Applying for a visa

This page explains how you can apply for a visa if you are claiming UK ancestry.

You must obtain a visa before you travel here in this category.

Depending on the country where you live, you may need to make your application online or using application form VAF2. To find out which method you should use, see 'More information' below.

Your partner and any dependent children aged under 18 can apply to come with you to the UK or join you here. They should also apply online or using application form VAF2.

You can download application form VAF2 and its guidance notes from the right side of this page.

As part of your application, you will need to enrol your fingerprints and facial image (known as 'biometric information') at a visa application centre.

Select your country in our country finder to find out:

  • how to apply in your country (including how to apply online);
  • the location of our visa application centres;
  • how long we generally take to process visa applications; and
  • how your documents will be returned to you.

If your application is successful, you can find information about what will happen at the border (including customs requirements) in the Customs and travel information section.

More information

  • Should you apply online or complete an application form on paper?

    If you are applying for a visa from the following countries, you should apply using our online application system, Visa4UK:

    • Afghanistan
    • Albania
    • Algeria
    • Andorra
    • Angola
    • Anguilla
    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • Argentina
    • Armenia
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Azerbaijan
    • Bahamas
    • Bahrain 
    • Barbados
    • Belarus
    • Belgium
    • Belize
    • Bermuda
    • Bolivia
    • Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Botswana
    • Brazil
    • British Virgin Islands
    • Brunei
    • Bulgaria
    • Burkina Faso
    • Burma
    • Burundi
    • Cambodia
    • Cameroon
    • Canada
    • Cape Verde
    • Cayman Islands
    • Central African Republic
    • Chad
    • Chile
    • China
    • Colombia
    • Comoros
    • Congo
    • Costa Rica
    • Croatia
    • Cyprus
    • Czech Republic
    • Democratic Republic of the Congo
    • Denmark
    • Djibouti
    • Dominica
    • Dominican Republic
    • East Timor
    • Ecuador
    • Egypt
    • Equatorial Guinea
    • Eritrea
    • Estonia
    • Ethiopia
    • Faroes
    • Fiji
    • Finland
    • France
    • French Guiana
    • Gabon
    • Gambia
    • Georgia
    • Germany
    • Ghana
    • Gibraltar
    • Greece
    • Greenland
    • Grenada
    • Guatemala
    • Guinea
    • Guinea Bissau
    • Guyana
    • Haiti
    • Hong Kong
    • Hungary
    • Iceland
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Iran
    • Iraq
    • Ireland
    • Israel
    • Italy
    • Ivory Coast
    • Jamaica
    • Japan
    • Jordan
    • Kazakhstan
    • Kenya
    • Kiribati
    • Kosovo
    • Kyrgyzstan
    • Kuwait
    • Laos
    • Latvia
    • Lebanon
    • Lesotho
    • Liberia
    • Lithuania
    • Luxembourg 
    • Macau
    • Macedonia
    • Madagascar
    • Malaysia
    • Mali
    • Malta
    • Marshall Islands
    • Mauritania
    • Mauritius
    • Mexico
    • Micronesia
    • Moldova
    • Monaco
    • Mongolia
    • Montenegro
    • Montserrat
    • Morocco
    • Nauru
    • Netherlands
    • New Zealand
    • Nicaragua
    • Niger
    • Nigeria
    • Norway
    • Oman 
    • Pakistan
    • Palestinian Authority
    • Palau
    • Panama 
    • Papua New Guinea
    • Paraguay
    • Peru
    • Philippines
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Qatar 
    • Romania
    • Russian Federation
    • Rwanda
    • Samoa and Western Samoa
    • San Marino
    • Sao Tome and Principe
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Senegal
    • Serbia
    • Seychelles
    • Sierra Leone
    • Singapore
    • Slovakia
    • Slovenia 
    • Solomon Islands
    • Somalia
    • South Africa
    • South Korea
    • Spain
    • St Kitts and Nevis
    • St Vincent and Grenadine
    • St Lucia
    • Sudan
    • Suriname
    • Swaziland
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Syria
    • Taiwan
    • Tajikstan
    • Thailand
    • Togo 
    • Tonga
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Tunisia
    • Turkey
    • Turks and Caicos
    • Tuvalu
    • Uganda 
    • Ukraine
    • UAE
    • USA
    • Uruguay
    • Uzbekistan 
    • Vanuatu
    • Vatican City
    • Venezuela
    • Vietnam
    • Western Sahara
    • Zambia

    If you are applying for a visa from the following countries, you should apply by printing out an application form and completing it by hand: 

    • Cuba
    • Malawi
    • North Korea  
    • Turkmenistan 
    • Zimbabwe

    If you are applying for a visa from the following countries, you can choose whether to apply using our online application system or by printing off the application form and completing it by hand:

    • Bangladesh
    • Maldives
    • Mozambique
    • Namibia
    • Nepal
    • Sri Lanka
  • What is the date of your application if you are applying from outside the UK?

    The date of your application is the date when your application fee is paid to us. This will be the date shown on your payment receipt, which depends on how you paid for your visa application - for example, at a visa application centre or online.
  • Processing times - applications made outside the UK

    The time required to process your visa will depend on the country where you are making your application.

    Our Visa services section lists our recent processing times for different application types in each country around the world.