Challenges of moving from the Brazil 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 Brazil 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 had an excellent experience working with Mr. Imad on my Skilled Worker visa application. He guided us through every step with professionalism and clarity, and helped get our approvals — for me and my family — in a remarkably short time. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable and efficient immigration support!"
"I’m so grateful to Elaha mam and the entire team for their outstanding support with my Skilled Worker visa application. The whole process was incredibly smooth, quick, and stress-free thanks to their expertise and dedication. I truly appreciate all the effort from the team. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable and efficient immigration services!"
"Thank you so much A Y & J Solicitors, Dipannita Mazumder (Dia) and Amy Felix-George, for your amazing help with my Skilled Worker Visa. The process was so quick and smooth, and I’m really grateful for your support!"
"Puru did my application perfectly well. I mean she’s wonderful in the job. She handles her job as a professional. I highly recommend her."
"I had an excellent experience with AY&J Solicitors. Dia and Amy provided outstanding support throughout my visa application. Their clear communication, expert guidance, and professionalism made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Highly recommended for anyone needing immigration assistance."
"Very professional service. Excellent correspondence. Ikra is extremely patient and helpful. She answered all our questions and scheduled meetings even at a very short notice when required. Communication was so easy; I was able to reach out to Ikra whenever I had a question. Their fees are reasonable as compared to other firms. Within 3 weeks my husband joined me. I’m very pleased that I utilised their services. I would highly recommend A Y& J. In fact they will be my plug whenever I require any professional service. Very grateful to your Team; especially IKRA Ahmed. Thank you"
The UK offers a wide range of advantages for Brazilian nationals who wish to move here, including:
To move from Brazil to the UK, you will first need to apply for and be granted a visa by the UK’s Home Office. The requirements that you will need to meet as a Brazilian national moving to the UK will depend on the type of visa you apply for, as we explain below (please note this list of visas is not exhaustive).
The UK Skilled Worker visa enables Brazilian nationals to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years and then gain permanent settlement. As a Skilled Worker visa applicant, you must have been offered a job by a UK employer with permission to sponsor overseas candidates. You must also receive a salary of at least £38,700 per year (or the ‘going rate’ for your occupation). It may be possible to reduce the salary threshold if you have a PhD, a job on the UK government’s immigration salary list, or are a new entrant to the job market. You will also need to demonstrate to the Home Office that you meet the English Language requirements, which, in most cases, can be achieved by passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). With a Skilled Worker visa, you will also be able to bring your dependant family members to the UK with you.
If you are a Brazilian national with dreams of studying at a British university, college, or school, you can do so with a UK Student visa. To apply for a Student visa, you must be at least 16 years old and have been formally offered a place on a course by an approved educational provider. In addition, you must meet the English language requirement and have enough savings to support yourself.
If you would like to stay in the UK once your course ends, you can then apply for a Graduate visa (also referred to as a post-study work visa or PSW visa), which will allow you to stay for a further 2 years to find work. While the Graduate visa does not provide a route to permanent settlement, if you secure employment, you can then switch to a work visa.
The UK Innovator Founder visa is for international entrepreneurs who intend to establish a new business in the UK. One of the real benefits of this route is that it provides an accelerated pathway to permanent settlement in the UK after just 3 years (rather than 5 years). To apply for an Innovator Founder visa, you must be at least 18 years old and have an endorsed plan for a new, unique, viable, and scalable business.
If you are a Brazilian citizen with family ties to the UK, you may be able to apply for a family visa. Your family member in the UK must be your partner or spouse, parent, or child. To apply for a spouse or partner visa, you and your partner must have a combined income of £29,000, and you must meet the English language requirement. As a family visa holder, you will be able to stay for up to 5 years and then gain ILR (i.e. permanent settlement) and then citizenship a year later.
In order to set up your finances in the UK, you will first need to open a bank account. Bear in mind that UK banks require proof of identity and a permanent UK address. For this reason, we recommend waiting until you arrive here to open a bank account. To transfer money from your bank in Brazil to the UK, you can use a bank transfer service or a specialist money transfer service such as OFX and Wise. Always ensure that you use a reputable money transfer service and check that any fees and the exchange rate are competitive.
Once in the UK, you will also need to:
1. Apply for a National Insurance (NI) number and provide this to your employer – this is essential before you start to work in the UK.
2. Pay UK tax – if you are employed, your employer will automatically collect and pay your tax to the government through the ‘Pay As You Earn’ (PAYE) system. If you are self-employed, you will need to complete an annual self-assessment form. An accountant can help you with this process.
The UK is an extremely popular destination for citizens of Brazil, and it has been for many decades. Thousands of Brazilian nationals arrived in the UK to study at British universities in the 1980s and have stayed ever since. According to the Office for National Statistics, there are around 87,000 Brazilian nationals who live permanently in the UK, but some estimate the actual number is much higher, potentially over 200,000. If you are contemplating moving to the UK from Brazil, this article is for you. Here, we will cover everything that you need to know about moving from Brazil to the UK, including the legal requirements, the cost of living, and the steps to take before moving to the UK. We will also answer many of the most frequently asked questions about moving as a Brazilian citizen to the UK.
The cost of living in the UK is considerably higher than in Brazil. According to the cost of living comparison website Numbeo, when rent is taken into account, the cost of living here is 120% higher than in Brazil. Restaurant prices in the UK are 154.5% higher than in Brazil, and groceries in the UK are 76.4% higher than in Brazil.
While prices are no doubt higher in the UK compared to Brazil, it is important to remember that wages here tend to be much higher, especially for skilled roles. In addition, the cost of living differs considerably depending on where you live in the UK. Property and rental prices in central London can be extremely expensive, whereas living in a small village or town is generally much more affordable. This is why it is so important to carry out research on where you would like to live and the cost of living in each area before you make your move.
Having helped hundreds of individuals and families from around the world move to the UK, we understand just how daunting it can be to move to another country, especially with a different language and culture. To make the process of moving from Brazil to the UK as smooth as possible, we recommend completing the following steps:
The Self-Sponsorship route enables Brazilian citizens to move to the UK without the need to apply for and secure a job first. As a self-sponsored individual, you will need to establish and run your own business in the UK, which will employ and sponsor you. At A Y & J, our expert team of immigration law specialists can guide you through the whole process of making a successful self-sponsorship application from start to finish. On this route, you will be able to settle in the UK after a number of continuous years of residence here.
If you are a non-Brazilian national, to live, work, study or join family members in the UK, you will need to apply for a visa. To understand the best visa for your needs, please speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable UK Immigration Solicitors who can explain the immigration routes available to you based on your personal circumstances and those of your family members.
If you wish to join your partner, spouse, parent, or child living here in the UK as a non-Brazilian national, you will first need to apply for a family visa. Your family member in the UK must 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 have refugee status in the UK. If your application is successful, you will be able to settle permanently after 5 years of continuous residence. Furthermore, you can apply for British citizenship one year after securing permanent residency.
The documents you need to move to the UK from Brazil will depend on the type of visa you require. For example, to relocate from Brazil to the UK on a work visa, you will need the following documents (this list is not exhaustive):
These are just some of the documents that you may need to relocate from Brazil to the UK. Your immigration advisor will provide you with a complete list of all the documents that you will need based on your chosen visa type. You may also need to have your documents translated into English.
Yes, to work in the UK as a Brazilian national, you must be sponsored by a UK employer. Alternatively, you may be able to consider the Self-Sponsorship route as explained above.
If you are a British ex-pat moving back to the UK from Brazil, consider your employment, banking arrangements, and credit rating. You may have lost some of your credit rating if you have been outside the UK for many years, making it harder to borrow money or get a mortgage. We also advise speaking to an accountant about your tax arrangements. If you have lived in Brazil for more than 5 years, you may need to meet different rules for income and capital gains tax. Finally, check whether you will need to ‘top up’ your national insurance contributions so that you are eligible for a UK state pension.
Please see the legal requirements for moving from Brazil to the UK above.
Yes, however, Brazilian citizens and their family members normally require a visa to live in the UK. Please see the visa options explained above.
Yes, you can work in the UK as a Brazilian national, but you will need a job offer from a sponsoring employer, a certificate of sponsorship, and a work visa granted by the UK Home Office. Alternatively, you can come here on a family visa, which will also allow you to work.
As a citizen of Brazil, you can apply for a visa online through the UK’s Home Office website. You will need to fully complete the application form, pay any required fees, and submit any documents required to support your case. You will also need to meet the requirements for the type of visa you are applying for. An immigration law specialist based in the UK can handle all of this on your behalf.
The length of time you can spend in the UK will depend on the type of visa you hold:
Most UK visas offer a route to permanent settlement after 5 years.
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!
