UK Ancestry visa

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Your partner and children

Your partner and children can apply to join you in the UK as your 鈥榙ependants鈥� if they鈥檙e eligible.

A 鈥榙ependant鈥� 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鈥檚 visa as a dependant

You鈥檒l need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply.

Your partner

You must be able to prove one of the following:

  • you鈥檙e in a civil partnership or marriage that鈥檚 recognised in the UK
  • you鈥檝e been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
  • you鈥檝e been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you鈥檙e working or studying in different places, or it鈥檚 not accepted in your culture

If you鈥檙e not living together, you鈥檒l 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鈥檙e 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

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner or child must .

They鈥檒l need to have their fingerprints and photograph (known as 鈥榖iometric information鈥�) taken at a visa application centre as part of their application.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa)

If you extend or switch your visa, your partner or child鈥檚 current visa will still be valid until its original end date. Your partner or child need to apply to extend or switch their visa, either:

  • at the same time as you
  • at any time before their current visa expires

This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.

They cannot apply to switch if they鈥檙e currently in the UK:

If they鈥檙e in one of those categories, they must leave the UK and apply for a UK Ancestry visa from abroad.

If your partner or child is currently in the UK on a Student visa, they can only switch if they have either:

  • completed the course they were sponsored to study
  • studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

Get help to apply 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鈥檙e applying to extend your visa in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Children born while you鈥檙e in the UK

If you have a child while you鈥檙e in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.

You must apply for their dependant visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.

You can . You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child.

You鈥檒l need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

What your partner or child can and cannot do

Your partner or child can:

  • work, except as a sportsperson or coach
  • study
  • travel abroad and return to the UK
  • apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as 鈥榠ndefinite leave to remain鈥�) if they鈥檝e lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

They cannot apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.

If their application is successful, they鈥檒l get a full list of what they can and cannot do.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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