This section provides information regarding the requirements which have to be met to apply for a permit free Visa on the grounds of UK ancestry. Information on how dependants can apply is also included.

• Aged 17 or over; and
• Have at least one grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom and the Islands; and
• Are able to work and intend to take or seek employment in the UK ; and
• Will be able to maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants adequately without recourse to public funds.

Prior Entry Clearance is mandatory for both the principal applicant and any dependants who will either accompany or join them later in the UK . Without prior entry clearance, you or your dependants will be refused entry on arrival in the UK .

Commonwealth
South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth on 26 July 1994 .

United Kingdom and the Islands
England , Scotland , Wales , Northern Ireland , Isle of Man and the Channel Islands . Grandparents who were born in the Republic of Ireland before 31 March 1922 also qualify. However, birth in a former British Colony or current Dependent Territory does not. Nor does birth in a British Military Base Overseas or a British Registered Ship.

Grandparent
Descent can be through either the maternal or paternal line. It doesn’t matter if the descent is either legitimate or illegitimate. Adopted children can claim through both their natural or adoptive parents. Claims cannot be made through stepparents, unless the stepparent has formally adopted the child through an Adoption Order.

Documentary proof of your descent will need to be produced.

If details on the above mentioned certificates do not tie up with each other, we might need to see additional documents which link you with the grandparent named on the UK birth certificate. These might be baptism, marriage, or death certificates, adoption papers, Deed Poll (change of name) or any other relevant family papers.

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Dependants

• Spouse (Husband or wife).   An original original marriage certificate must be produced; spouses must be 16 or over, and the couple must intend to live together permanently in the UK .

Common law spouses and same-sex partners can only apply if they have been living together with the sponsor in relationship akin to marriage for at least two years before submitting an application as a dependant. We therefore need to see contemporary documentary evidence of co-habitation for the qualifying period. This can be in the form of joint bank statements, utility bills, and other documents linking the couple to the same residential address and each other.

• Children

Must be unmarried, under the age of 18 before they first enter the UK in this capacity and not leading independent lives. We must see their original full birth or original adoption certificates in which both parents are named.

Applications from dependant children over the age of 17 will only be considered if there are exceptional compassionate reasons e.g. mentally handicapped. Such applications fall outside of the Immigration Rules and must be referred to the UK for a decision. In such cases there will be a delay of several months.

Both parents are expected to travel to the UK , unless the principal applicant is a single parent with sole responsibility for the child(ren)’s upbringing. If the parent is a widow or a widower, then we will need to see the original death certificate of the other natural parent.

Stepchildren, or children from a former marriage or relationship can also apply. However, if the other natural parent is still alive, we need to be satisfied that the parent travelling to the UK has had sole responsibility for the child(ren)’s upbringing and has legal custody.

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Employment
Proof of descent from a UK born grandparent alone is not sufficient to obtain this type of Visa. You must also be able and willing to work. To help us assess this, and your ability to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without recourse to public funds, one or more of the following documents should be submitted with your application:

• Offer of employment in the UK stating salary and terms;
• Your CV together with previous job references and/or your academic and professional qualifications;
• Positive feedback from a reputable employment agency or potential employer in the UK quoting likely salary range.

Similar documents submitted for your spouse will strengthen your application if your own potential earning power is low.

In addition, you will need to provide evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself in the UK until you can earn a regular wage.

Public Funds
On arrival in the UK you will be expected to support yourself and your dependants through your own earnings and savings. You cannot make use of public funds. These are:

• Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Housing and homelessness assistance
• Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
• Working Families’ Tax Credit
• A social fund payment
• Child Benefit
• Any disability allowance

It is recommended that you do not purchase air tickets before you receive your Visa.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MY Visa IS ISSUED?
The Visa will be made valid from your intended date of arrival and will expire four years after that date. The expiry date of Visas issued to dependants will be the same as that given to the principal applicant. If the principal applicant is already in the UK we will need to see a certified copy of his or her passport page on which the Immigration Officer’s landing stamp appears.

During this four-year period you can leave and enter the UK as often as you want.

At the end of the four-year period, providing you are still in the UK and can still meet the requirements listed above, you can apply to the Home Office for permission to stay in the UK indefinitely.

If you are outside of the UK when this four-year period is over, you will need to reapply for an Visa from this or any other Visa issuing British mission. 

There is no limit on the number of times you can apply for UK ancestry employment Visa.

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