Relocating from Thailand to the UK
If you are thinking of relocating from Thailand to the UK, you are not alone. According to the most recent estimate, there are around 21,000 Thai nationals resident in the UK. It is easy to see why the UK is so popular for citizens of Thailand. Thais are drawn to the UK for many reasons, including the British culture and history, to be with close family members, to study, to work, or set up in business. If you are moving from Thailand to the UK in the near future, it is vital that you do your homework before doing so. This is why we created this guide. Here, we will explain the UK visa options available to Thai nationals, how much it costs to live in the UK, and how to make your move as easy as possible. We will also answer some of the most common questions raised by people moving to the UK.
AY&J Solicitors has assisted many Thai citizens in successfully relocating to the UK, and we can do exactly the same for you. To make your move to the UK from Thailand as easy and smooth as possible, please speak to one of our expert immigration Solicitors, who will explain the immigration options available to you and support you and your family throughout the process.
What are the legal requirements for Thai citizens moving to the UK?
The legal requirements for Thai citizens moving to the UK will depend on the visa being applied for, as summarised below (please note this list of UK visas is by no means exhaustive):
UK Skilled Worker visa / Health and Care Worker visa
To relocate from Thailand to the UK for long-term work, you will need to apply for either a:
The UK Skilled Worker visa is the most commonly used general work visa for applicants in a diverse range of occupations. The Health and Care Worker visa is also extremely popular but is specifically aimed at healthcare professionals.
To apply for a Skilled Worker visa or a Health and Care Worker visa, you must:
- Have a job offer from a licenced UK employer in an eligible occupation
- Meet the minimum salary requirements – for example, if applying for the Skilled Worker visa, you must have a salary of at least £38,700 per year or the ‘going rate’ for your job type. It is also possible to meet the eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker visa with a lower annual salary. This may be the case if you have a PhD, a job on the UK government’s immigration salary list, or are a new entrant to the job market.
- Meet the English language requirements by passing an approved English language exam or a prior degree taught in English.
Both visas will allow you to bring your married spouse and children to the UK and remain here for up to 5 years. After 5 years, you can apply for a visa extension or for permanent settlement. Twelve months later, it is possible to apply for British citizenship.
UK Student visa
To study in the UK as a Thai national, you must be aged 16 years old or over and have a place on a course with an approved school or university. You must also have enough money to support yourself and be able to prove your knowledge of the English language. Again, this can be done by passing an approved English language test or by holding a prior degree that was taught in English.
If you would like to stay in the UK after your course, you can either apply for a new student visa (if you wish to continue studying) or a UK Graduate visa. The Graduate visa will enable you to stay in the UK for up to 24 months to find suitable employment. Once you have found a sponsoring employer, you can then apply to switch to a Skilled Worker visa, allowing you to remain for a further 5 years. At this stage, you then have the choice to extend your visa or apply for permanent settlement. One year after gaining permanent settlement, you can apply for British citizenship.
UK Innovator Founder visa
The UK Innovator Founder visa is a great option for Thai business people and entrepreneurs who want to move to the UK to set up a business. By choosing this route, you can apply for ILR after just 3 years, compared to the usual 5-year permanent residence qualification period.
To apply for a UK Innovator Founder visa application, you must be at least 18 years of age and, most importantly, have a new, unique, viable, and scalable business idea that has been endorsed by an approved endorsing body.
Family visa
The UK family visa scheme is an extremely popular option for Thai nationals who have a partner or spouse, parent, or child who is a British citizen or has settled permanently in the UK. The following sets out the legal requirements to join a spouse or partner in the UK as a Thai national:
- Relationship requirement – You must be in a civil partnership or marriage that is legally recognised in the UK or have been living with your partner in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply. You can also apply for a family visa if you are a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner and you plan to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arrival here.
- Financial requirement – You and your UK-based partner must have a combined income of £29,000 or more. This can be met through salary, non-salaried income (e.g. rental income), savings (of £16,000 or more), pensions, or income from investments.
- English language requirement – You must meet the English language requirement by passing an approved English language test or holding a degree taught in English.
Once in the UK on a family visa, you will be able to remain for up to 5 years. To stay longer, you can either apply for a visa extension or permanent settlement. Twelve months after gaining permanent settlement, you can apply for UK citizenship.
What is the cost of living in the UK?
It is important to understand that the cost of living in the UK is generally much higher than in Thailand. According to the cost of living comparison website Numbeo, the cost of living in the UK is 81.6% higher than in Thailand, and this rises to 101.0% when the cost of rent is included. In addition, restaurant prices in the UK are double those in the UK, and grocery prices in the UK are 39.1% higher than in Thailand.
This only provides part of the picture, however. While the cost of living in the United Kingdom is much higher than in Thailand, wages are also much higher here, especially in skilled employment. Another factor to bear in mind is that the cost of living varies considerably across the UK. By choosing a less expensive place to live in the UK outside of London, you can lower your overall cost of living considerably.
Emigrating to the UK from Thailand – Checklist
Based on our considerable experience of helping Thai nationals and citizens of other countries move to the UK, we recommend taking the following steps to make the journey as easy as possible for you and your family:
- Find a trusted immigration Solicitor in the UK who can assist you throughout the visa application process. At AY&J, we will first listen to your needs and narrow down the visa options that will meet your requirements. We then help you to gather all necessary documents and evidence and prepare and submit your application, addressing any queries from the Home Office. With our expertise, you can rest assured that your immigration visas are being handled professionally, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your relocation, such as finding a job and a place to live.
- Secure a job offer from a UK employer before applying for a work visa. To streamline the job search process, consider registering with agencies, using job search websites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Totaljobs, and applying directly to employers listed on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors.
- Make a list of potential places to live in the UK. There are many cities, towns, and villages that might meet your and your family’s needs.
- Visit the UK before deciding where to settle. Consider factors like the cost of living, transport convenience, and school availability in your chosen area.
- Prepare a detailed budget spreadsheet outlining your expected income and expenses. If possible, consult with someone who lives in the UK to gain a better understanding of typical costs. Your budget should include groceries, car insurance, other insurances, council tax, transport, electricity, heating, and any other foreseeable expenses, and
- Calculate the total cost of moving to the UK from Thailand, including flight costs, removal expenses, home rental deposit, transport, visa fees, and the healthcare surcharge.
Moving to the UK from Thailand benefits
For Thai nationals, the UK offers a whole range of benefits, including:
- A world-class transport network system including rail, sea, road, and air. This makes it easy and convenient to travel throughout the UK, Europe, and beyond.
- A robust and dynamic economy. The UK is the 6th largest economy in the world, just behind India, Japan, and Germany!
- A plentiful supply of well-paid and highly skilled job opportunities.
- Low levels of administration and red tape make it easy to establish and run a business.
- A wealth of attractions and activities, including national parks, museums, historical artefacts, beaches, towns, villages, mountains, hills, lakes, and the wonderful British countryside, and
- Access to some of the world’s best schools and universities, such as Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial College.
How to set up your finances in the UK?
When it comes to setting up your financial arrangements in the UK, you will need to consider a) opening a UK bank account, b) how to transfer your money from Thailand to the UK, c) applying for a national insurance number, and d) registering for tax with HMRC.
- Opening a UK bank account – When you open your new UK bank account, you will need to provide proof of your identity (e.g. your passport) and a permanent UK address (e.g. a utility bill, mortgage agreement, or rental agreement). As such, it is preferable to wait until you arrive in the UK before trying to open a bank account.
- Transferring money from Thailand to the UK – If you choose to use a money transfer service, always make sure that it has a reliable reputation and that the fees payable and the exchange rate are competitive.
- National Insurance Number – You will need to apply for and receive your National Insurance (NI) number before you start working for yourself or an employer in the UK.
- Registering for tax with HMRC – If you are employed, you will not need to register for income tax with HMRC. Instead, your employer will register for you, and any tax you owe will be collected and paid automatically through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system. If you are self-employed, you will need to register for self-assessment and submit a self-assessment form to HMRC each year. An accountant can handle this process for you.
What is a Self-Sponsored route?
The Self-sponsorship route enables Thai citizens to move to the UK without being sponsored by an employer. Instead, applicants register a business of their own in the UK, apply for a sponsor licence under that business, and then sponsor themselves. Once in the UK on the self-sponsorship route, Thai citizens can settle permanently after a number of continuous years of residence (3 years with the Innovator Founder visa) and then apply for British citizenship 12 months later.
AY&J Solicitors is a leader in the area of UK immigration self-sponsorship. We can advise whether self-sponsorship is suitable for you and your family, prepare your application/s, gather any evidence, submit your case, and answer any questions raised by the Home Office.
Emigrating to the UK as a non-Thai national
If you are a non-Thai nationals who would like to live, work, study, or join family members in the UK, the chances are that you will also need a visa. To check which visa is right for your needs and for your family members, please speak to one of our friendly expert UK Immigration Solicitors. We will listen to your background and requirements and advise which visa/s to apply for you and your family members.
Joining UK Family Members as a Non-Thai National
If you are a non-Thai national and would like to join a partner, spouse, parent, or child already living and settled in the UK, you will need a family visa. To apply, 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 who holds UK refugee status. After 5 years in the UK on a family visa, you can either apply to extend your stay or for permanent settlement.
FAQ’s
What documents and information do I need to move to the UK from Thailand?
The evidence needed to support your visa application will depend on the type of visa you are applying for. For instance, if you are relocating to the UK for work, you may need to provide:
- A valid passport or other form of valid ID
- Proof of a job offer for an eligible occupation
- A Certificate of Sponsorship, and
- A bank statement showing that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and any immediate family members
Your immigration solicitor will give you a complete list of all the evidence needed to support your chosen visa type.
Do Thai citizens need sponsorship to work in the UK?
Yes, as a Thai national, you must be sponsored by an employer if you want to work in the UK. Sponsorship can only be provided by an employer with an A-rated sponsor licence. Alternatively, you can explore the self-sponsorship option explained above.
What should I consider before moving back to the UK from Thailand?
If you have been overseas for many years, this may have negatively affected your credit rating, making it harder to borrow money or get a mortgage when you return to the UK. To check, we recommend speaking to a credit rating company to understand the steps to take to reestablish a healthy rating. It may also be useful to consult an accountant about your tax situation, as living in Thailand 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 Thailand to the UK requirements
Please see the legal requirements for moving from Thailand to the UK above.
Can you move to the UK from Thailand?
Yes, however, Thai citizens and their family members normally require a visa to live in the UK. Please see the visa options explained above.
Are Thai citizens allowed to work in the UK?
Yes, as a Thai citizen, you can work in the UK. You will need an offer of a job in an eligible occupation 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 Thailand
As a Thai citizen, you can apply for a UK visa online. This involves completing and submitting the online application form, paying any application fees, and submitting any evidence (this can be scanned and uploaded online). An immigration law specialist based in the UK can handle your application on your behalf.
How long can a Thai citizen stay in the UK?
The duration of your visa will depend on the type of visa you hold, for example:
- Work visas – granted for up to 5 years.
- Student visas – granted 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 –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!
