Challenges of moving from the France to the UK involve complex immigration laws and visa applications. Just one misstep — delay or even denial of entry could affect your personal and professional plans. Let an expert team of immigration solicitors help you with your relocation. Leave all your worries behind and rest assured regarding having every aspect of your move managed efficiently and in compliance with UK regulations. From securing an appropriate visa to enter the country to understanding the minutiae of residency in the UK, our services help you to move seamlessly.
The Success Story: Read about how A Y & J Solicitors helped this France client relocate to the UK and made the process easy, ensuring timely entry into the UK.
At A Y & J Solicitors in London, we've helped thousands of new and experienced business owners move to the UK from around the world. We understand the typical challenges that come along with your visa application for self-sponsorship UK and know how to mitigate them. We walk you through step by step, showing you how to self-sponsor a work visa in the UK. Instead of going it alone, let our lawyers take the weight off your shoulders, so you can rest easy knowing you'll be able to bring your business (and family) to the UK.
Kate Corey, Founder of 6 Degrees
We are specialists in immigration law and have supported more than 4,000 business owners and professionals around the globe to successfully navigate the British system. We work quickly, always responding to any queries within 24 working hours. And we work closely with the Home Office to pre-empt issues before they jeopardise sponsorship applications or breach compliance. We manage all United Kingdom immigration matters including visa applications under the new points-based immigration system, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Spouse Visas, nationality and more. We also handle complex cases of appeal, administrative reviews, judicial reviews and the many immigration challenges involving European Union law and human rights.
A Y & J Solicitors has more than 1,200 positive client reviews across Google and Trustpilot and is listed in The Legal top 500 best UK law firms, so you can rest assured your immigration challenges are in safe hands when you take these three simple steps:
"I used AY&J solicitors for Tier-2 (Skilled Worker Visa) application and successfully received it without any hassle or inconvenience. Imaad was available 24/7 for me and my employer both and provided excellent customer service, took us through every step carefully and with proper guidance and in timely manner as well. Would definitely recommend the company, especially Imaad."
"I sincerely appreciate your help,it was great working with you,thank you once again."
"I want to thank Ms Nagina Hanif and her team for their excellent service. She navigated my tricky immigration situation very professionally and I would highly recommend their services! Throughout the process they were patient, prompt and knowledgeable. They have made the process as smooth for me as possible, and I was so relieved when the decision came in!"
"Very helpful and will keep you always on the loop."
"I recently engaged A Y & J Solicitors to assist with our Tier 2 sponsor license application, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. From the start, their team was highly professional, knowledgeable, and efficient. They guided us through every step of the process, providing clear instructions and ensuring that all documentation was completed accurately. What stood out most was their speed in handling the application. We received our sponsor license in record time—much faster than I had anticipated. The firm's deep understanding of Home Office requirements and immigration regulations made the entire process smooth and hassle-free. I highly recommend A Y & J Solicitors to any business looking to apply for a Tier 2 sponsor license. They truly deliver excellent service and outstanding results!"
"Very professional team and work. The way they guide you at every step is so clear. We personally had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend A Y & J solicitors. Thank you team."
The UK offers enormous advantages for nationals of France who wish to relocate here, as follows:
Before applying for a visa to emigrate from France to the UK, it is important to understand the legal requirements that you will need to meet. The exact legal requirements will depend on the visa route you choose to apply for. In most cases, you can bring your partner and children with you to the UK on a dependant visa.
Skilled Worker visa – The UK Skilled Worker visa is by far the most popular visa route for French nationals who wish to move to the UK for employment. With a Skilled Worker visa, you can work in the UK for up to 5 years and then apply for permanent settlement. After a further year, you can apply for British citizenship. To apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you must have:
UK Student visa – For French nationals who are over the age of 16 and want to attend a school, college or university in the UK, the UK Student visa allows them to live, study, and work part-time for the duration of their course. If you are on a post-graduate level course, you will also be able to bring your partner and children with you. Once you have completed your degree, masters or PhD course, you can apply for a UK Graduate visa to stay and live in the UK to find work for up to 2 years. To apply for a Student visa, you must:
UK Innovator Founder Visa – If you are an experienced business person or an aspiring entrepreneur with plans to set up a business in the UK, the UK Innovator Founder business visa may be the best immigration route for your needs. You must have a plan for a new, unique, viable, and scalable business idea that has been endorsed by an approved body in the UK. Applicants must also be 18 years or older, meet the English language requirements, and have enough savings to support themselves while getting their business off the ground. One of the biggest benefits of this route is that it provides an accelerated route to permanent settlement in the UK of just 3 years rather than 5 years for most visa types.
This is just a selection of the many UK visa routes available to citizens of France. We recommend discussing your plans with an experienced immigration Solicitor in the UK who will assess your situation and that of your partner and children and recommend the most suitable route for your needs and the legal requirements you will need to meet.
Banking – We recommend waiting until you arrive in the UK to set up a new bank account here. This is because the bank will ask you for your permanent UK address and your passport to verify your identity.
NI number – You will need to apply for a national insurance (NI) number before you start working in the UK.
Tax – Your employer will automatically take any tax that you owe from your salary and ensure that this is paid to HM Revenue & Customs through the UK’s ‘Pay As You Earn’ (PAYE) system.
Several other UK visas available to Canadian nationals include the following:
Despite its departure from the European Union, the UK continues to be a popular destination for French nationals seeking new opportunities. Many French citizens come to the UK for the work and business opportunities, to join loved ones, and to study at some of the best schools and universities in the world. In fact, it is now estimated that around 150,000 people from France currently live in the UK.
If you are a citizen of France who is considering moving to the UK in 2024 or beyond, this guide is for just you. Here we will explain everything that you need to know about moving from France to the UK after Brexit, the legal requirements for French people moving to the UK, the cost of living in the UK and how this compares to France, a checklist for those relocating to the UK from France, and why people from France should consider moving here.
At 11pm GMT on the 31st December 2020, the UK left the European Union, bringing to an end the free movement of people between the UK and the EU. If you are a French or EU national who moved to the UK before 31st December 2020, you can apply to settle under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). Whilst most EU citizens in this situation will have already applied to the EUSS, it is still possible to apply if you have a genuine reason for applying late.
If you are a French national who did not live in the UK before Brexit, then you will need to apply for a visa to relocate yourself and your family members to the UK. Thankfully, with a solid understanding of the visa options available to you, including the self-sponsorship route (see below for more details), and the guidance of an expert in immigration law, you can make the move to the UK with relative ease.
According to the cost of living website Numbeo, overall consumer prices in the UK are around 8.5% higher than in France when rent is taken into account. However, it is important to bear in mind that salaries on offer in the UK may be higher depending on your occupation and the pay offered by your employer. However, grocery prices are significantly 19% lower in the UK than in France.
While the distance may be relatively short, moving from France to the UK requires considerable planning to ensure it goes as smoothly and seamlessly as possible. Some of the key tasks that you will need to complete are as follows:
Self-sponsorship is an increasingly popular route that allows French nationals and other overseas citizens to relocate to the UK without needing a job. Instead, applicants set up their own company in the UK (we can show you how) and work for themselves. French nationals who are self-sponsored can later apply for permanent settlement and, after a further 12 months, British nationality.
If you live in France but are not a French national and wish to relocate to the UK, you will most likely need a visa to live, work, or study there. The best immigration route for you will depend on your nationality, connections to the UK, and plans for when you move to the UK. To discuss the immigration routes open to you as a non-French national, please speak to one of our friendly and helpful immigration Solicitors in the UK, who will be glad to advise you based on your personal circumstances and those of your immediate family.
If you are a non-French national and wish to join family members in the UK (i.e. partner, spouse, parent or child), you may be able to apply for a family visa. Your UK-based family member must be a British national, a person with permanent settlement, an EU/EEA national who started living in the UK before 1st January 2021, or a person with refugee status in the UK. If your family visa is granted, you will be able to join your family members here. After five years, you can then apply for permanent settlement and British citizenship one year later.
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!
