Moving to United Kingdom

Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK sponsor; job on the eligible occupation list. Since 22 July 2025 most new applicants need a job at RQF Level 6 (graduate level). Salary must be the higher of the general threshold (GBP 41,700, approx EUR 48,000) or the occupation's going rate; GBP 30,960 for 'new entrants' (with a 30% going-rate discount) and GBP 29,000 for health and care occupations. English at B1. Visa granted for up to 5 years, extendable. Employer pays the Immigration Skills Charge, raised on 16 December 2025 to GBP 1,320/year for medium and large sponsors and GBP 480/year for small or charitable sponsors (approx EUR 1,520 / EUR 550). Applicant pays the Immigration Health Surcharge, usually GBP 1,035 (approx EUR 1,190) per person per year. Salary figures move frequently and are corroborated by multiple immigration-practice sources rather than read off the gov.uk overview page - re-verify before relying on them.

Either win an eligible prestigious prize (apply directly) or obtain an endorsement from an approved endorsing body in academia/research, arts and culture, or digital technology. No job offer and no sponsor required; free choice of employer or self-employment. Granted for up to 5 years at a time, extendable indefinitely. Fee GBP 766 total (GBP 561 endorsement plus GBP 205 visa), approx EUR 880; partners and children pay GBP 766 each. Immigration Health Surcharge usually GBP 1,035 (approx EUR 1,190) per person per year. Settlement available after 3 or 5 years depending on field and route; British citizenship still needs 5 years' residence plus 12 months holding settled status.

Business idea must be new, innovative, viable with growth potential, and scalable, with evidence of job creation and international expansion. Endorsement from an approved endorsing body is mandatory, plus contact-point meetings at 12 and 24 months to show progress. There is no minimum investment funds requirement (the former GBP 50,000 rule was removed). English required. Granted for 3 years, extendable in 3-year blocks with no cap; settlement possible after 3 years. Fees: GBP 1,357 from outside the UK or GBP 1,693 to switch/extend inside the UK, plus GBP 1,000 endorsement and GBP 500 per contact-point meeting (two minimum), plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. Decision usually 3 weeks from outside the UK, 8 weeks inside.

Job offer of at least 6 months from a Home Office-approved scale-up business, with a Certificate of Sponsorship and a job on the eligible occupation list. Salary must be the higher of GBP 39,100 (approx EUR 44,965) or the going rate for the occupation. English required. Granted for 2 years initially, then extensions of 3 years. The distinguishing feature: after the first 6 months you can change or leave the job, or work self-employed, without notifying the Home Office. Fee GBP 937 per person (approx EUR 1,080) plus the Immigration Health Surcharge and a personal savings requirement. Settlement after 5 years.

Degree awarded in the last 5 years by a university on the Home Office's Global Universities List (an overseas institution; UK degrees do not qualify). No job offer and no sponsor; you can work in most jobs, look for work and be self-employed, but not as a professional sportsperson. There is a yearly limit on applications (the application year runs from 1 November to 31 October); if it has been reached, you are told when you apply online. Granted for 2 years, or 3 years with a PhD or other doctoral qualification. The visa cannot be extended and time on it does NOT count towards settlement - you must switch to another route (typically Skilled Worker) to stay longer. English requirement, application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge apply, plus a personal savings requirement; current fee not verified here. Decision usually 3 weeks from outside the UK, 8 weeks inside.

Age-gated and nationality-gated, and both limits are the point of the route. Stay of up to 24 months, extendable by a further year for Australian, Canadian and New Zealand citizens. Must hold GBP 2,530 (approx EUR 2,910) in savings for 28 consecutive days. Cannot have been in the UK on the scheme before. Fee GBP 340 (approx EUR 390) plus Immigration Health Surcharge of GBP 776 per year. Work in most jobs permitted; self-employment allowed only with rented premises, equipment under GBP 5,000 and no employees; professional sportsperson roles barred. Dependants CANNOT be included - partners and children must qualify in their own right, and you cannot apply at all if you have children under 18 who live with you or children you are financially responsible for. Does not lead to settlement, and time on it does not count towards it. Hong Kong (SAR passport) and Taiwan applicants must first be selected in a ballot; other participating nationalities apply directly, subject to the annual place allocations agreed bilaterally.

Requires a completed eligible UK degree while holding a Student or Tier 4 (General) visa, with the education provider confirming completion. No job offer and no sponsor; almost all work permitted, including self-employment, but not as a professional sportsperson. Duration: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, reducing to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027; doctoral graduates get 3 years throughout. Fee GBP 937 (approx EUR 1,080) plus Immigration Health Surcharge of usually GBP 1,035 per year. The Graduate visa cannot be extended and does not itself lead to settlement - you must switch to a qualifying route such as Skilled Worker. Decision usually within 8 weeks. Dependants who already held Student dependant permission can normally apply.

Open only to Commonwealth citizens, British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens, British nationals (overseas), and citizens of Zimbabwe. Must prove a grandparent was born in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or before 31 March 1922 in what is now Ireland, or on a UK-registered ship or aircraft; adoptive links count and parents' marital status is irrelevant, but step-parents cannot be used. Must be 17 or over, be able and intend to work in the UK, and support and house yourself and dependants without public funds. No employer sponsor, no salary threshold, no English test, and full work rights including self-employment. Granted for 5 years, then either extend for 5 more or apply for indefinite leave to remain. You cannot switch into this visa from inside the UK if you came on a different visa. Fee GBP 726 (approx EUR 835) plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. Partner and children can come.