UK Ancestry visa

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Apply for indefinite leave to remain ('settlement')

You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if you’ve spent 5 years in the UK on a UK Ancestry visa.

Indefinite leave to remain is how you settle in the UK. It’s also called ‘settlement’. It gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible. You can use it to apply for British citizenship.

Eligibility

You can apply for indefinite leave to remain if you’ve spent 5 continuous years in the UK on an Ancestry visa.

In most cases you must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 month period.

If you think you’re affected by this rule, find out how to calculate your time in the UK (‘continuous residence’).

You must also prove you:

  • have enough money to support yourself and your dependants
  • can, and plan to, work in the UK
  • are still a Commonwealth citizen

If you’re not eligible with an Ancestry visa, there are other ways to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Knowledge of language and life in the UK

If you’re 18 to 64 you’ll need to:

When to apply

The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you’ve been in the UK for 5 years on your Ancestry visa. Your application may be refused if you apply earlier.

Do not wait until your current visa expires. If your visa expires before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, you’ll need to renew it first.

Fees and how long it takes

It costs £2,885 for each person applying. You’ll each need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken - there’s no fee for this.

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months if you apply using the standard service.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Get a faster decision on your application

You can pay to use the super priority service to get a faster decision.

It costs an extra £1,000 to get a decision:

  • by the end of the next working day after providing your fingerprints and photo (known as ‘biometric information’) if your appointment is on a weekday
  • 2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

Apply online

You must apply for indefinite leave to remain online. You can include your partner and children on the same application form, if they’re eligible.

You must be in the UK to apply.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Get help applying online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

  • do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
  • do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Family members

Your partner and children can apply for indefinite leave to remain as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.

A dependant is any of the following:

  • your partner
  • your child under 18
  • your child aged 18 or over who was previously on your or your partner’s visa as a dependant

You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply.

They cannot apply for indefinite leave to remain if they’re currently in the UK:

If your family member is in one of these categories, they must leave the UK and apply for a UK Ancestry visa as a dependant instead.

Your partner

Your partner must:

You must also be able to prove one of the following:

  • you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
  • you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
  • you’ve been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply and you cannot live together - for example because it’s illegal in your country

If you’re not living together, you’ll need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, for example by providing evidence that you:

  • communicate regularly with each other
  • support each other financially
  • care for any children you have together
  • spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events

Your child

They must:

  • live with you (unless they’re in full time education at boarding school, college or university)
  • not be married, in a civil partnership or have any children
  • be supported by you without using public funds

Children 18 and over

You can only include older children in your application if all of the following apply:

  • they’re currently a dependant (as a child) on your or your partner’s visa
  • they were under 18 when they got permission to be in the UK as your dependant
  • they still do not live an independent life - for example, they have not got married or had children

They must also:

If you already have indefinite leave to remain or you’re now a British citizen

If you’re already settled in the UK (with either indefinite leave to remain or British citizenship), your partner and children can apply for indefinite leave to remain as long as your last visa was a UK Ancestry visa. They must already be in the UK.

Otherwise, your partner and children will need to apply for indefinite leave to remain a different way. Find out about the other ways to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

After you apply

You’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

  • upload them into the online service
  • have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

Any children aged 6 or over must provide biometric information if you’re applying for them on your form.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Getting a decision

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer than 6 months, for example:

  • if your supporting documents need to be verified
  • if you need to attend an interview
  • because of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

If your application is approved

You can do the following:

If you stay outside the UK for more than 2 years

You can lose your indefinite leave to remain if you stay outside the UK for more than 2 years at a time.

You may need to apply before you can return to the UK.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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