Challenges of moving from the UAE 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 UAE 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:
There are numerous benefits to moving from the UAE to the UK. Our strong economy offers many well-paid skilled jobs across a wide range of sectors. Additionally, the excellent transport network makes it easy and affordable to travel and explore both the UK and beyond. For UAE nationals who are interested in running a business, the UK has minimal levels of bureaucracy, making it easy to run a successful business here.
The UK is also renowned for its rich historical and cultural heritage, with many charming ‘chocolate box’ villages, mountains, hills, lakes, and countryside. Moreover, the high quality of education available here attracts many people. The UK is home to several international renowned universities, such as Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, St Andrews, and University College London (UCL), offering excellent opportunities for academic and professional growth.
If you wish to relocate from the UAE to the UK, whether to work, study, run a business, or join family members, you will first need to apply for a visa. Each visa type has its own legal requirements, as follows:
The UK’s Skilled Worker visa gives UAE nationals the permission to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years and bring their dependent family members with them. After 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, holders can then apply for permanent residence, and UK citizenship a year later. Work visa applicants must first secure a job offer from a UK employer with a sponsor licence with an annual salary of at least £38,700 per year (or the ‘going rate’ for the occupation). Those with a PhD, a job on the UK government’s immigration salary list, or new entrants to the job market may qualify with a lower salary.
In addition to the job and salary requirements, Skilled Worker visa applicants must also meet the English Language requirements, typically by passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT).
UAE nationals who wish to study in the UK must be at least 16 years old and have been offered a place on a course from a licenced school, college or university. Applicants must also meet the English language requirement by passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) and have sufficient money to support themselves while studying in the UK.
Having completed their studies, student visa holders from the UAE then have the option to stay for 2 further years on a Graduate visa to find permanent skilled work. Having found a suitable job with a sponsor licence holder in the UK, it is then possible to switch to a work visa allowing UAE nationals to stay for 5 more years after which they can gain permanent settlement and citizenship one year later.
The UK Innovator Founder visa enables UAE entrepreneurs to establish and run a new business in the UK. Before applying, candidates must have a new, unique, viable, and scalable business idea that has been approved by an approved endorsing body. This visa also leads to accelerated permanent settlement in the UK after just 3 years.
UAE nationals with a partner or spouse, parent, or child who is settled in the UK can apply for a UK family visa, allowing them to stay for up to 5 years and then gain permanent residence (and citizenship one year later).
The legal requirements vary dependings on the type of family visa being applied for. Partner or spouse visa applicants, for example, must have a combined income of £29,000 and meet the English language requirement.
To set up your finances in the UK, we recommend taking the following steps:
Over the past two decades, the UK has been an extremely popular destination for citizens of the UAE. It is currently estimated that in the region of 17,000 UAE nationals live in the UK, with the majority living in the capital, London. In this article, we provide details on the main legal requirements for UAE citizens moving to the UK, the cost of living in the UK and how this compares to the UAE, and a checklist of tasks to complete to ensure a smooth moving process.
The cost of living in the UK is broadly the same as in the UAE according to the cost of living website Numbeo. However, eating out in the UK is 24.5% more expensive than in the UAE while grocery prices are 20.8% more.
The cost of living in the UK can be lowered considerably by living outside London. House prices and rental costs in central London are almost always much higher compared to places outside of the capital.
Our UK immigration Solicitors have helped many UAE citizens and their family members in relocating to the UK and understand how to make the process as easy as possible. To make your move straightforward, we recommend:
Self-Sponsorship enables UAE nationals and other overseas citizens to emigrate to the UK without the need to apply for and secure a job with a UK employer. This route works by setting up and running your own business in the UK and sponsoring yourself. As one of the leaders in the area of UK self-sponsorship, we can guide you through the process of making a successful self-sponsorship application from start to finish as quickly and smoothly as possible.
If you are not a UAE national but you would like to live, work, study, or join family members in the UK, you will need to apply for a visa first. Fortunately, the UK provides various visa options to accommodate a wide range of needs and circumstances. To determine the best visa for you and your family, we recommend consulting with one of our friendly and knowledgeable UK Immigration Solicitors. They are well-versed in all major immigration routes, including newer and innovative options like self-sponsorship.
If you are a non-UAE national with a partner, spouse, parent, or child living living in the UK, you can apply for a UK family visa to join them. To be eligible for a UK family visa, your family member must be a UK citizen, a person with ILR, an EU/EEA national who started living in the UK before 1st January 2021 or have refugee status in the UK. Having made a successful family visa application, you can settle permanently after 5 years of continuous residence. Additionally, you can apply for British citizenship one year after obtaining permanent residency.
The documents required for relocating from the UAE to the UK will vary based on the type of visa you are applying for. For instance, if you are moving on a work visa, you will generally need the following documents (this list is not exhaustive):
These are just a few examples of the necessary documents. Your immigration advisor will provide a complete list based on your specific visa type. Additionally, you may need to have your documents translated into English.
Yes, to work for an employer in the UK as a UAE national, you must first be sponsored by a UK employer. If being sponsored by an employer does not appeal to you, you may be able to consider the Self-Sponsorship route, as explained above.
If you are a UK ex-pat returning from the UAE, it is advisable to consider your employment requirements, banking arrangements, and credit rating. Being outside the UK for many years may have affected your credit rating, which could make borrowing money or obtaining a mortgage more challenging. Consulting an accountant about your tax arrangements is also recommended, as different income and capital gains tax rules may apply if you have lived in the UAE for over five years. 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 UAE to the UK above.
Yes, however, UAE citizens and their family members normally require a visa to live in the UK. Please see the visa options explained above.
Yes, as a UAE national, you are allowed to work in the UK. However, you will need a job offer from an employer who can sponsor you, a Certificate of Sponsorship, and a work visa issued by the UK Home Office. Alternatively, you can come on a family visa, which also grants you the right to work.
As a citizen of UAE, 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 your stay in the UK depends on the type of visa you hold; here are some examples:
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!
