A new points-based immigration system that Tony Blair government proposes to introduce threatens to end the existing scheme of allowing Commonwealth citizens with a British grandparent to enter and settle in Britain, a report said on Tuesday.
The move will mainly affect people from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Zimbabwe who have used the 'ancestral visa' scheme to come to Britain, The Times daily reported.
Under the historic visa scheme, Commonwealth citizens who can prove that one grandparent was born in Britain are allowed to enter the country.
They must also be prepared to work and keep themselves, without relying on the State. After four years in Britain, they can apply for permanent settlement.
More than 60,000 Commonwealth citizens have entered Britain using the ancestral visa system in the past five years, and a smaller number has been allowed to settle permanently.
The disclosure that the future of the scheme is under consideration by the Home Office came after the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee raised the issue on Tuesday.
A Home Office spokeswoman said that no decision had been taken.
"We are consulting on the new points system for managed migration to cover routes to work, study and train in the UK.
As we develop the new system, we will consider how it relates to the existing routes, such as UK ancestry."
More than 10,000 Commonwealth citizens were allowed to settle in the country in 2003 and 2004 on the basis that one of their grandparents was born in Britain.
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