Moving to the UK is still the dream of many Europeans, but after Brexit it is no longer enough to pack a suitcase and catch a flight to London. Here are the main steps, in the order they are usually tackled, for anyone moving today without resident status obtained before 2021.
1. The visa
The first step is to work out which visa you can enter on. The main routes are:
- Skilled Worker: you need a job offer from a licensed employer, a graduate-level job and a minimum salary of £41,700 a year (with lower thresholds for young people and shortage occupations).
- Health and Care Worker: for doctors, nurses and health professionals, with reduced costs.
- Student: for those enrolling on a university course; after graduating you can switch to the Graduate visa and work without a sponsor.
- Global Talent: for leading researchers, artists and professionals endorsed by approved bodies.
- Family: for those with a British or settled spouse or partner, subject to income requirements.
Visas are applied for online and require payment of the fee and the health surcharge (£1,035 a year for workers). Those who already had status through the EU Settlement Scheme need do none of this. Details in Brexit and immigration.
2. The first days
Once you arrive, the essential steps are:
- National Insurance number: the social security number needed to work and pay tax; for visa holders it is often already shown on the permit.
- Bank account: traditional banks ask for an address and ID; digital banks let you open an account in minutes from a smartphone.
- GP: registering with a doctor near home is free and should be done straight away (see public healthcare).
- Phone: a British SIM on a monthly contract often requires a credit check, pay-as-you-go does not.
3. Housing
Finding a home is often the hardest part, especially in London. Many start with a room in a shared flat, which does not require lengthy references, and then look for something more stable. You need ID, proof of your right to live in the country, references and sometimes a guarantor. The deposit cannot exceed five weeks' rent. Remember that on top of rent you pay council tax, bills and the TV licence. Everything in housing and rents.
4. Paperwork back home
Many European countries require citizens living abroad to register with their consulate; Italians, for example, must register with AIRE, the register of Italians resident abroad, after twelve months abroad. Registration usually allows you to vote by post and renew documents at the consulate, and matters for tax purposes too, to avoid double taxation under the treaties between the UK and EU countries.
5. Driving licence, car and other details
An EU driving licence can be used for a limited period by new residents and then exchanged for a British licence without a test. Remember that traffic drives on the left. Car insurance depends heavily on years of UK driving history, so it is expensive at first. Many employers offer pension contributions and sometimes private health insurance.
How much you need to start
For the first months it is wise to have savings covering the deposit, the first month's rent, visa and health surcharge costs and at least two or three months of expenses. In London, for a single person, several thousand pounds is a prudent figure. See cost of living, working in the UK, Italians in the UK and living in the UK.