Coventry Law Centre : Immigration advice : Information leaflets : UK ancestry

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United Kingdom ancestry

This leaflet explains what the Immigration Rules say about Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom and Islands (the Islands include the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man).

Who can come to the United Kingdom and work with a grandparent born in the United Kingdom?

You can come to the United Kingdom to work as long as you can show that:

you are a Commonwealth citizen;
you are 17 or over;
you have a grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom and Islands;
you are able to work and you plan to do so in the United Kingdom; and
you can support and accommodate yourself and any dependents adequately without help from public funds.

You must get entry clearance for United Kingdom ancestry before you travel to the United Kingdom.

What are public funds?

If you come to live or stay in the United Kingdom, you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without claiming certain state benefits. These are:

Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA);
housing and homelessness assistance;
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit;
Working Families Tax Credit;
a social fund payment;
Child Benefit, or
any disability allowance.

Can I switch to UK Ancestry if I entered the United Kingdom under a different category?

If you entered the United Kingdom under a different category and made your application for UK Ancestry before 25th October 2004 you will still be able to switch into UK Ancestry under the old rules.

But from the 25th October 2004 you cannot switch into this category after your entry to the United Kingdom. You will only be granted leave to remain on the basis of UK ancestry if:

you entered the United Kingdom holding an entry clearance based on your UK Ancestry; or
you have already been granted leave to remain o the basis of UK Ancestry.

How long can you stay and do you need a work permit?

If you arrive with a United Kingdom ancestry entry clearance you will be allowed to stay for four years. If you apply after you arrive and the Immigration & Nationality Directorate approve your application, the Immigration & Nationality Directorate will give you permission to stay in the United Kingdom for four years.

You do not need a work permit.

What happens after four years?

After four years, you will be eligible to apply to live here permanently as long as you continue to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules for United Kingdom ancestry and you have worked for four years continuously in the United Kingdom.

What is entry clearance?

Entry clearance is a visa or entry clearance certificate that you are given so that you can travel to the United Kingdom. You must apply for entry clearance to the British Embassy, High Commission or other Diplomatic Mission (known as British Diplomatic Posts) in the country where you live.

You can get advice on applications for entry clearance from Coventry Law Centre.

Coventry Law Centre offers free legal advice and representation.