Help with renewing ancestral visa as can't apply for ILR yet

Hi there,

I have recently realised I am going to have to have to renew my ancestral visa as I left for too long in my first year and then apply for ILR when I have the 5 years. I just have a few questions, if anyone has the answers or advice:

1. What documents do I need to renew my ancestral visa and is it fairly straight forward?
2. I believe I have to pay the NHS surcharge again - is this true?

I have one other query if anyone has any advice. I arrived in the UK in December 2018 and subsequently left for about a month too long in the following year which is why I am renewing my visa. In November 2019 I left to travel South America and got back on 14 February 2020. 2 weeks later we went into lockdown and as I had just gotten back from traveling, I did not have a job until December 2020 and I traveled Europe for 3 months over the summer. I still did not leave for more than the 180 days in that year but obviously wasn't paying tax or working. Is this okay to still apply for ILR using the 5 years from January 2020? Or should I apply using the 5 years from later on? I have been working consistently since December 2020.

I'd appreciate any advice

In a 12 month period, how many days absence did you have, excluding the date of departure and return? If it is 180 or less, you are within the limit.

Not working for a period is not an issue.

If you do apply for an extension, you have to pay 5 years IHS yes.

Hi there,

I am nearing the expiration of my ancestral visa (end of November) and cannot apply for ILR yet as I left for too long in my first year. I just have a few questions and would appreciate any advice.

1. How soon before my ancestral visa expires should I apply for renewal?
2. I believe I have to pay the NHS surcharge again - is this correct? The online questionnaire isn't working.
3. What documents do I need?
4. I arrived in the UK on 3 December 2018 and then left for too long the following year. In November 2019, I went traveling to South America until February 2020 and when I got back we went into lockdown 2 weeks later. I then traveled for 3 months to Europe over the summer but did not have a job in the UK until December 2020 due to COVID. Will this be an issue or should I use December 2020 as the start of my 5 years? I would rather use an earlier date just so I can apply for ILR earlier. I would like to use December 2019 as the start of my 5 years so that I can apply for ILR at the end of next year.

I would appreciate any advice - thank you

CR001 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 16, 2023 6:48 pm

In a 12 month period, how many days absence did you have, excluding the date of departure and return? If it is 180 or less, you are within the limit.

Not working for a period is not an issue.

If you do apply for an extension, you have to pay 5 years IHS yes.

Thank you so much!:)

I left for about 210 days in 2019 in my first year :/ so I will definitely have to renew my ancestral visa first.

And if my visa is only expiring in November, can I renew it whenever before that date?

You can renew it at any point before expiry.