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StudyImmigration

Moving to the United Kingdom permanently

The UK uses a points-based system in which most work visas need a licensed employer sponsor. Most migrants can still settle after 5 years, but a pending "earned settlement" reform could make that wait longer for many.

Last reviewed October 11, 2026 · Official authority: UK Visas and Immigration

Skilled Worker general salary threshold

£41,700 a year (or the going rate if higher)

Source

Indefinite leave to remain fee

£3,226 per person

Source

British citizenship fee

£1,839 (£1,709 + £130 ceremony)

Source

Immigration Health Surcharge

£1,035 a year (£776 for students)

Source

Electronic Travel Authorisation

£20

Source

Spouse visa minimum income

£29,000 a year combined

Source

Graduate route length

2 years (18 months from 1 Jan 2027); 3 years for PhDs

Source

Student visa living costs

£1,529/month London, £1,171/month elsewhere (up to 9 months)

Source

Common routes to settling in the United Kingdom permanently

Most people don't get permanent residence on day one. These are the routes people most often follow, from first visa to citizenship.

Skilled Worker straight to settlement

Graduate-level professionals with a UK job offer from a licensed sponsor.

  1. 1

    Skilled Worker visa

    Get a degree-level (RQF 6) job offer from a licensed sponsor paying at least £41,700 or the going rate, and show B2 English.

  2. 2

    Indefinite leave to remain

    After 5 continuous years on the route, apply for ILR (£3,226) with the Life in the UK test and the English requirement, which rises to B2 from 26 March 2027.

  3. 3

    British citizenship

    After holding ILR for 12 months, apply to naturalise (£1,839) with no more than 450 days abroad in the last 5 years.

Minimum time to citizenship: At least 6 years under current rules: 5 years on the Skilled Worker route, then 12 months with ILR.

Study, work, then settlement

International students who want to stay and build a career in the UK after graduating.

  1. 1

    Student visa

    Study with a licensed sponsor, holding living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 elsewhere for 28 days (rising to £1,570 and £1,203 from 30 November 2026).

  2. 2

    Graduate visa

    Work without a sponsor for 2 years, or 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027, while you find a sponsored job; this time does not count towards ILR.

  3. 3

    Skilled Worker visa

    Switch in the UK once a licensed sponsor offers a role at RQF 6 or above that meets the salary threshold.

  4. 4

    ILR, then citizenship

    Apply for ILR after 5 years as a Skilled Worker, then for citizenship 12 months later after passing the Life in the UK test.

Minimum time to citizenship: At least 6 years from the start of Skilled Worker leave under current rules (5 years to ILR plus 12 months); time on Student and Graduate visas does not count towards the 5 years.

Spouse or partner route

People married to, in a civil partnership with, or living with a British citizen or settled person.

  1. 1

    Partner visa

    Show a genuine relationship, English ability and £29,000 combined income, or savings of £16,000 plus 2.5 times any shortfall (£88,500 with no income).

  2. 2

    Extension

    The first grant lasts 2 years 9 months, then you extend for 2 years 6 months while still meeting the requirements.

  3. 3

    Indefinite leave to remain

    After 5 years, apply for ILR with the Life in the UK test and the English requirement; if you have not met them yet, you get a further 30 months of leave instead.

  4. 4

    British citizenship

    If your partner is a British citizen, you can apply as soon as you have ILR, provided you meet the residence and absence rules.

Minimum time to citizenship: At least 5 years under current rules if married to a British citizen: 5 years on the partner route, then apply straight after ILR.

Health and Care Worker route

Qualified doctors, nurses and other eligible health professionals with an NHS or care sector job offer.

  1. 1

    Health and Care Worker visa

    Get an eligible job with a licensed health or care sponsor; fees are lower and you do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

  2. 2

    Indefinite leave to remain

    After 5 continuous years, apply for ILR with the Life in the UK test and the English requirement.

  3. 3

    British citizenship

    Apply to naturalise after holding ILR for 12 months.

Minimum time to citizenship: At least 6 years under current rules: 5 years on the route, then 12 months with ILR.

Global Talent or Innovator Founder fast track

Recognised leaders in research, arts or digital technology, and founders of endorsed innovative businesses.

  1. 1

    Endorsement

    Get an endorsement from an approved body (or hold an eligible prize for Global Talent); no job offer is needed.

  2. 2

    Visa

    Apply for Global Talent (£766 in total) or Innovator Founder (£1,357 from outside the UK), plus the Immigration Health Surcharge.

  3. 3

    Indefinite leave to remain

    Apply after 3 years on Innovator Founder or some Global Talent routes, or after 5 years on other Global Talent routes.

  4. 4

    British citizenship

    Apply after holding ILR for 12 months, once you also have 5 years' residence in the UK.

Minimum time to citizenship: At least 5 years under current rules: naturalisation needs 5 years' UK residence, even if ILR comes after 3 years.

Every pathway, by stage

The individual visas and statuses, grouped by where you are in the journey.

Visit

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Visitors who do not need a visa, including Europeans, Americans, Canadians and Australians, need a £20 ETA before travelling. It allows stays of up to 6 months per visit.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Standard Visitor visa

Visa nationals need this for tourism, family visits, business meetings or short courses of up to 6 months. You cannot work or settle on it.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Study

Student visa

For courses with a licensed student sponsor. You need a CAS, enough money for living costs held for 28 days, and the required English level. Only postgraduate research and government-sponsored students can bring dependants.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Graduate visa

Lets recent graduates of a UK degree stay and work without a sponsor for 2 years, or 3 years after a PhD. Applications from 1 January 2027 get 18 months.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Work

Skilled Worker visa

Needs a job offer from a licensed sponsor, usually at degree level (RQF 6), paying at least £41,700 or the going rate. New applicants need B2 English. It can lead to settlement after 5 years.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Health and Care Worker visa

For qualified doctors, nurses and other eligible health and care professionals, with lower fees and no Immigration Health Surcharge. Care workers can no longer be recruited from overseas.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Global Talent visa

For leaders or potential leaders in academia and research, arts and culture, or digital technology. You need an endorsement or an eligible prize, and no job offer. Settlement is possible after 3 or 5 years.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

High Potential Individual visa

For people who graduated from an eligible top global university in the last 5 years. It gives 2 years of unsponsored work, or 3 years with a PhD, and cannot be extended.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Scale-up Worker visa

Needs a job of at least 6 months with an approved scale-up business, paying at least £39,100 or the going rate. After that you can work without sponsorship. Settlement is possible after 5 years.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Innovator Founder visa

For founders of a new, innovative, viable and scalable business endorsed by an approved body. There is no fixed minimum investment, and settlement is possible after 3 years.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Youth Mobility Scheme visa

Young people from participating countries can live and work in the UK for up to 2 years, or 3 for some nationalities. You must usually be 18 to 30, or 18 to 35 for some nationalities, and have savings.

Official page ↗

Family

Spouse or partner visa

For the partner of a British citizen or settled person. You must show a genuine relationship, English language ability and usually £29,000 combined income or savings. It can lead to settlement after 5 years.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Permanent residence

Indefinite leave to remain

Permanent settlement, usually after 5 years on a qualifying route such as Skilled Worker or partner. You also need to pass the Life in the UK test and meet the English requirement. The fee is £3,226.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

EU Settlement Scheme

For EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, and for eligible joining family members. Settled status gives permanent residence.

Official page ↗

Citizenship

British citizenship by naturalisation

Usually after 12 months with ILR and 5 years' residence, with no more than 450 days abroad in total. You must meet the good character, English and Life in the UK test requirements. The fee is £1,839.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Humanitarian

Asylum and refugee protection

You can claim asylum if you cannot return home because of fear of persecution. Adults whose claims were made from 2 March 2026 get 30 months of "core protection", which is reviewed at each renewal.

Read our guide → Official page ↗

Settlement for refugees and humanitarian protection

People with refugee status or humanitarian protection can apply for indefinite leave to remain free of charge. Discretionary leave holders pay £3,226.

Official page ↗

Latest UK immigration news

All UK news →

Recent changes

All UK changes →
  1. In effect

    Student and Visitor rules opened to Erasmus+ participants

    Visitor and Student rules now accommodate Erasmus+ participants, ahead of the UK rejoining the programme.

    News report Guide Official source ↗
  2. In effect

    Modern slavery victims on Skilled Worker visas can change employer

    Skilled Workers confirmed as victims of modern slavery can now work for any employer for the rest of their permission.

    News report Guide Official source ↗
  3. In effect

    UK Resettlement Scheme reopens to new referrals

    Referrals to the UK Resettlement Scheme reopened on 28 September 2026, with first arrivals expected before the end of 2026. Community and student sponsorship applications open in October 2026, and work sponsorship opens in spring 2027.

    News report Guide Official source ↗
  4. In effect

    Statement of Changes HC 584 laid

    HC 584 changes Erasmus+, visitor, Skilled Worker, EUSS, BN(O), religious worker and student maintenance rules in stages. Most changes took effect on 8 October 2026, with others following on 29 October, 30 November and 9 December 2026.

    News report Guide Official source ↗
  5. Announced

    Student visa maintenance funds to rise from 30 November 2026

    HC 584 raises the monthly living-cost amount Student applicants must show to match 2026/27 home student maintenance loans, for applications from 30 November 2026. The maximum accommodation offset rises too.

    News report Guide Official source ↗
  6. In effect

    EU Settlement Scheme and BN(O) settlement rules change

    From 8 October 2026, first-time EUSS joining family members must apply within three months of their latest lawful entry, and BN(O) dependent children no longer need five years' continuous residence before settling with their parents. From 9 December 2026, a BRP can no longer be used as EUSS identity evidence.

    News report Guide Official source ↗

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Latest UK guides

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Quick answers

What are the main ways to move to the United Kingdom permanently?
The most common routes are: skilled worker straight to settlement; study, work, then settlement; spouse or partner route; health and care worker route; global talent or innovator founder fast track. Each starts with a temporary visa or direct application and leads to permanent residence, then citizenship.
How long does it take to become a citizen of the United Kingdom?
At least 6 years under current rules: 5 years on the Skilled Worker route, then 12 months with ILR. Processing times add to this legal minimum.
Who handles immigration applications in the United Kingdom?
UK Visas and Immigration (https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration) is the official authority. Always confirm fees and requirements on its website before applying.
What changed recently in United Kingdom immigration?
Recent changes include: Student and Visitor rules opened to Erasmus+ participants (2026-10-08, in effect); Modern slavery victims on Skilled Worker visas can change employer (2026-10-08, in effect); UK Resettlement Scheme reopens to new referrals (2026-09-28, in effect). See the full tracker at https://studyimmigration.com/updates/.

Official United Kingdom resources

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