Moving to England from the US starts with one decision that shapes everything else: which visa you qualify for. From there, the path runs through an online application, a biometrics appointment in the States, a set of fees that go well beyond the sticker price, and a list of setup tasks once you land. You also keep filing US tax returns, no matter how long you’re gone.
Pick Your Visa Route First
The UK doesn’t have a general “move here” visa. You apply under a specific route, and each one has its own rules about work, study, family ties, and length of stay. Five routes cover most Americans.
The Skilled Worker visa is the standard employment route and replaced the old Tier 2 (General) work visa. You need a confirmed job offer from an employer that holds a Home Office sponsor license, and the role must be on the list of eligible occupations.1GOV.UK. Skilled Worker Visa – Overview
The Family visa is for joining a spouse, civil partner, or long-term partner who is settled in the UK. Both of you must be at least 18, and unmarried couples need to show at least two years of living together.2GOV.UK. Family Visas – Apply as a Partner or Spouse Separate provisions cover children, parents, and adult dependent relatives.
The Student visa covers anyone aged 16 or older with a place on a course from a licensed UK student sponsor. The visa length generally matches your course.3GOV.UK. Student Visa – Overview
The High Potential Individual visa is for recent graduates of top-ranked global universities (within the last five years). It doesn’t require a job offer. It lasts two years for bachelor’s and master’s graduates, or three years for PhD holders, and you’ll need your qualification verified through Ecctis.4GOV.UK. High Potential Individual Visa – Eligibility
The Global Talent visa is for leaders and emerging leaders in academia, arts and culture, or digital technology. You usually need an endorsement from a recognized UK body before applying, unless you’ve won an eligible prestigious prize. No employer sponsor is required.5GOV.UK. Apply for the Global Talent Visa
What You’ll Need to Prove
Salary and Income Thresholds
For a Skilled Worker visa, the general minimum salary is £41,700 per year or the “going rate” for your specific occupation, whichever is higher. If you don’t meet that and don’t work in healthcare or education, you may still qualify with a salary of at least £33,400.6GOV.UK. Skilled Worker Visa – Your Job Your employer issues a Certificate of Sponsorship confirming the role and pay.
Family visa applicants and their UK partner need to show a combined income of at least £29,000 per year, along with evidence the relationship is genuine.7GOV.UK. Family Visas – Financial Requirements if Applying as a Partner or Spouse
Student visa applicants must show enough money for tuition plus living costs. Living costs are set at £1,529 per month for courses in London or £1,171 per month elsewhere, calculated for up to nine months. That money has to sit in your account for at least 28 consecutive days, with the end of that window falling within 31 days of your application.8GOV.UK. Student Visa – Money You Need
One Thing You Won’t Need: An English Test
Because the United States is on the UK’s list of majority English-speaking countries, US citizens are exempt from the English language test requirement on most visa routes.9GOV.UK. Prove Your Knowledge of English for Citizenship and Settling – Exemptions No Secure English Language Test, no test fee.
How You Apply, and What It Costs
Every UK visa application starts online at GOV.UK. You create an account, complete the form, and upload documents. Then you book a biometrics appointment at a VFS Global visa application center in the US, where they take fingerprints and a photograph.10GOV.UK. Find a Visa Application Centre Some categories add an interview.
Application fees vary by route. As of April 2026, common fees for applications from outside the UK are:
- Skilled Worker visa: £819 for up to three years, or £1,618 for over three years. Immigration Salary List and Health and Care route jobs pay lower fees.
- Student visa: £558 per applicant.
- Family visa on the route to settlement: £2,064 per applicant.
- Global Talent visa: £561 for the endorsement stage plus £205 for the visa itself.
Dependants generally pay the same fee.11GOV.UK. Home Office Immigration and Nationality Fees – 8 April 2026
On top of that, nearly every applicant pays the Immigration Health Surcharge, which unlocks NHS access. The annual rate is £1,035 for most applicants or £776 for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme holders, and applicants under 18. You pay upfront for the whole visa length, so a three-year Skilled Worker visa runs about £3,105 in surcharge alone.12GOV.UK. Pay for UK Healthcare as Part of Your Immigration Application – How Much You Have to Pay
Processing runs from a few weeks to several months depending on route and whether you pay for priority service. Between the visa fee, health surcharge, biometrics, and document prep, plan for several thousand pounds before you buy a plane ticket.
US Taxes Don’t Stop When You Leave
The United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income no matter where they live. Moving to England does not end your obligation to file a US federal return each year.13Internal Revenue Service. US Citizens and Residents Abroad Filing Requirements
Two tools keep you from paying tax twice on the same income. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets you exclude up to $132,900 of foreign earned income from your US return for the 2026 tax year.14Internal Revenue Service. IRS Releases Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2026 The Foreign Tax Credit offsets your US bill by income tax already paid to the UK. You can’t apply both to the same income.15Internal Revenue Service. Publication 514 – Foreign Tax Credit for Individuals The US-UK Double Taxation Convention, in force since 2003, governs how the two systems interact.16GOV.UK. USA – Tax Treaties
Your UK bank account can trigger separate reporting. If the combined balance of all your foreign financial accounts tops $10,000 at any point during the year, you must file an FBAR with FinCEN. The FATCA filing on Form 8938 kicks in higher: for US citizens abroad, $200,000 in foreign financial assets on the last day of the year, or $300,000 at any point, for single filers. Married couples filing jointly get double those thresholds.17Internal Revenue Service. Comparison of Form 8938 and FBAR Requirements Missing these can be expensive, so set a reminder the day you open your first UK account.
Getting Your Household Across
Bringing Your Belongings Duty-Free
If you’ve lived outside the UK for at least 12 consecutive months, Transfer of Residence relief lets you import household goods without paying customs duty. You must have owned the items for at least six months before moving, import them within 12 months of arrival, and get HMRC approval by completing a ToR1 form before claiming. Furniture, personal effects, vehicles, and pets qualify; alcohol and tobacco don’t. You can’t sell, lend, or give away the imported items for 12 months.18GOV.UK. Transfer of Residence to the UK
Bringing Pets
The sequence matters, and getting it wrong resets the clock. Your dog or cat needs an ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip implanted before or on the same day as its first rabies vaccination. Any rabies shot given before microchipping doesn’t count. After the primary rabies vaccine, the pet must wait at least 21 days before entering the UK. A USDA-accredited veterinarian completes and signs a UK-specific health certificate, and a hard copy of the rabies record travels with the animal.19Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Pet Travel From the United States to the United Kingdom/Great Britain
Puppies under 15 weeks can’t enter until vaccinated and past the waiting period. The primary rabies vaccination is valid for one year, so if you’re moving more than 12 months after the first shot, keep documented proof of a timely booster. The UK also bans certain breeds, including Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasileiros, and XL Bullies, and enforces the ban based on physical appearance rather than registered breed name.20GOV.UK. Banned Dogs
Setting Up Once You’re There
Housing and Deposits
Start researching housing before you arrive, but expect to finalize in person, since most landlords want to meet you. Deposits are capped by law: a maximum of five weeks’ rent if annual rent is under £50,000, or six weeks’ rent at £50,000 and above.21GOV.UK. Tenant Fees Act 2019 – Guidance for Landlords and Agents Your deposit has to sit in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme. A landlord asking for more, or tacking on upfront “admin fees,” is a warning sign.
Building UK Credit From Zero
Your US credit score doesn’t cross the Atlantic. Your UK credit file starts empty, and lenders treat you accordingly. Opening a UK bank account, registering on the electoral roll if eligible, putting utility bills in your name, and using a credit card for small purchases you clear monthly all help build a record. Space credit applications three to six months apart, since a cluster of rejections hurts a new file.
Driving
You can drive on your valid US license for up to 12 months after arriving. After that, you need a British license, and Americans can’t simply exchange theirs. You’ll pass the UK theory exam and the practical road test. Traffic runs on the left, roundabouts are common, and insurance is mandatory. Expect higher insurance premiums as a new UK driver, since US no-claims bonuses generally don’t transfer.
NHS Registration
Your Immigration Health Surcharge payment gives you NHS access.22GOV.UK. Pay for UK Healthcare as Part of Your Immigration Application Register with a local GP soon after arriving; that’s how you access routine care. You can register online or in person with basic information like name, date of birth, and address. Proof of immigration status and an NHS number aren’t required to register.23NHS. Register With a GP Surgery Most GP visits, hospital treatment, and emergency care are free at the point of use.
Banking and a National Insurance Number
You’ll need a UK bank account to receive wages and pay bills. Most banks want proof of identity and proof of address, which can be awkward when you’ve just landed, so look at newcomer-focused accounts before you move. Once you start working, you’ll need a National Insurance number for tax and social security. Your employer can use a temporary number while yours is processed, so a delay shouldn’t stop you from starting a job.24GOV.UK. Apply for a National Insurance Number – How to Apply
Schools for Children
If you’re moving with children, apply for a school place through the local council where you plan to live. State-funded schools are free, and admission authorities follow a national School Admissions Code. Check that your visa conditions permit your children to access state-funded education. Ofsted inspection reports are public and rate schools on a set scale. If your preferred school is full, the council offers an alternative, and you can appeal. The academic year runs September to July, and mid-year moves go through a separate in-year admissions process.