Moving to the UK from Italy: Your 2026 Route Guide

Even though Brexit ended free movement, you can still move to the UK from Italy. It just takes a little more planning than before. The good news is that the door is still wide open, and for most people, one clear route can stand out.

It comes down to two things: whether you lived here before 2021 and what you are coming to do. This guide walks you through both, so you can see where you fit.

Which route is likely to be yours?

With a move to the UK from Italy, your history here is the place to start. Were you settled here before the end of 2020? If so, your rights likely fall under the EU Settlement Scheme, and that is where we would start.

If you are new to the UK, the question is simpler: what are you coming to do? The tables below set the main personal and business routes side by side, so you can find what you need quickly.

Which route fits a personal move?

Most people who move to the UK from Italy come to work, to join their partner or spouse, or to study. Each of those journeys has its own route, its own paperwork, and its own timeline toward settling here for good.

It helps to keep two later milestones in view from the start. After five years on most work or family routes, you can apply to settle, or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). British citizenship usually opens up a year after that.

Which route fits a business move?

You can also move to the UK from Italy to build a business, invest, or bring your team across. For this, a different set of routes awaits you. Some carry you all the way to settlement, and others are meant only for a temporary stay.

What paperwork will you need to gather?

The exact list depends on your route, though a work-based move rests on the same few things. It is worth gathering them early, as one or two take a while.

1. A valid Italian passport, along with a certified English translation of anything that is not already in English.
2. A Certificate of Sponsorship from your licensed employer, if you are coming here to work.
3. Evidence of the savings the rules ask you to hold, showing you can support yourself when you arrive.
4. Proof of your relationship, if you are joining a partner or family member who is already settled here.

Frequently asked questions

Do Italian citizens still need a visa to move to the UK?

In most cases, yes. Since 2021, an Italian coming here to live or work needs a visa. The exception is if you already hold EU Settlement Scheme status.

Can I still use the EU Settlement Scheme?

Only if you were living in the UK before 31 December 2020. Late applications are still accepted, though you will need to show reasonable grounds for missing the original deadline.

How much does it cost to move to the UK from Italy?

Alongside the visa fee, you will want to budget for an English test, translations, and the health surcharge. That surcharge is £1,035 a year per year. The cost of moving to the UK from Italy climbs with every dependant you bring.

Do I need a job offer to work in the UK?

For the Skilled Worker route, yes, and it has to come from an employer who holds a valid sponsor licence. The Global Talent and business routes do not ask for one.

Do Italians need a visa just to visit?

No. As a non-visa national, you can enter for up to six months without a visa. A visit does not let you work, though.

Ready to take the next step?

The right way to move to the UK from Italy really does depend on your own story. A short conversation often clears up in minutes what days of reading cannot.

A job offer usually points toward a Skilled Worker visa from Italy. If your partner is already here, a UK family visa from Italy may be a good fit. Earlier residence can also open the EU Settlement Scheme.

AY&J Solicitors is regulated by the SRA and ranked by The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. Our team has guided thousands of people through the very decisions you are weighing now. If you would like to talk it through, you can book a free discovery call.

Written and legally reviewed by Sunny Sandhu, Head of Legal Operations, AY&J Solicitors. SRA regulated, Legal 500, Chambers and Partners. Last reviewed: 1 October 2026.