Moving to the UK from Anywhere in the World

How to move to the UK

The UK consistently rates as one of the most popular destinations for people around the world to move to.

There are various reasons as to why this is, although many people cite its world-famous landmarks, stunning scenery, low crime rates and vibrant business, arts and culture scenes as significant draws.

In particular, London is a global epicentre of trade and commerce, and is one of the most multicultural capital cities in the entire world. Millions of immigrants have made the city and the UK their home over the past century, and this rising swell of immigration is increasing year on year.

The UK has a number of routes and provisions to help facilitate the travel of immigrants to its shores. These include a wide variety of visas for people who wish to work, study and settle in the UK, whether for long or short periods of time.

To help guide you through these, we have created several pages aimed at readers from different countries around the globe who may wish to move to the UK. These pages go into further detail about the different immigration routes and visas available in the UK, as well as covering some country-specific guidance for foreign nationals thinking about making the UK their home.

Moving to the UK for Work

The UK offers a wide variety of Work visas for prospective visa applicants. Some of the main Work visa routes are summarised below. 

Skilled Worker visa 

Skilled work visa type allows skilled workers with an offer of employment from a licenced UK employer to work in the UK. In order to be eligible, applicants must satisfy the following criteria: 

• Have an offer of employment from a UK employer to which the Home Office has granted a sponsor license 
• Have a certificate of sponsorship from that employer (note that this is not a physical document but a digital record which stores your personal information and the details of the role in question)
• The job for which you have an offer must be on the list of approved occupations 
• The job must satisfy the minimum salary requirements. These vary based on the role in question
• You must have sufficient proficiency in the English language 

This visa allows stays of up to 5 years and can be extended, if applicable. 

Graduate visa 

Graduate visa allows certain individuals who have graduated from a UK university to work in the UK for a limited time. In order to be eligible, you will need to satisfy the following criteria: 

• Already be in the UK 
• Be on either a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) Student visa 
• Have successfully completed a UK degree from an eligible institution (note that your institution will need to inform the Home Office that you have finished your course). 

This visa allows you to live and work in the UK for 2 years. It cannot be extended, so you will need to switch to another visa type if you wish to remain in the UK upon its expiry. 

Senior or Specialist Worker visa 

Senior or Specialist Worker visa type allows employees of an overseas company to move to the UK in order to work for their employer’s UK branch in a senior, specialist, or managerial capacity. In order to be eligible, applicants must satisfy the following criteria: 

• Already be an employee of the company in question. Note that the company will need to be a sponsored employer with the UK Home Office
• Have a certificate of sponsorship from that employer 
• The job must be on the list of eligible occupations 
• The job must meet the minimum salary threshold of £48,500

The visa allows you to remain in the UK for up to 5 years at a time and can be renewed, as applicable. 

UK Expansion Worker visa 

If you are an employee of an overseas company which is looking to expand into the UK, the Expansion Worker visa allows you to come to the UK in order to help set up the new branch. In order to be eligible, you will need to satisfy the following additional criteria: 

• Have a certificate of sponsorship from your employer
• Already be an employee of the company in question 
• The job must be on the list of eligible occupations 
• The job must satisfy the minimum salary requirements. These vary based on the role in question

This visa allows you to remain in the UK for up to 2 years, depending on the details of your role and whether you have already spent time in the UK on certain other visa types. 

In order to learn more about these or alternative Work visa routes, contact IAS today on +44 (0)333 414 9244. 

Moving to the UK to Join Your Family

The UK offers a number of visa routes if you are looking to join family in the UK. Information on some of the most popular routes is provided below: 

Spouse visa 

There are a few different routes through which you can join your spouse or partner in the UK. In order to be eligible, your partner will need to satisfy one of the following criteria: 

• British or Irish citizen 
• Permanent residence status (often known in the UK as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) 
• EU settled or pre-settled status
• Hold a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa
• Protection status (either refugee status or humanitarian protection, for example) 

Your relationship will generally need to fall into one of the following categories: 

• UK-recognised marriage or civil partnership
• Cohabitation for at least 2 years
  • Where cohabitation hasn’t been possible (due to cultural considerations, for example) you must be able to provide evidence that you have been in a romantic relationship for at least 2 years (e.g. communication records, trips taken together, shared financial records, etc.) 
• You are engaged and due to be married within 6 years of your arrival in the UK 

Spouse visa allows stays of up to 2 years and 9 months, except in the case of Fiance visas, which allow stays of up to 6 months, during which time you will need to marry your partner in order to remain in the UK. 

Dependant visa 

If an immediate family member of yours has an eligible UK visa, you may be able to join them in the UK on a Dependant visa. This visa type allows you to live and work in the UK, generally for the duration of the visa of your sponsoring family member. 

In order to be eligible, you will generally need to fall within one of the following family categories: 

• Spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner 
• Minor child 
• Dependant adult child 

You will also need to satisfy a number of additional eligibility criteria. In the case of joining your partner, for example, your relationship must fall into one of the following categories: 

• UK-recognised marriage or civil partnership
• Cohabitation for at least 2 years
  • Where cohabitation hasn’t been possible (due to cultural considerations, for example) you must be able to provide evidence that you have been in a romantic relationship for at least 2 years (e.g. communication records, trips taken together, shared financial records, etc.) 

Minor children, meanwhile, will need to live with the parent in question (unless away from home in full-time education) and neither married nor in a civil partnership.

Moving to the UK for Study

The UK offers a number of visa study options for overseas individuals looking to pursue education opportunities in the UK. The two main routes are outlined below: 

Student visa

If you are looking to attend a UK university, student visa is likely to be the right route for you. In order to be eligible, you will need to satisfy the following criteria: 

• Have an offer from an eligible educational institution 
• Have sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of your studies (e.g. a fellowship or private savings)
• Have sufficient English language proficiency 

This visa generally allows stays of up to 5 years. After you have graduated, you may be eligible for the UK Graduate visa, discussed earlier in this article.

Child Student visa 

Child student visa allows children between 4 to 17 years of age to enter the UK in order to attend an independent school. In order to be eligible, they will need to satisfy the following criteria: 

• Have an unconditional offer from the independent school in question
• Have access to sufficient funds to support the entirety of their stay (including tuition fees) 
• Evidence of parent or guardian consent to the studies 

The duration of the visa depends on the age of the child, but can last for up to 6 years and 4 months. It can also be extended, if the child will be continuing their studies in the UK.

Moving to the UK for Business

If you are looking to move to the UK in order to work for an existing business, it is likely that you will require one of the Work visas discussed earlier in this article. If you are looking to start your own business, however, the Innovator Founder visa is likely the best fit.

The Innovator Founder visa allows you to enter the UK in order to establish a new business. Your business idea will need to satisfy the following criteria: 

• Be new (i.e. an identical business cannot already be trading)
• Be innovative (i.e. involve an original business idea)
• Be viable 
• Be scalable (e.g. lead to job creation and expansion into new markets) 
• Be endorsed by an eligible endorsing body

You will also need to have sufficient English language skills in order to be eligible for this visa type. 

This visa lasts for up to 3 years and can be extended upon expiry, provided you continue to satisfy the eligibility criteria and that your business remains viable. 

This visa also provides a faster route to permanent settlement than most other Work visas, allowing you to apply after 3 years. 

Things to know before moving to the UK

The UK is an exciting and thriving location in which to live abroad and offers numerous advantages. However, there are a few things which you should know before moving, including: 

• The UK housing and job market can often be very competitive; you should make sure to plan accordingly and to leave sufficient time for your job hunt
• If you move to the UK on a visa, it is unlikely that you will be eligible for UK welfare benefits. As such, you will need to ensure that you have sufficient means to support yourself for the entirety of your stay 
• Not all UK visas lead to permanent residence or are eligible for Dependant visas. You should make sure to verify the exact rights and restrictions associated with your visa type 
• The UK offers numerous urban and rural living locations and the cost of living varies drastically depending on where you live. The cost of living is likely to be significantly lower in rural Cumbria than in London, for instance.

Immigrate to the UK from Asia

Asian immigrants make up a large portion of the UK’s ethnic minority populations, with Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities in the UK being particularly significant in their size.

So far, we have created specific how-to guides on moving to the UK for the following Asian countries:

• Bangladesh
• China
• Hong Kong
• India
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Japan
• Korea
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Turkey
• UAE
• Vietnam

Immigrate to the UK from Europe

Since the UK’s departure from the EU, European citizens are now subject to the same immigration controls and restrictions as the rest of the globe.

However, some EU citizens can still take advantage of the EU Settlement Scheme to join the significant European community already resident in the UK.

So far, we have created specific how-to guides on moving to the UK for the following European countries:

• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Sweden

Immigrate to the UK from the Americas

Although less significant in number than continents such as Asia and Europe, there are still notable amounts of people from North America and South America coming to the UK each year, particularly from the US and Canada.

So far, we have created specific how-to guides on moving to the UK for the following countries in the Americas:

• Brazil
• Canada
• Mexico
• USA

Immigrate to the UK from Africa

A large proportion of immigrants from the UK come from Africa each year, and the UK remains a popular destination for many African immigrants up and down the continent.

So far, we have created specific how-to guides on moving to the UK for the following African countries:

• Nigeria

Immigrate to the UK from Oceania

Australia and New Zealand form the bulk of immigration traffic from Oceania coming to the UK, partly due to the similarities in language and culture that the countries share with the UK.

So far, we have created specific how-to guides on moving to the UK for the following African and Oceanian countries:

• Australia
• New Zealand

Understand the taxes in the UK

Once you start working in the UK, you will be expected to pay tax.

Upon receiving permission to work in the UK, you will need to apply for a National Insurance number. This will ensure that you are able to pay your taxes smoothly and seamlessly. 

If you work for an employer within the UK, your taxes will automatically be taken from your paycheck. However, if you are self-employed, you will need to submit a tax return to HM Revenue & Customs. This can be submitted online. 

Banking in the UK

If you are in the UK on a visa, you should be eligible for a UK bank card. Popular banks include Lloyds, Barclays, Nationwide, Metro Bank, NatWest, and HSBC. 

In order to be eligible for a UK bank account, you will need to provide a range of documentation, including verification of your identity, legal status in the country, and proof of address. 

Internet banking is widely available in the UK, allowing you to access your bank account via your mobile phone.

Accommodation in the UK

Renting is a common option for many new arrivals to the UK. In order to be eligible to rent in the UK, you will need to meet a number of criteria, which generally include: 

• Proving your immigration status and right to rent in the UK (using either immigration documents or a share code) 
• Paying a deposit 
• Providing evidence of a UK bank account 
• Providing evidence of sufficient financial means to cover the rent 
• Providing character references, in some cases
• Passing a credit check, in some cases

Most renters use estate agents to find new accommodation, although it may also be possible to use less formal avenues like social media or websites like Spare Room. 

If you have sufficient financial means, you may also be able to buy property in the UK. Note that it is often difficult for new arrivals to secure a UK mortgage, but certain options may be available to you.

At IAS, we can help you find accommodation which is tailored to your lifestyle and personal circumstances. Contact us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 to learn more.

Settling in the UK

In most cases, you will need to live continuously and legally in the UK for at least 5 years before being eligible for permanent settlement. However, not all visas count towards this minimum: Student visas, for example.

After a year of permanent settlement (often known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’ in the UK) you may be eligible to become a British citizen. This brings a range of additional benefits, including the right to participate in UK elections and to obtain a British passport. 

Cost of living in the UK

The cost of living in the UK varies substantially depending on where in the UK you are living. Monthly rent can range from hundreds to thousands of pounds depending on the location and the size of the property. There are also other associated costs which you will likely need to pay, including council tax and monthly bills. 

If you are in the UK on a visa, you will likely need to pay the annual NHS surcharge, which allows you to access the UK’s national health service. This is generally £1035 a year, though the exact cost depends on your personal circumstances.

You may also choose to pay for private health insurance during your time in the UK. Some private companies also offer private health insurance as an employment benefit.

Expert Relocation Assistance for Your Move to the UK

At IAS, we offer an extensive range of relocation services, going beyond simply providing legal guidance. Our services also include pre-departure planning, assistance with shipping your belongings, help finding new accommodation, help with selling your current property, assistance with finding local schools for your children, help with settling into your new home, orientation and integration assistance, and pet relocation services. 

However, this list is not exhaustive. To learn more about the substantial relocation assistance which we are able and enthusiastic to provide, contact is today on +44 (0)333 414 9244.

Advantages of Moving to the UK

The UK offers numerous advantages to new arrivals, including: 

• Varied business opportunities in exciting and dynamic major cities such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester 
• Excellent schools and universities for international students
• Numerous safe and enjoyable locations in which to raise a family 
• Brilliant travel connections and close proximity to numerous exciting locations

How Can IAS Help?

The process of moving to a foreign country can often be a significant and overwhelmingly daunting undertaking. In addition to sorting the logistics of moving your life from one location to another, you must also ensure that your immigration permissions and documents are all valid and correct to ensure that you’re able to enter your new home country.

In the case of moving to the UK, this will often mean having the right visa to be given leave to remain.

If you’re thinking about moving to the UK and are interested in learning more about the process, or if you require assistance with any part of the relocation process, IAS are here to help.

We are experienced and affordable immigration lawyers working in both UK and international immigration. We can ensure that your move to the UK goes as smoothly as possible by assisting you with both the legal and logistical sides of your move to the UK.

Whether you need help with applying for the right kind of visa for the UK, need concierge services to help make the relocation process simple, or need some bespoke help and advice for your specific immigration situation, we can help.

For more information about the services we offer, and what we could do for you, get in touch with us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or contact us online today.