Determine the legal requirements for moving to the UK.

Step 1. Determine the legal requirements for moving to the UK.

No matter where you are from, you will need a valid passport to enter the UK. From there, the legal requirements to move to the UK will depend on your citizenship.

Requirements for Australian citizens

As part of the Commonwealth, Australian citizens can apply for a “right of residence” if they have a parent born in the UK or were Commonwealth citizens on 31 December 1982 and have been permanent citizens ever since.

When you have the right to reside, you can legally live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions.

Another way for Australians to move to the UK is through the UK Ancestral Visa, available to citizens of Commonwealth countries. However, there are a few more requirements to apply for this visa, namely:

• You must apply before you travel to the UK. You can do this no earlier than three months before departure.
• You must be at least 17 years old
• You must prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK.
• You must have sufficient funds to support yourself (and any dependents)
• Are you planning to work in the UK?

However, unlike the right of residence, the UK Ancestral Visa expires after five years.

The UK Ancestral Visa costs £516. You can use Wise to save on currency conversions when paying for a UK Ancestral Visa from Australia.

legal requirements for EU citizens

Moving to the UK after Brexit will be different. EU citizens residing in the UK are eligible for protected residence until 30 June 2021. However, suppose you are from the EU (excluding the Republic of Ireland), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and live in the UK. In that case, you must apply to stay if you intend to remain in the country after 31 December 2020.

The first step is to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme or British Citizenship, depending on your situation and preferences. You may need to take action even if you have previously received a permanent residence document from the UK government.

The UK Government has a helpful online tool that determines what you must do to stay in the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen after December 2020. He will guide you through the process and the options available depending on your situation.

Whatever your post-Brexit plans, signing up for the UK Home Office’s email updates is a good idea to ensure you get the latest news on the Brexit negotiations and their impact on you.

Requirements for American Citizens

Americans hoping to move to the UK have a more structured process and will need to obtain a visa. The most common types of visas are work and family visas. If neither is applicable in your case, it won’t be easy to move to the UK.

Different work visas depend on the situation, and you can also apply for different types of visas. The UK Government has prepared a quick check you can do to find out if you need a visa and what kind of visa you might need.

For example, you can apply for a Tier 2 visa when offered a skilled job in the UK. Your employer must be a licensed sponsor and provide you with a valid certificate of sponsorship.

Other requirements for this visa:

• You must show that you are getting an adequate salary.
• You may need to prove your knowledge of English.
• You must prove that you have the means to support yourself upon arrival in the UK with a bank or building society statement.
• You must present a valid passport and travel history for the last five years.
• If you are working with vulnerable people, you must provide a criminal record.
• You must also provide TB test results from an approved clinic in some countries.

Student Requirements

If you are an EU, EEA or Switzerland student, you can enter the UK without a visa until 31 December 2020. Upon arrival, you must apply for the right to remain in the UK under the EU settlement scheme. 31 June 2021.

After 1 January 2021, European students can enter the UK without a visa for up to 6 months. In addition, you will need a visa – your options include the following:

• Student visa for students aged 18 and over
• Child student visa for children from 4 to 17 years old studying in a British independent school
• Visa for parents of dependent children studying in UK schools

Students from other countries may need to apply for a visa. The following options are usually available:

• Short-term study visas are available for stays of up to 6 months
• Short-term study visas for up to 11 months when studying English in the relevant courses.
• Student visa for students aged 18 and over
• Child student visa for children from 4 to 17 years old studying in a British independent school

Check your visa requirements and options using the UK Government Visa Application Tool for complete information.

Migrants in the UK: Read the continuation below:

• Step 1. Determine the legal requirements for moving to the UK.
• Step 2: Make sure you can afford the UK Living Wage.
• Step 3. Set up your finances in the UK
• Step 4: Find a job and start working in the UK
• Step 5: Find a place to live in the UK
• Step 6: Make sure you have UK medical care coverage.
• Step 7. Learn the language if you haven’t already.
• Step 8: Don’t be lonely – make friends and connect with other ex-pats in the UK.
• Step 9: Find out the UK emergency numbers