Challenges of moving from the Greece 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 Greece 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 Visa, 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:
"Merry Christmas AY &J Solicitors Team! I wish you all a very Happy Holiday and Blissful Year ahead. Thank you so much for all the support and help you have offered me in this past one year. Your efficiency and care has allowed me to gain full trust in your services and I’ll always be grateful to all of you. A special thanks to Diana, Ashu, Imad, Elaha and Sylvia for their professionalism and dedication towards handling my case. Thank you for understanding me and my needs so well."
"I’m so grateful to A Y & J Solicitors for their help with my UK visa application. A big thank you to Imad for guiding me through the process so smoothly. He was always patient, clear, and supportive, making everything so much easier. Highly recommend their services to anyone needing visa assistance!"
"Great service , very knowledgable , professional and strait forward , NO hidden fees , special thanks to Nagina for her great service and support during the application, and thanks for AY&J team and top managment. I Highly recommend them! Thank you!"
"As an employer doing a skilled work visa for one of my team for the first time, I was very worried at the start with selecting the right team to deal with. Everyone at the team here responded quickly, got everything done as they said they would do. Would highly recommend :)"
"I have worked with AY&J Solicitors specifically AMY on matters relating to immigration, they helped with all areas, from gaining a sponsorship licence, applications relating to COS, and visas, all of which have been successful. I personally would recommend their services as I find they are extremely helpful and give are willing to answer your calls very quickly which is extremely helpful. more importantly they know what is required and take all the pressure away from you. easy process, you want to succeed then take my advise and hire AY&J Solicitors"
"I had the pleasure of working with Aileen and Todd for my ILR application, and I couldn’t be more pleased with my experience and the outcome. From the very beginning, they were extremely thorough and responsive. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, my application was handled extremely efficiently, and I am thrilled with the smooth running of the entire process which can be quite stressful to do on your own. Highly recommend!"
The UK offers numerous benefits for Greek nationals, including:
As a Greek citizen planning to move to the UK, you must meet the legal requirements for the visa type you are applying for. Here are the main visa options for Greek nationals to live, work, study, or join family in the UK:
The Skilled Worker visa is the most popular of all UK work visas for citizens of Greece. As a Greek national with a Skilled Worker visa, you will be able to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years initially. You can then either extend your work visa or apply for permanent settlement. After a further year, you can apply for British citizenship. To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you need:
Greek nationals with plans to study at a UK university, college, or school must:
After your studies, if you wish, you can apply for a Graduate visa, which allows you to stay in the UK for a further 2 years to find employment. If you secure skilled work, you can then apply to switch to a work visa, allowing you to work towards gaining permanent residency.
The UK Innovator Founder visa is a great choice for Greek business people who want to establish a new business in the UK. One of the main advantages of this visa is that it provides a pathway to permanent residency after just 3 years. To qualify for a UK Innovator visa as a Greek national, you must:
If you have a close family member who is permanently settled in the UK, you can apply for a family visa. To apply for a family visa as a citizen of Greece, you must:
If granted, your family visa will allow you to stay in the UK for up to 5 years, after which you can apply for permanent residency and then citizenship.
One of the most important steps in setting up your finances in the UK is opening a UK bank account. Once you have your bank account set up, you can arrange for your funds to be transferred from Greece and your wages to be paid to you.
To open a UK bank account, you will need proof of identity and a permanent UK address; hence, it is best to wait until you arrive in the UK to open a new account. Once in the UK, you will need to apply for a National Insurance (NI) number before starting work. If employed, your employer will deduct tax at source through the ‘Pay As You Earn’ (PAYE) system. If self-employed, you will need to submit a self-assessment tax return annually. Consulting a UK-based accountant can simplify this process.
With the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU) on 31st December 2020, the freedom of movement of people between the EU and the UK ended. Greek nationals not already living in the UK before Brexit now require a visa to live here. Thankfully, with the help of a UK immigration specialist, obtaining the necessary visa can be straightforward and hassle-free.
According to Numbeo, the cost of living in the UK is around 17% higher than in Greece. When rent is included, this difference increases to around 40%. This is due to the fact that rental prices for property are around 140% more in the UK. With all of that said, remember that wages tend to be higher in the UK than in Greece. In addition, the cost of living varies significantly across the UK, with London and the South of England being the most expensive areas.
Moving to a new country can be overwhelming, but following these steps can help ease the process:
The self-sponsorship route is ideal for citizens of Greece who want to move to the UK without the hassle of needing to secure a job offer. Instead, applicants establish their own business in the UK and sponsor themselves for a visa. This route can also lead to permanent residency and, eventually, British citizenship. A Y & J can guide you through this process and help you leverage this innovative immigration route.
Like Greek nationals, non-Greek nationals also need a visa to move to the UK. The most suitable visa for your needs will depend on your nationality, family ties to the UK, and your purpose for moving (e.g., joining your family, work, or study). If you are unsure of the best route for your needs, speak to one of our knowledgeable UK Immigration Solicitors, who can provide detailed advice on the visa options available.
If you are a non-Greek national wishing to join family members in the UK, you will need to apply for a UK family visa. To qualify, your family member in the UK must be a British citizen, have indefinite leave to remain (ILR), be an EU/EEA national who started living in the UK before 1st January 2021 (i.e. Brexit), or have refugee status. After holding a Family visa for 5 continuous years, you can apply for permanent residence and then British citizenship after 1 more year.
The required documents depend on the type of visa you are applying for. For example, to apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa, you will need:
Yes, since the UK’s departure from the EU, Greek nationals need sponsorship from a licensed UK employer to apply for a work visa. Alternatively, you can consider the self-sponsorship route, which involves starting your own business in the UK and sponsoring yourself.
If you are considering returning from Greece to the UK, we recommend considering your banking arrangements, credit rating, and NI contributions. You may have lost your credit rating if you have been living outside the UK for many years, making it harder to secure a mortgage or borrow money. Consider tax implications if you have lived in Greece for over five years. Finally, check if you need to ‘top up’ your National Insurance contributions to qualify for a UK state pension.
Yes, Greek citizens and their family members require a visa to live in the UK. Please refer to the visa options explained above.
Yes, Greek nationals can work in the UK, but they need a job offer from a sponsoring employer, a certificate of sponsorship, and a work visa from the UK Home Office.
Greek nationals can apply for a UK visa online through the UK’s Home Office website. The application involves completing a form, paying fees, and submitting required documents. A UK immigration solicitor can assist with this process.
Refer to the legal requirements for moving from Greece to the UK above.
The duration of stay depends on the visa type. Greek nationals can visit the UK for up to six months without a visa. Work visas last up to five years and can lead to permanent settlement. Student visas last for the course duration, with the option to apply for a Graduate visa to stay an additional two years to find work. Family visas are granted for up to 5 years.
See the cost of living section above for details.
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!
