Moving to Florida from the UK: Complete guide

Planning on moving to a sunny paradise like Florida? Many Brits are on the same page as you, since this is a very popular destination for expats. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about moving to Florida from the UK, including the cost of living, whether anything has changed for Brits after Brexit and much more.

We’ll also point out a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders – the Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It’s an international alternative to a bank account that lets you manage your money in 40+ currencies including British pounds and US dollars.

You can send, receive and convert money at great mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees*. Your money is always safeguarded and every transaction is secured.

Looking to take your savings with you? Wise can also help you with large transfers.

Learn more about the Wise account 💰

Table of contents

Can you move to Florida from the UK? How to get a Florida visa How to move to Florida from the UK What’s the cheapest way to get to Florida from the UK? Options for retiring in Florida Living in Florida - The key facts Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Florida Renting or buying property in Florida Healthcare system Opening a bank account in the US Finding a job in Florida Working in Florida Checklist for moving to Florida from the UK Save on your relocation costs to Florida with Wise Conclusion

Can you move to Florida from the UK?

Yes, you can move to Florida from the UK as long as you meet the requirements and submit the necessary documents in time. Let’s go through the actual steps and show you what your options are.

How to get a Florida visa

British passport holders can enter the US without a visa, but need an immigrant visa in order to move there. Furthermore, those who wish to become permanent residents must obtain a Green Card.¹

The most common ways to move to the US are through a job offer or family connections. If you have family in the country, you’ll start by submitting the Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) and if you’re going there to work, you’ll need the Form I-140 (Petition for Alien Worker).¹

Keep in mind that even though you meet all the requirements, a visa is not guaranteed. The US only grants a limited number of visas each year, so this process may take longer.¹

How to move to Florida from the UK

These are the steps in getting the immigrant visa and moving to Florida from the UK:

1. Have your sponsor fill out the forms and submit them to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
2. Go through National Visa Centre (NVC) processing
3. Pay the visa fee
4. Prove financial stability by having your sponsor submit the Affidavit of Support
5. Have your sponsor gather documents showing evidence of their finances
6. Apply online
7. Scan and submit all documents
8. Prepare for your interview by completing a medical exam
9. Attend the interview²

Besides going through the standard immigrant visa route, you could also apply for the Green Card Lottery. You would have the chance to be one of the 50,000 randomly selected candidates and obtain permanent residence.¹

What’s the cheapest way to get to Florida from the UK?

You’re likely also calculating how much it will cost to travel or how much to move to Florida from the UK. Right now, the most affordable month for flying is January, when a one-way ticket from London to Miami costs £298 on average.³

However, tickets are usually more expensive than this. In the same month, you can also pay over £500 for a one-way ticket.⁴

💡 Read more: Best ways to spend money while travelling abroad

Options for retiring in Florida

If you’re starting to think about retirement abroad, Florida might be the ideal destination. This is one of the most popular destinations for retirees from all over the US.

The US doesn’t offer a dedicated retirement visa, but there are other ways to spend your golden years here. One of them is the EB-5 visa, also known as the EB-5 investor programme. If you invest a minimum of $800,000 into a US enterprise, this can lead to permanent residence.⁵

If you manage to retire in Florida, you can also claim your UK state pension there. It can be paid into a UK bank account or a Florida one, in which case you’ll be paid in the local currency. You can choose how often you’ll get paid - anywhere from 4 to 13 weeks. Contact the International Pension Centre to get the most recent information.⁶

Living in Florida - The key facts

Here are some basic facts you should know about Florida if you’re considering moving there:

💰 Currency:	US dollar (USD)
🗣️ Main language:	English, Spanish
👥 Population:	around 23 million⁷
🇬🇧 Number of British expats:	around 400,000⁸

Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Florida

Before you officially move to Florida, it’s good to get an idea of how much things cost there. Some things are more expensive in Florida, but many prices are generally quite similar to those in the UK. For instance, rent prices in Miami are only 2% higher compared to London, but groceries cost almost 20% more.⁹

Let’s take a look at a few average prices for common spending categories in Miami, compared with London:

• A three-course meal for two costs around £79 in Miami, while it’s £80 in London
• A loaf of bread is around £3, compared to £1.60 in the UK
• A draught beer is around £5.90, compared to £6.30 back in the UK
• A monthly public transport pass costs around £90, compared to £200 in the UK
• Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is around £2,230, compared to £2,200 in the UK
• Utilities for a typical apartment are around £123 a month, compared to £257 in the UK⁹

Renting or buying property in Florida

Whether you plan to rent or buy property in Florida, finding the perfect home will most likely require time and patience. A real estate agent could be of great help in this process, as they can guide you through the rental market. You could also search Florida property websites on your own.

Here are some popular property websites in the US:

• Zillow
• Apartments.com
• Realtor.com
• Zumper
• Trulia.com

💡 Read more: Buying property in the US as a foreigner

Healthcare system

Unlike some other countries, the US doesn’t require expats to get health insurance before moving. However, healthcare is notoriously expensive, so it’s highly recommended that you arrange this beforehand.

Healthcare in the US is largely privatised and public healthcare is available to only a small number of people. Programmes like Medicare and Medicaid are primarily available to retirees and the poorest citizens.¹⁰

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is one of the ways the US government is trying to provide healthcare for most citizens and permanent residents. Under this act, residents are required to buy at least a minimum level of coverage.¹⁰

Opening a bank account in the US

Opening a US bank account should be one of your priorities once you arrive in Florida. A local bank account is essential for rent, handling everyday expenses and getting paid by your employer.

The documents you’ll be asked to provide may vary from bank to bank. However, they typically require your ID and proof of address, which can be provided through various documents. Some banks might have residency requirements, so make sure you check this with each bank you’re considering.¹¹

Whether you’ll be able to keep your UK bank account after moving depends on your bank. For example, Barclays closes your account once you move abroad.¹²

And, as an alternative to bank accounts, check out the Wise account. It enables you to send, receive, and spend in multiple currencies, including British pounds and US dollars.

Finding a job in Florida

To move to Florida on a work visa, you’ll need to find a job in the US beforehand. You might want to start by researching companies that hire international employees and by working on your CV. Also, certain visa categories are available to foreigners with a special set of skills.¹

Working in Florida

Florida is a great place to work and live, offering a variety of job opportunities. The US is the world’s largest economy and some of the biggest companies have their headquarters there. Since there’s no language barrier, finding a job and working in Florida won’t involve the set of obstacles often encountered when working abroad.

Also, Florida is one of the US states that does not have a state income tax. Although this doesn’t necessarily mean a low cost of living, being able to keep your entire salary certainly has its benefits.¹³

Checklist for moving to Florida from the UK

Here’s a quick checklist what you need to have in order before moving to Florida:

• Research the visa options, gather your documents and apply
• Find a place to live, either online or by travelling to Florida to view properties
• Get an estimate for shipping your belongings to Florida
• Look into Florida banks, find some that suit you and see if they let you open an account before arriving
• Look into taking out a private health insurance policy
• Tell HMRC that you’re leaving the UK
• Book your flight to Florida

Save on your relocation costs to Florida with Wise

Before moving to Florida, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders and can get expensive because of the transfer fees and exchange rate markups.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and the US for low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rate. You can also get the Wise card to spend in USD from the moment you step off the plane. It works in 150+ countries and automatically converts your pounds to the local currency whenever you spend, only adding a tiny, upfront currency conversion fee.

Here’s an overview of the main benefits for using Wise:
Fast and easy setup with no physical paperwork Dedicated support for large transfers Sophisticated security and anti-fraud measures Low, upfront, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rates Fully trackable transfers Fast transfer times Two-factor authentication and real-time notifications

Sign up with Wise today 💰

Conclusion

Since Brexit only impacted moving to other European countries, the process of moving to Florida from the UK remained unchanged. There are various routes for relocating here, including work visas and investor programmes.

When it comes to the cost of living, some prices in Florida are higher than in the UK. However, the quality of life is still great, especially for retirees.

Florida can be an amazing destination for expats, offering a multicultural environment, beautiful weather and no state income tax as a bonus.

---

Sources used:

1. Immigration Advice Service - moving to Florida
2. US Department of State - immigrant visa process
3. Skyscanner - cheapest time to fly to Miami
4. Skyscanner - London-Miami flights in January 2025
5. The Telegraph - moving to the USA from the UK
6. Gov.uk - State Pension if you retire abroad
7. Newsweek - Florida population
8. The Times - Brits in Florida
9. Numbeo - cost of living in London compared to Miami
10. International Insurance - healthcare in the US
11. Chase Bank - documents for opening an account
12. Barclays - living outside the UK
13. Investopedia - states with no income tax

Sources last checked on date: 14-Nov-2024