Could you be British? Find out if you qualify for an Ancestry visa
This is sponsored content for Sable International.
The UK ancestry visa remains one of the most prized UK visas for Australians because it allows you to live and work in the UK without restriction.
Many Australians are eligible for this visa but are unaware of how easy it is to qualify. If you have familial ties to the UK and are a Commonwealth citizen, you could be eligible.
What is an Ancestry visa and who can get it?
An Ancestry visa lets you live and work in the UK for up to five years. You can apply for this visa if:
- Your grandparent was born in the UK
- You are a Commonwealth citizen
- You are 17 years or older
- You are applying from outside the UK
- You plan on working in the UK
- You have enough money to support yourself and any dependants without help from public funds
Applying for your UK Ancestry visa from Australia
You can apply for your visa no more than three months before you want to travel to the UK. You will need to include the following documents in your application:
- A valid passport with at least one blank page for your visa
- Recent bank statements that show you can support yourself and any dependants
- Job offers or a business plan if you plan on working for yourself
- The birth certificate of the person your ancestry claim is based on
- Depending on your circumstances, you may need to provide additional documents.
The perks of having an Ancestry visa
Live and work without restriction
One major benefit of the Ancestry visa is that you can work in any field you wish, and your employers don't have to worry about your visa status. You can also change jobs without needing to inform the Home Office and travel in and out of the UK as often as you like.
Bring your family with you
You can bring your spouse, partner or children (under the age of 18) with you to the UK. They will enjoy the same rights as you and can stay in the UK for as long as you are there.
A route to permanent residency and citizenship for you and your family
Once you've spent five continuous years in the UK, you can either extend your Ancestry visa or apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). If your goal is to stay in the UK indefinitely or get British citizenship, you should apply for ILR.
Since the Ancestry visa is valid for five years, you and your family will be able to apply for ILR once your visa comes to an end (and you've met the other criteria). No matter how long your family members have been in the UK, they will be able to apply for ILR at the same time as you.
How to get British citizenship
Once you've had ILR for 12 months, you can apply for British citizenship. If your application is approved, you will receive a British passport and have all the rights of a British citizen.
The work requirements of the Ancestry visa
One of the main requirements of this visa is that you must be employed while living in the UK.
Furthermore, if you want to be eligible for ILR, you will need to show that you've been working during your five years on this visa.
The great news is that these requirements are quite relaxed. You don't need to be employed by a UK company; you can also start your own business and work for yourself.
Finding work in the UK
To get into the UK job market, you can either send your CV to recruitment agencies who specialise in your field or do your own job search. Some popular job search websites include Monster, Joblift, reed.co.uk and Totaljobs. Before sending your CV out, make sure you've updated and formatted it correctly and have done a spellcheck. You should include the following information:
- Your full name, home address, contact number and email address
- A list of your education achievements
- A list of your work experience
- Other languages you can speak (besides English)
- Mention that you're authorised to work in the UK
Get all the information before you apply
Applying for a UK Ancestry visa can be complicated, and you want to ensure you get it right the first time. Getting help from an experienced UK immigration expert before you begin the visa application process can save you time, money and give you less to worry about.
Sable International can help with your UK Ancestry visa application from start to finish. Get in touch via email at ausoffice@sableinternational.com or speak to a migration agent on +61 (0) 3 8651 4500.
This is sponsored content for Sable International.
