Challenges of moving from the Israel 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 Israel 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:
"To whom may concerned. I recently reached out to A Y & J Solicitors for immigration advice, and I was impressed with the exceptional service I received. The team was knowledgeable, professional, and attentive to my needs. They provided clear guidance on the next steps to take and were supportive throughout our conversation. I appreciate the time they took to understand my situation and offer personalized advice. I'm looking forward to working with them again soon. Thank you, A Y & J Solicitors, for your outstanding service! I highly recommend your firm to anyone seeking immigration advice."
"Very helpful every step of the way!! If you have the luck of working with Ikra just know that you are in good hands!! So grateful for all the support!! 🩷"
"Very happy with the service I got from them, Really professional team as well."
"I am happy to say that AY&J is an excellent team of immigration advisors and solicitors. I would very much recommend them as they are knowledgeable and understanding and work with commitment to the task on hand. My very best to them ."
"Nagina was super helpful and quick to respond throughout the process, highly recommend"
"I worked with AY &J Solictors during my Skilled Worker visa process for the UK. I was very impressed with their professionalism and focussed approach. Enquiries were answered and processed quickly and reliably. Ultimately, this cooperation led to the successful granting of my work and residence permit. I am happy to recommend the law firm AY & J Solictor and will continue to rely on their support in the future."
The UK offers a wide range of advantages for Israeli nationals who wish to move here, including:
As an Israeli national, you will need a visa to move to the UK. The legal requirements that you need to meet will depend on the type of visa you apply for. Thankfully, the UK offers a wide range of visas catering to different needs, including visitor, work, study, business, and family visas. The following sets out the legal requirements for Israeli citizens migrating to the UK for 4 of the most popular visa types:
The Skilled Worker visa can be used by Israeli citizens who wish to move to the UK to work and ultimately gain permanent settlement in the future. You can also bring your dependent family members with you to the UK. When applying from Israel for a Skilled Worker visa, you will need to demonstrate that you:
This is an extremely popular destination for international students from Israel. If you would like to study at a UK university, college, or school, you will need to apply for a UK Student visa. To apply for a Student visa, you will need to demonstrate that you:
One of the benefits of this route is that you can stay for a further 2 years on a Graduate visa once you have successfully completed your course. Once you find full-time skilled work, you can then switch to a Skilled Worker visa, which will allow you to qualify for permanent settlement and citizenship in the future.
The UK is a highly favoured destination for Israeli nationals who wish to establish a business here. The UK Innovator Founder visa is ideal for Israeli entrepreneurs who have an idea for a new, unique, viable, and scalable business. To apply for this type of visa, you must be at least 18 years old and have your business idea endorsed by an approved endorsing body in the UK. Many applicants prefer this route as it can lead to accelerated permanent settlement in the UK after just 3 years rather than 5 years and citizenship one year later.
Many Israeli nationals have family members in the UK. If you have a partner or spouse, parent, or child who is settled here, you may be eligible for a UK family visa. The exact legal requirements that you need to meet will depend on the type of family visa you require. If you are applying to join your spouse or partner, you must have a combined income of £29,000 and meet the English language requirement. This route also leads to permanent settlement after 5 years of continuous residence and citizenship a year later.
We recommend waiting until you arrive here to open a UK bank account because you will be asked for a photo ID and proof of your permanent address. To transfer money from your bank account in Israel to the UK, you can use a bank-to-bank transfer service or a third-party money transfer service such as OFX and Wise. When choosing which service to use, always ensure that you use a reputable company and ensure that any fees and the exchange rate are competitive.
Once in the UK, you will need to apply for a National Insurance (NI) number and provide this to your employer before you start to work in the UK. If you are employed, your tax will be collected by your employer automatically through the ‘Pay As You Earn’ (PAYE) system. On the other hand, if you are self-employed, you will need to complete an annual self-assessment form.
If you are thinking of emigrating from Israel to the UK in 2024, 2025, or beyond, we hope that you will find this article useful. Here, we will explain the legal requirements for moving from Israel to the UK, the cost of living here, and the main actions to take before making your move. We will also answer many of the most frequently asked questions about moving as an Israeli citizen to the UK.
According to the cost of living comparison website Numbeo, the cost of living in the UK and Israel are on a par with the exception of rent. Rental prices in the UK are around 10% higher, but restaurant prices are 9.2% lower, and grocery prices are 6.2% lower.
When deciding where to live in the UK, remember that rental prices in central London are much higher compared to small villages or towns outside of the capital. And in general, prices tend to be lower in the north. 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.
At AY&J, we have assisted many Israeli families in relocating to the UK, and we understand just how overwhelming it can be. To make the process of moving from Israel to the UK as smooth as possible, we recommend completing all of the following steps:
The Self-Sponsorship route is an innovative way for Israeli and other overseas citizens to relocate to the UK (and later gain residence and citizenship) without the need to apply for and secure a job with an employer. Instead, those who opt for the self-sponsorship route set up and run their own business in the UK and sponsor themselves. AY&J are one of the leaders in the area of self-sponsorship and will guide you through the whole process of making a successful application from start to finish.
As a non-Israeli national with plans to live, work, study or join family members in the UK, you will first need to apply for a visa. Thankfully, the UK offers many different visa types for Israeli nationals catering for a wide range of needs and circumstances. To better understand the best visa for your needs and for your family, please feel free to speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable UK Immigration Solicitors. We understand all of the main immigration routes available and the newer and more innovative ones, such as self-sponsorship.
If you have a partner, spouse, parent, or child who lives in the UK and you wish to join them here, you can apply for a family visa. To qualify, your family member 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 required to move to the UK from Israel will vary depending on the type of visa you need. For instance, if you are relocating from Israel to the UK on a work visa, you will need the following documents (this list is not exhaustive):
These are just a few examples of the documents you may need to relocate from Israel to the UK. Your immigration advisor will provide a complete list of all necessary documents based on your chosen visa type. Additionally, you may need to have your documents translated into English.
Yes, to work in the UK as an Israeli citizen, you will need to be sponsored by a UK employer. If you would prefer not to be sponsored, you may be able to consider the self-sponsorship route, as explained above.
If you are a British ex-pat returning to the UK from Israel, consider your employment, banking arrangements, and credit rating. Your credit rating may have decreased if you have been outside the UK for many years, which could make borrowing money or obtaining a mortgage more difficult. It’s also advisable to consult an accountant about your tax arrangements. If you have lived in Israel for over five years, different rules for income and capital gains tax may apply. Lastly, check if you need to ‘top up’ your national insurance contributions to qualify for a UK state pension.
Please see the legal requirements for moving from Israel to the UK above.
Yes, however, Israeli citizens and their family members normally require a visa to live in the UK. Please see the visa options explained above.
Yes, as an Israeli 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 permits you to work.
As a citizen of Israel, 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 duration of your stay in the UK depends on the type of visa you hold:
Most UK visas provide a pathway 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!
