Moving to the UK from the USA

• Can a US Citizen Live in the UK?
• Routes to British Citizenship
• ILR Rules Changes
• What is the Skilled Worker Visa
• What are the Business Visa options?
• HPI Visas for Top US Graduates
• Global Talent Visas
• Am I Eligible for a Family Visa?
• Am I Eligible for a Spouse Visa, Civil Partner or Unmarried Partner Visa?
• Bringing Family on UK Visas
• Student Visas in the UK
• British citizenship by descent and double descent
• What is the Ancestry Visa?
• Costs of Moving to the UK
• Considerations for Moving to the UK from the US
• FAQ

Americans can visit the UK for up to 6 months visa-free using an ETA. For visits of longer than six months, US citizens, like all other nationals who are not British or Irish, will need permission to stay that is consistent with their purpose for visiting the UK. You can come to the UK in the following ways:

• On a temporary worker visa, you can live and work for the duration of your visa’s validity. Temporary visas are often not renewable and are not eligible for settlement directly. You must spend 10 years of continuous residence in the UK on a combination of temporary visas and/or permanent resident visas to qualify to settle in the UK, and then obtain British citizenship by Naturalisation.
• With a long-term residence visa, you can reside and work as long as your visa remains valid, and apply for settlement after five years on a qualifying visa, as long as you continue to meet the financial, legal and absence requirements. You can then apply for British Citizenship.
• Right to Abode, British Citizenship, or Irish Citizenship

Employment Sponsorship Visas

For a visa sponsored by an employer, you must typically have a job offer from a UK company, or be sponsored by a US-based company (or overseas company) to perform permitted job roles for a UK branch of a US company. The UK, like the US, has non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas (otherwise known as temporary worker visas and worker visas). The most common of these include:

Permanent Workers

• Skilled Worker visa
• Healthcare Worker visa
• Scale-up Worker visa
• Specialist visas including: Minister of Religion visa, International Sportsperson visa

Temporary Workers

• Global Business Mobility visas, such as the UK Expansion Worker, Graduate Trainee visa, Senior or Specialist Worker visa, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker visa
• Seasonal Worker visa
• Specialist Temporary Worker visas such as Creative Worker, or Charity Worker visas, Government Authorised Exchange visa, Religious Worker visa, International Agreement visa

Employment or Self-Employment Visas (Self-Sponsored)

• Global Talent visa
• High Potential Individual (HPI) visa
• Graduate visa
• Innovator Founder visa

Family visas

• Spouse, Unmarried Partner, Civil Partner visas
• Child Dependent visas
• Adult Dependent Relative visas

Other visas & settlement options

• British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa
• UK Ancestry visa
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
• British Citizenship by Naturalisation, Descent, Double Descent or Birth
• ETAs & Visitor visas for travelling to the UK for up to 6 months for visiting relatives, doing business, tourism, getting married, medical treatment or academic study

Types of British Citizenship

British citizenship is the end goal for many who come to the UK, and for others, it is their route into the UK. Your route to UK citizenship depends on your connections to the UK. There are four typical paths to British Citizenship:

• Citizenship by Birth (when you were born in the UK)
• Citizenship by Descent (when a parent was a British citizen at the time of your birth)
• Citizenship by Double Descent (rare and complex for cases where a grandparent was born in the UK)
• Citizenship by Naturalisation for citizenship through marriage to a British citizen, or through time spent on an eligible UK visa.

Dual Citizenship is allowed, meaning you can retain your US citizenship if you were to become a UK citizen. To qualify to be a dual citizen, you must join one of the routes above.

Pathways to British Citizenship by Naturalisation

If you were not born in the UK or do not have a parent, or in rare cases a grandparent born in the UK, you can acquire British Citizenship by Naturalisation.

The process requires you to live and work in the UK for a specified period before gaining Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Once you have this settled status, you can apply for British Citizenship by Naturalisation.

ILR after 5 years, citizenship after 6 years

Typically, after 5 years on an ILR-eligible UK visa, you can qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain. 12 months after receiving ILR, you can apply for British Citizenship by Naturalisation.

5 year Family Route

• Spouse visa (for 2 years 9 months from outside the UK or 2 years 6 months from inside the UK) > Renew visa for 2 years 6 months > Apply for ILR after 5 years continuous residence > Receive ILR > Wait 12 months (or apply immediately if your spouse is a British citizen) > Apply for British Citizenship > Apply for a British Passport

5 year Worker Route*

• (Skilled) Worker visa (sponsored by employer for 5 years) > Apply for ILR after 5 years continuous residence > Receive ILR > Wait 12 months > Apply for British Citizenship > Apply for a British Passport

You cannot switch between the family and work route and still be eligible for ILR after 5 years. The ILR clock will reset. In this case, you can apply after 5 years on your next qualifying UK visa or after 10 years on a combination of valid UK visas.

ILR after 10 years, citizenship after 11 years

It is not always possible to stay in the UK on a valid visa for 5 continuous years. Unexpected things can occur, such as losing your job or a relationship breakup. The Home Office can (depending on the situation/their discretion) grant a curtailment period (typically 60 days) between visas for you to apply for a new visa if yours is cancelled.

In a case where you have to switch visas, and your 5 year ILR timeline is reset, you may apply under the 10 year ILR route, which allows a combination of UK visas. This might include a combination like:

• Student visa (3 years) > Graduate visa (2 years*) > Skilled Worker visa (2 years) > Spouse visa (3 years) > Apply for ILR after 10 years continuous residence > Apply for British Citizenship after 12 months on ILR > Apply for British passport

The 10 year route does not include time spent on Visitor visas, ETAs or Seasonal Worker visas.

If you intend to work in the UK you must be in possession of a job offer from a registered sponsoring employer, and the role must be at graduate level. Unfortunately, manual, clerical, or administrative roles cannot usually be sponsored.

Your prospective employer must be registered to be able to issue a
Certificate of Sponsorship. The employer must be able to show that they have advertised the position in the UK and that there are no suitable candidates. Our attorneys can assist with registering the UK business as a sponsor.

If a UK employer is able to sponsor you as a new hire for their UK business, you can obtain a Skilled Worker Visa for up to five years and be accompanied by your family including spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and any children aged under 18. You must earn a salary above £41,700 or above the going rate for the specific job you do. You can see the occupational codes to see the salary you need to earn for your job.

After five years’ employment in the UK and if you meet certain other requirements, you should be will generally be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, otherwise known as permanent residence.

There are other work visas you may be eligible for such as Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, Temporary Work Visa, Sportsperson Visa and Minister of Religion Visa – please reach out to us if you wish to move to the UK but are unsure of the best work visa for your situation.

Innovator Founder Visa

The Innovator Founder visa is the UK’s option for entrepreneurs to establish or expand their business operations in the UK. There is no minimum investment required for the Innovator Founder visa, but it is essential to convince an endorsing body that your business plan is:

• Innovative, viable and scalable

Innovator Founder Visa Validity

The Innovator Founder visa, like the Global Talent visa, can lead to fast-tracked settlement in the UK. After 3 years on the Innovator Founder visa, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (and British Citizenship after 12 months on ILR) if your business has made a substantial contribution to the UK economy.

Innovator Founder Requirements

• A clear business plan showing innovation and market potential
• Evidence that the business is viable and financially sound
• Demonstration that the business is scalable and can contribute to the UK economy
• References or endorsements from relevant experts or industry partners

Business Visitor Visa

The Business Visitor Visa allows you to enter the UK for up to six months, and you can only conduct certain types of business activities under it. This type of visa falls under the Standard Visitor Visa category and can be used by individuals who are self-employed or working as employees of overseas companies. This visa does not permit you to reside in the UK for an extended period.

ETA

ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisations) permit US citizens to visit the UK for up to 6 months at a time for tourism, to visit family, or to engage in permitted business activities. A simple registration process usually takes 2-3 working days to process. Those who are not American citizens and are living in the US on a US visa may need to apply for a Visitor visa instead depending on their nationality. ETAs last for multiple visits for up to 2 years or until your passport expires (whichever is sooner). But no visit should be longer than 6 months.

If you have a partner living in the UK with British Citizenship, settlement, or asylum status, you may be eligible to move to the UK via a Spouse visa or Family visa. Dependent children are also eligible for the Family visa route. In some cases, adult dependents are eligible to join if you need to care for them (and no one else can).

A Family visa allows you to move to the UK for up to 2 years 9 months or 33 months (if applying outside the UK), at which point you can then extend your visa for a further 2 years 6 months. The requirements for a UK Family visa are stringent. The Family visa route includes the Spouse visa, Unmarried Partner visa, Civil Partner visa, Child Dependent visa and Adult Dependent Relative visa. You must prove that:

• Your partner or UK sponsor can support you in the UK. They must earn a minimum of £29,000. You can also use savings and other investments to prove income above this amount.
• You are over 18 if applying as a spouse, unmarried partner or civil partner of a British citizen or settled person. The same applies to adult dependent relatives. Adults must apply on behalf of child dependents.
• Your relationship with the person you will be joining is genuine and legally recognised.
• You will be living with the person (sponsor during your stay, and they will provide you with adequate accommodation.
• As with the majority of UK visas, you will also have to demonstrate your understanding of English. As the US is an English-speaking nation, only partners who are not US nationals may need to demonstrate their proficiency in the English language.

A child with a British parent may be eligible to register as a British Citizen if they were born in the UK or for British Citizenship by Descent if one parent was a British citizen at the time of their birth. If so, they will not require a Family visa.

Spouse visa

For the purposes of moving to England (or the UK), UK Spouse Visas are one of the most common visa types that we deal with on a day-to-day basis. If your husband, wife, or civil partner is a British Citizen or a settled person, you can apply through this visa category and move to the UK.

The Spouse Visa allows you to stay in the UK for an initial period of 33 months (or 30 months if you apply from within the UK). After this period of time, you can apply for a Spouse Visa extension of a further 30 months, provided that you continue to meet the requirements throughout your time in the UK.

Differing from other visa types, a Spouse Visa will also grant you the right to work in the UK during your residency. You must be able to prove that your marriage is legally recognised in the UK, that you intend to live together for the duration of your stay, and that you can financially support yourself independent of any government funding.

The spouse who is a British Citizen must also meet the minimum income requirement for Spouse Visa applications in order for your visa to be approved.

Unmarried Partner visa

If you are planning to join a boyfriend or girlfriend living in England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales, you can apply under a Family of a Settled Person Visa or the Unmarried Partner Visa, but there are slightly different requirements when there is no blood relation to the person you’re intending to move to the UK to join.

The rules for the Unmarried Partner Visa in the UK fall under the broader Family Visa category. Note that you will need to submit a significant amount of documentation to apply for this visa. An American citizen who wants to move to the UK on an Unmarried Partner Visa may do so only if they are in an existing relationship with a ‘present and settled’ citizen living in the UK.

• You will also be required to be either engaged or intending to enter into a civil partnership, and/or have been living together for a period of 2 years or more.
• If you have not been living together for 2 years or more, for religious or other reasons, you must provide extra documentation to show your “genuine and subsisting relationship”. You may be required to undergo a Partner visa interview and submit records (such as phone messages and photographs) to prove your relationship.

Our friendly and experienced immigration attorneys will work with you on every aspect of your case to maximize your chances of success. Call +1 844 290 6312 or use our online form to get in touch.

Bringing Family (as a UK visa holder)

Holding a UK visa does not guarantee that you can bring your family with you. It depends on the visa you hold. Whereas a British citizen or settled person can bring their family as long as they can meet the requirements, including minimum income of £29,000, for a UK visa holder, the process for bringing family is more complex.

Family-based visas for UK visa holders are referred to as Dependent visas. A Dependent visa permits partners and children of UK visa holders to join them, either simultaneously or at a later date. Typically, the duration of the visa and the fees paid by the main applicant are the same as those of their dependents. For example, if you have a Skilled Worker visa for up to 3 years (sponsored by an employer), then you can sponsor your family members to come for up to 3 years (or the time left on your visa), and it will cost the same amount as you paid, typically £769.

Skilled workers can only bring dependents to the UK if they have a job or job offer in the UK at a Bachelor’s degree level or above (RQF 6+). Students can now only bring dependents if they are PhD students. Previously, you could bring dependents if your job was RQF Level 4 or above and on the Immigration Salary List, and students could bring dependents. This changed in 2025, and only qualifying applicants are allowed to bring dependents.

To bring dependents to the UK you must prove you can support them. You need to prove you have £1,270 per month to support yourself. You must also show:

Visa routes that permit you to bring family:

Family of the main applicant for any of the following visas may join for the same length of time remaining on the main applicant’s visa. Any visa that is ILR-eligible will also be ILR-eligible for dependents, while those that are not will not be.

ILR Eligible Visas That Permit Dependents (After 3-5 years)

Currently ILR-Eligible After 5 years

• Skilled Worker visa (above RQF Level 6)
• Health and Care Worker visa (above RQF Level 6)
• Global Talent visa via “exceptional promise” route
• Start-up visa
• Start-up visa
• BNO visa
• UK Ancestry visa
• Asylum Seekers

Currently ILR-Eligible After 3 Years

• Innovator Founder visa
• Global Talent visa via the “exceptional talent – leader” route

Dependent visas (That Do Not Directly Lead to ILR)

• Temporary Worker visas like Creative Worker visa, Charity Worker visa, Government Authorised Exchange visa, Religious Worker visa, International Agreement visa, Representative of an Overseas Business visa
• Global Business Mobility visas like Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, and Secondment Worker
• Student visa
• Graduate visa
• HPI visa

If you are a US citizen looking to study in the UK for a period, a Student Visa application is available. You cannot bring your spouse or partner, or children with you unless you are studying for a PhD. You must already have an offer for an educational course in the UK with a Certificate of Acceptance (CaS) issued, and have the funds available to pay for both your chosen course and your living expenses during your period of study in the UK.

When will I need my student visa?

You will need to have your student visa approved and in place before entering the UK, so we recommend applying at least three weeks prior to the start of your course to avoid disappointment. Once approved, you’ll be permitted to enter the country using your Student visa a week prior to your course start date.

Can I extend my Student Visa?

If you wish to stay in the UK to continue studying or pursue post-study opportunities as a graduate, you can apply for a Student Visa extension and remain in the country, or a Graduate visa, permitting you to stay for up to 2 years (or 3 years with a PhD) after your studies. For new graduates who apply for this route starting in 2027, the duration will be reduced from 2 years to 18 months. The requirements must be met to obtain an extension or a Graduate visa.

You may be eligible to claim British Citizenship by Descent or by Double Descent (grandparent) in rare cases.

British Citizenship by Descent

To apply for British Citizenship by Descent, you would have been born outside the UK but have British parents. Your parents must have been born in the UK and be registered British citizens or settled people to pass this status onto you.

You will automatically be considered for British Citizenship by Descent if you were born outside the UK on or after 1 January 1983, if one or both of your parents were British citizens ‘otherwise than by descent’ at the time of your birth.

However, there are other situations in which you may be able to claim British Citizenship by Descent, and the rules can be quite complicated. Apart from the ‘by descent’ route, there are other circumstances where you may be able to become registered as a British citizen by birth, registration, adoption or naturalisation. Naturalisation is the route to citizenship after spending a continuous period of residence in the UK on a valid visa.

British Citizenship by Double Descent

British Citizenship by Descent (grandparent), also known as double descent, is based on having at least one British grandparent. ‘Double Descent’ requires you to meet certain guidelines depending on when you were born and when your grandparents were born. Applications are rare, and complicated. There are three scenarios in which you can claim British citizenship by Double Descent (grandparent):

• Children who are under the age of 18 may be eligible for British Citizenship by Descent
• A person born before the 1st of January 1949
• A person born before the 1st of January 1949

British nationality law is extremely complex. If you do have any heritage connections to the UK through your parents or grandparents, get in touch, and our immigration attorneys can advise on your eligibility for moving to the UK via this route.

Ancestry Visa

As an alternative to applying for British Citizenship by Double Descent (grandparent), if you are not British but have a British grandparent and are a Commonwealth citizen, then moving to the UK can be achieved via a UK Ancestry Visa.

For the Ancestry Visa, your grandparent must have been born in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, on a British-registered ship or aircraft, or in the Republic of Ireland before 31st of March 1922.

This grandparent can be on either side of your family.

The Ancestry Visa lasts for five years after which time you can apply for an extension. You can also apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain if you can show five years’ continuous UK residence.

To be eligible for the Ancestry Visa, you have to be 17 years of age or older and there is no upper age limit.

Another requirement for this visa is that you will have to prove your intention and ability to work in the UK.

Cost of Moving to the UK

The cost of moving to the UK can be expensive; however, much of the cost involved is due to the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS), which allows you to access the National Health Service (NHS) as a British citizen or settled person would.

Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) Cost 

The most costly part of any UK visa application is the IHS, which permits you to access GP appointments and use emergency services without paying and without restrictions. While it represents good value for many, as there is no need for medical insurance to receive vital medical treatment, it is the upfront costs that many see as an obstacle. You must pay for the IHS for every year your UK visa is valid, upfront, before you fly over. The only exception to this is Healthcare workers, such as midwives, doctors, and nurses and their families, who do not need to pay the charge.

• Adult Healthcare surcharge per year – £1035
• Child Healthcare surcharge per year – £776

Most UK visas are initially granted for periods of 2, 3, or 5 years. You will need to pay the fee for the entire duration of your visa.

If your visa is granted for a fractional amount of time under 6 months, that is not a whole year, such as 2 years and 6 months (as with the Spouse visa for applicants already in the UK), you will need to pay the surcharge x2.5. If your visa is granted for more than 6 months, you will need to pay the surcharge for the whole year. For example, a Spouse visa applied for from outside the UK grants leave to remain for 2 years 9 months, so you will need to pay for 3 full years.

You will need to pay the surcharge until you have Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.

IHS Calculations 

IHS Fees for Adult (By Visa Durations)

IHS Fee for Children or Students (By Visa Durations)

Visa Fees

Visa costs are the next major fee involved in moving to the UK. Visa fees can range from the lower end like £524 for a Student visa, to the higher end, £1,846 for a Spouse visa.

Why Consider Relocating from the US to the UK

The United Kingdom remains a leading destination for skilled professionals seeking international career opportunities, lifestyle advantages, and access to world-class public services.

Career Opportunities

The UK offers strong demand in sectors including technology, finance, engineering, healthcare, and professional services. Skilled Worker visas and other immigration routes provide lawful pathways to employment with sponsoring employers.

Work-Life Balance

Employees benefit from statutory paid leave, working-hour protections, and other labor safeguards that support a balanced professional and personal life.

Public Services

Legal residents benefit from healthcare through the National Health Service (NHS), which provides comprehensive medical coverage for everything life may bring. This contrasts with the US system.

Cultural and Geographic Diversity

The UK combines global cities, historic towns, and scenic countryside, offering a range of living environments. Proximity to Europe facilitates professional and personal travel.

Multicultural Environment

Established expatriate communities are found in cities such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol, yet Americans can be found in communities around the UK, including York, the Cotswolds, Cheshire and in smaller villages outside towns and villages. Many Americans visit the UK, fall in love with a particular area, and choose to make it their home. English being the primary language supports smooth integration for international professionals and their families..

Considerations

Cost of Living vs. Compensation

Housing and daily expenses vary by region and should be considered when planning a relocation. London offers far higher salaries than elsewhere in the UK, yet the cost of living is also significantly higher. Many Londoners say, “You can’t live in London on less than…” and they quote figures ranging from £30,000 to £50,000 a year. You can live comfortably without dependents elsewhere in the UK on around £25,000. With higher utility bills and rents, many families struggle to live on less than £20,000, which is why the Spouse visa minimum income is £29,000, and for Skilled Workers to bring dependents it is £41,700 or above the going rate for the job you do.

Visa and Sponsorship Requirements

Immigration pathways require compliance with eligibility criteria, including minimum salary thresholds, skill-level requirements, and employer sponsorship obligations. These are typically stringent and must be met to be eligible for a visa. You must continue to meet these requirements to be eligible for your visa and to qualify for settlement and citizenship when the time comes.

The UK presents a compelling option for individuals and families seeking professional growth, high-quality public services, and international experience. Proper planning and compliance with immigration requirements are essential for a successful relocation