOV UK to check if there have been any changes to the visa rule & fees. 

Before You Start

Firstly you’ll need to have at least one parent who was born in the UK and was a citizen of the UK and its colonies when you were born or adopted. You’ll also need to be a citizen of a Commonwealth country yourself.

This method of entry into the UK best serves those who were born before 1983 and who are claiming their rights through their mother’s side. Those born after 1983 automatically become citizens and require a different process.

Visa Cost

The certificate of entitlement costs £321 within the UK. Unlike an ancestry visa, youth mobility or sponsorship there is no NHS fee to be paid, which could be a considerable saving if you are planning on remaining in the UK for an extended period. Your certificate is also valid for the duration of your passport.

I would highly recommend renewing your passport prior to making an application for your certificate of entitlement as overseas embassies tend to process applications faster (2 weeks in Australia for me versus 5 months when reapplying in the UK). You will also have to reapply and pay the full cost again, it doesn’t roll over to your new passport.

Criteria

You have right of abode if all the following apply:

• If you are a British citizen
• One of your parents was born in the UK and a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies when you were born or adopted
• You were a Commonwealth citizen on 31 December 1982
• You didn’t stop being a Commonwealth citizen (even temporarily) at any point after 31 December 1982
• A female Commonwealth citizen who is, or has been, married to a man with the right of abode at any time before 31 December 1982
• a UK and Colonies (CUKC) woman who is, or has been, married to a man with right of abode at any time before 31 December 1982.

Documentation Required

The documents you require for your application are:

• Evidence of employment in the UK (if applicable)
• Financial evidence – bank statements, term deposit statements etc.
• Letter of invitation from a British citizen living in the UK (not mandatory, but preferential)
• Proof of relationship documents – your birth certificate, your mother’s birth certificate (grandparents are not required)
• Evidence of accommodation upon arrival (this can be a hotel booking or your referee in their letter of invitation can state that you are staying with them, even if this is not a long-term arrangement).

If this is not your first time applying, the process will be slightly different from within the UK and you will also have to send your expired passport as well as your new passport to prove you’ve previously had a certificate of entitlement. You are unable to have two current certificates in two documents at the same time.

Application Process

An electronic application process has recently been introduced, which saves you having to send all of your original documents to be processed via post. First, you’ll need to create your application using the Gov.UK website. Once this is complete, you will then need to book an appointment at a visa application centre, which will generally be in your capital city.

The process is as follows:

• All documents must be A4 size.
• You must separate your documents which will allow the barcode scanners to sort your paperwork correctly.
• Any documents which are smaller or larger than A4 size, must be photocopied onto A4 sized paper. This includes the pages of any previous passports.
• All documents must be free from any staples, clips or pins before they are submitted.
• Torn, crumpled or heavily creased documents cannot be scanned and therefore must be photocopied onto A4 sized paper before they are submitted.
• Documents should not be laminated

Once you have scanned in your documents, you will then record your biometric data (photograph and inkless fingerprints). You can then choose whether you’d like to collect your documents in person at the visa application centre or have them delivered to you by post. Generally, this will just be your passport.

The Benefits

In addition to the cost benefits, a right of abode application doesn’t expire. You are also treated like a British Citizen (because by rights or descent you are!) so you can complete customs like a local (you can’t quite use the eGates yet as you’ve got a foreign passport). This also means you won’t receive a stamp in your passport when you re-enter the country.  If you chose, you can apply for British citizenship and a British passport immediately, and not have to wait like if you were on an ancestry visa. Please note though that if you apply for citizenship via application rather than by staying in the country the required time, you won’t be able to pass your ancestry on to any children. Nonetheless, your children will still be able to obtain an ancestry visa through your parent (their grandparent).

About Laura from Passport Collective

Laura is an Australian primary school teacher who has just spent 2 years teaching in the UK. Which has given her many opportunities to see the world, and hopes to encourage others to undertake their own adventures. Follow her adventure on Passport Collective, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

If you were born in a Commonwealth country, chances are that you have ancestral ties to the United Kingdom (UK). If it were your grandparent/s that were born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man you may be eligible for UK Ancestry visa.

The visa allows you to work and live in the UK for an initial 5-year period. Not only does this visa cover you moving to the UK, but this visa can be extended to your family members or dependants (including unmarried and same-sex partners).

Disclaimer: This is based on my experience (I’m not a lawyer or immigration advisor) and you should seek professional legal advice if you are unsure. Go to GOV UK to check if there have been any changes to the visa rule & fees.

UK Ancestry Visa Criteria

The UK Ancestry visa is quite simple and only has 5 requirements. If you are:

• Commonwealth citizen.
• Age 17 or older.
• Can and intend to work in the UK.
• Can adequately support and accommodate yourself.

And… As mentioned above, show your UK ancestral ties and provide proof that at least one of your grandparents was born:

• In the UK (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man).
• Before 31 March 1922 in what is now the Republic of Ireland.
• On a British-registered ship or aircraft.

UK Ancestry doesn’t apply for generations before your grandparents, so if your ancestral heritage was your great grandma that was born in the UK then you would NOT be eligible to apply. If one of your parents was born in the UK to see the article on applying for your ‘Right to Abode’ or alternatively you can apply for a UK passport.

Before you start applying

The earliest you can apply is three months before you plan to leave. Allow at least five to six weeks for the application process.

As you required to fork out a lot of money to pay for the visa, IHS fee and have savings to support the visa application, I suggest you start the saving process as far in advance as you can.

I finally put together my UK Ancestry Application and explanation around the questions! Make sure you head over to get the details. 

Not sure what else you need to organise before you move? Be sure to visit my list of things to organise before moving to the UK.

UK Ancestry visa financial requirements

When I applied for my UK Ancestry visa application I was told that I needed to provide 3 months of bank statements showing that I had more than £1,600 in my account.

The GOV.UK website no longer specifies what the financial requirements are to meet the UK Ancestry visa. This is frustrating when you are trying to plan to save and provide the right evidence to be successful.

However, you should have savings in your bank account for at least 3 months before applying.

Visa Cost

The UK has now added an extra NHS charge to all nationalities applying for UK visa and this is an extra £624 per year. As the UK Ancestry visa is valid for 5 years the total cost will be £3,120 for the NHS fees plus the normal fee of £516.

Check here for the latest fees.

Applying Yourself or Using a Company for Your UK Ancestry Visa?

At the time I applied for my visa the application appeared complicated and I didn’t want to muck it up, so I found a company to help me. I used Visa First, filled out the questionnaire and sent it off with all the relevant documents.

Since going through the process with a company and learning about the application it turns out it was easy! When my sister decided she was moving over I quickly and successfully helped her with the application.

My advice is not to let the forms scare you! It is an easy process.

Still keen on using a company then I would recommend using my friends at Britbound.

Just to give you an extra bonus to start your adventure, Sarah at Britbound is giving you 10% off visa package! Just use the code KATSGONEGLOBAL.

Do I Need Original Documents for my UK Ancestry Application?

I find lots of threads asking whether the documents must be originals or copies can be supplied. Personally, I always provide originals for my application just in case they wish to see the originals and I did provide original documents for this application.

Only a few application centres require you to post your documentation and generally handed back to you on the day so there is less risk of these being lost in transit.

I have known people to provide copies of their documents and be successful. Additionally, others that have had a justice of the peace verify the documents are genuine.

In UK Ancestry document it says that documents must look genuine and that originals must be provided when translated.

Documentation Required for Ancestry Visa Application

Recently I got my hands on the latest checklist of evidence you may require for your application. I’m so excited to be able to share this with you!

All documents provided with an application must be in English which will need a full translation that has been independently verified. 

Please note this should be tailored to your application and the answers you provide. If you are unsure please check with UKVI or look at a company like Britbound to help you out.

Passport, Identity and Residency 

• Valid Passport or travel document.
• Evidence of your permission to be in the country where you are applying from, if you are not a national of that country i.e. a valid visa or a VEVO printout or letter from DIBP (based on Australian residency).
• Other identification documents i.e birth certificate or national identity card.

Evidence of Current Employment or Studies 

• If you are currently employed, evidence of your employment and the total income stated on the application form like a letter from your employer, payslips, tax returns/ business registration documents and business bank account statements. I included my employment contract to support employment and finances. 
• If you are studying then evidence to support this like a letter from your university or school and other proofs of studies. 
• If you were previously studying then evidence of qualifications obtained like a certificate of award, academic reference or transcripts. I didn’t provide any of my qualifications but I know recent applicants that have, for example, documents to support they are an Australian Account. 

Evidence of Finances

• Evidence to meet the cost of the trip and monthly income, as stated on the application form, for example, if someone is paying for you then you need bank statements of the person paying for the trip, providing maintenance to the applicant in the UK or if it’s you paying then your own personal accounts to support this (which you should have anyway 🙂 with the below bullet).  
• A bank statement which meets the requirements as stated in the points-based policy guidance relating to your UK Ancestry application. 

I provided three months of bank statements. Bank statements should be printed on branch-specific letterhead with the contact info for the branch where it was printed.

If not, each statement should be stamped and/or signed. If they won’t do that, a letter from a branch manager confirming their authenticity and correctness will suffice.

Evidence of Property and Assets

• If you own any property or assets then you will need either mortgage statements, property deeds, tenancy agreements, accountants letters or land registration documents.  

Evidence of Travel, UK Accommodation or Sponsorship 

• Evidence of your travel arrangements so flights, accommodation bookings or travel agent documents. 
• If you have a UK sponsor then you will need a letter of invitation from the sponsor, evidence of the UK immigration status, evidence of the sponsors accommodation and finances. So basically passport/visa’s, bank statement and tenancy agreements or mortgage.   

Evidence of Intent to Work

• Resume/ CV (to prove that you can and intend to work in the UK)
• Other evidence to consider:
  • Printouts of registration emails from UK job sites e.g. Reed, London Jobs, Indeed.
  • Communication with recruitment agencies.
  • Job Applications. 

Just to note you don’t need to secure a job before applying for the Ancestry Visa. The requirement is that you only need to show the intent to work which is why I used my resume as supporting information. 

Evidence of UK Ancestry 

• The birth certificate of your parent (only the parent of the grandparent you’re applying through).
• The birth certificate of your grandparent.
• Marriage certificate (to support heritage if unclear).

If your UK Ancestry is easy to identify via the birth certificate then you will only need to provide the birth certificates, for example:

• Your current surname matches your parents’ name on their birth certificate
• On your grandparent, you can track your parents’ connection with their maiden name or surname.

If you can’t track the ancestry via the birth certificates then you will need to provide marriage certificates or adoption papers to prove the requirement. 

I remember being a bit bewildered at all the documents required and had originally thought I needed to get my mum’s birth and marriage certificate; my grandparent’s marriage certificate.

The marriage certificates weren’t needed for my application and added another expense to the process. At least I now have copies if I ever need them.

What if I Don’t Have my Grandparent’s Original Birth Certificate?

This is a common problem that people face when trying to apply for UK Ancestry visa. I was faced with this when I was applying for my visa as my granddad died when my mum was 13 years old and she did not have any copies of his birth certificate.

There’s a different process for British, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland certificates. Here is a list of the departments to get certificates for each of these countries:

For British and Welsh Grandparents

It is possible to order a copy of a birth, death or a marriage certificate on the General Register Office (GRO) website. You’ll need to register on the website to order a copy of a birth, adoption, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate for England and Wales. At the time of writing, certificates cost £9.25.

For Scottish Grandparents

As my granddad was Scottish I used Scotlands People to buy my granddads birth certificate. They even sent it to Australia! Which was fantastic and I didn’t have to apply in person. Go to Scotlands People and use the search indexes to find your grandparent (which is free). At the time of writing each certificate cost £12.

For Northern Irish Grandparents

You will need to go to the NI Direct website. It will allow you to order a copy of your grandparent’s birth, adoption, marriage or civil partnership certificate for Northern Ireland. At the time of writing a certificate costs £15.00.

Example of an Official Scottish Birth Certificate

There are quite a few questions on whether you can provide copies or require an original birth certificate for the application. 

As you can see in the photo it says that it is an extract of an entry from the Register of Births in Scotland. The certificate also has an embossed stamp, a unique number and states that it is an official document from General Office for Scotland. You will need to take an original copy or photocopy of the official birth certificate. 

The company that I used for my Ancestry visa actually questioned me if this was an official copy. I ended up calling General Office for Scotland who assured me that this is an official government copy and was accepted as evidence in my application, my sister’s application and my mum applying for her UK Passport. 

Fill Out and Submit Application

The UK Ancestry visa is moving to the new application process so to apply you need to go to the gov.uk website. Depending on which country you are applying from the gov.uk website will direct you to the right place.

psst.. I have finally put together a post explaining the questions and answers I put for my UK Ancestry Application. 

Complete the online application, pay and then you will receive your booking confirmation for your biometric appointment. 

There is only a set amount of appointments opened so keep trying every day or so. If you struggle to get an appointment they now have walk-in days. For Perth the walk-in days were twice a week and cost an additional $95AUD so check with your visa centre what days they run walk-in appointments. 

With the new biometric resident permit (BRP) you will no longer get the full visa in your passport. They provide you with a temporary 30-day vignette visa until you collect the visa for a post office in the UK.

In the application, it will ask you to choose a post office to collect your BRP from. I suggest choosing a central post office in the city or near your accommodation to make the collection easy!

For more information about applying in Australia and New Zealand, read the articles below:

• Australia
• New Zealand

Prepare Your Documents 

Before your appointment ensure that you have the following documents ready to take with you:

• The printout of your online application form
• The copy of your biometrics appointment information
• All supporting documentation (birth certificates, passports, resume, bank statement showing fund and any other evidence).

Biometric Appointment 

Next your biometric appointment! Exciting. Take along all the documents, application and booking confirmation.

The visa application centre will take your “biometric information” which is fingerprints and a photo. At the appointment, they will scan your documentation and hand the documents back to you.

Once your application is processed they will then post your passport back with your visa. If you have paid the $95 (based on Australian costs) you will get to keep your passport and they will issue the visa on the day. 

UK Ancestry Visa Processing Time

On average you will receive a decision on your visa application within 3 weeks of lodging your application but this may vary depending on your country of residence.

You can check the guide processing times to find out how long your visa will take to process in your country. 

Other Useful Information

What is a 30 Day Vignette Sticker?

Instead of getting a vignette with the full granted leave, the Immigration Department now issue what’s called a 30-day vignette sticker. It’s based on your planned arrival date, for example, I’ve put that I am arriving in the country on the 8th of August then I have 30-days from this date to collect my visa. 

It is very important to make sure you choose your intended travel date carefully and it is what is represented on the application form when applying for the visa. 

You will not be able to travel to the UK before this date. The permit will only be valid as of the intended date of travel if you cannot travel on between these dates then you will need to apply for an extension.

Can I Apply for a Vignette Extension?

Yes, it is possible to get a vignette transfer (extension). There would be an additional cost to your application and country dependent.

There is another online application form to be completed similar to that of your initial visa application.

The British High Commission will then provide you with a new 30-day permit to accommodate your new proposed travels.

Even though you will be issued a new entry date this will not change your visa start date. If you plan on applying for permanent residency at some point you will need to factor this into your decision as if it’s longer than 180 days in a rolling year your will need to apply for UK Ancestry extension.

Here are the details provided by the Visa and Immigration Department on transferring of a visa and you can find the latest fees here.

Steps to Transfer Vignette

1. To apply go to https://www.gov.uk/transfer-visa
2. Then you will need to select “transfer your visa to a new passport online if you’re outside the UK”. It’s a little confusing the terminology they use but it is the correct choice for replacing the vignette.
3. Complete the application form – it’s basically applying for a new visa the information they request 🙁
4. Pay the fee
5. Arrange your Biometrics appointment – unfortunately, with every visa change you need to go for another biometric appointment. I’ve had mine done 3 times now!
6. Upload the relevant documentation (Proof of Maintenance, same criteria as before for UK Ancestry Visa)
7. Attend your Biometrics
8. Post your passport – You can keep it if you wish to pay additional fees.
9. Wait for the return of your passport with your new entry vignette.

What’s a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Card?

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is your actual visa and basically looks like a drivers licence. It holds all your immigration status and entitlements while you are in the UK.

Being a part of Facebook groups I occasionally see people lose their BRP on things like a night-out or silly travel incident, please, please, keep your BRP safe. It doesn’t cost too much to replace, it’s just a pain… A new BRP costs £56 if you apply by post, however, the processing time is 8 weeks and in person will cost more. 

More Moving to the UK Articles

• How to Move to the UK from Australia (Epic Guide!)
• How Much Money Should I Save to Move to the UK? With a Cost Breakdown
• Things to Organise Before Moving to the UK
• How Do I Get a UK Address Before I Move There? With Solutions
• Can I Get a UK Bank Account Before I Move to the UK? With Solutions
• A Helpful Guide on How to Find a Flat in London

Have you applied for an Ancestry Visa? What was your experience?