A Comprehensive Guide to Long-term Residency in the UK
Country Profile:
The United Kingdom is situated in the northwestern part of Europe, encompassed by the Atlantic Ocean. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and fourteen overseas territories.
As a well-established capitalist nation, the UK ranks as the world’s sixth-largest economy and exerts significant global influence in cultural, economic, and geopolitical spheres.
Capital: London
Population: 67,596,281 (2022, 22nd)
Ethnic Groups: 87.1% White, 7.0% Asian, 3.0% Black, 2.0% Mixed
Area: 244,376 km2 (78th)
Offical Language: English
Currency: Pound sterling (as of May 8, 2024, 1 Pound sterling=1.25 United States Dollar)
GDP per Captial: $58,880 (2024 estimated, 27th)
How To Become A Resident In The UK:
The UK’s immigration and visa system is notably complex, encompassing dozens of visa pathways tailored for diverse scenarios.
Generally speaking, after Brexit, the UK’s residence permits can be divided into two types: temporary residence permits (limited leave to remain) and permanent residency (indefinite leave to remain).
Temporary residency permits include visas for family reunification, student visas, work visas, and innovator founder visas, among others.
Generally, work visas are the primary routes for individuals looking to relocate to the UK.
UK long-term work visas, valid for up to five years, are principally divided into three types:
1. Skilled Worker Visa: Requires sponsorship from a local employer and the position must be listed by the UK Home Office and meet certain salary criteria.
2. Intra-Company Work Visas: Requires employment with a multinational company, which involves being transferred to the UK, with salary requirements that must be met.
3. Health and Care Worker Visa: Requires employment in the healthcare sector with appropriate professional qualifications, a secured position, and sufficient salary.
Short-term work visas in the UK cover Religious Workers, Seasonal Workers, Creative and Sporting individuals, and Charity Workers etc.. These visas generally last between one and two years, with a maximum duration of three years.
In addition to the work visas, there are seven special categories of work visas that do not require employer sponsorship. These include the Global Talent Visa (for distinguished leaders or potential leaders in fields like education, research, digital technology, culture, and arts), the High Potential Individual Visa (for graduates from the top 50 global universities), the Graduate Visa (for local university graduates), the British National (Overseas) Visa, the UK Ancestry Visa, the Youth Mobility Scheme, and the.
For a comprehensive overview of all UK work visa types, you can visit here.
Regarding investment immigration, despite the termination of the general investor visa stream, the UK still offers the Innovator Founder Visa for business activities.
This visa requires initiating a startup and engaging in operational activities with support from a local endorsing body.
Most UK residence permits allow the main applicant’s spouse and children under 18 to relocate to the UK as dependents.
After legally residing in the UK for up to five years, foreign nationals can apply for permanent residency.
Permanent residents may apply for a UK passport after an additional year of residence, provided they have lived continuously in the UK for five years, spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in the last 12 months, and no more than 450 days abroad in the last five years. Applicants must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test, and fulfill other basic criteria.
Beyond the standard pathways, one can also obtain a British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) passport through one of the UK’s fourteen overseas territories, offering an alternative long-term residency route.
The principal migration pathways in these territories include investor visas and HNWI (high-net-worth individuals) visas.
Skilled Worker Visa:
Who is eligible for a UK skilled worker visa?
The UK Skilled Worker Visa, formerly known as the Tier 2 Work Visa, permits foreign workers to reside in the UK and work for a qualified British employer in an approved job.
To be eligible for this visa, applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
1. You must secure a job contract from a UK company that is licensed and recognized by the UK Home Office.
2. Your employer must provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) noting your job position, which should be on the UK’s official list of eligible occupations. The detailed list of occupations can be accessed here .
3. The salary outlined in your job contract must meet or exceed the local minimum requirement, details of which can be found here.
4. You must demonstrate English language proficiency of at least B1 level, roughly equivalent to scores between 4 and 5 on the IELTS.
5. Your visa is directly tied to your employment; therefore, any change of job or employer necessitates a timely notification to the UK Home Office to update your visa status.
How to apply for a UK skilled worker visa?
Currently, all UK skilled worker visa applications can be submitted online.
If you are outside the UK, you can apply for the visa here.
If you are in the UK and wish to extend your visa, you can apply here. If you wish to switch from another type of visa to a Sskilled workervisa, you can apply here. To report a change of job or employer, click here.
The processing time for the skilled worker visa is approximately three weeks for applications from outside the UK, and about eight weeks for applications from within the UK.
You can check the visa fees here.
Visa duartion:
The UK skilled worker visa is valid for up to five years and can be renewed indefinitely under the same conditions upon expiration.
You can also apply for permanent residency in the UK after legally residing there for five years.
Global Talent Visa:
Who is eligible for a UK global talent visa?
Effective from February 20, 2020, the UK introduced the Global Talent Visa, which replaced the former Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa. This visa is granted to individuals who are recognized leaders or potential leaders in sectors such as education, research, digital technology, culture, and the arts. Applicants do not require employer sponsorship and are permitted to work in the country for at least five years. After residing in the UK for three years, you can transition from the Global Talent Visa to permanent residency, or renew the visa under the same conditions once it expires.
Compared to the skilled worker visa, holders of the UK Global Talent Visa can change jobs freely, you only need to have an employment contract in hand at the time of renewal.
Who can apply for a UK global talent visa?
Applicants for the UK Global Talent Visa must meet one of the following criteria:
1. Research and Education: Applicants must either have an employment contract with a UK-based research or educational institution, hold an academic grant from the UK, or be part of a research team endorsed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
2. Arts and Culture: Candidates must have worked continuously in this sector for the past five years, achieving internationally recognized and significant accomplishments, as validated by the Arts Council England. Your work should be well-known in at least two different countries.
3. Fashion: You need to be a prominent talent or an emerging star in your field, with over five years of continuous work that has international influence.
4. Film and Television: Eligibility is determined by the Producers’ Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT).
5. Digital Sector: You must occupy a mid-level or higher managerial position in a high-tech innovative company, with work related to digital sector innovation and significant influence in the field of digital technology.
6. Architecture: You should have five years of continuous work that has international impact and is deemed as a significant achievement by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
How to apply for a UK Global Talent Visa?
The application process for the UK Global Talent Program is structured into two steps:
1. First, you must obtain endosement from a relevant local professional body. If you have received a top honor in your field, this step may be waived. The specific list of eligible awards can be viewed here.
2. Second, proceed with the online application for the Global Talent Visa. If you are outside the UK, you can apply here. If you are within the UK and wish to extend your visa, apply here. If you are in the UK and wish to switch from another visa category to the Global Talent Visa, you can apply here.
The processing time for the visa is up to eight weeks if you are applying from within the UK, and approximately three weeks if you are applying from outside the UK.
The visa fee is £716, plus an annual healthcare surcharge of £1,035 per person.
High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa:
What is a UK High Potential Visa?
The UK High Potential Individual Visa (HPI) is granted to recent graduates who have obtained their degree from a top-tier university within the past five years.
The visa is valid for two years, extending to three years for individuals with a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification.
Holders of this visa are permitted to live in the UK, seek employment, and transition to other long-term residency visas during its validity period.
Each individual is eligible to apply for the High Potential Individual Visa only once in their lifetime, and it is not renewable. If you do not switch to another visa type before the HPI visa expires, you will be required to leave the UK.
The recognized list of top universities eligible for the HPI can be accessed here.
Additionally, applicants must demonstrate English proficiency of at least B1 level (IELTS score between 4 and 5), secure annual health insurance for £1,035, and maintain a minimum bank balance of £1,270.
How to apply for a UK High Potential Visa?
The application process for the UK High Potential Individual Visa can be conducted entirely online: if you are outside the UK, you can apply here; if you are within the UK, you can apply here.
The processing time for the visa is approximately three weeks for applications from outside the UK, and about eight weeks for those submitted from within the UK.
Youth Mobility Scheme visa:
You can apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa if you:
1. want to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years
2. are aged 18 to 30 (or 18 to 35 if you’re from New Zealand)
3. have £2,530 in savings
4. have certain types of British Nationality or are from Australia, Canada, Monaco, San Marino, Iceland, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
The application fee is £259, and the healthcare surcharge is usually £470 per year. You must also prove you have enough personal saving.
You’ll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.
You can enter the UK at any time while your visa is valid, and leave and come back at any time during your stay.
If you turn 31 after your visa is issued, you can stay in the UK for as long as your visa is valid.
If you’re from New Zealand, you’ll be able to extend your visa by one year after the 2-year period ends.
India Young Professionals Scheme visa:
An India Young Professionals Scheme visa allows Indian citizens between 18 and 30 years old to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.
You must be selected in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot before you can apply for this visa. To enter the ballot you must declare that you’re eligible for the visa.
To be eligible for the visa, you must:
1. be an Indian citizen
2. be between 18 and 30 years old
3. have an eligible qualification
4. have £2,530 in savings
the process is as follows:
1. If you’re eligible, enter the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot.
2. If you’re successful in the ballot, you’ll receive an invitation to apply for the visa.
3. Prepare the documents that you need to apply.
4. Apply for an India Young Professionals Scheme visa.
If you’re successful in the ballot you’ll need to apply for your visa by the deadline given in your invitation to apply. This is usually 30 days after you get the invitation.
You must travel to the UK within 6 months of applying for your visa.
Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
You will need to: pay the application fee of £259; pay a healthcare surcharge of £940 and prove you have £2,530 in personal savings.
You’ll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.
Innovator Founder Visa:
What is a UK Innovator Founder Visa?
Effective from April 22, 2023, the UK has consolidated the original Start-up Visa and Innovator Visa into the Innovator Founder Visa. This visa now stands as the sole long-term visa category for business operations in the UK.
To qualify for the UK Innovator Founder Visa, you must plan to establish a new, innovative company in the UK that has potential for growth and significant scale, and you must secure an endorsement from a local endorsing body.
The list of accredited endorsing bodies is available here.
Additionally, you must demonstrate English proficiency at a B2 level or above.
The Innovator Founder Visa is valid for three years and can be renewed under the original terms. Annual meetings with your endorsing body to report on your company’s progress are mandatory. Should your company underperform, your endorsing body may withdraw their support, which could lead to the cancellation or reduction of your visa’s validity.
After legally residing in the UK for three years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency, provided certain conditions are met.
How to apply for a UK Innovator Founder Visa?
The UK Innovator Founder Visa application can be fully processed online: if you are outside the UK, you can apply here; if you are within the UK and wish to extend your visa, you can apply here; if you are in the UK and wish to convert another visa type to an Innovator Founder Visa, you can apply here.
For applicants outside the UK, the visa processing time is approximately three weeks. For those inside the UK, it takes about eight weeks.
The initial visa application fee is £1,192 per person. For each subsequent renewal, the fee is £1,486 per person.
Passport Power:
The United Kingdom recognizes dual citizenship. Its passport is globally ranked 3rd, allowing its citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 countries and regions worldwide (May 8, 2024).
Useful Links:
Visa And Immigration Of The United Kingdom：https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration