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Relocating from Qatar to the UK
Many Qatari nationals are proud to call the UK home and have significant investments and business interests here. Citizens of Qatar are attracted to the UK because of its vibrant and robust economy, market and job opportunities, culture, history, and the excellent education opportunities available. For help with making the move to the UK from Qatar, whether on a temporary or permanent basis, please contact one of our specialist immigration Solicitors. We have helped many Qatari nationals relocate easily and seamlessly.
If you are considering making the move from Qatar to the UK in 2024 or beyond, this guide is just for you. We will explain all that you need to know about emigrating from Qatar to the UK, including:
- The legal / immigration requirements for moving from Qatar to the UK
- The cost of living and how this compares to the UK
- A checklist of tasks to complete before moving to the UK and
- Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about moving as a Qatari citizen to the UK.
What are the legal requirements for Qatari citizens moving to the UK?
Whether you wish to relocate to the UK from Qatar to work, study, start a business, or join a family member, you will need a visa, with each type having its own eligibility requirements. The following sets out the eligibility criteria for some of the most popular UK visa types:
UK Skilled Worker visa
The UK Skilled Worker visa is ideal for Qatari citizens who wish to come to the UK to live and work for a period of up to 5 years. After 5 years of continuous residence on this visa, you will be able to apply for permanent settlement and British citizenship 1 year later.
To apply for a Skilled Worker visa as a Qatari national, you must:
- Have an offer a job from a UK employer with a sponsor licence
- Receive a salary of at least £38,700 per year (or the ‘going rate’ for your occupation). You may be eligible for a lower annual salary if you have a PhD, a job on the UK government’s immigration salary list, or are a new entrant to the job market and
- Fulfil the English Language requirements – typically by successfully completing a Secure English Language Test (SELT).
UK Student visa
If you are a national of Qatar who would like to study at a UK university, college, or school, you will need to apply for a student visa. To apply, you must:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Have a formal offer of a place course from an approved educational provider (e.g., a university with a sponsor licence)
- Meet the English language proficiency requirements, and
- Have enough money to support yourself while you are in the UK.
If you would like to stay once your course is completed, you can apply for a UK Graduate visa. This will allow you to stay in the UK for up to 24 months to find skilled employment and then switch to a Skilled Worker visa. This will then enable you to apply for permanent settlement after 5 years and UK citizenship one year later.
UK Innovator Founder visa
If you are a Qatari business person/entrepreneur with plans to start a business in the UK, the Innovator Founder visa may offer the perfect immigration route for your needs. This route provides an accelerated pathway to permanent settlement after just 3 years rather than the normal 5 years required for most other visas. To apply for an Innovator Founder visa, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a business plan for a new, unique, viable, and scalable business, and
- Have an endorsed business idea (by a UK endorsing body).
Family visa
The UK family visa enables Qatari citizens to relocate to the UK to join close family members who already live here. To apply for a family visa, you must have a partner or spouse, parent, or child who is a British citizen or has settled here.
The legal requirements you need to meet to secure a family visa as a Qatari national will depend on who you are joining here. For example, if you wish to join your spouse or partner visa, you must be able to show that you have an income of £29,000 – this can be met through income, savings, pensions, or income from investments. You will also need to meet the English language requirements, typically by passing an approved language test.
As a UK family visa holder, you stay for 5 years and then apply for permanent settlement. Once you have settled, you can apply for citizenship a year later.
What is the cost of living in the UK?
The overall cost of living in the UK is higher than in Qatar according to the cost of living comparison website Numbeo. When rent is included, the cost of living here is 42% more than in Qatar due to the relatively high cost of rent. Restaurant prices in the UK are also 36% higher than in Qatar, and groceries are 33% higher than in Qatar.
While the cost of living in the UK is higher than in Qatar, remember that wages are often higher here for highly skilled workers. Also, the cost of living varies considerably depending on where you choose to live.
Emigrating to the UK from Qatar – Checklist
AY&J has helped many Qatari nationals relocate from Qatar to the UK. Over the years, we have observed just what it takes to make the moving process as easy as possible. We recommend:
- Engaging a UK-based immigration Solicitor such as A Y & J who can guide you and your family through the UK immigration process from start to finish. We will explain the optimal immigration route based on your background and plans, handle your visa application, and deal with any questions raised by the Home Office. We can also assist you in the future with your visa renewal, indefinite leave to remain, and citizenship application.
- If you plan to work in the UK, you must have a job offer before you apply for a visa. For this reason, we recommend focusing on gaining employment as soon as possible. Use job websites such as Indeed, Linkedin, and Totaljobs to assist in your job search. Also, apply directly to employers listed on the Home Office’s register of licenced sponsors.
- Create a short list of where you would like to live in the UK.
- Visit the UK for at least 2 or 3 weeks before you decide where to live.
- Create a budget spreadsheet setting out your income and costs – including the cost of groceries, car insurance, council tax, transport, electricity, heating, and any other costs.
- Estimate the total cost of moving here. Include your:
- travel costs
- removal costs
- home rental deposit
- car
- visa costs, and
- healthcare surcharge
- Check if there are spaces at a school in your chosen area for your children.
Moving to the UK from Qatar benefits
For Qatari nationals who wish to relocate, the UK offers a wide range of benefits, including:
- The excellent transport system makes it easy and convenient to travel around the UK and overseas.
- A robust and dynamic economy.
- Many well-paid, highly skilled jobs.
- Minimal business administration
- Plenty of history and culture
- Beautiful towns, villages, mountains, hills, lakes, and countryside, and
- World-class universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, St Andrews, and University College London (UCL).
How to set up your finances in the UK?
Before you make a move to the UK from Qatar, it is important to consider your banking arrangements, UK national insurance, and taxation as a minimum.
Opening a UK bank account
It is advisable to wait until you arrive in the United Kingdom before opening a new bank account here. This is because you will need to provide them with proof of your identity and a permanent UK address. To transfer funds from your bank in Qatar to the UK, you can either use a bank-to-bank transfer service or a money transfer service such as OFX or Wise. Always use a company with a strong reputation and ensure that the fees and the exchange rate are competitive.
National insurance number
One of the main steps you will need to take when in the UK is to apply for a National Insurance (NI) number. If you will be working for an employer in the UK, you should provide your new NI number to them. You will need to do this before you start to work or run a business in the UK.
Paying tax in the UK
If you will be working for an employer in the UK, your income tax will be collected through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system and paid to HMRC on your behalf. The tax system is different if you are self-employed. In this case, you will need to complete and submit an annual self-assessment form to HMRC. We recommend engaging an accountant in the UK who can handle your self-assessment.
What is a Self-Sponsored route?
The Self-sponsorship route is an innovative immigration pathway that enables Qatari citizens to relocate to the UK without the need to get a job. Using this route, applicants set up and run their own businesses here and sponsor themselves. Self-sponsored visa holders can settle in the UK after a number of continuous years of residence and later gain UK citizenship.
A Y & J was an early pioneer of this route and can guide you through the end-to-end process of making a successful self-sponsorship application.
Emigrating to the UK as a non-Qatari national
If you are a non-Qatari national who would like to live, work, study, or join family members in the UK, you will also need to apply for a suitable visa. To check which is the best visa for your needs, please chat with one of our friendly expert UK Immigration Solicitors who can advise you based on your background and goals, as well as those of your immediate family.
Joining UK Family Members as a Non-Qatari National
You will first need to apply for a UK family visa if you are a non-Qatari national with plans to join a partner, spouse, parent, or child who is already settled in the UK. To qualify, your family member must either be a British citizen, a person with indefinite leave to remain, an EU/EEA national who started living in the UK before 1st January 2021, or a person with UK refugee status. Family visa applicants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years of continuous residence and then seek British citizenship 12 months later.
FAQ’s
What documents and information do I need to move to the UK from Qatar?
The documents you need to move to the UK from Qatar will depend on the type of visa you need. For instance, if you are moving to the UK on a work visa, you will need:
- A valid Qatari passport or other form of valid ID
- Proof of your job offer for an eligible occupation
- A Certificate of Sponsorship and
- A bank statement showing that you have enough money to support yourself and any immediate family members.
These are just a few of the documents you might need to move from Qatar to the UK. Your immigration advisor will give you a comprehensive list of all the necessary documents based on your visa type. Additionally, you may need to have some of your documents translated into English.
Do Qatari citizens need sponsorship to work in the UK?
Yes, as a Qatari national, you need sponsorship from a UK employer to work in the UK. Alternatively, you can explore the self-sponsorship option described earlier.
What should I consider before moving back to the UK from Qatar?
If you are a British ex-pat returning to the UK from Qatar, you may need to consider your employment, banking arrangements, and credit rating. Being abroad for an extended period may have impacted your credit rating, making it harder to borrow money or get a mortgage. It’s also wise to consult an accountant about your tax situation, as living in Qatar for over five years may mean you need to adhere to different income and capital gains tax regulations. Additionally, check if you need to ‘top up’ your national insurance contributions to be eligible for a UK state pension.
Moving from Qatar to the UK requirements
Please see the legal requirements for moving from Qatar to the UK above.
Can you move to the UK from Qatar?
Yes, however, Qatari citizens and their family members normally require a visa to live in the UK. Please see the visa options explained above.
Are Qatari citizens allowed to work in the UK?
Yes, as a Qatari national, you can work in the UK, but you will need a job offer from a sponsoring employer, a Certificate of Sponsorship, and a work visa issued by the UK Home Office. Alternatively, you can come on a family visa, which also allows you to work.
Applying for a UK visa from Qatar
As a citizen of Qatar, you can apply for a visa online. You will need to fully complete the application form, pay the application fees, and submit any evidence. An immigration law specialist based in the UK can handle your application on your behalf.
How long can a Qatari citizen stay in the UK?
The validity of your UK visa will depend on the type of visa you hold, for example:
- Work visas – typically valid for up to 5 years.
- Student visas are valid for the length of the course, after which you can apply for a graduate visa to remain in the UK for an additional 2 years to seek employment.
- Family visas – typically granted for up to 5 years.
Most UK visas offer a route to permanent settlement after 60 months (5 years) or less in some cases (e.g. the Innovator Founder visa).
What is the cost of living in the UK?
Please see the cost of living section above.
A Y & J Solicitors is a specialist immigration law firm with extensive experience with all types of visa applications. We have an in-depth understanding of immigration law and are professional and results-focused. For assistance with your visa application or any other UK immigration law concerns, please contact us on +44 20 7404 7933 or at contact us today. We’re here to help!
