Immigrating to the UK: What are my options?

Immigrating to the UK

If you are currently living in South Africa but would like to relocate to the UK, there are a number of routes that may be suitable to you. The UK welcomes millions of tourists each year, as well as providing permanent settlement to vast numbers of migrants.

The UK’s immigration system is comprised of a points-based system, which replaced the previous tier system on 1st January 2021. This means that non-British nationals who wish to reside in the UK must accrue a certain number of points (depending on the visa type) in order to be granted permission to enter and remain.

Points are acquired by meeting certain visa requirements, such as having the appropriate English language skills, meeting certain income thresholds, and being able to prove that you are eligible for the specific UK visa you are applying for. Requirements vary depending on the visa, so it is important that you check the eligibility criteria for the route you wish to take.

We take a look at some of the most populars routes for moving to the UK, from the UK’s Family Visa category to the Skilled Worker visa.

How do I permanently move to the UK?

To gain permanent residency in the UK, you must qualify. It is likely that you will not be granted permanent settled status straight away – typically, this is obtained after proving that you have lived lawfully in the UK for a number of years.

If you are eligible for British citizenship, this will of course mean that you can gain permanent residency immediately. You may be eligible through ancestry, marriage or birth.

Applying for British citizenship can be a lengthy, costly and time-consuming process. It is highly advisable that you work alongside a qualified immigration lawyer who can take you through this process, helping to provide you with the best chance of success.

If you are not eligible for citizenship, you can acquire permanent residency by applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain, however this typically requires the applicant to have lived lawfully in the UK for at least 5 years before applying. In some circumstances, you may apply for ILR after 3 years.

In this situation, you must first qualify for a UK visa to begin living in the UK. From here, you may be able to either extend your visa – allowing you to remain in the country – or switch to a different visa route (if eligible). Once you have met the qualifying time period, you may apply for ILR.

How do I qualify for a UK visa?

This depends entirely on the type of visa you wish to apply for. There are various visa categories; you must first determine which you may be eligible for.

Do you have the skills needed to work in the UK? Are you moving to the UK to join your family, such as your British spouse? Are you a student looking to study at a British university? Or perhaps you wish to invest in the UK economy – there are various routes for those who would either like to invest in British businesses or to establish their own.

Some of the most popular UK visas are:

The UK Spouse Visa

This is suitable for those who are married to a British citizen or person with settled status in the UK. The Spouse Visa is notoriously difficult to obtain, so it is crucial that you provide sufficient evidence within your application to show that you qualify. For example, some of the key Spouse Visa requirements include:

• Proving that your relationship is genuine
• You and your partner are both over aged 18 or over
• You are lawfully married
• You meet the minimum income requirement (including the ability to support any dependents without relying on public funds)
• You intend to live together permanently have have suitable accommodation arranged
•  You meet the English language requirement

The Skilled Worker Visa

If you wish to move to the UK for work purposes, one of the most popular routes is the Skilled Worker Visa (formerly the Tier 2 Work Visa).

To qualify for this visa, you must:

• Provide proof that you have received a job offer from a valid UK Skilled Worker sponsor
• Provide evidence of your Certificate of Sponsorship
• Prove your fluency in English
• Show that you are set to receive a suitable salary for the role you have been offered
• Provide personal details including your immigration history and any criminal records

The Student Visa

If you are a South African student who would like to study in the UK, you may apply for the UK Student Visa. To qualify, you must:

• Have received an unconditional offer from a valid UK academic institution (which holds a sponsor licence)
• Have paid your course and tuition fees
• Prove that you are able to support yourself financially during your time in the UK
• Pass an English language test from an approved provider

The Family Visa

If you wish to join your family in the UK, you may be eligible for this visa. This route covers a range of familial relationships, with requirements varying depending on the specific route.

For example, if you wish to join your British partner, you may apply for either the Spouse Visa, Unmarried Partner Visa, or Fiance Visa, depending on which applies to your personal circumstances.

If you wish to join a British ancestor, you may be eligible for the Ancestry Visa. This requires proving that one of your grandparents was a British citizen by birth and you must intend to live and work in the UK permanently.

Or, you may apply for the Adult Dependant Visa if you can prove that you require long-term care from a family member residing in the UK. There is also a Child Dependant Visa for those looking to join their parents who will care for them.

The UK visas explored above are just a few of the many routes open to those looking to live in the UK.

To find out more about how to immigrate to the UK from South Africa, contact our experienced, dedicated immigration lawyers on 0333 305 9375. We can help with any visa application.