Build your future in the UK through your family history
Your family connection may open a route to living and working in the UK, with the possibility of settling here permanently.
Knightsbridge helps you establish whether your ancestry qualifies, connect the family records and prepare an application supported by evidence of your plans.
Tell us your nationality, your grandparent’s birthplace and your plans. We will explain whether we can assist, the appropriate service and its fees.
About this route
UK Ancestry is available to people with a qualifying nationality and a grandparent born in an eligible location.
The visa grants five years’ permission to work, including self-employment, without employer sponsorship. Eligible partners and children can apply as dependants.
Your first application is made from outside the UK. After five qualifying years, you may be able to apply for settlement, subject to meeting the requirements.
Eligibility Check
The main questions are:
- Are you a Commonwealth citizen or in another eligible nationality category?
- Will you be at least 17 when you intend to arrive?
- Was your grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or another qualifying circumstance?
- Can you prove the family link through the relevant records?
- Are you able to work and do you intend to work in the UK?
- Can you support and accommodate yourself and any dependants without public funds?
These questions establish the starting points. Eligibility depends on your circumstances and supporting evidence.
Understanding your situation
You may already have the family certificates, or you may only know that a grandparent was born in Britain.
We establish which family line supports your application, what records are available and whether names or dates need explaining. We also consider your intended move, work plans, finances and any family members applying with you.
How Knightsbridge Helps
For an agreed application service, we review your nationality and ancestry evidence, then give you a tailored document request covering the family link, work intentions, financial support and accommodation.
We check the records together, identify gaps and prepare the application and supporting explanation. You review the information before submission.
We guide you through the identity and evidence requirements and handle the submission and follow-up included in your agreed service.
Addressing Challenges
The documents need to connect you to your parent and that parent to your qualifying grandparent. Full birth certificates, marriage records, name-change documents or adoption papers may be relevant.
If a record is missing or names differ, we identify what is needed to explain the connection.
We also help you present evidence of your intention to work, whether you plan to seek employment or become self-employed.
Timescales and Costs
Preparation depends on obtaining the family records and completing the evidence. We explain the timetable once we know what is available.
You can apply up to three months before travel. Standard overseas decisions usually take three weeks after application, identity verification and document submission. Faster processing may be available for an additional charge.
The current overseas application fee is £726. The adult Immigration Health Surcharge is normally £5,175 for five years. Dependants have separate charges.
We confirm our professional fee, service scope and any applicable VAT in writing. Certificate, translation and any required TB test costs are separate.
Situations requiring closer analysis
Legally recognised adoption can support an ancestry claim; a step-parent connection alone cannot.
Births in Ireland before 31 March 1922, or on qualifying UK-registered or government-owned ships or aircraft, can also qualify.
Applicants under 18 need parental consent. Previous refusals or immigration difficulties require an initial scope assessment before we agree further work.
Your journey at a glance
Assess your circumstances. Plan the application. Gather Evidence. Prepare the form. Review it together. Submit after your approval. Follow through within the agreed service.
Ready to have your case assessed?
Tell us your nationality, where and when your grandparent was born, which certificates you hold and when you hope to move.
Our Free Case Review is an initial enquiry. Detailed eligibility assessment, document review and application work are agreed separately, with fees explained before you proceed.
