German citizens do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom for business or relocation purposes if they do not exceed 6-month period. In the following lines, you can find useful information about how to immigrate to the UK from Germany in a few steps, with the help of our London immigration lawyers.
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Required visas to move to the UK from Germany
If you want to immigrate to the UK from Germany for a longer period than 6 months you will need to apply for a visa. Here are some of them:
- The skilled worker visa is required for professionals from Germany who have accepted a job offer in the UK. In this case, a work contract, proof of income and domicile, a valid passport, and scoring at least 70 points on the points-based system in the UK are required.
- A study visa is required for Germans attending colleges in the UK. A letter from the university in question or confirmation of acceptance for studies in the UK is necessary in this case, alongside scoring at least 50 points on the points-based system. The Erasmus scheme has been eliminated since Brexit took place.
- You can also apply for a start-up visa for the UK if you intend to open a company here. In this case, endorsement is needed by an approving body/agency in the UK. The innovator visa in the UK is also a proper option for Germans if they make investments of at least GBP 50,000.
If you want more details about moving to UK from Germany after Brexit, you can direct your attention to our specialists. With the help of our UK immigration solicitors, you can benefit from an uncomplicated relocation process.
Joining family in the UK
German citizens can join family members living in the UK by applying for a family visa. This process is known as family reunification if the partner is of British or Irish origin or if he/she already has residency in the UK. Children under 18 years of age, partners, spouses, parents, and other relatives are eligible for a family visa for the UK. On the other hand, a UK spouse visa is one of the most popular visas, which also allows for the possibility of studying in this country. In the latter case, proof of income of at least GBP 18,600 per year is required, plus additional fees for relocation with children. We advise you to seek the help of our immigration lawyer in the UK if you want to immigrate to the UK from Germany and apply for a spouse/family reunification visa.
Unmarried partner visa for Germans
German citizens can relocate to the UK by applying for an unmarried partner visa. If you have a long-term unmarried partner of British or Irish origin or if he/she already has residency in the UK, regardless of nationality, you can opt for the visa mentioned above. We recommend in this case too to request legal advice and to turn with confidence to our UK immigration solicitors. Please explore our services if interested in moving to the UK from Germany after Brexit.
What to consider when relocating to the UK from Germany
In principle, moving to the UK from Germany is a straightforward process and it is important to consider the conditions imposed after Brexit. Before relocating you should apply for the necessary visa at least 3 months in advance. It is also a good idea to take care of the new domicile and work with a local real estate agent to rent or buy a home in the UK. It is recommended to consider the conditions of traveling with personal belongings, animals, and specific amounts of money when moving to England from Germany.
About immigration in the UK in a few lines
Here are some recent statistics on the number of immigrants in the UK:
- Around 2.2 million visitor visas have been issued in 2024 by the UK immigration authorities.
- Approximately 956,000 visas were issued in 2024 to foreigners interested in study, work, family reunification or humanitarian protection in the UK.
- Around 210,000 work visas were issued in the UK in the same year.
Interested in immigrating to the UK from Germany? We can gladly assist you from a legal point of view. Plus, if you already live here and want to apply for citizenship in the UK, you can opt for our legal services.
Furthermore, if you are planning to relocate to the UK from the US, you can get in touch with our immigration lawyers for their help in the relocation process. We therefore invite you to contact our team of immigration lawyers in the UK and opt for the legal services that interest you.
