Moving to the UK from the US: Step-by-step moving to UK guide

Moving to the UK from the US for work, study, or adventure is a goal for many. Relocation can be challenging, but with the right information, it can be smoother.

A Wise account can assist you with local bank details and currency exchange at the mid-market rate with a small fee – more on this later.

Living in the UK quick stats:

• Population: About 69.5 million (provisional mid-2025 estimate)³

• Capital: Cardiff (Wales), Edinburgh (Scotland), London (England), and Belfast (Northern Ireland) are the capitals within the UK

• International residents: Definitions and estimates vary; check the latest Office for National Statistics migration data

• Official language: English

• Weather: Temperate maritime, Celsius

• Biggest cities: London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bristol

• Median UK full-time salary: £39,039 in April 2025⁴

Step 1: Figure out the legal requirements to move to the UK

Is moving to the UK easy?

Americans hoping to move to the UK will need to obtain a visa. Common visa types include the UK work visa and family visas. If neither applies in your case, moving to the UK from the US can be difficult.

But there’s no need to worry!

There are a few different work visas depending on the situation, and you can also apply for different kinds of visas. The UK government has a quick test you can do to see if you need a visa, and what type of visa you might need.

For instance, if you have been offered an eligible job by an approved UK employer, you may be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa, which replaced the Tier 2 (General) route.⁵ Your employer does need to be a licensed sponsor, and they need to provide you with a valid certificate of sponsorship.

Other requirements can include:

• You have to show that you are getting paid an appropriate salary
• You may need to prove your knowledge of English
• You have to prove that you have funds to support yourself upon arrival in the UK with a bank or building society statement
• You have to show a valid passport, and show your travel history of the last 5 years
• If you’ll be working with vulnerable people, you have to provide a criminal record certificate
• If you are applying from certain countries, you may also need to provide TB test results from an approved clinic

|? Moving to the UK can take some adjusting to as a US citizen, but you can read some tips on how to adjust to life as an American in the UK before you leave!|| |:---:|---|

Can you move to the UK without a job?

You may have another route based on your family, studies, nationality, or plans to establish an innovative business. Eligibility is specific to each route, so use the official UK visa checker.⁶

• UK Ancestry visa: Available only to eligible Commonwealth citizens and certain other qualifying applicants who can prove the required grandparent connection and plan to work in the UK.
• Family visa: May be available if you are joining an eligible partner or family member in the UK.
• Innovator Founder visa: Requires an eligible business idea assessed and endorsed by an approved body.
• Student visa: Available for eligible courses with a licensed student sponsor.

The Tier 1 (Investor) route is closed to new applicants.⁷

Moving to the UK as a student

People aged 16 or over may be able to apply for a Student visa for an eligible further- or higher-education course with a licensed student sponsor. A Short-term study visa is limited to eligible English-language courses lasting more than 6 months and no more than 11 months; shorter study may fall under the visitor route.⁸

Step 2: Make sure you can afford the cost of living in the UK

You might be wondering, how much money do you need to immigrate to UK?

If you’re not sure how far your finances will stretch in the UK, build a budget for housing, council tax, utilities, food, transportation, healthcare costs not covered by the NHS, and visa fees. Prices vary widely by region and change over time, so check current local listings and official guidance before you move.

|? You can also read the guide to the cost of living in the UK to prepare before moving. And if it all seems a bit expensive, then you can also find some hacks to save money when you move to the UK.|| |:---:|---|

Step 3: Set up your finances in the UK

Banking in the UK is a fairly straightforward process, and many of the banks in the UK are larger international banks. Which means you may not even need to find a new one.

If you’re making a permanent move to the UK, one of the most important steps will be opening up a bank account.

Alternatively, you could open a Wise account, which allows you to pay and get paid in 40+ currencies.

Wise is a money service business, offering a multi-currency account, international money transfer services and a debit card.

You can convert your money between the supported currencies for a small fee, and transfer the money to a local bank account.

Get a Wise Account today

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Step 4: Find a job and get to work in the UK

Work visas have specific eligibility, sponsorship, occupation, and salary rules. For the Skilled Worker route, you need an eligible job offer from an approved employer before you apply.⁵

In some trades, however, shortages of qualified employees have led to a major increase in foreign hiring.

If you’re ready to get started on your job hunt, the following sites can help you check out open positions and begin your applications:

• Indeed
• Monster
• Jobsite
• Reed.co.uk

Step 5: Get a place to live in the UK

Rental markets vary across the UK. In England, private renting accounted for 19% of households in 2024–25, rising to 28% in London.⁹ Availability and prices can differ sharply by area.

Some UK cities that are notorious for cheap rent include:

• East Lothian and Midlothian, Scotland
• North Lanarkshire, Scotland
• Falkirk, Scotland
• Glasgow City, Scotland
• Northumberland, England

Step 6: Make sure your healthcare is covered in the UK

The good news is, living in the UK means access to the National Health Service, or NHS. Most visa applicants staying more than six months must pay the immigration health surcharge. Once an eligible visa starts, you can generally use the NHS, although charges still apply for some services, including prescriptions, dental care, and eye tests.¹⁰

NHS Choices also makes finding a doctor easy. All in all, the system works pretty well for the UK’s residents.

Step 7: If you haven’t already, learn the language

Everywhere in the UK, English is the primary spoken language. If you’re not already fluent, you can use an app like busuu to get started. Even if you’re a native English speaker, you may find the accents difficult to understand. In that case, the best way to learn is immersion.

Step 8: Don’t be lonely - make friends and get in touch with other expats in the UK

One of the easiest ways to feel at home is to get together with friends from your home country. Finding other expats in the UK can be easier through local groups on Meetup and Facebook dedicated to helping you make friends. Some examples are:

• London Expat Americans meetup group

• American Expats in the UK facebook group

Step 9: Make sure you’re prepared with important contacts in the UK in case of an emergency

While you probably haven’t thought of learning emergency numbers in a long time - Americans, for instance, have had 911 drilled into their brains since kindergarten - moving to a new country means learning new emergency contact information.

The following table lists some important contacts to keep in mind as you make the transition:

| Emergency Contact Numbers | |
| ---|---| | General Emergency | 999 | | Police | 999 (112 is also supported) | | Ambulance | 999 (112 is also supported) | | Fire | 999 (112 is also supported) | | NHS Direct | 111 (when you need medical help, but it’s not life-threatening) | | US Embassy | 020 7499 9000 |

Step 10: Enjoy everything the UK has to offer

That’s it! With this information in mind, you’re ready to begin your move to the UK. Rolling fields, beautiful coastlines, and lots of fish and chips await.

With the Wise account, moving and living abroad is made simpler. You can receive your salary, spend in your local currency, and send money abroad, with fees shown before you confirm.

Join Wise and start saving today

|?If you’d like some more tips, then you can also read these 9 tips for moving to the UK, and five things you should know before moving!|| |---|---|

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Sources:

1. ONS - UK employee earnings
2. Cost of living in United Kingdom
3. Provisional UK population estimate, mid-2025 — ONS
4. Employee earnings in the UK: 2025 — ONS
5. Skilled Worker visa — GOV.UK
6. Check if you need a UK visa — GOV.UK
7. Tier 1 Investor visa closure — GOV.UK
8. Study in the UK — GOV.UK
9. English Housing Survey 2024 to 2025 — GOV.UK
10. UK healthcare immigration application — GOV.UK
11. What is a Wise account?
    Sources checked 10 September 2026