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Ancestry and birth-right guidance

Your family story may open a new chapter.

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.

Find my next step →Explore the guides ↓
South Africa to the UK · practical guidance
Family ancestry and grandparent records
Your roots · your next chapter

A useful answer first

Is an Ancestry visa the same as British citizenship?

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.

Picture the difference

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.

Your next useful decision

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

What would Move Up help you with?

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.

When another starting point makes more sense

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.

Compare learning, review and representation →See the relevant fee breakdown →

A client’s experience

Making the paperwork easier to understand

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

A clearer view of what you may pay.

Government charges and professional help are separate costs. Start with the application that matches your circumstances.

UK Ancestry work visa – Main applicant - 5 year

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Total for this application, including the listed charges

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UK government visa / passport fee
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IHS healthcare surcharge
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Move Up professional fee, excl. VAT
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VAT on Move Up fee
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Courier
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Bank transaction charges
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Rounding
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Contact us to confirm the current fee breakdown.

Each example covers the named applicant and period. Additional applicants, document work and optional services may change the cost.

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At your pace

How far along are your plans?

I’m exploring possibilitiesFind useful answers without starting an application.I’m building a planConnect the route with costs, family and timing.I’m ready to talkUnderstand what a first conversation can cover.

An existing refusal or approaching expiry? Start with the time-sensitive matter.

Explore ancestry and birth rights

Go deeper into the question that matters to you.

Choose a topic to see what each guide will help you understand.

Understand the route 4 guides

Birth rights explained

Compare ancestry and nationality questions using family history and documents rather than a shared route label.

Read this guide ↗

The UK Ancestry visa

Explore the family connection, applicant circumstances and evidence involved in investigating an Ancestry visa.

Read this guide ↗

A UK-born grandparent

Trace the connection from grandparent to parent to applicant and distinguish the visa question from nationality.

Read this guide ↗

Bringing the ancestry evidence together

Review the family line and outstanding evidence questions before deciding which route needs further investigation.

Read this guide ↗
Costs and next decisions 3 guides

Certificates for an Ancestry visa

Build a consistent chain of civil records that links each generation and explains changes in names.

Read this guide ↗

Ancestry visa dependants

Connect the main applicant's Ancestry route with the partner or child's circumstances and evidence.

Read this guide ↗

Ancestry visa processing questions

Separate the time needed to gather family records from application preparation and decision timing.

Read this guide ↗
Life after arrival 1 guides

Extending an Ancestry visa

Review the existing permission and supporting route history before planning an extension.

Read this guide ↗

Keep exploring the wider questions.

Find more guides connected to this opportunity and the practical decisions around it.

Browse more ancestry and birth rights guidance ↗

Your next conversation

Let’s talk about what comes next for you.

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.

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Put your plans into context

Get help with your next step.

Use a focused questionnaire to share the facts with Move Up.

UK Ancestry assessment

Compare your starting points

Ancestry or joining a partner: which question are you exploring?

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.

Ask Move Up to help you compare your options

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