Many South African’s hope they can access the UK through ancestors but the ancestry route can be a tricky one.
For starters, only individuals with a parent actually born in the UK can apply for a British passport. An individual with a grandparent who was born in the UK can only obtain an ancestral visa. After that, a great-grandparent is unfortunately too far removed.
Furthermore, the ancestral visa requires a few elements that need to be met in order for an individual to qualify:
- You are a Commonwealth citizen aged 17 or older
- One of your grandparents was born in the UK
- You intend to work and settle in the UK
- You will not make use of public funds in the UK
- You have TB Test Clearance certificate done
- You’ve paid the NHS surcharge
In order to apply for an ancestral visa, you also need to prove your ancestry by means of presenting your grandparent’s birth certificate. This is a birth certificate that states where in the UK they were born and their date of birth, as well as parent names and usually features handwritten details.
Individuals can order a birth certificate by registering on the General Register Office (GRO) website and paying the required fee.
The ancestral visa application process is 15 -22 working days once submitted and is valid for 5 years, after which, the individual can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.