How do I apply for a UK Ancestry Visa from South Africa?
To apply for a UK Ancestry Visa you must apply online whilst your are still in South Africa. You will also need to go to a Visa Application Centre to have your biometric information taken as part of your application. The application process can be complex, but our immigration lawyers can guide you through it.
How much money do you need for UK Ancestry Visa?
When applying for an Ancestry visa you must have around £1200 – £1600 in your account 90 days prior to your date of application. Now let’s be clear: You don’t have to raise these funds yourself. A lot of applicants secure these funds through a sponsor (something the UK government fully supports).
How do I qualify for a UK Ancestry Visa?
To be eligible, you must show that:
- You are a Commonwealth citizen.
- You are aged 17 years or over.
- You have a grandparent who was born in the UK.
- You are able to work.
- You intend to take employment in the UK.
- You are able to support and house yourself and any dependants without recourse to any public funding.
What does a UK Ancestry Visa entitle me to?
The ancestral route entitles a Commonwealth citizen, who has a grandparent born in the UK, to gain entry to the UK. The visa will permit you to take up or seek employment and eventually settle in the UK. At the end of a five-year period on this visa, you can qualify to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Can I get a British passport if my great grandfather was British?
You can claim British citizenship by double descent if you have a grandparent (and in rare cases a great-grandparent) born in the UK. This is known as double descent. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality.
Can I get a UK passport if my grandfather is British?
Getting UK residency and citizenship If you’re an Australian citizen over 17 years old and you have a grandparent who was born in the UK (including in Southern Ireland before 31 March 1922), you can apply for the Ancestry visa. If you’re granted an Ancestry visa, you may live and work in the UK throughout its validity.
Can I get a British passport if my grandfather was British?
Do you need a job offer for a UK Ancestry visa?
To apply for an Ancestry visa, you don’t need to show that you have a job in the UK – only that you’re in the process of looking for a job.
How do I become a British citizen by descent?
British citizenship is normally automatically passed down one generation to children born outside the UK. For example, you might automatically become a citizen if you’re born outside the UK to a British parent. But your children will not automatically be citizens if they’re born outside the UK.
How much is a British visa from South Africa?
Standard Visitor visa – for UK, Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey
| Visa types | Visa application fee (ZAR) |
|---|---|
| Short-term (up to 6 months, single or multiple entry) | 2071 |
| Longer-term (valid for up to 2 years) | 7868 |
| Longer-term (valid for up to 5 years) | 14276 |
| Longer-term (valid for up to 10 years) | 17916 |
Can I get a British passport by descent?
A British citizen by descent is a person born outside the UK and is acquired if one or both parents are British citizens. This means that you cannot automatically pass on British citizenship to any child who is born abroad. a parent’s or a grandparent’s birth, legal adoption.
Can you get British citizenship through Ancestry?
UK immigration rules allow an automatic claim to British Citizenship if you have a grandparent (and, in rare cases, a great-grandparent) born in the UK. This is known as British Citizenship by descent, or more specifically, British Citizenship by double descent.
Can a South African citizen get an Ancestry visa in the UK?
For a South African citizen to be eligible for an Ancestry Visa they must: The UK immigration process can often be complex, time-consuming, and costly. When applying for an Ancestral Visa you must make the application whilst you are still in South Africa, this can make the process even more confusing.
How long can you stay in the UK on an Ancestry Visa?
How long you can stay. You can stay in the UK for 5 years on this visa. You can apply to extend your visa. You can also apply to settle in the UK permanently.
How much does it cost to get an Ancestry Visa?
The current cost to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa is £516. You may also have to pay the healthcare surcharge to be able to use NHS services in the UK. As well as these costs you must be able to prove that you can financially support yourself and any other dependents whilst in the UK.
Can a family member apply for an Ancestry Visa?
Your partner or family members can be included on your Ancestry visa application. This will allow them to move with you to the UK as soon as your visa application is approved. They will enjoy the same rights as the main visa holder – i.e. they too will be able to live and work in the UK for the duration of the Ancestry visa.