Ancestry Visa UK For Australians
If you’re an Australian citizen and you have a grandparent who was born in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a UK Ancestry visa. With this visa, you will be allowed to live, work and study in the UK.
Contact one of our friendly professional immigration lawyers at Total Law for more information about the application stages of the UK Ancestry visa, the documents you must provide or other services we offer. Call us today at Total Law on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or complete our online enquiry form.
An Overview of the UK Ancestry Visa
The UK Ancestry visa is designed for Australian citizens and other nationals of the commonwealth who have a grandparent who was born in the UK. You can be issued this visa even if your grandparent was born in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. This visa offers a direct route to permanent residency in the UK.
When you obtain the UK Ancestry visa, you will be free to move in and out of the UK as many times as you want. You will be able to bring your family members (a partner and children to the UK).
This visa is valid for 5 years and during this validity period, you will be allowed to live, study and work in the UK.
UK Ancestry Visa Requirements
Australian citizens applying for a UK Ancestry visa need to meet some requirements. You must:
- Be 17 years old or above
- Be a commonwealth citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British overseas citizen, a British national (overseas), or a Zimbabwean national
- File your application from outside the UK
- Prove that you have a grandparent who was born in the UK (or the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man)
- Wish to take up a job when you enter the UK
- Be able to financially support or accommodate your dependents who join you on the visa without relying on the UK’s public funds
Fees for the UK Ancestry Visa Application
Australian citizens applying to obtain a UK Ancestry visa are required to pay certain fees. The UK Ancestry visa cost you must pay include:
- £682 for the Ancestry visa application fee
- £19.20 for your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
- £1035 for yearly NHS healthcare surcharge for adults
- £776 for yearly NHS healthcare surcharge for child dependents
- £500 for priority service to get a decision on your application within 5 working days
- £1000 for super priority service to get a decision on your application before the end of the next working day
Note that you may be required to pay additional fees for your application depending on your situation. It’s ideal to reach out to one of our professional immigration lawyers at Total Law to streamline all the fees you must pay after assessing your situation. Just call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online for immediate assistance.
How To Apply For The UK Ancestry Visa
As an Australian citizen, you must follow the UK Ancestry visa application process to get this visa. The following includes the steps you must take to get this visa:
Know if You Qualify
You must first understand your situation and know if you qualify to obtain the UK Ancestry visa. This is the stage where you need to consult one of our immigration lawyers at Total Law to help assess your situation and advise you.
Complete the Online Application Form
Once you meet the eligibility criteria to apply for the visa, you need to complete the online UK Ancestry visa application form with the correct information. You can apply online 3 months before entering the UK.
Avoid falsification of information as it could cause your application to be rejected should the UK authorities doubt the authenticity of your application. Any dependent that will join you in the UK must apply separately.
Gather and Upload Required Documents
After filling out your online application form, you will be required to gather several documents to support your application.
Get your original documents when required and do not include any forged documents so that you’ll not have your UK Ancestry visa declined. After getting your documents you must upload their scanned copies in the required size and format.
Pay Your Application Fees
You must pay your visa processing fees and other necessary fees including healthcare surcharge, biometric residence permit, consular fees and more. Ensure you pay through the accepted payment method, typically via debit or credit card.
Schedule a Visa Appointment
As an Australian applicant, you are required to schedule an appointment with your nearest VFS Global visa application centre online. At the appointment the UK immigration officials may interview you to know if you are qualified to issue the UK Ancestry visa.
Besides that, they will also assess your documents and know if the answers you have provided correctly reflect what is contained in the documents you submitted. Also, at the appointment, you will be required to provide a digital scan of your fingerprints and photographs (biometric information).
You are required to be at the visa application centre for the appointment in person. If your children will join you to enter the UK, they must also be present at the visa application centre. You will be required to help them where necessary if they are under 18 years old.
Collect Your Visa Packet
After you have applied for a UK Ancestry visa, your application will be processed. You will be notified when a decision is made on your visa application and you will be directed on where and when to come and pick it up.
Application Processing Time
Australian citizens applying for a UK Ancestry visa should expect a decision to be made on their application in 3 weeks. To expedite the processing time, you can pay a priority service fee to get a decision in 5 working days or the super priority service fee to get a decision before the next working day passes.
Having paid to get a faster decision, you might still experience a delay in the process if the Home Office needs you to provide some additional documentation to support your application.
Duration of Stay on the UK Ancestry Visa
As an Australian citizen who holds a UK Ancestry visa, you will be allowed to stay in the United Kingdom for up to 5 years. After the expiration of this visa, you can apply to extend it for another 5 years.
Alternatively, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK. With this visa, you won’t be permitted to access public funds but you will be allowed to live, work, study and take up either full-time or part-time jobs in the UK.
How Can Total Law Help?
Australian citizens need to comply with the UK Ancestry visa rules when applying for it. You must meet some eligibility criteria and provide several documents to support your application. If you’re applying for this visa for the first time, the application process may be confusing for you.
For this reason and risk of refusal, it’s best to consult one of our friendly IAA-certified immigration lawyers at Total Law to help you through the process of obtaining the UK Ancestry visa.
Our immigration lawyers will assess your situation, help you gather your documents and even apply on your behalf using the same pattern that has led to positive outcomes for other Australian applicants we’ve assisted in the past. Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or complete our online contact form for immediate assistance.
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With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.
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By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to enter the UK for a period that doesn’t exceed 6 months, you won’t need a visa. But if you will stay beyond 6 months you must pay to obtain a visa that suits your travel purpose.
Yes, you can settle in the UK as an Australian citizen if you have resided in the country for up to 5 years and have met other requirements which will allow you to apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement status in the country).
