United Kingdom

The 15-second snapshot

You can visit

Yes, up to 6 months

You can stay long term

Yes, work & family routes

Remote-work routes

1 route

Bring dependants

Yes

Open a local bank account

Yes, proof of address needed

Likely tax resident after

Statutory Residence Test

Citizenship pathway

Moderate, 5–6 years

• Entry2026 · High confidence

  Post-Brexit: no EU free movement. Many nationalities visit visa-free for up to 6 months as a Standard Visitor (an ETA is now required for non-visa nationals). Long-stay: Skilled Worker visa (min salary GBP 41,700 from 22 Jul 2025). An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is required for visa-exempt visitors as of 2025.

  GOV.UK (Standard Visitor visa)
• Tax residence2026 · High confidence

  Residency is decided by the Statutory Residence Test (automatic tests plus a ties test), NOT a simple day count; 183+ days is one automatic-resident trigger but far fewer days can make you resident via ties. Do NOT treat as a flat 183-day rule: the SRT can make someone resident on as few as ~16-45 days depending on ties.

  LITRG (Foreign income and gains regime, tax years from 2025/26)
• Citizenship2026 · Medium confidence

  Typically ILR (settlement) after 5 years, then naturalisation 12 months later (about 6 years total). Reforms (earned settlement) may lengthen the standard route and shorten it for high earners. 5 years to ILR + 1 year = ~6; the government's earned-settlement reforms are changing timelines (e.g. 3 years for very high earners, longer default for others).

  GOV.UK (Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave)
• Income tax2025-04-06 · High confidence

  Progressive income tax: 20% basic, 40% higher, 45% additional (Scotland differs). The non-dom remittance basis was abolished from 6 Apr 2025 and replaced by a residence-based 4-year Foreign Income & Gains (FIG) regime for new arrivals. FIG relieves most foreign income/gains for the first 4 UK-resident years for those non-resident the prior 10 years; claimants lose personal allowance and CGT annual exemption.

  GOV.UK / LITRG (FIG regime 2025/26)

Researched from public sources on the dates shown. Rules change; this is a planning layer, not legal or tax advice, and not a substitute for a professional before you act.

Cost of living and residency

Live, single (per month)

$4.3k

Live, family of four

$9.0k / mo

Main residency route

Skilled Worker Visa (Global Talent is the alt)

Income needed

$4.4k / mo

Government fee

$2.0k

General salary floor rose to 41,700 GBP/yr (~4,400 USD/mo) or the SOC going rate, whichever higher, plus a job offer from a licensed sponsor. Visa fee 819-1,636 GBP + IHS 1,035 GBP/yr/adult. Global Talent has no salary test (fee ~766 GBP).

Cost source: Numbeo (London, Jul 2026)Residency source: davidsonmorris / gov.uk fees 2026