UK Visa for Indians: Moving to the UK from India

Overview of Moving to the UK from India

At over 1.4 million individuals, Indians make up the largest ethnic minority in the United Kingdom.

The influence that Indian culture has had on the UK is also unmistakeable, with British food, film, TV and ways of life being heavily influenced by the UK and India’s historic political and social relationships.

As it stands, the UK is still one of the most popular destinations for Indians to move to and settle in, not in the least because of the existing strength of Indian communities in the UK. This is particularly the case in areas such as London, Birmingham and the West Midlands, which have the largest proportion of Indians than anywhere else in the country.

There are numerous ways that you will be able to come and live in the UK, most of which will involve applying for a visa. There are a number of visas to suit different needs, such as those for skilled workers, those who have British ancestry, or those who already have family residing in the UK.

How Can I Settle in the UK?

The main way you’ll be able to settle in the UK is through applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which is the UK’s term for permanent settlement. This will allow you to:

• Live, work and study in the UK for as long as you want
• Access NHS services for free
• Access public funds and claim benefits
• Sponsor family members to come to the UK and join you
• Apply for British citizenship (after spending one year in the UK with ILR)

In order to be eligible for ILR, you must first spend a certain amount of time in the UK with a valid UK visa and build up qualifying residence.

This normally means that you can’t have spent more than 180 days outside of the UK in any 12 month period.

In most cases, you will have to build up at least 5 years’ worth of qualifying residence in the UK before you can apply for ILR.

Not all UK visas will allow you to stay in the UK for 5 years and apply for ILR. However, there are still many that will allow you to do so, such as the Skilled Worker visa, Ancestry visa, and Spouse visa or Family visa.

After spending one year in the UK with ILR, you will also then have the option of applying for British citizenship, which will also give you the right to a British passport and the right to vote in all UK elections.

UK Work Visas for Indians

If your preference is to come to the UK and work in order to permanently settle, you may apply for one of the UK’s many work visas.

The most popular of these is the Skilled Worker visa, which is the UK’s general work visa for skilled foreign workers. It covers a wide range of occupations, and allows you to come and live in the UK as long as you have a job offer from an approved employer.

This employer will also act as your sponsor while you’re in the UK and issue you with a certificate of sponsorship If you happen to switch employers, or to a different occupation with the same employer, you will have to apply for another certificate of sponsorship.

The Skilled Worker visa will require you to meet minimum English language requirements, as well having an eligible job that meets the minimum threshold in terms of salary.

It will also allow you to settle permanently in the UK after 5 years.

Other UK work visas include the Senior and Specialist Worker visa, which is for people who wish to work in a UK-based branch of their current employer, and the Scale-Up visa, which is for those who can help contribute to businesses experiencing rapid growth.

For those specifically working in the health or care sectors, there is also the Health and Care Worker visa.

UK Health and Care Worker visa for Indians

The UK Health and Care Worker visa is specifically targeted at doctors, nurses, health professionals or adult social care professionals who wish to come and settle in the UK.

This visa encompasses numerous health and care professions, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Medical practitioners
• Nurses
• Midwifes
• Pharmaceutical technicians

Following the government’s new rules following the 2025 Immigration White Paper, this route will no longer be open to some job roles. They must instead apply for a Skilled Worker visa and meet the salary and education requirements. This applies to:

• Social workers
• Care workers and home carers

The full list can be found on the Gov.uk website.

To be eligible for this visa, you must have a job offer from an approved health and care sector employer, such as the NHS or an organisation.

Your job must also meet the minimum salary requirements, which will normally be £324 or the ‘going rate’ of the job – whichever is higher.

You must also prove that you can speak English to a certain minimum standard to come to the UK on this visa.

Similarly to the Skilled Worker visa, the Health and Care Worker visa will allow you to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years. After you do so, you will no longer be tied to the job that you’ve been sponsored for, and you can take up any employment you like.

UK Ancestry Visa for Indians

One unique route that some Indians may take advantage of to settle in the UK is the Ancestry visa.

This is a visa specifically for Commonwealth nations and British Overseas nations. It allows those with one or more British grandparents to come and settle in the UK on the basis of having British ancestry.

In order to qualify for this visa, you must be an Indian citizen and prove that one of your grandparents was born in one of the following circumstances:

• In the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
• Before 31 March 1922 in what is now Ireland
• On a ship or aircraft that was either registered in the UK or belonged to the UK government

You need to also prove that you intend to work in the UK, and that you meet the minimum financial requirements.

If you can successfully prove that you meet all the requirements, you will be able to live, work and study in the UK, as well as the ability to bring your partner or child with you.

After 5 years of being in the UK with the Ancestry visa, you may then apply for indefinite leave to remain.

UK Family Visas for Indians

One of the most popular immigration routes for Indians is to apply for a UK Family visa. This will allow you to settle with a family member who is already settled in the UK.

To be eligible for this visa, your family member must be one of the following:

• A British or Irish citizen
• Someone with settled status in the UK, such as through indefinite leave to remain or through the EU Settlement Scheme
• Someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

You may apply for a Family visa if you are related in any of the following ways to your UK-based family member:

• Spouse, partner or unmarried partner
• Parent
• Child
• Adult dependent relative

In order to apply, you will normally have to meet the minimum financial requirements. This is to demonstrate that you won’t have to claim any benefits while in the UK. You may also have to prove your knowledge of English.

A Family visa will allow you to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years in the UK.

How Can IAS Help?

India and the UK share a historically prosperous and mutually beneficial political and social relationship. The Indian community in the UK in particular is particularly notable for how well-established it is in the UK, and for how easy it is to Indians to integrate into British culture.

If you require any additional assistance with your move to UK from India, including help with visas or the logistics of moving, then IAS can help.

As well as providing complete legal immigration support for our clients, we also offer comprehensive concierge services to make migrating to the UK smooth and seamless.

As part of our services, we can assist with the moving of furniture, belongings and pets, helping you look for places to stay in the UK, and bespoke, personalised services to help you settle into your new home.

Our personalised services include helping you sign up with a local GP, helping you research local schools for your children, and helping to organise your utilities and council tax for your primary residence.

For more information about the services we offer, and how we can help with your move to the UK, the European Economic Area, or anywhere else in the world, speak to one of our helpful advisers on 0333 4149244, or contact us online.