Visa for moving to the United Kingdom The optimal visa setup for your emigration
Since Brexit, new entry and residence regulations apply to EU citizens who wish to move to the United Kingdom (UK). Anyone moving to the United Kingdom needs more than an ETA, a plane ticket, and a container. Without the appropriate UK visa, you will lack the basis for residence, work, study, family reunification, customs clearance, and planning security. The UK operates a points-based visa system and a separate ETA system for short stays.
When do you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)?
Although the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is not a visa in the traditional sense, it has been mandatory for all visa-free travel to the United Kingdom since April 2, 2025. ETA + visa-free entry are sufficient if you:
- are coming to the UK as a tourist, for family visits or short-term business trips of up to 6 months,
- do not intend to earn income in the UK that requires a work visa,
- are not permanently relocating to the UK.
For a move involving a change of residence, starting a job, studying, or family reunification, the following applies:
- ETA and visitor status are not sufficient;
- you need a long-term UK visa (e.g., Skilled Worker, Student, Family Visa).
Related topics
- UK customs regulations → Find out more now
- Emigrating to the United Kingdom? → All the important information
- Bringing your pet with you? → Import rules
Differences in the UK visa system – short-term stays vs. long-term visas
Short stay – visit, business, transit
✓ Up to a maximum of 6 months
✓ Standard Visitor Visa: For anyone traveling to the UK for a visit, tourism, short business trips, or short study visits who requires a visa.
✓ Visa-free visitors + ETA: for nationals of certain countries who are allowed to enter without a visa for up to 6 months but now require an ETA (e.g., EU citizens, US, Canada, Australia).
Long-term visas – work, study, family reunification, settlement
✓ Work Routes (e.g., Skilled Worker visa, Health and Care Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Global Business Mobility)
✓ Study Routes (Student visa, Child Student visa)
✓ Family Routes (partner, spouse, children, certain other relatives)
✓ Special programs (Graduate visa, certain Youth Mobility programs, etc.)
These visas are linked to specific requirements regarding employment, study, length of stay, and rights, and form the basis for later settlement options (Indefinite Leave to Remain).
What requirements must you meet for your long-term visa?
✓ Work Routes (e.g., Skilled Worker visa, Health and Care Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Global Business Mobility) – a minimum of 70 points must be achieved to obtain a visa (job offer 20 points, appropriate level 20 points, English language skills 10 points, salary 20 points).
Additional requirement: Applicants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). This is an annual fee that allows access to the UK health system (NHS).
✓ Student Route Visa: No visa required for stays of up to 6 months, but no work permit. Requirements are CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), financial resources, and English language skills.
✓ Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS): Allows young people (usually up to 30 or 35 years of age, depending on the country) to stay and work in the UK for up to two years (note quotas).
✓ Global Talent Visa: For individuals with outstanding achievements or promising talent in science, research, arts, and technology.
✓ Family Visa: For spouses, partners, or family members who are moving to join a British citizen or settled person already residing in the UK.
6 steps to obtaining the right visa for moving to the UK
Sharpen the target image and time horizon
- Permanent emigration, multi-year assignment, or temporary study?
- Clarify the role of family, household goods, real estate, schools, and career path.
Define visa type
- Work Case (Skilled Worker, etc.), Study Case, Family Case, Entrepreneur/Talent.
- This reduces the complexity to a manageable set of options.
Onboarding sponsors and stakeholders
- Employer (for Work Routes), university (for students), partner/family (for Family Route).
- Early involvement of immigration specialists is standard practice—UK rules are dynamic and complex.
Prepare application documents
- Passports, employment contracts, CAS, proof of relationship, financial documents, proof of qualifications, police clearance certificates if applicable.
- Clear documentation prevents queries and delays.
Online application & biometric data
- Apply via GOV.UK (the only official platform).
- Pay the fees, pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, attend your appointment at the Visa Application Center.
Synchronize visa timing with relocation and customs
Ideal scenario: Visa approved, entry date fixed, ToR1 and relocation timing planned so that household goods arrive shortly after arrival, not months before or after.
How DACHSER & KOLB supports you with visa setup for your move to the UK
Coordination and timing
Synchronization of visa validity, date of entry, ETA/visa status, and planned departure/arrival dates for your removal goods.
Advice on overall strategy
Advice on how your visa setup affects customs procedures and the scope of household goods, including recommendations on what makes sense to send ahead or wait to move until your status is clear.
Collaboration
Close collaboration with HR, relocation, immigration lawyers, and internal project teams to ensure that all stakeholders are working on the same timeline.
Planning & Implementation
End-to-end relocation planning including packing, transport, customs coordination, on-site delivery, and optional storage solutions in case the visa process is delayed.
Common mistakes when applying for a visa to move to the UK – and how to avoid them
- Wanting to “emigrate” with an ETA or standard visitor visa—visitor status is not intended for relocating your residence, starting a job, and bringing your belongings with you.
- Visa type not suitable for your lifestyle—e.g., a student visa when your actual goal is full-time work, or a work visa without a solid sponsorship case.
- Underestimating the time required – Reviews, biometric appointments, queries, and possible follow-up work take time – trying to time the move and job start too closely together creates stress in the project plan.
- Not coordinating status, customs concept, and household goods strategy – The authorities expect visa status, scope of household goods, and ToR1 application to be consistent.
Visa & customs – why your status is relevant for ToR1 and household goods
For the preferential or duty-free import of household goods into the UK (Transfer of Residence, ToR1), the underlying residence status is a key factor: dachser-kolb.de+1
- Anyone entering the country with a container, furniture, and complete home furnishings should have a long-term status (work, study, family) – not just a visitor's visa.
- The UK expects your scope of relocation and your visa type to paint a coherent picture.
Legal notice
This page provides practical, concise guidance on visas for moving to the United Kingdom (UK). It is not a substitute for individual legal advice. Only the latest information from the following sources is binding:
- GOV.UK (Visas and Immigration, Check if you need a UK visa, ETA, Work, Study, Family)
- the relevant British embassies and consulates
- in addition: information from the German Foreign Office or the relevant authorities in your home country
FAQ – The most frequently asked questions about visas for moving to the United Kingdom (UK)
What visa do I need to move permanently to the United Kingdom (UK)?
For a permanent move with a change of residence, you will usually need a long-term visa, e.g.:
- Skilled Worker visa (or other Work Routes) if you have a job offer in the UK.
- Family visa if you are moving to join a partner or family member with British citizenship or settled status.
- Student visa if the main reason is to study for several years.
A visa-free entry or ETA alone is not sufficient for emigration.
Is visa-free entry or ETA sufficient if I want to emigrate to the UK?
No. Visa-free entry + ETA is only intended for short stays (e.g., vacation, family visits, short business trips) of up to 6 months.
If you are moving to Canada to take up residence, start a job, study, or join your family, you will need a separate long-term visa (Work, Study, Family Route).
As a German citizen, will I need a visa for the UK after Brexit?
Yes and no. For short trips (tourism, business visits) of up to six months, you do not need a visa (but from April 2025 you will need an ETA). For long-term stays, taking up employment, studying for more than six months, or starting a business in the UK, a visa under the Points-Based System is mandatory.
What is the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)?
The IHS is a mandatory fee that must be paid in addition to the visa fee for almost all applications for a long-term visa (work or study) for the United Kingdom. It is used to finance access to the British National Health Service (NHS) during your stay.
What is the difference between ToR1 (customs) and visa (entry)?
The ToR1 application (Transfer of Residence) regulates the customs exemption for your removal goods. The visa regulates your right of residence and your entitlement to work or study in the UK. You usually need both to move: first the visa for the right of residence, then the URN from the ToR1 procedure for the duty-free import of household goods.
Can I work in the UK on a tourist visa (visitor)?
No. The Standard Visitor Visa (which is automatically valid for 6 months for EU citizens) does not allow paid or unpaid work. If you take up employment without the appropriate Skilled Worker Visa or other work permit, you may face immediate deportation and a multi-year ban on entering the United Kingdom.
Is it possible to work in the UK with a work permit?
For secondments by a company from the EU, the Global Business Mobility Visa (Senior or Specialist Worker), formerly known as Intra-Company Transfer, often applies. For this, you do not need a direct job offer from the UK, but must be seconded as an employee of the foreign parent company. Sponsorship from the British branch is also required for this.
Why DACHSER & KOLB is the right choice
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Donna Draganov
Teamlead Customer Service & Sales - ROAD
