If you’re not a UK or EU citizen, immigrating to the UK requires a valid reason and official approval to live and work there (i.e., a visa and residence permit). Your immigration pathway will depend on your reason for moving: for work, study, or to join family, for example.
Immigration Options for the UK
The first step towards moving to the UK is understanding your immigration options. This means you need to explore the different visas and residence permits available.
- A visa allows you to enter the UK for a specific purpose (work, study, etc.).
- A residence permit allows you to stay and carry out that purpose.
Understanding the right pathway and ensuring your documents meet all the legal criteria can be complex, especially with frequently changing regulations. For specialized advice on all UK visas and professional management of your application, consider working with legal professionals at a UK immigration law practice.
They provide expert guidance on all matters related to UK immigration law, ensuring your application process is efficient and compliant.
Here are the most common immigration pathways for the UK:
Employment Visa
You can move to the UK through an employment visa if you have a job offer from a UK employer.
To work in the UK, you need:
- A recognized qualification, either academic or vocational.
- A job offer that matches your level of education/training (jobs involving only basic manual or administrative tasks usually won’t qualify).
- A license to practice, if you work in a regulated profession (such as healthcare).
Note: If you’re 45 or older and coming to work in the UK for the first time, your job must pay at least £26,200 per year (as of 2025).
🔗Learn more about the Uk employment visa:
Skilled Worker Visa
A popular way to move to the UK for work is through the Skilled Worker visa. This is a residence permit for “skilled professionals” who have a university degree and a high-paying job offer (at least £25,600/year in 2025).
Here’s what you need to know about the Skilled Worker visa for the UK:
- You need one of the following qualifications:
- A UK academic degree or
- A foreign academic degree that is comparable to a UK one.
- You must have a job offer that meets the following criteria:
- You must earn a gross annual salary of at least £25,600 (as of 2025).
- The period of employment must be at least six months.
- Your job position must match your academic degree.
The Skilled Worker visa offers a direct pathway to permanent residency for those who meet the eligibility requirements.
See a more detailed explanation of the Skilled Worker visa.
Health and Care Worker Visa
If you are a healthcare professional, you can move to the UK through the Health and Care Worker visa, which is specifically designed for people working in the healthcare sector.
You qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa if:
- You have a job offer in a healthcare role that is on the government’s list of eligible occupations.
- You meet the required salary level (typically a minimum of £20,480 per year as of 2025).
This visa offers a faster route to settlement, particularly for healthcare workers.
Graduate Visa
If you have completed a degree at a UK higher education institution, you may be eligible for the Graduate visa. This visa allows you to stay in the UK for up to two years to work at any skill level after completing a qualifying course.
To qualify for the Graduate visa:
- You must have completed a degree-level course at a UK university or higher education provider.
- You must apply before your student visa expires.
See a more detailed guide to the UK Graduate visa.
Family Visa
The family visa allows close family members (spouse, partner, children, or parents) of a UK citizen or resident to join them in the UK. This immigration pathway is only available if you already have a family connection to someone in the UK.
To qualify, you usually need to meet certain conditions, such as:
- Basic English language skills (e.g., at least A1 level for family members).
- Proof of your relationship (e.g., marriage certificate or birth certificate).
🔗See a detailed guide to the UK family visa.
Applying for a Visa and Residence Permit
If you have a valid reason to move, your first step is to apply for a visa to the UK. Here’s what you need to know:
- To apply for the visa, you have to schedule an appointment with a UK visa center. UK embassies or consulates abroad are in charge of issuing short and long-term visas. They usually outsource visa submissions to visa centers, such as VFS Global.
- You need to collect purpose-specific documents. You will need to submit documents supporting your reason for moving to the UK. This may include:
- Academic qualifications (e.g., diplomas or certificates)
- Job offer (for employees)
- Admission to a university (for students)
- Marriage or birth certificates (for family members)
- The visa process typically takes several weeks (3 to 12 weeks depending on the visa type).
- The visa will be issued for up to 12 months. The duration of your visa will be indicated on the visa sticker in your passport. After arriving in the UK, you need to apply for a residence permit.
Special Entry Rules for Citizens of Certain Countries
If you are a citizen of certain countries (e.g., Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the US, or South Korea), you may not need to apply for a visa at a UK visa center abroad. You can enter the UK and apply for your residence permit after your arrival.
Requirements for Moving to the UK
In addition to a visa, there are other requirements you have to meet before you can move to the UK. These include:
- Financial solvency: You must prove that you have enough financial means to support yourself during your stay. Depending on your situation, this may be a blocked bank account (for students), proof of income or a job offer (for workers), or family sponsorship (for family reunification).
- Language skills: Depending on your visa type, you may need to meet language proficiency requirements, such as demonstrating knowledge of English at A1 or B1 level for family reunification or for studies.
- Recognized qualifications: If you are moving to the UK for employment, your qualifications must be recognized by UK authorities.
- Health insurance: You need valid health insurance coverage from the moment you enter the UK. You can obtain travel insurance to cover the initial period of your stay. Once you are settled, you will need to enroll in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) or arrange private health insurance.
- Accommodation: You must provide proof of accommodation, either temporary or permanent.
After Arrival in the UK
Once you arrive in the UK, you need to take a few important steps to settle in:
- Register your address: You must register with the local authorities within the first few weeks after arriving in the UK.
- Apply for a residence permit: You will need to apply for a residence permit at the UK Home Office, and the duration of your residence permit will depend on your visa type.
- Open a bank account: You will need a UK bank account for your salary and living expenses. To open an account, you’ll need your passport, proof of residence, and possibly additional documentation.
- Enroll in healthcare: If you plan to work in the UK, your employer will typically register you with the NHS. If you’re a student, you will need to arrange student health insurance.
Permanent Residency (Settlement) and Citizenship
After living in the UK for several years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency (settlement) and eventually citizenship. The general rules for settlement in the UK are:
- 5 years for most work-related visas.
- 2 years for spouses of UK citizens or settled individuals.
Additionally, you can apply for UK citizenship if you have lived in the country for at least five years and meet the integration and language proficiency requirements.