Challenges of moving from the Netherlands 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 Netherlands 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:
"The team has been incredibly helpful and provided great support with regard to guiding me through the immigration process. Everyone was responsive, enthusiastic and diligent. I could not recommend them more."
"Excellent service, top-notch communication and a highly experienced, knowledgable team of solicitors. Would recommend to any one looking for peace-of-mind with their immigration."
"I would recommend this firm. Ikra was professional, reliable and a good communicator."
"“I write to express my sincere and heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for your highly professional and competent services, provided in both a friendly and accessible manner."
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"I would like to share my great experience on the service I had. For my case, it is complicated and unusual but the attentive service and advice in every step from the lawyer: Mr. Imad made clearly process. My Visa has proved within just a week, OMG this is amazing. I can give just Five Stars because this is no star number Six. Thank you very much for your assistance.🙏"
Citizens from the Netherlands adore the UK for many reasons. There is a rich culture and history, as well as wonderful villages, mountains, hills, lakes, and countryside. We have a strong and vibrant economy, high rates of pay, and a wide range of highly skilled job vacancies. Another draw card is the fact that the UK and the Netherlands are only a very short distance apart and can be reached by car, train, or ferry. And let’s not forget our excellent and renowned education system, including our world-class universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, St Andrews, and University College London (UCL).
The legal requirements vary between each UK immigration route. Here are some of the UK visa types that you can apply for as a Dutch, and the legal requirements for each:
If you are unsure of the visa routes available and which is best for you and your family, please consider speaking to an immigration Solicitor in the UK who will take the time to understand your needs and wishes and explain the options available.
On the first day of 2021, the UK ceased to be a member of the EU, bringing to an end decades of freedom of movement for the people of the EU and the UK. EU nationals, including Dutch citizens resident in the UK before this date, were eligible for pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, which allowed them to remain living in the UK. Unfortunately, if you are a citizen of the Netherlands who is now considering emigrating to the UK, and you were not living in the UK by 31st December 2020, the chances are that you will need a visa to come here. If you are unsure if you are eligible for pre-settled or settled status in the UK, it is important to check this before you proceed down the route of applying for a visa.
Moving from the Netherlands to the UK has been a popular immigration route for Dutch nationals since the 16th century. According to the latest official statistics for the UK, around 91,000 Dutch nationals currently live in the UK, more than double that counted in 2008 (46,000). The Netherlands and the UK share a great deal: a similar culture, a strong Northern European culture, and Germanic root languages that traded closely throughout history. In the current era, nationals of the Netherlands emigrate to the UK for the job opportunities available, to be with family, and to enjoy the beauty of the British Isles and its culture. In this guide, we will set out the legal requirements, the cost of living in the UK, a checklist of the main points to consider, and why you should move to England, Northern Ireland, Wales, or Scotland in 2024 or beyond.
According to the cost of living comparison website Numbeo, the cost of living in the UK and the Netherlands is broadly similar. General consumer prices in the Netherlands are a bit higher, by 0.5%, than in the United Kingdom, but when the rental of property is also taken into consideration, the Netherlands is 1.6% more expensive to live in. Food and groceries are also less in the UK by 3.1%.
Moving from one country to another can be extremely stressful and confusing, but by taking the right steps, you can make your journey a smooth and seamless one. We recommend:
The fact that the UK and the Netherlands are geographically so close makes it relatively inexpensive to immigrate here. That said, it is important to understand the likely costs of moving before you apply for your visa. We recommend getting at least three quotations from removal companies to transport your personal possessions (e.g. furniture). Perhaps one of the biggest costs will be your visa and the immigration healthcare surcharge (which gives you access to the NHS). The healthcare surcharge can be costly because it must be paid upfront for each family member for the duration of your visa. Other costs to consider include a property rental deposit, travel costs to the UK, buying a right-hand drive car, and purchasing new possessions in the UK.
The banking system in the UK is extremely modern, making it simple and quick to set up a new bank account when you arrive here. Because you will need a permanent address and to prove your identity in person, you will most likely need to wait until you arrive here before opening your bank account. You will also need to apply for a UK national insurance (NI) number before you start your new job.
Your new UK employer will handle the payment of any income tax you owe directly to HM Revenue & Customs automatically on your behalf through the UK’s ‘Pay As You Earn’ (PAYE) system, meaning you have one less item to think about.
Self-sponsorship is an innovative way for citizens of the Netherlands to relocate to the UK without the need to work for an employer here. Using the self-sponsorship route, you can establish your own business in the UK, meaning that you effectively work for yourself rather than someone else. One of the biggest pluses of the self-sponsorship route is that it provides a direct immigration route to permanent settlement in the UK and, after a further 12 months, British citizenship.
It is important to understand that, since Brexit in 2021, both EU and non-EU nationals require a visa to live here. If you want to move from the Netherlands to the UK as a non-Dutch national, it is advisable to look for visa options that are most suitable for your needs, i.e. to join family, work, or study. If you are not sure which visa route to apply for as a non-Dutch national, please speak to an immigration Solicitor in the UK who will recommend the best way given your individual situation.
If you have a partner, spouse, parent or child in the UK (i.e. an immediate family member), you may be able to apply for a family visa. Your 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 you are eligible, you will be able to join your loved one in the UK and eventually apply for permanent settlement and, ultimately, citizenship in the UK.
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!
