Ancestry and birth-right guidance
A connection to the UK can make a future move worth exploring. Your first task is to understand whether that connection points towards an Ancestry visa, a British nationality question or further family-history research.
A useful answer first
A UK Ancestry visa allows qualifying applicants to live, work and study in the UK for five years. A qualifying grandparent connection can be relevant; it does not automatically make the applicant British.
Two relatives can share a family connection while asking different questions: one about a visa for a UK move, another about citizenship already held. Those enquiries should not be merged.
Start with the family connection you know about and any uncertainty in that history. You do not need to order a generic bundle of documents before discussing what needs investigation.
Understand the Ancestry opportunity →Support that fits the question
An Ancestry or nationality review can distinguish the route question and the relevant family connection. Where records are missing, a separately agreed research service may come before application work.
A British-sounding surname or a distant relative’s passport does not establish the Ancestry route. A possible citizenship claim deserves its own enquiry.
Before paid work begins, confirm the written service scope, professional fee and separate government or third-party charges. A focused review and full application representation are different appointments.
A client’s experience
Clear guidance through the paperwork made the ancestry-visa process easier to manage.
Iain · Paraphrased client feedback
One person’s experience, shared to help you understand the support. Your circumstances and outcome may differ.
Plan your costs
Government charges and professional help are separate costs. Start with the application that matches your circumstances.
Total for this application, including the listed charges
Fees reviewed 06 Sept 2026
At your pace
An existing refusal or approaching expiry? Start with the time-sensitive matter.
Explore ancestry and birth rights
Choose a topic to see what each guide will help you understand.
Compare ancestry and nationality questions using family history and documents rather than a shared route label.
Read this guide ↗Explore the family connection, applicant circumstances and evidence involved in investigating an Ancestry visa.
Read this guide ↗Trace the connection from grandparent to parent to applicant and distinguish the visa question from nationality.
Read this guide ↗Review the family line and outstanding evidence questions before deciding which route needs further investigation.
Read this guide ↗Build a consistent chain of civil records that links each generation and explains changes in names.
Read this guide ↗Connect the main applicant's Ancestry route with the partner or child's circumstances and evidence.
Read this guide ↗Separate the time needed to gather family records from application preparation and decision timing.
Read this guide ↗Find more guides connected to this opportunity and the practical decisions around it.
Browse more ancestry and birth rights guidance ↗Your next conversation
Share the connection you know about, even if you do not have every answer. We can help identify what is worth investigating and explain the support needed to take it further.
Talk to Move Up ↗Put your plans into context
Use a focused questionnaire to share the facts with Move Up.
British passports
Separate British citizenship and UK Ancestry visa questions, gather your family timeline and choose the assessment that fits.
Published 2026-11-02
Compare your starting points
If you have a UK family connection and a partner in the UK, more than one guide may be relevant. Start with the connection you want to investigate; the team can help you compare your circumstances before you choose an application.
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