In 2023, the UK is ranked 13th in the world in terms of human capital development. This indicates a high standard of living and access to quality education. The average annual income of a UK resident is £34 963.
In 2023, the country was ranked 8th in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking. The UK has an unemployment rate of just 3.8%, one of the lowest in Europe.
A British passport allows you to cross the borders of 192 different countries and territories without a visa.
UK citizens have access to free higher education and most health services. According to the World Health Organisation, the UK ranks 18th in terms of health care among all countries.
The UK offers relatively low rates of corporate tax, ranging from 19 to 25 per cent. There are investor tax relief schemes that provide significant tax deductions for investments in start-ups and emerging companies.
Which visas allow to later apply for permanent resident status and UK citizenship?
This is the best choice for affluent foreigners who want to move to the UK. Under this route, a minimum investment of £2,000,000 in the British economy is required. Your family members, including your spouse and children, may be included in your Tier 1 Investor visa application. There are no requirements with regards to language level or work experience. Under this route you are allowed to work, study or run a business in the UK, but you are under no obligation to do so.
This visa was designed for entrepreneurs who wanted to invest in their business in the UK. This included investment in starting a new or running an existing business. The minimum investment was £200,000. From 29 March 2019, the Home Office stopped accepting new applications for this type of visa, but those who had received their visa before that date may extend it or apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain.
A representative of an overseas business visa is ideal for those who occupy a senior position in a company whose headquarters are located in a foreign country and that is planning to set up its representation in the UK. No investment is required under this route, but there are requirements with regards to your work experience and English skills.
To qualify for one of the student visas, you need an official invitation (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from a licensed UK institution. The visa is issued for the duration of your studies and does not lead to permanent residency.
Designed for skilled professionals wishing to work in the UK. To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you need to obtain a work invitation from an accredited UK company with a sponsor licence. The visa is issued for a period of up to 5 years. It can be renewed allowing you to extend your stay in the country. After 5 years of residency in the UK it gives you the right to apply for permanent residency status.
The Innovator Founder visa is designed for entrepreneurs who wish to bring their innovative business idea to the UK. To qualify, your business idea must be approved by an Endorsement body. It is issued for a period of 3 years and can be renewed. Already after 3 years living in the UK, you can apply for permanent residency.
Designed for overseas companies just entering the UK market. Allows you to bring staff to the UK to fine-tune the operation of the new branch. It is issued for 12 months. After the expiry of this period the visa can be extended for another 12 months, but only once. Does not lead to permanent residency.
Suitable for promising professionals and established leaders in areas such as fundamental science, digital technology, arts and culture. To qualify for this category, you must first have the support of one of the licensed organisations. It is issued for 5 years. After 3-5 years, you can apply for a indefinite leave to remain.
This category includes Spouse visa, Unmarried partner visa and Fiancé/Fiancée visa. Suitable for couples where one partner is a British citizen or permanent resident. The period of issue depends on the category. Allows you to apply for permanent residency after 5 years of living in the UK.
If you are planning to immigrate to the UK, we will assist you at every stage – from choosing and getting a suitable visa to relocation, property search, establishment of your business and financial planning.
Licensed company
Imperial & Legal is regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) to the standards of the highest third level. This allows us to lead even the most complex applications and represent clients in the immigration tribunal.
99% of success rate
Before signing a contract, our experts carefully study each case. In case of a high probability of rejection, we always explain the risks in detail and offer other possible solutions that can guarantee a positive result.
Individual approach and full support
We will select the right type of visa and provide full legal support throughout the visa application process. We will develop a personalised solution and take care of communication with the Home Office. If necessary, we will help you organise your relocation.
Imperial & Legal immigration advisors will prepare lists of documents required for visa application. We will evaluate and check each document and help translate all the necessary documents into English. We will write a detailed cover letter explaining in detail why you qualify for the visa category you applied for.
Our specialists will fill in the visa application form together with you. We will pay the fee and upload all documents to the government website and book a convenient date for you to visit the visa centre to provide the biometrics.
We will contact Home Office in the event of additional requests.
It takes an average of a couple of weeks to 2-3 months to process an application if you have applied outside the UK. And up to 8 weeks if you have applied domestically. Once your visa is ready, we will notify you about the result.
If necessary, we can also help you organise your relocation: find an apartment for you to live, school or university for your children, register a company, open a bank account, prepare tax returns and pay taxes.
Depending on your visa category, after 2-5 years you will have to renew your visa or obtain a permanent residence permit (ILR, Indefinite Leave to Remain). Our lawyers will prepare all the documents and submit your application. We can help you to confirm the required level of English and pass the special test on the life in the UK.
Applying for citizenship and obtaining a British passport
It is possible to apply for naturalisation one year after getting a permanent residency status, but only after 5 years of living in the UK. We will prepare all the necessary documents to apply for UK citizenship
Once you have successfully passed the necessary tests and taken the oath, you will become a citizen of the United Kingdom and receive a British passport.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is an obligatory fee paid by foreigners applying for a visa or extending their stay in the UK for more than 6 months. This fee allows you to use the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) medical services for the duration of your stay.
The HIS has to be paid in full, for the entire duration of the visa, at the time of application in case you apply any long-term visa. The only exceptions are the Health and Care Worker visa, diplomatic and military visas.
In 2024 the cost of the IHS is £1035 per year for adults and £776 per year for children and students. Unlike the visa fee, which is non-refundable, the IHS can be refunded in the event of a visa refusal.
Most categories of long-stay visas to the UK require English language skills. The level of English required differs depending on the visa category. For example, a fiancée/fiancé or spouse visa requires the lowest, basic A1 level. Applicants for a work visa and students of additional bachelor’s programmes must show a B1 level. Students on undergraduate programmes and entrepreneurs moving to the UK on a Founder Innovator visa will need to show English language proficiency at B2 level.
Language proficiency needs to be proven by a test recognised by the British authorities, such as the IELT. Children under 18 years of age and applicants over 65 years of age applying for one of the family visas are exempt from the language requirement. You do not need to prove your language skills if you are a national of an English-speaking country or if you have completed higher education in English at a recognised institution.
For most long-term visas, the applicant has the right to have the decision reviewed or appealed. Experienced immigration advisors can help you get a visa after a refusal. They will scrutinise the refusal letter carefully to plan how to proceed.
If you are rejected because you have not provided all the necessary documents or filled in the standard form incorrectly, a lawyer will help you to correct all the mistakes and after paying the fee you can reapply for a visa.
If the refusal was the result of an obvious error by a Home Office officer, you can request a review of the decision on your application. Fortunately, the procedure for obtaining entry to the UK is as formalised as possible and minimises the involvement of an official. Therefore, if there has been a genuine error on the part of the visa officer, the decision will be reviewed.
If a lawyer decides that the immigration authorities’ refusal to grant you a visa has violated your rights, you can appeal to an independent immigration court in the hope of a fair decision. Statistically, the British Home Office loses up to 75 per cent of such cases.
You can find out more about what to do if your UK visa application is refused here.
Most UK visas are issued for a fixed period of time and require renewal if you wish to continue to stay in the UK. The only immigration status that does not need to be renewed is that of permanent resident (ILR) and British citizen.
For an extension, you will need to prepare all the necessary documents, apply on the official website and pay the visa fee. Please note that not all visa categories can be extended. For example, tourist visas (Visitor Visa), wedding visas (Marriage Visitor Visa) and Short-term Study Visas cannot be extended.
It can take up to 8 weeks for the Home Office to make a decision on your application. It is important that your application for an extension is made before your previous visa expires. You can legally stay in the UK during the period when the Home Office makes the decision about your case.
The process of becoming a British citizen takes years and consists of several stages. First you will need to obtain one of the long-term visas, which will allow you to enter the UK and start living in your new country of residency. Please note that not all long-term visas lead to permanent residency and citizenship.
The next step is to obtain permanent resident status (ILR). One of the main obstacles here is the minimum period of residence required to qualify for this status. For most visa categories it is 5 years. Only for holders of the Talent Visa and the Founder Innovator Visa this period is reduced to 3 years.
A required condition to apply for citizenship is living in the country for at least 5 years, of which 12 months in the status of permanent resident. Because of that, after obtaining permanent residency, you will need to live in the country for at least another 12 months in order to apply for citizenship. The exception here is the spouses of British citizens, who can apply for citizenship immediately after obtaining permanent residency status.
Therefore, the process of becoming a British citizen takes at least 5-6 years.
We will offer a tailored solution to you and your family based on your circumstances. Contact us today for your personalised solution.
UK Student visas
UK Skilled Worker Visa
UK Expansion Worker Visa: Great Tool for Business Development
UK Global Talent Visa
UK Family Visas: Spouse and Fiancé/Fiancée Visas
Employing foreign nationals