UK Ancestry Entry Clearance
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A UK Ancestry Entry Clearance often referred to as an "Ancestry Visa" is a United Kingdom Entry Clearance for Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man who wish to work in the United Kingdom.
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[edit] Requirements
The main requirements are:[1]
- a grandparent born in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man at any time; or a grandparent born in what is now the Republic of Ireland on or before March 31, 1922.
- a citizen of a Commonwealth country (it does not matter how citizenship was acquired). Zimbabwe remains a Commonwealth country for visa purposes.
- aged 17 or over
- intends to undertake employment
- able to support oneself in the United Kingdom without recourse to public funds.
[edit] Term of Visa
The Entry Clearance is valid for five years. After this one may apply for an extension or alternatively apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). ILR will normally only be granted if the five years have been spent in employment in the UK.
This Entry Clearance does not allow full time study in the United Kingdom as the holder is expected to work. This is possible only after ILR is obtained, or if the person obtains a student visa.
[edit] British Citizenship
After acquiring Indefinite Leave to Remain, it is possible to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after meeting normal residence requirements. See British nationality law
- The increase in the period of time under UK Ancestry to 5 years before ILR can be applied for effectively means that applicants (who are usually not married to British citizens) must wait 6 years for British citizenship. This is because naturalisation as a British citizen for a person not married to a British citizen requires that ILR or its equivalent be held for 12 months.
- Children born in the United Kingdom to persons with UK Ancestry (since 1983) are not British citizens by birth. However the child can be registered a British citizen once the parent obtains ILR if the child is still under 18 (it is not necessary to wait for the parent to become British).
[edit] Irish born grandparent
A grandparent born in Northern Ireland, or what is now the Republic of Ireland prior to 1 April 1922, gives rise to an entitlement to a right to admission under UK Ancestry. However there may also be an entitlement to register as an Irish citizen by descent which grants full permanent residency in the UK immediately. See Irish nationality law
This may be possible as an alternative to, or in addition to, a UK Ancestry Entry Clearance.
[edit] Possible Abolition
On 26 October 2005, The Times newspaper in Britain published an article outlining possible plans by the British Home Office to abolish admission under UK Ancestry in favour of a points based migration system. The issue had apparently been raised in the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee. The possibility of abolition alarmed many people with British-born grandparents living in Commonwealth countries.
Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell, expressed his concern over the possible abolition of the UK Ancestry Entry Clearance. Mr. McConnell had recently been in Canada to encourage Canadians of Scottish heritage to move to Scotland. Canada has over 4 million citizens that are of Scottish descent. Part of the reason for this campaign was the concern over declining population and birthrate in Scotland. His campaign received a great deal of interest in Canada.
However, details of a new points based system announced on 7 March 2006 made it clear that ancestry routes to the UK would not be affected. The new points system covers those workers wishing to enter the UK without EU/EEA member state citizenship or ancestral links to the UK.
[edit] Notes
- ^ UK Ancestry. British High Commission, Ottawa. Retrieved on 2006-05-14.
