UK Ancestry Visa dependents- Suitability, Eligibility, Documents required & Application process

The UK Ancestry route is for Commonwealth citizens, aged 17 or older on the date of application, and who can prove they have a grandparent was born in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man (a single island in the Irish Sea, between England and Ireland), or the Channel Islands (for example, Jersey, Guernsey). Someone under 18 must show they have a ‘parental consent’. If the visa is granted, a person can live and work in the UK.

Dependants on the UK Ancestry route

A dependant partner (spouse or civil partner) and children (under 18 or aged 18 or over in limited circumstances) can accompany or join the lead applicant on the UK Ancestry route. This is a route to settlement where dependants are not required to complete a qualifying period. They can apply for settlement on this route as soon as the lead applicant is eligible for settlement, provided they are eligible to switch and otherwise meet the requirements for dependants.

Who is a dependant

A ‘dependant’ for the purpose of the UK Ancestry route is any of the following:

• Partner (husband/wife or civil partner/unmarried partner) 

• Children aged under 18

• Children aged 18 or over who were last granted permission (leave to enter or remain in the UK) as a dependant of their parent (s) 

Validity requirements for a dependent on the UK Ancestry route

A person seeking entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here as a dependent partner or dependent child on the UK Ancestry route must apply online on the gov.uk (the official website of the government) using the specified application form.  

Applicants seeking entry clearance from outside the UK need to use the form “Join or accompany a family member” on the “Find and apply for other visas from outside the UK”; or a dependant who is seeking permission to stay from within the UK will have to use the form “Application to extend stay in the UK: Further Leave to Remain (Immigration Rules) or FLR(IR)”.

A dependant partner or child who is seeking entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here as a dependant partner and/or child on the Ancestry route must satisfy all the following criteria:

• They must have paid any required application fee and IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge); and

• They must have submitted biometric information (their fingerprints and facial photograph) when required; and

• They must have submitted a passport or other valid document to establish their identity and nationality.

They must be applying as a dependant (spouse/civil partner or child) of someone who:

(i) has applied for permission (entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here) on the Ancestry route that is yet to be decided; or

(ii) has obtained entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here on the Ancestry route; or

(iii) is settled in the UK or has become a British citizen, providing that the person with settlement status or British citizenship had, when they settled, permission on the UK Ancestry route.

If applying to switch to this visa (for permission to stay), the applicant must, on the date of their application, be in the UK with permission under the UK Ancestry 

Any application for a partner or child on the UK Ancestry route that does not satisfy all the validity requirements listed above may be rejected as invalid and not considered.

Suitability requirements for a dependent on the UK Ancestry route

The applicant applying as a dependant on the UK Ancestry route must be subject to refusal under the Immigration Rules - Part Suitability.

They must not be in breach of the UK's immigration laws, except that where the Immigration Rules - Part Suitability - ‘exceptions for overstayers section’ applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or on immigration bail.

Eligibility requirements for a dependent on the UK Ancestry route

A person seeking entry to the UK as a partner or child must apply for and obtain an entry clearance as a dependant partner or child before arriving in the UK.

Their TB test results (If Appendix Tuberculosis applies) when applying for an entry clearance. 

Relationship requirements for a partner

The applicant applying as a partner must be able to prove one of the following:

• They are in a marriage or civil partnership with the lead applicant

• The couple, at the time of application, has been living together in a relationship for 2 years or more if applying as an unmarried partner 

Relationship requirements for the child

The child must:

• live with the person they are applying to join or stay with (unless they are in full-time education at boarding school, college, or university)

• not be married, have entered into a civil partnership, or have any children

• Be supported by their parent in the UK without using public funds

Children born in the UK

If the child is born while their parent (s) are in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.

If they wish to stay in the UK, they must apply for a dependent visa before reaching the age of 18.

They will be required to submit a full UK birth certificate, which shows the names of both parents.

Financial requirements for a dependent on the UK Ancestry route

UKVI must be fully satisfied that sufficient funds and adequate accommodation will be available for the applicant, the person with UK Ancestry, and any other dependants in the UK, without using public funds. The applicant may also meet the financial requirement by providing a promise of financial support from a third party, such as a relative or friend.

Documents they will need

A person applying as a dependent partner or dependent child will be required to submit a valid passport, TB test certificate (if required), proof of accommodation in the UK, proof of financial support, and proof of the lead applicant’s immigration status, such as their eVisa or passport.

The dependent partner will be required to submit additional documents, such as a marriage/civil partnership certificate or evidence of 2 years’ cohabitation, as evidence of a relationship that is genuine and subsisting

If the applicant and their partner are not living together, they will be required to demonstrate that they have an ongoing commitment to each other through evidence showing that the couple:

• communicate with each other regularly

• support each other financially

• care for any children that they have together

• spend time together as a couple, for example, on vacations or at events

Dependent child will be required to provide additional documents such as their full birth certificate, proof they are not leading an independent life, and consent or sole responsibility evidence (if one parent is not applying).

Applying for entry clearance as a dependent on the UK Ancestry route

A person applying as a partner or child as a dependent on the UK ancestry route must apply from outside the UK when they are seeking entry clearance to the UK.

They can apply at the same time as the lead applicant or later.

Each person applying will need to pay the £682 application fee from outside the UK 

Those under 18 may also be required to pay £776 per year for the health and care surcharge, while those aged 18 or over may have to pay £1,035 per year.

As part of their visa application as a dependent on the UK Ancestry route, they will be required to submit their biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph) at a VAC (Visa Application Centre).

The requirements for biometric information are subject to age limits as shown below: 

• under 6 years – digitised facial photograph only 

• 6 years or above – digitised facial photograph and fingerprints

Applying from inside the UK

An application for permission to stay (to extend leave in the UK ancestry route) as a dependent must be made from within the UK.

The current visa of the dependent partner or child will still be valid until its original expiry date. If they wish to apply to switch or extend their visa, they can apply:

• at the same time as the lead applicant; or

• at any time before their current visa expires

They will, as part of their application for permission to stay, need to prove their identity. For this purpose, they will be required to submit their biometric information at a TLS Centre. They can book an appointment at a TLS service point in the UK. 

Those with an appointment at a TLS will, on the date of appointment, need to have their biometrics (fingerprints and facial photograph) taken at the centre. 

The requirements for biometric information are subject to age limits as shown below: 

• under 6 years – digitised facial photograph only 

• 6 years or older – digitised facial photograph and fingerprints

Waiting for a decision

Applicants applying as a dependent partner or child on the UK Ancestry route who submit an entry clearance application from outside the UK will normally receive a decision within three weeks. By contrast, those applying for permission to stay—either to switch to or extend this visa—from inside the UK can generally expect a decision within eight weeks.

Getting a decision

UKVI will approve an application made by a dependent partner or child under the UK Ancestry route if all eligibility and suitability requirements are met. If these requirements are not satisfied, the application will be refused.

Where the application is successful, the applicant will normally be granted permission in line with the person with UK Ancestry. However, if the application is for permission to stay and the lead applicant has been, or is being, granted settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) under the UK Ancestry route, or has become a British citizen after last holding permission on this route, the applicant will instead be granted permission to stay for 30 months.

How can Visa and Migration help?

We are a reputable firm of lawyers working for years with clients looking to apply for UK visas. We understand the UK immigration laws and thus help clients in making successful applications. If you are looking to apply as dependent on the UK Ancestry route, we will start with assessing your personal circumstances to confirm whether you qualify under the UK Ancestry route, ensuring that you meet the relationship, dependency, financial, and immigration history requirements. We will tell you the most appropriate application type for entry clearance or permission to stay as a dependent on the UK Ancestry route and explain the process in plain, straightforward terms.

We will help you collect and review all required supporting documents that meet Home Office standards. 

We will provide you with ongoing guidance, address queries promptly, and keep you informed at every stage.

For expert advice and queries, you can call us at +44 (0)20 3411 1261 or write at info@visaandmigration.com