The United Kingdom is a highly sought destination for immigrants for many reasons. It is brimming with history both in its big cities and quaint pastoral towns. And Brexit not withstanding, England enjoys a stable political culture that offers universal healthcare and extremely low levels of gun violence. Wondering how to settle there? We’ll break down the most common pathways used to achieve permanent residence in the United Kingdom.
First Things First
No matter the pathway you choose for relocation to England, it will take five years of strict adherence to the terms of your visa and a demonstration that you have been self-sufficient during that time in order to apply for permanent residence.
For now, residents of the European Union are still permitted to come to the UK and begin that five year process visa-free, with only a passport. That will likely change after March of 2019 when new regulations around Brexit are fully developed and implemented, but it will still be relatively easy for citizens of an EU country to gain entrance. If you happen to be a citizen of an EU country or Switzerland, the rest of this article will not apply to you.
Skilled Worker Visa
Generally called a Tier 2 visa, to qualify you must be sponsored by a UK-based business that is willing to offer you a job based on your professional skills. You have a better chance if you are on the Shortage Occupation List, but in recent months the cap on this kind of visa application has been reached consistently, resulting in professionals as advanced as doctors being turned away. That doesn’t mean that you have no chance to go this route, but even with a skilled job offer, you may need to apply several times before getting through.