--- title: "United Kingdom UK Ancestry visa requirements 2026: 5-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/ancestry-visa/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- United Kingdom · For your nationality or ancestry # United Kingdom UK Ancestry visa **First stay:** 5 yrs First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 5 yrs (5 years; extendable for 5 years at a time as many times as wanted, or settlement after 5 years.) - **Who can apply:** 56 nationalities (Commonwealth citizens (countries in Schedule 3 to the British Nationality Act 1981, plus Zimbabwe), British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens and British nationals (overseas).) - **Work:** Yes (Paid or voluntary, full-time or part-time work, employed or self-employed; study is allowed.) - **Tax angle:** Tax relief (Four-year Foreign Income and Gains (FIG) regime: Qualifying new UK residents can claim relief on eligible foreign income and gains for their first four tax years of UK residence after at least ten years of non-UK residence; regime replaced the remittance basis on 6 April 2025.) ## Key facts UK Ancestry visa is a for your nationality or ancestry route for United Kingdom. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Government fees:** £726 ≈ $960 - **Processing:** Up to 21 days - **First stay:** 5 yrs ## Cost, time and long term To apply: government fee £726 ≈ $960; decision: up to 21 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included. **Government fees: £726 ≈ $960** - GBP 726 (≈ $960) Application fee from outside the UK; GBP1,407 (≈ $1,860) to extend. The healthcare surcharge is extra. **Renewal: Renewable** After 5 years you can extend for another 5 years, as many times as you want. [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa) **Permanent residence: After 5 years of residence** Settlement (indefinite leave to remain) can be applied for after 5 continuous years in the UK on the Ancestry visa, with usually no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period. The holder must still be a Commonwealth citizen, show enough money to support themselves and dependants, show they can and plan to work in the UK, and, if aged 18 to 64, meet the English requirement and pass the Life in the UK test. [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa/indefinite-leave-to-remain) **Citizenship: After 6 years of residence** British citizenship needs 5 years living in the UK and 12 months holding settled status (indefinite leave to remain). Settlement comes after 5 years on this visa, so citizenship is normally possible about 6 years after arrival; there is no 12-month wait if married to a British citizen. No more than 450 days outside the UK in the 5 years before applying and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months. [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain) **Processing: Up to 21 days** You should get a decision within 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK. [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa) **Where to apply: From abroad** Apply from outside the UK, no earlier than 3 months before you travel. [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Applications are made from outside United Kingdom, not after arriving - Only for passports from 56 countries ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is a Commonwealth citizen, British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British national (overseas) or a citizen of Zimbabwe. - The applicant is 17 or over. - A grandparent was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, in Ireland before 31 March 1922, or on a UK-registered ship or aircraft. - The applicant can and plans to work in the UK. #### What you must show - Enough money to support and house the applicant and any dependants without public funds. #### Documents - Birth certificates for the applicant and for the parent and grandparent on whom the claim is based. - Evidence of planned work, such as job offers or a business plan. #### Steps 1. Apply online up to 3 months before travel; a decision usually takes about 3 weeks. #### After you arrive - After 5 years the holder can extend for 5 years or apply to settle. ## When you become tax resident How United Kingdom decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **5 years at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** Statutory Residence Test. - **Foreign-source income:** **New-resident relief (4 years)** Qualifying new UK residents can claim relief on eligible foreign income and gains for their first four tax years of UK residence after at least ten years of non-UK residence; regime replaced the remittance basis on 6 April 2025. - **Special regime:** **Four-year Foreign Income and Gains regime** · Tax relief [All tax rules for United Kingdom](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 **Full official text** Five-year visa for Commonwealth citizens aged 17 or over who have a grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, and who can and plan to work in the UK. (source 1) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of GBP 726 (≈ $960) · Application fee from outside the UK; GBP1,407 (≈ $1,860) to extend. The healthcare surcharge is extra. (source 1) #### Requirements - The applicant is a Commonwealth citizen, British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British national (overseas) or a citizen of Zimbabwe. (source 1) - The applicant is 17 or over. (source 1) - A grandparent was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, in Ireland before 31 March 1922, or on a UK-registered ship or aircraft. (source 1) - The applicant can and plans to work in the UK. (source 1) - Enough money to support and house the applicant and any dependants without public funds. (source 1) - Birth certificates for the applicant and for the parent and grandparent on whom the claim is based. (source 1) - Evidence of planned work, such as job offers or a business plan. (source 1) - Apply online up to 3 months before travel; a decision usually takes about 3 weeks. (source 1) - After 5 years the holder can extend for 5 years or apply to settle. (source 1) #### Stay - 5 years; extendable for 5 years at a time as many times as wanted, or settlement after 5 years. - Initial permitted stay: 60 months. - Visa validity: 60 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Nationality Commonwealth citizens (countries in Schedule 3 to the British Nationality Act 1981, plus Zimbabwe), British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens and British nationals (overseas). Open to: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, The Bahamas, Botswana, Belize, Canada, Cameroon, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Ghana, Gambia, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, KI, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sri Lanka, Lesotho, Malta, Mauritius, Maldives, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, NR, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Seychelles, Singapore, Sierra Leone, eSwatini, Togo, TO, Trinidad and Tobago, TV, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, VC, Vanuatu, WS, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe. #### Work Paid or voluntary, full-time or part-time work, employed or self-employed; study is allowed. #### Family Partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [UK Ancestry visa](https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa) · GOV.UK (Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration) · checked 2026-10-11 2. [UK Ancestry visa: indefinite leave to remain](https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa/indefinite-leave-to-remain) · GOV.UK (Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or settled status](https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain) · GOV.UK (Home Office) · checked 2026-10-11 ## UK Ancestry visa and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | UK Ancestry visa | – | 5 yr, renewable | Yes | | [British citizenship by descent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/citizenship-by-descent/) | – | – | – | | [BN(O) visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/bno-visa/) | – | 5 yr, renewable | – | | [CPLP residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/cplp-residence-87a/) Portugal | – | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Spanish nationality by descent and option](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/citizenship-by-descent-and-option/) Spain | – | – | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the UK Ancestry visa? A fee of GBP 726 (≈ $960). Application fee from outside the UK; GBP1,407 (≈ $1,860) to extend. ### How long can I stay on the UK Ancestry visa? 5 years; extendable for 5 years at a time as many times as wanted, or settlement after 5 years. ### How long does the UK Ancestry visa take to process? You should get a decision within 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK. ### Can I work on the UK Ancestry visa? Yes. Paid or voluntary, full-time or part-time work, employed or self-employed; study is allowed. ### Can I bring my family on the UK Ancestry visa? Partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants. ### Who can apply for the UK Ancestry visa? Commonwealth citizens (countries in Schedule 3 to the British Nationality Act 1981, plus Zimbabwe), British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens and British nationals (overseas). Open to: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, The Bahamas, Botswana, Belize, Canada, Cameroon, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Ghana, Gambia, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, KI, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sri Lanka, Lesotho, Malta, Mauritius, Maldives, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, NR, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Seychelles, Singapore, Sierra Leone, eSwatini, Togo, TO, Trinidad and Tobago, TV, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, VC, Vanuatu, WS, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe. ### Does the UK Ancestry visa lead to permanent residence in United Kingdom? Time on the UK Ancestry visa counts toward permanent residence in United Kingdom, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the UK Ancestry visa counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 6 years of residence. ### Is there a tax break for UK Ancestry visa holders in United Kingdom? Four-year Foreign Income and Gains (FIG) regime: Qualifying new UK residents can claim relief on eligible foreign income and gains for their first four tax years of UK residence after at least ten years of non-UK residence; regime replaced the remittance basis on 6 April 2025. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions. ## Tax Special regime ### [Four-year Foreign Income and Gains (FIG) regime](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/tax/#tax-gb-fig-new-resident) Tax relief Foreign-source income: New-resident relief (4 years) **Details** - Who: UK tax resident under the Statutory Residence Test Qualifying new UK residents can claim relief on eligible foreign income and gains for their first four tax years of UK residence after at least ten years of non-UK residence; regime replaced the remittance basis on 6 April 2025. #### Taxed on Claimed eligible foreign income and gains arising in the first four UK tax-resident years after at least ten years’ non-UK residence. Examples include foreign trade conducted wholly outside the UK, overseas property-business profits, non-UK dividends and foreign interest. Foreign employment earnings and specified employment income are outside FIG. #### Who it applies to - UK tax resident under the Statutory Residence Test. - Within the first 4 years of UK tax residence after at least 10 years as non-UK resident. - Claim made annually; unused years do not roll over; temporary years abroad are skipped. - If the 4 years began before 6 April 2025, claims are available from 2025 to 2026 to the last year of the period. #### Exclusions - UK-source income stays taxable. - Foreign earnings and foreign specific employment income are not eligible, though Overseas Workday Relief may apply. - A claim loses Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax tax-free allowances, Marriage Allowance, Married Couples Allowance and Blind Person's Allowance. #### Tax residence Qualifying resident means UK tax resident under the Statutory Residence Test and within the first four years of UK residence after at least a 10-year period as non-UK tax resident. #### Visas Immigration permission does not qualify anyone; eligibility is tax residence only. #### Other taxes National Insurance, VAT, payroll, UK-source income, treaties and home-country taxes are outside the claim. Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/tax/) ## More in United Kingdom [Global Talent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/global-talent/) [High Potential Individual](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/high-potential-individual/) [India Young Professionals visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/india-young-professionals/) [Youth Mobility Scheme](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/youth-mobility-scheme/) [Innovator Founder](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/innovator-founder/) [UK Expansion Worker visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/uk-expansion-worker/) [Health and Care Worker visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/health-care-worker/) [Scale-up Worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/scale-up-worker/) ## Nationality or ancestry visas elsewhere [🇷🇸 Serbian origin residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/serbian-origin-residence/) [🇦🇲 Special residence status](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/armenia/special-residence-status/) [🇲🇰 Macedonian origin residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/north-macedonia/origin/) [🇱🇮 EEA residence lottery](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/liechtenstein/eea-lottery-residence/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 3 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [UK Ancestry visa](https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa) · GOV.UK (Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration) · checked 2026-10-11 2. [UK Ancestry visa: indefinite leave to remain](https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa/indefinite-leave-to-remain) · GOV.UK (Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or settled status](https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain) · GOV.UK (Home Office) · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.