Four ways to obtain UK residency in 2025

The United Kingdom has always drawn foreigners with its high standard of living, advanced economy and rich culture. UK residency opens up an enormous range of opportunities. Here are the main routes to obtaining it.

Entrepreneurship

Innovator Founder visa. It replaced the start-up visa, which closed in 2023. Your business idea must be endorsed by an approved body, and the business has to be new and innovative.

UK Expansion Worker visa. It suits an employee of an overseas company who is opening its first UK branch. The old representative visa is no longer issued for this.

Study

Foreigners who enrol at UK educational institutions may apply for residency.

Employment

To qualify for UK residency, you must have a job offer from an employer.

Marriage

A foreigner married to a UK citizen can obtain a spouse visa valid for 2.5 years. It can be extended for the same period, after which the holder can get indefinite leave to remain and later apply for citizenship.

The benefits of UK residency

• Access to quality education
• Access to quality healthcare
• A path to indefinite leave to remain and citizenship
• The right to work in the country and start a business
• The ability to open a bank account
• Life in a strong and developed nation

What changed in 2025-2026

• Employment. From 22 July 2025 the minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa is £41,700 a year, around $55,200, and the job must require degree-level skills. From 8 January 2026 English at B2 is required.
• Study. Since January 2024 most master's students cannot bring their families. The Graduate visa is cut from 2 years to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
• Marriage. The minimum income for a spouse visa is £29,000 a year, around $38,400.
• Settlement. The government is preparing a reform that would raise the baseline period to indefinite leave to remain from 5 to 10 years, with reductions for some groups. Applications follow the rules on the date of filing.
• Entrepreneurship. The Innovator Founder visa has no minimum investment, but the business must be endorsed by an approved body.

What it costs in 2026

Rate - about $1.322 per pound, rounded up.

• Innovator Founder visa - fee £1,357, around $1,800, business endorsement £1,000, around $1,330.
• Immigration health surcharge - £1,035 a year per adult, around $1,370, and £776, around $1,030, for students and children. Paid upfront for the whole visa.
• Funds - founders and skilled workers without time in the UK need at least £1,270 held for 28 days.
• Tuberculosis test - required for Russian citizens and some other nationalities.
• English - a test at an approved centre.
• Our support - quoted after a consultation, depending on the route and family.

We will work out the total for your family in the chat.

How to choose a route

• You have a business idea and launch money - the Innovator Founder visa: 3 years, with settlement possible after 3 years if business targets are met.
• You have recognition in your field - the Global Talent visa: no employer or business needed.
• You have an offer paying £41,700 or more - the Skilled Worker visa through an employer with a sponsor licence.
• You have a place at a UK university - a Student visa, then the Graduate visa and a job search.
• Your spouse is a British citizen or settled resident - a spouse visa for 2.5 years with extension.

You can compare options for your situation and timeline in the chat.

Documents for the visa

• Passport and previous passports with visas.
• The basis - an endorsement letter, an employer's certificate of sponsorship, confirmation of a university place or marriage documents.
• English - a test certificate from an approved centre or a degree taught in English.
• Bank statements for 28 consecutive days.
• Tuberculosis test at an approved clinic, mandatory for Russian citizens.
• For the family - translated marriage and birth certificates, the health surcharge and funds for each person.

Common refusals

• Funds held for less than 28 days or below the required amount on any one day.
• Salary in the offer below the threshold for that occupation.
• Doubts about the marriage - little evidence of living together and contact.
• A business without innovation - the endorsing body sees no new product for the UK market.
• Hidden refusals and breaches - lying on the form leads to an entry ban of up to 10 years.

Taxes for new residents

From 6 April 2025 the old non-dom regime was abolished. New residents who have not been tax resident for 10 years pay no tax on foreign income and gains for the first 4 years. Income tax is 20%, 40% and 45%, with a personal allowance of £12,570. More in UK taxes.

Path to citizenship

After indefinite leave to remain you need another 12 months in the country, at least 5 years in total, the Life in the UK test and English. Spouses of British citizens do not need to wait 12 months after settlement. More in British citizenship.

How we help

1. We choose the route and assess your chances before filing.
2. We prepare the business plan and endorsement for the founder visa.
3. We collect documents, translations and proof of funds for the whole family.
4. We handle the visa application, extensions and preparation for settlement.

We fix our fee in writing after a consultation.

Every way to get residency in the UK

This article covers four routes. All the 2026 routes, including work, Global Talent, your own business, study, family and UK ancestry, are compared with conditions, amounts in dollars, fees and timelines on our page How to get residency in the UK in 2026: every route.

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