Disclaimer: This blog provides general immigration information, not legal advice. Laws and policies change frequently, and individual circumstances vary. Always do your own research and consider speaking with an accredited immigration lawyer before making any decisions. I am not affiliated with any government agency and am not responsible for outcomes based on this information. Official guidance on immigrating can be found on the UK Home Office website.
There is more than one route to a UK Ancestry Visa, but I’ll be going over the most likely one a US citizen might be eligible for.
Eligibility Requirements for a UK Ancestry Visa (you must meet all of these to apply):
– You must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country (or Zimbabwe).
* The US is not a Commonwealth country.
* Here is the list of current Commonwealth countries: https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries
– You must be able to prove one of your grandparents was born in the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland), the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man.
* Step-parents do not count.
– You have enough money to support and house yourself and any dependents.
– You can and plan to work in the UK.
Application details:
– Earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel to the UK.
– You’ll typically get a decision within 3 weeks, though you often can pay to get a decision sooner.
– As of March 2025, a UK Ancestry Visa application costs £637.
– The UK Ancestry Visa is for 5 years.
– You’ll also have to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge, which gives you access to the National Health Service (NHS). This currently costs £1,035 per year, so a total of £5,175 for five years as part of the application. This must be paid in full up front.
– After 5 years on this visa, you may be eligible to pay to extend it for 5 more years, or pay to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent settled status).
If your application is successful, you can:
– work
– study
– bring your child or partner
You cannot switch to this visa if you entered the UK on a different visa.
