Ancestral visa: Document checklist

**Disclaimer**  I am not a professional, and the immigration laws change frequently.  The blog below is what I did for my own application in 2016...you can read this for information purposes but you need to check with a professional before embarking on your own application.

Ok, so you've established that you qualify for an Ancestral visa and you've decided to take the leap and do it.  If you are not sure if this visa is right for you, check out the blog post explaining what the Ancestral visa is.

So where do you even start to get all your documents ready???

Here is a comprehensive list for your application.  The best advice I got was to start a flipfile, and label each pocket with an item on this list, dropping it in as and when you complete each step.  It's strangely satisfying to see the file fill up, but also a great way of keeping track of what you still need to collect.  Remember, some documents take time, such as official certificates and others can't be dated more than 30 days before application, so keep a close eye on your timeline to make sure you don't miss a step.

Good luck!

Main application document checklist

Proof of ancestry:

• Valid passport 
• Old passports - issued within the last 10 years
• Full birth certificate - vault OR printed unabridged certificate, both parents full names must appear
• Grandparent's full birth certificate - you can order the official document online here.  
• Grandparent's marriage certificate - only required if the grandparent is female and had a change of name due to marriage
• Parent's full birth certificate - the child of the UK born grandparent through which you are claiming ancestry, both parents names must appear.
• Parent's marriage certificate - not essential but helpful if you have it

Financial requirements:

• Bank statements - 3 months worth of bank statements showing savings to the recommended value of ZAR25,000 per person in the application.  These MUST be printed and stamped at the bank and dated no older than 2 weeks on application.  If funds have come from the sale of an asset or a financial gift, the proof of this must be provided, matching the date of deposit in the account.

Eligibility for work:

• CV - an updated version of your CV reflecting your skills and experience
• Application for employment - evidence of registration with online job boards and proof of applications for 2-3 posts in your field
• References and qualifications - whilst these are not essential, it does add additional weight to your application, so providing copies of references and certificates would be a bonus in your file.

Accommodation:

Either of the following can be provided

• Reservation - proof of paid accommodation in a hotel or holiday rental
• Family and friends - A letter of invitation and sponsorship confirming that you will be a guest until you have found your feet, including details of how you know each other and details of their work and permanent address.  This must be accompanied by a copy of their visa/passport and proof of residence.

TB certificate:

This is essential and cannot be older than 6 months when you arrive in the UK.

• Original certificate only - book the appointment at an official clinic in either Cape Town, Durban or Pretoria.  The clinic details for each city can be found here.  

Dependant checklist

• Valid passport 
• Old passports - issued within the last 10 years
• Full birth certificate - vault OR printed unabridged certificate, both parents full names must appear
• Full marriage certificate 
• TB certificate

A final note:

Once your file is prepared, print a numbered "table of contents" in the exact order of your documents and label each pocket to match.  This helps the officials flip through easily to find what they need.

If you are travelling with a child and one parent is remaing in South Africa, you will need additional permissions and an agent is recommended for this.