Move to the UK from the US or Canada: A Real Immigration Guide
Quick answer: most Americans and Canadians move to the UK through the Skilled Worker visa (£41,700 minimum salary as of 2025), the Global Talent visa, a student visa, or British ancestry if a grandparent was born in the UK. Budget for visa fees, the £1,035/year Immigration Health Surcharge, and a genuine adjustment period this guide covers what actually changes, not just the paperwork.
I lived in the UK for over 10 years after moving from Canada, and I hold dual citizenship with the UK, Canada, and Ireland, which has made living and travelling around Europe considerably easier than it is for most people. I get asked constantly how to actually make this move, so here’s the honest version visas, costs, and the real day-to-day adjustments, not a list of guesses dressed up as expert quotes.
- Move to the UK from the US or Canada: A Real Immigration Guide
- Fast Facts: Move to UK (2026)
- Why People Actually Move
- UK Visa Routes for North Americans
- British Citizenship by Descent and Ancestry
- Your National Insurance Number
- Cost of Living: A Realistic Comparison
- Healthcare: The NHS in Practice
- Housing: What Actually Changes
- Understanding UK Schools (If You're Moving With Kids)
- Work Culture and Your Rights as an Employee
- Banking and Credit: Starting From Zero
- Driving in the UK
- Food, Shopping, and Everyday Vocabulary
- Tax Obligations for Americans and Canadians
- Affordable UK Cities Worth Considering
- Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to the UK
Fast Facts: Move to UK (2026)
| Skilled Worker visa minimum salary | £41,700/year or the occupation’s ‘going rate,’ whichever is higher (since July 2025) |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | £1,035/year for adults; £776/year for students, under-18s, and Youth Mobility Scheme |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) fee | £3,226 per applicant (since April 2026) |
| National Living Wage (21+) | £12.71/hour (since April 2026) |
| North American driving licence | Valid for up to 12 months as a resident before you must exchange or retest |
| Ancestry route | A UK Ancestry visa is available if a grandparent was born in the UK 5 years’ permission to live, work, and study |
Why People Actually Move
The honest reasons tend to be less dramatic than headlines suggest: universal healthcare through the NHS, a legal minimum of 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday a year, genuinely usable public transport in most cities, and easy weekend access to the rest of Europe. None of that makes the UK problem-free it has its own cost-of-living pressures, housing shortages, and political debates but for people used to US healthcare costs or minimal vacation time, the contrast is real and immediate.
I won’t pretend to know exactly how many Americans or Canadians moved here this year, and I’d be cautious of any guide that cites a suspiciously precise number without a direct government source UK net migration has actually been falling sharply since 2024 following policy tightening, according to the Office for National Statistics, so treat any claim of a North American ‘surge’ with scepticism unless it points you to the actual data.
UK Visa Routes for North Americans
There’s no single ‘move to the UK’ visa which route fits depends entirely on your situation. Always confirm current fees and thresholds on gov.uk directly before applying, since these change at least annually.
Skilled Worker Visa
- Minimum salary: £41,700/year or the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher (increased from £38,700 in July 2025)
- Requires a job offer from a licensed UK sponsor
- Processing time: typically 3 weeks from outside the UK
- Lower thresholds (down to £25,000) apply to some new entrants, PhD holders, and shortage occupations
Global Talent Visa
- For recognised leaders or emerging talent in tech, academia, arts, and research
- No minimum salary requirement, but requires an endorsement from a relevant UK body
- Genuinely competitive endorsement is the hard part, not the visa application itself
High Potential Individual Visa
- For graduates of specific top-ranked global universities within the last 5 years
- No job offer required, but the visa is time-limited (typically 2 years) rather than a path to settlement on its own
Student Visa
- Application fee: £490 from outside the UK
- IHS at the reduced student rate: £776/year
- A 3-year course from outside the UK: budget roughly £490 + (£776 × 3) = £2,818 in fees alone, before tuition
British Citizenship by Descent and Ancestry
If one of your grandparents was born in the UK, a British territory, or was a Commonwealth citizen at the time of their birth, you may qualify for a UK Ancestry visa, which grants up to 5 years’ permission to live, work, and study in the UK. Sadly since Brexit the ability to live in any EU country has been severely restricted. Irish citizenship carries its own separate advantages for UK residence given the long-standing Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK worth investigating if you have any Irish family history at all, since it can be a genuinely simpler route than the standard visa system. Irish Citizenship is also EU bonus meaning you can live anywhere in the EU.
Your National Insurance Number
A National Insurance (NI) number is the UK’s equivalent of a Social Security Number it records your tax and National Insurance contributions. You don’t need one to start working, but you must apply for one as soon as you begin employment; your employer can use a temporary code in the meantime while the Department for Work and Pensions processes your application.
Cost of Living: A Realistic Comparison
| Expense | UK Cost | Notes |
| Monthly rent, 1-bed city flat | £600–2,500 | London runs highest; Belfast, Hull, and Lancaster considerably lower |
| Healthcare | Included via NHS + IHS | No monthly insurance premium, but IHS is paid upfront for your full visa duration |
| Weekly groceries, 1 person | £40–130 | Depends heavily on which supermarket tier you shop |
| Public transport (London Zones 1–2) | £156–200/month | Regional cities run £50–80/month for a bus pass |
| Pint of beer | £3.50–6.50 | Varies significantly by region and venue |
London is genuinely one of the most expensive cities in Europe for housing comparable to New York. If cost is your main concern, look at Belfast, Hull, Lancaster, Coventry, Newcastle, Scotland, Wales, or Derry/Londonderry, all of which offer real city amenities at noticeably lower living costs.
London isn’t the only option, and for a lot of newcomers, it isn’t even the best one. Manchester and Liverpool both offer real city energy without London prices, and each has its own strong identity worth experiencing rather than just passing through. Further north, Yorkshire’s mix of cities and market towns gives you genuine variety within a single region, while Blackpool offers a much more affordable, distinctly British seaside alternative. Brighton, on the south coast, brings a similar seaside character with a livelier, more alternative edge and easy access to London.
In Scotland, Glasgow has more grit and creative energy than its reputation sometimes suggests, and nearby Dumfries and the wider Dumfries and Galloway region offer a quieter, more rural way into Scottish life if a big city isn’t what you’re after.
Healthcare: The NHS in Practice
The National Health Service is funded through taxation rather than direct payment at the point of care, covering emergency treatment, most prescriptions (at a subsidised rate), and essential medical care. Registering with a local GP practice should be one of your first priorities on arrival the NHS website has straightforward guidance on this. NHS dental care is more limited in availability than medical care, and many residents use private dentists as a result.
Prescription charges in England currently run £9.90 per item, with exemptions for children, pensioners, and people with certain medical conditions; a prepayment certificate (around £100/year) covers unlimited prescriptions for one person if you take regular medication. If you have a long-term permanent condition like diabetes your medications are all free.
On the Immigration Health Surcharge: most visa applicants pay this upfront for their entire visa duration £1,035/year for adults, £776/year for students and under-18s which then gives NHS access on the same basis as a permanent resident. A 5-year visa means a £5,175 IHS payment at the point of application. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt. Once you reach Indefinite Leave to Remain, typically after 5 years, the surcharge ends entirely.
Housing: What Actually Changes
- Terminology: an apartment is a ‘flat,’ a realtor is an ‘estate agent’ and most British houses are much smaller than North American
- Appliances tend to be smaller washing machines especially and dryers are less common than in North America
- Central air conditioning is rare, and genuinely rarely needed given the climate, unless the climate issues continue as in 2026 the UK has suffered devasting drought conditions.
- There’s no UK equivalent of the US MLS system you register separately with multiple estate agents rather than searching one unified listing site
- Council Tax is a real monthly cost many newcomers forget to budget for typically £100–300/month depending on property band and location
- Without UK credit history, expect higher deposit requests or a guarantor requirement from landlords, in our case we paid a full years rent upfront.
Understanding UK Schools (If You’re Moving With Kids)
The terminology trips up almost everyone. ‘State schools’ are what Americans would call public schools free, government-funded, and generally admission is based on catchment area. ‘Private schools’ charge roughly £15,000–£45,000 per year and are what you’d expect. Confusingly, ‘Public schools’ in the UK Eton, Harrow, Winchester are actually the oldest and most exclusive private schools in the country, a naming quirk that dates back centuries and catches out virtually every American parent at least once.
| Aspect | US System | UK System |
| High school years | Grades 9–12 | Years 10–13 |
| Grading | A through F | 9 to 1 (GCSE) |
| College prep exams | SAT/ACT | A-Levels or IB |
| School sports | School-based | Club-based, outside school |
Work Culture and Your Rights as an Employee
The single biggest structural difference is statutory holiday: UK full-time employees are legally entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks (28 days) of paid leave per year, which can include public holidays and unlike much of North America, employers are legally required to ensure staff actually take it. Many professional roles offer more, commonly 25 days plus public holidays.
Statutory Sick Pay applies from the fourth consecutive day of illness for up to 28 weeks, with many employers offering more generous company schemes on top. Statutory Maternity Pay runs up to 39 weeks (90% of average earnings for the first 6 weeks, then a set weekly rate or 90% of earnings, whichever is lower, for the remainder), and shared parental leave allows up to 50 weeks to be split between parents.
Current minimum wage rates (from April 2026): £12.71/hour for workers 21 and over, £10.85/hour for ages 18–20, and £8.00/hour for 16–17-year-olds and apprentices.
Workplace culture itself tends to run quieter than in North America less overt self-promotion, more understatement, and a stronger expectation that lunch breaks are actually taken away from your desk rather than worked through.
Banking and Credit: Starting From Zero
Opening a UK bank account can feel like a catch-22 at first many require proof of UK address, but some housing applications want a UK bank account first. A letter from your employer confirming your UK address, or starting with a digital-first option like Wise or Revolut, can bridge that gap while you sort out a traditional account.
Your US or Canadian credit score does not transfer. You’ll start from zero in the UK, which can mean higher rental deposits, more difficulty securing phone contracts initially, and limited credit card options until you build UK credit history. Keeping your North American cards active in the background is worth doing for your home-country credit history, even after you’ve relocated.
In order to make the transition easier from Canada I opened a WISE account which allows me to convert my dollars to sterling or euros when needed.
Driving in the UK
You can drive on a valid North American licence for up to 12 months after becoming a UK resident. After that, whether you can simply exchange it or need to retake a UK driving test depends on your home state or province and licence type check current rules directly through the DVLA, since arrangements have shifted post-Brexit and vary by jurisdiction. One thing that surprises most people: North American licences typically only convert to an automatic-only UK licence, meaning you’d need a separate test to drive a manual (“standard”) car.
Food, Shopping, and Everyday Vocabulary
| UK supermarket | Rough US equivalent | Character |
| Tesco | Kroger | The all-purpose default wide range, competitive prices |
| Sainsbury’s | Safeway/Albertsons | A notch up in quality and price from Tesco |
| Waitrose | Whole Foods | Premium, ethically-focused, specialty-leaning |
| Morrisons | Kroger/Publix | Strong in-store butcher and fresh produce counters |
| Aldi / Lidl | Aldi / Trader Joe’s | Hard discounters limited range, private label, low prices |
A few vocabulary swaps worth knowing before your first grocery run: cilantro is coriander, an eggplant is an aubergine, a cookie is a biscuit, and chips means both French fries (with food) and crisps (in a bag) depending entirely on context.
Tax Obligations for Americans and Canadians
US Citizens: An Ongoing Obligation
The US taxes based on citizenship, not residency one of only two countries in the world that does so US citizens must continue filing US tax returns regardless of where they live. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets you exclude a set amount of foreign-earned income annually, though many Americans in the UK find the Foreign Tax Credit more useful, since UK tax rates typically run higher than US rates. You’re also required to file an FBAR if your combined foreign account balances exceed $10,000 at any point in the year failing to file carries real penalties.
Canadians: A Cleaner Break, With One Catch
Once you establish non-residency in Canada, you generally only need to keep filing Canadian returns if you retain Canadian-source income, like rental income from property back home. Departing Canada can trigger a “deemed disposition” of your assets for tax purposes, which can create a one-time tax bill worth planning for in advance with a cross-border tax advisor.
The UK tax year runs April 6 to April 5, not the calendar year a genuinely common source of confusion for newly arrived North Americans. Professional cross-border tax advice is worth the cost here; expect £500–£2,000 annually for a straightforward return, more for complex situations.
Affordable UK Cities Worth Considering
Belfast, Northern Ireland capital city amenities at some of the lowest living costs in the UK
Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland historic walled city, genuinely low cost of living
Hull, England coastal city with very affordable housing
Lancaster, England smaller, charming, close to the Lake District
Stirling, Scotland historic university city with scenic surroundings
Cardiff, Wales full capital-city amenities at moderate cost
Newcastle, England strong culture and nightlife without London-level prices
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to the UK
Do I need a visa to move to the UK from the US or Canada?
Yes, unless you qualify through British ancestry (a grandparent born in the UK), Irish citizenship, or an existing right to remain. Most Americans and Canadians will need a Skilled Worker visa, a Global Talent visa, a student visa, or another sponsored route.
How much does it cost to get a UK work visa in 2026?
Budget for the visa application fee (typically £719–£1,846 depending on route and duration), the Immigration Health Surcharge at £1,035 per year of your visa (£776/year for students), and if you’re sponsored, your employer separately covers the Immigration Skills Charge. A 3-year Skilled Worker visa’s IHS alone runs £3,105.
What’s the minimum salary for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
As of July 2025, the general threshold is £41,700 per year or the specific ‘going rate’ for your occupation, whichever is higher. Lower thresholds (as low as £25,000) apply to some new entrants, PhD holders, and shortage occupations.
Can I use my US or Canadian driving licence in the UK?
Yes, temporarily. You can drive on a valid North American licence for up to 12 months after becoming a UK resident, after which you’ll need to exchange it or pass a UK driving test, depending on your licence and circumstances. Only an automatic licence is guaranteed to convert directly.
Do I still have to pay US taxes if I move to the UK?
If you’re a US citizen, yes the US taxes based on citizenship, not residence, so you’ll continue filing US returns regardless of where you live. The Foreign Tax Credit or Foreign Earned Income Exclusion can prevent double taxation, but you’ll still need to file. Canadians generally have a cleaner break once they establish UK residency, though a ‘deemed disposition’ tax event can apply when leaving.
Is the UK expensive to live in compared to the US?
It depends heavily on location. London is genuinely one of Europe’s most expensive cities, comparable to New York for rent. Cities like Belfast, Hull, Lancaster, and Derry/Londonderry offer noticeably lower living costs while still having real city amenities.
Moving to the UK is a genuinely big life change, and the paperwork is only the first part of it. The visa system, the cost of living, and the culture shock are all real and all manageable but they’re worth going in with accurate expectations rather than secondhand statistics. One of the underrated upsides once you’re settled: Europe is right there, and a weekend in Paris, Rome, or Amsterdam becomes a genuinely normal thing to do rather than a once-a-decade trip.
Food is also one of the best ways into understanding a new culture, wherever you end up my Global Food Guide covers how food traditions connect across cultures worldwide. Be prepared British Food and desserts are like nothing you have tried before and sit alongside Scottish and Welsh foods and even regional variations such as the Cornish Pasty.
If Yorkshire’s on your route, start with the Yorkshire Travel Guide for the wider picture before diving into individual stops.This is just one part of a much bigger country see the full England Travel Guide for everywhere else worth building into your trip, and my United Kingdom travel Guide for a broader picture of the whole country. Explore more of the region with guides to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. If you are a foodie take a look at my Global Food Guide.
Thanks to you, now I know which documents to bring with me when I move to the UK. Aside from this, I know that I should also be considering to hire a removal company seeing the numerous belongings I have to take with me. Do you have an article or write-up solely focused on hiring removal companies? I already found one which might be able to help me with the process, but I need tips or advice to help me ensure that they’re the right one for the job. I hope you could help me, thanks in advance.
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Hi, “England is Britain the country is actually comprised of several other countries, which includes, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland”
Actually, England is part of Great Britain. Great Britain comprises of England, Scotland and Wales. United Kingdom comprises of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
I would love to relocate from Antigua UK but don’t know anyone I am trying to better my self I am asking for some help to relocate
18 – 45 year olds from Antigua And Barbuda are able to apply for a Work Visa to the UK. Successful applicants can migrate and work in the UK permanently or temporarily you should check with the local Embassy to find out if you are eligible.
I am a 48 year old Canadian who can get British Citizenship as my dad and other family are from there. I would like to move to England permanently. I would like to work and study there. Do I need to have a certain amount of savings to move there? Also what is the age of retirement and what would be my options at that point?
Your first step would be to obtain your British Passport, which can be done through the Consulate in Canada and you can get in touch with them to obtain the right paperwork. You would supply them with your details, your dad’s birth certificate and all the usual passport application details. Once you have obtained the Passport you are then considered a British citizen and can move to England. At that point, all you need to do is get on a plane and go. Of course its a little more complicated as you would have to have savings to keep you going until you find work. As for your pension, England has a reciprocal arrangement with England so that you can transfer or collect your Canadian Pension in the UK. The England pension age is somewhat different from Canada, but you can also collect your Canadian pension at the usual age and simply have it paid into your Canadian bank account which you can then transfer to the UK. You can also collect a British pension if you have paid into the system through whatever work you obtain in England. I hope that helps a little. You can email me at infor@xyuandbeyond.com if you have other questions.
My wife and I UK born and life in Canads with s Canadian citizenship. We want to retire in England.
Can we do that with Covid restrictions now?
Yes you can return to the UK with certain restrictions according to the gov.uk website “To enter or return to the UK from abroad (except from Ireland), you must follow all the rules for entering the UK. These include providing your journey and contact details, and evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before you travel. When you arrive, you must quarantine and take additional COVID-19 tests. This will take place in a managed quarantine hotel if you enter England from a red list travel ban country, or enter Scotland.”
Canada is not on the banned list so it appears as long as you have a negative test and hopefully the vaccine you should be fine. You can check with the British Embassy but here is the link to the above information https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/canada
Hello!!
I am a Canadian citizen (born and raised). My family has no connections with the UK at all, so to become a citizen, I need to meet and marry a UK citizen, is that correct?
Not necessarily you could apply for a work or study visa both of which can lead to being able to stay in the UK until you can apply for citizenship.
Hello:
I am a Canadian Citizen who has recently gotten my Italian Citizenship (Italian passport). Question. Can I move to England, and if so is there any limitation on how long I stay, without employment. I am too young to retire, and currently work as a Mechanical Engineer. Any advice would be appreciated
Hi Micheal thanks to the whole Brexit uncertainty I would wait until after October 31st to make plans to move. Currently with England as part of the EU freedom of movement between EU countries is the law and those with EU passports can move to any EU country within the EU and live there. Of course, you have to register for services like healthcare, taxes and so on which can get complex but is doable. I would recommend that you search job boards for employment to see if you can get a job offer before you go. Failing that do your homework with regard to where you want to live in England, what jobs are available and so on. Currently there is no limitation on length of stay or getting employment in the UK but of course, Brexit could change all that.
I am a Canadian citizen , self employment in Canada and I want to work as self employment in England too, would you please let me know which visa i have to get it ?
It is difficult but you may be able to apply for what is called a Start-up Visa there are all kinds of rules that you have to meet. You can read them here https://www.gov.uk/start-up-visa
Hi, just to clarify … Can my child become local UK student when I move over in start-up visa, or they will be categorised as international student?
Thanks in advance.
If your child is under 18 I believe they will be treated as a local UK student. You will have to pay for their Visa and of course the healthcare supplement that is required under law for every family member. There is also no access to public funds for dependents such as childcare allowance and so on. There is a list here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-funds–2/public-funds. If your child is over 18 I suspect they would have to apply for a separate visa as a student if they hope to attend University or College.
I am a Canadian citizen who arrived in the UK Sep. 9 2019 and I have house sitting commitments in the UK until Mar 25 2020. That’s 3 weeks past my allowable 6 month period. Im going to be in S. Ireland in January 2020 for 12 days. When I re-enter the UK, does my 6 month allowable time begin again?
Hi Michael well according to the law –
“If you’ve stayed longer than you’re allowed to under your visa, this is called overstaying. You’ll have 30 days to leave the country from the date it expired. If you’re an overstayer and want to stay in the UK, you should check what you can do. If you applied for a new visa before your old one expired, you can stay in the UK until you get a decision. You won’t be an overstayer if your application’s valid.”
As a housesitter you can’t claim that as an excuse as it is considered “work” even though you are not being paid. You are a visitor or tourist not a housesitter. You could apply for an extension of your Visa or permit to stay in the UK for 6 months and this would mean that you can safely overstay as the permission process would be in the works. You would need to prove you are self-supporting and can afford to travel in the UK without access to financial supports, you would also need to prove you have healthcare insurance if you became ill in the UK those would be mandatory for being able to apply for a visa extension.
Hey
I have residentce permit in UK
I can bring my girlfriend to UK from Canada then I wanna marry her and we want to live in UK
Thanks a lot
As long as you can financially support her and have permanent residence it is possible you need to check with the Government as to the regulations. You can look here for more advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/immigration/visas-family-and-friends/getting-a-visa-for-your-partner-to-live-in-the-uk/
Hi I’m from UK lived with my Canadian wife for 18 years in Canada, I now have dual citizenship have my wife and 2 kids 9 and 15 who o ly have Canadian passports.
My mum has health issues so we need to move back quickly, while I know I can get in with my UK passport can my wife and kids apply within the UK? Like I say it’s pretty urgent, she doesnt need to work.
If not… do they have to go back to Canada or can they stay with family in portugal or CZ and apply from there? Can they apply ome back to uk while it’s being assessed? I will be buying a house when I get there, so will be a resident.
Thanks.
Hi Paul, since your wife and children are Canadian they can stay in the UK for up to 6 months without a visa. Since you are a British citizen your family can apply for permanent residence while in the UK staying with you. The visa can be applied for while in the UK. You can check with your local consulate or go to this link for more information https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship
“The family of a settled person visa allows people from outside of the EEA to join a family member in the UK, who is a British citizen, has indefinite leave to remain in the UK, or is in the UK under asylum or humanitarian protection laws.”
Hope that helps
I am a Canadian citizen, over 65 years of age and will be retired shortly. My daughter is a settled person in the UK and will shortly have UK citizenship. I would like to move to the UK for 2 years to provide childcare and assist my daughter in the care of her baby. Can you please tell me what type of visa I need to apply for. My regular visa only allows me to stay for 6 months.
Hi Darlene, I believe you can apply for what is called a derivative residence card. The law says this:
You’re eligible for a derivative residence card if you’re living in the UK and you’re one of the following:
the primary carer of someone who has the right to live in the UK
the primary carer’s child
the child of a former worker from the European Economic Area (EEA) and you’re at school, college or university in the UK
Being a ‘primary carer’ means you’re someone’s main carer, or you share the responsibility with someone else at least equally, and you’re their direct relative or legal guardian.
I think as you will have a pension from Canada and will be financially independent you should be able to apply for this visa. You can read more and apply here https://www.gov.uk/derivative-right-residence. Or simply call the consulate close to you and have a chat with someone there about this particular visa and what documentation you may need.
I am Canadian citizen over 65 years old. I am living on my pension money with free medical treatment (as a old citizen). I would like to move to the UK to live with my daughter. My question is that will I be able to get free medical and benefits in England. Or will I be able transfer my pension from Canada to the UK. I want to move to the UK because Canadian weather is not suitable for my health. Please feed me back as soon as possible.
Hello, if your daughter is a citizen of the UK she can apply to sponsor you and you can move to the UK to be with family. You can still receive your Canadian pension as the UK has a reciprocal agreement with Canada so you can be sure to still get your Canadian pension with no problem. As for healthcare if you receive your UK residency you should be covered with the NHS for medical benefits.
Hi our Family live in the UK. My husband and 3 kids are British Citizens by birth even though we lived in Jamaica (where I am from) form many years before moving to the UK. I am a permanent resident in the UK. I have an older son who resides in Canada and is a Canadian citizen by birth. He lived with the family in Jamaica but went to Canada to study. How can he move to the UK to live with us. He is over 18 and not married.
You would need to become a naturalised British citizen if you don’t qualify under the CUKC rules (see below quote), you could then pass on your citizenship via descent to your son. Depending on your year of birth you may qualify for British citizenship as “Any person born within the UK and any of the UK Colonies between 01.01.1949 and 31.12.1982 were classified as a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) and could hold a passport to that end.” Take a look at this link for naturalisation information and you could also contact them about your son’s citizenship. https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-spouse
Hi
My Aunty lives in Canada and a Canadian citizen for 25 years(she’s 70), has pension there after the Bosnian war in the 90’s. Her husband died recently and all her family lives in the uk and uk citizens. She would like to join us to be near. What options does she have? Thank you. Timea
There is a possibility that she may be allowed to come to the UK under your sponsorship. This would mean that you would be responsible for her financial support and she would probably have to live with you. She is legally allowed to collect her Canadian pensions in the UK as they do have a reciprocal arrangement with Canada so she could get her pensions. She may need to have a private health care plan but at this point I would not be able to tell you that as the law changes all the time. I would strongly advise that you contact the government or your local MP and find out if they can get you the information you need. There is a lot of information here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/parents-grandparents-and-other-dependants-set08/parents-grandparents-and-other-dependants-set08 but it isn’t clear and these visas can sometimes be difficult to obtain.
Hi
My daughter was born in the uk in 1989 ,I and her dad were illegal at the time, but now Iam a UK citizens . Daughter now 30 years old living in Canada unmarried wants to come to to Uk to live with me . How do I start.
I suspect since your daughter was born in the UK her birth cert would state that. Given that I think she would automatically be a UK citizen and she could apply for a UK passport and that’s all she would need to enter the UK and stay there. I would advise checking with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/immigration/) just to be on the safe side, but as you are now a legal citizen of the UK she may also be able to claim citizenship through you.
Hi, I’m British citizen living in Canada with my wife, who is Canadian. We want to move to UK. What kind of visa she needs and how we can apply?
Shouldn’t be a problem at all you should check with your nearest British consulate with respect to the paperwork and visa required but it will be relatively simply you can also look here https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-spouse
I am a 95 year old Canadian wanting to visit my son in the uk what are the requirements
No requirements except travel insurance, as a Canadian you are allowed to stay in the UK for up to 90 days without a visa of any kind so you are good to go.
I am a 25 year old Canadian Citizen looking to work out of my current company’s (Canadian Company) UK office for 6 months. What kind of Visa would I need? If i chose to stay longer would I be able to?
Hi James, you would need your company basically to sponsor you to work in their UK offices. This is called an intra-company transfer. However, there are a lot of conditions that apply you can read about them here https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-intracompany-transfer-worker-visa. You have to be an employee who has worked for the company for more than 12 months or be a graduate trainee for specialist roles. You need to be a recent graduate with at least 3 months’ experience with your employer overseas. In addition to the rules for the transfer, you will have to pay a Health care fee per year upfront. This fee is 400 sterling a year and if you stay for 5 years you have to pay all of it upfront. If either of your parents was born in the UK you could apply for citizenship based on this as well. Otherwise, you need to be hired by a UK company to work in the UK because of your specialized skills. Hope that helps a little.
Hi I’m looking to move and work in the uk
I’m a Canadian citizen
If you have parents that were born in the UK you can claim citizenship which means you could move there and work. Or if that’s not possible you can study in the UK and receive a work permit for a long term educational program. You couldn’t get a work visa for a short term program though. And then there is the option of being transferred to the UK if your company has offices there, or being hired by a UK company.
Hi ,
I’m a Canadian citizen and want to move and work in Britain after getting my Ph.D. next year. I’m 54 year old.
Thanks in advance,
If you don’t have any immediate relative to qualify for British Citizenship you would have to apply for a Visa. So you would need to have skills that Britain needs or be recruited by a company that is UK based and hiring. You can also check if you might fall into any of the potential visa categories here https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
Tier 1 Visas are for investors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders. These visas do not require you to have a job offer in the UK but still have some very strict requirements.
A Tier 2 (General) Visa requires proof that you are a skilled worker who has been offered a job from a recognised workplace for a permanent (longer than six months) contract. The workplace should hold a UK Sponsor Licence.
A Tier 5 Temporary Visa allows you to work in the UK as a skilled worker for a period of six months or less. The workplace should also hold a UK Sponsor Licence.
For this reason, your individual situation and skills determine which working visa you require. To decide which visa category best suits your circumstances, contact one of our immigration experts who can assist you with no-obligation advice
hello, i’m a Canadian citizenship, I’m between the age of 25 to 30 is it possible for me to move to UK for while and work and what type of visa would i need?
Yes you can apply for the Youth Mobility Visa which is for 18-30 you must have £1,890 in savings and apply here https://www.gov.uk/tier-5-youth-mobility/eligibility
I am a 53 year old Canadian Citizen and a Ph.D. Engineer. There are far more opportunities in the UK than there are in Canada, and I would like very much to move to London permanently. I have a wife and a 16 year old son. My wife is a Nurse and a Canadian citizen.
How should I proceed?
Hi Karl, your best best is to get hired by a London based company unless of course you or your wife have a British parent from which you can claim citizenship. To get a work permit you need to have received a confirmed offer of employment from a licensed UK employer who will act as your sponsor; and. Be in possession of a Certificate of Sponsorship issued by your sponsoring employer. https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
Hi! I’m 21 years old, and newly married! My husband and I are looking to live in the UK for about 3 months so that I can sing. There are people who I plan to take singing lessons from while I’m there. How should I approach getting there, especially if any of the gigs I get set up with are paid gigs? Do I need a special type of visa? Will this visa cover travel to Ireland for the same thing? There are people I can take lessons from there as well. Thank you!
I would suggest that you and your husband each apply for a Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa if you:
want to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years
are aged 18 to 30
have £1,890 in savings
have certain types of British Nationality or are from certain countries Canadians can easily apply
You have to apply 6 months before you want to go to England and I would check with the Consulate with regard to being a couple and what the financial savings might be in case they are different for the two of you.
Hi!
I am a Canadian citizen and have recently offered a job in the NHS, England. I applied for Tier 2 Visa. My Certificate of sponsorship mentioned that it will be a single entry visa for 1 year. Does that mean I cannot come back to Canada for a short holiday and return to the Uk during this 1 year period?
Many Thanks.
You should be fine since you are a Canadian citizen and have a visa. I would check with the Uk government just to be on the safe side though https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-general/switch-to-this-visa
Hello,
Just to be certain, my wife and I are both Canadian with no connection to the UK.
We both have pensions and would like t retire in England, are we eligible for NHS after 1 year of residency? I would assume we’d have to apply for residency and NHS. Thanks for all the helpful information you provide.
Hello, it is very difficult right now to retire to the UK without any connection. There used to be a Visa you could get as long as you met the income requirements but that has been done away with although they promise to establish a new program soon. I suspect that nothing will be done until after the whole Brexit mess has been sorted.
I recently got my Canadian citizenship. My parents live in UK on settled status. My dad has a Spanish passport. I would like to move to UK to live and work there. Please could anyone guide me how could I do that.
It may be tricky for you to move to the UK and settle there due to Brexit. You might be able to move depending on your age and your work by obtaining a job offer. Check here for more details https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-uks-points-based-immigration-system-information-for-eu-citizens?utm_campaign=PBS-Citizens-P1&utm_medium=PPC&utm_source=Google&utm_content=General_FR_EN_BMM&utm_term=settle-in-uk& As a Canadian citizen and as someone who has ties to the UK that will go in your favour but I would contact the British Embassy near you in Canada to determine what category you could apply under.
Hello,
Thanks for this article and for being good enough to respond to so many inquiries. I hope you won’t mind one more. I am 66 years old and retiring in 2021. I will receive Canada Pension Plan and an income from my private plan. I have no ties to the UK. But I have had a deep desire to live there since I was a child. I am hoping there is a chance for someone like me. Is there, do you think? What would I need to do to fulfill this dream, if it is at all possible?
Thank you.
It may be tricky for you to move to the UK and settle there due to Brexit. Currently, there is no way for a Canadian to retire to the UK unless they have ties/family there. They are looking at creating a category visa for retirees but usually, the sums of money you have to have available to you are quite high. For example, in Ireland, you must have a pension of 50,000 euros per month and enough to buy a house which would be around 400,000 euros. The UK does look favourable on Canadians due to the countries relationship with each other so if I were you I would contact the British Embassy and check with them to see if the government has implemented a way for retirees to come to the UK.
I’m a British emigrant living in Canada. My daughter has her British passport and wants to attend a music program at a university in Ireland (she specifically likes this program). We’re aware of the right to live/work/study between the UK and Ireland, but I’ve warned her that they’ll charge international student rates because she isn’t a resident of the UK. Her argument is that there she can’t see anything in the rules that specifically says she has to be a resident of the UK.
Where can I find out if she’s right? I’ve been looking through the legalities of it and I don’t have satisfactory proof. There are music programs in Canada and the UK. If she doesn’t want to stay in Canada, she has more than enough relatives in England who would put her up for free for a few years while she gets residency if it means that much to her. I’ll be honest that I’d prefer she go to school in Canada, near us. Or England, where she could stay with my family to keep an eye on her. She isn’t known to be the adventurous type and this is out of character. I’d be worried about her in Ireland. Is this something she could even do?
Hi Emily, your daughter is right as a British citizen and passport holder she can study anywhere in Ireland and Northern Ireland as a British subject and will be the same as any other student from the UK or Ireland. It is most definitely something she can do. However, I will warn you that depending on which university she wants to attend living costs in Ireland can be stupendously high as in major Canadian city high. Apartments and so on in Dublin cost the earth although I do believe some Uni’s offer student accommodation. My friend’s children all went to school in Dublin and are now getting their Masters degrees in Queens in Belfast. Ireland is very safe and she will make friends really quickly and probably the easiest way for her to do that is to find student accommodation or a shared apartment. As long as she is accepted she can go to university either in Northern Ireland or in the ROI. She may need to arrange for private healthcare insurance which would give you some peace of mind regarding anything that might happen medically, but I truly believe she will have the time of her life attending school here in Ireland,
I’m originated from HKG but moved to Canada and now I’m Canadian. If I understand correctly, I’m not eligible to apply for the (HKG) BNO Visa as I don’t reside in HKG for the past 20 years (only go to HKG when I’m on vacation). I was an overseas student in the UK back in the 80s and very much hope that I can move to UK for my retirement life. As a holder of an expired BNO am I still eligible to apply for the BNO visa？ Thank you very much.
I have read that you can renew a BNO even if it has expired – you could try that https://www.british-consulate.org/bno-renewal-in-hong-kong.html do you have family in Hong Kong? That way you do have a residence with your family that still lives there which you could use for a renewal. The British government has no retirement visa currently as they were supposed to institute one when they changed the immigration laws. They are supposedly working on some kind of retirement visa for Canadians and others but that will probably take a few years. They used to have a plan whereby if you had a certain amount of income, private health insurance and so on you could retire to England and not be dependant on the state in any way – there will be eventually some kind of Visa for that.
Hi. I just want to ask. Me and my wife along with our 3 year old daughter are going to move to UK with Tier 2 Visa. Now, my both parents are Canadian Citizens, my father is 64 years old and my mother is 61 years old. We want them to live with us in the UK to look after our 3 year old daughter. Me and my wife are both working as a Nurse. What kind of visa they need to acquire other than the 6 months visit visa? We want them to stay longer to avoid travelling every 6 months.
In order to sponsor your parents for residence in the UK you must be a permanent resident. This means that you have to have lived in the UK for 5 years. This is from the UK government site about sponsorship – Tier 2 to Permanent Residence If you are currently employed under a Tier 2 visa, you need to have stayed in the UK for at least five years before you apply for Permanent Residence also known as ILR. Only when you become a permanent resident can you sponsor other family members.
My partner is looking to move to the UK with me. I have a British passport she has a lot of money saved and in investments. Would she be taxed on it coming in?
Hi Scott I’m not an expert on taxes but I do know there is a taxation agreement between Canada and the UK. I believe that if you are taxed at source in Canada you won’t be taxed again in the UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/canada-tax-treaties It would be best of course if you plan to live in the UK permanently that you sort out the relevant taxation issues which I think can be done with Revenue Canada. If you declare yourself non-resident in Canada that does change the taxation situation but never having done that I’m not sure just how it would change.
I am a Canadian citizen as is my wife.
I also hold a British passport.
If I move to the UK can my wife live there too?
We also have a son and two grandchildren who have British passports and live in the UK.
Hi Rob, yes you can apply for a British spouse visa for your wife. You will have to prove an income of I believe £18,000 per year and there is a fee to process the application. I believe it takes around 24 weeks or so if applying from another country. https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse you can also get in touch with the nearest British consulate and ask them about the process.