How to move to England? (Visa story)

Japanese people need a visa to live abroad. Working visas in the UK are notorious for the high hurdles to getting, but everyone has a chance to get a visa.

If you are a single person in your twenties and want to experience living abroad, there is a wonderful visa called Working Holiday. English proficiency at the time of visa application is not required, and you can stay for up to 2 years. The selection is a lottery, but there are rumors that the application is flooded and the magnification is 10 times or more. ..

Short-term language study abroad is recommended for those who have savings and want to live in the UK while changing jobs. I also got a student visa for one year after retirement and went to the UK. You can work within 10 hours a week.

Working visas raise the bar a little. The UK has introduced a system called Tier Points, and your total points must exceed the number of points required to obtain a visa. Points will be added according to educational background, annual income, English proficiency, age (younger points are higher), etc.

These visas have a limited period of time, so you will need a permanent residence if you want to consider moving from Japan to the U.K. completely, but you will not be able to obtain permanent residence suddenly. First, enter the country with the visa you need and then switch to permanent residence.

I have listed some typical work visas. Visa requirements may change suddenly, so please check the GOV.UK site for the latest information .

1. Investor visa

Tire.1 Investor Visa A

visa given to a person who can invest more than £ 2,000,000 (about 300 million yen) in a British company. English proficiency, educational background, and background are not required. It’s an image of buying a visa with money.

<Requirements>

・Must be 18 years old or older ・Must

be able to invest £ 2,000,000 (approx. 300 million yen) or more

2. Entrepreneur visa

Tire 1 Innovator visa / Start-up visa

This visa was newly established in March 2019 in place of the existing Entrepreneur Visa.

For those who want to start a new business that can contribute to the UK economy. There is a review of the business plan.

<Requirements>

・Must be 18 years old or older ・

Start-up funds of £ 50,000 (about 7.5 million yen) or more ・

English ability of intermediate / advanced level (CEFR Level B2) or higher

・ In addition to start-up funds, you can live in the UK No financial strength

or criminal history

3. Special talent visa

Tire 1 Exceptional Talent visa A visa

given to someone with some special talent who can contribute to British society. Scientists, researchers, engineers, artists, musicians, writers, fashion designers and more.

It requires a recommendation from a British accreditation body, but it is a narrow gate with 2,000 people a year.

4. Working visa

2 General Work Tier Visa ( general work visa )

visa, commonly referred to as Wakupamitto. So-called locally adopted. You will need to have a licensed Japanese company in the UK become a visa sponsor. The work permit expires in 5 years, but most people switch to permanent residence when their visa expires.

<Requirements>

・ Annual income of £ 30,000 (approx. 4.5 million yen) or more * Medical personnel and doctoral degree holders can earn less than this annual income ・ No

English ability

or criminal history of intermediate level (CEFR Level B1) or higher –There must be a visa sponsor from a local company that holds a license

Tier 2 Intra-company Transfer visa ( Expatriate )

A visa for expatriates assigned from the head office to a local branch office. Previously, expatriates could obtain permanent residence if they stayed in the UK for more than 5 years, but now it is no longer possible to switch to permanent residence.

<Requirements>

・ Annual income of £ 41,500 (about 6.2 million yen) or more

* New graduates are £ 23,000 (about 3.4 million yen) or more

* Job changers who have worked for less than one year are £ 73,900 (about 110 million yen) or more

・Visa sponsorship by a licensed company

・ Financial strength to live in the UK

Tier 2 Sportsperson Visa (Athletes )

Visas for human resources who can contribute to the sports field in the United Kingdom. Athletes and coach qualification holders can apply moving from Japan to the U.K.

<Requirements>

・ English ability of beginner level (CEFR Level A1) or higher ・

Visa sponsor of a sports club with a license

・ Financial ability to live in the UK

Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa ( religious activist)

Active in the UK Visa for priests to do. Intermediate level (CEFR Level B2) or higher English proficiency and visa sponsorship from a specific religious group are required.

For a limited time of 3 months, you can extend the renewal for 2 years. If you continue to renew and stay for 5 years or more, you can switch to permanent residence.

5. Short-term work visa

Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme visa (Working Holiday)

A short-term work visa for 18–30 year olds. You can stay for up to 2 years, but you can only use your visa once. The period cannot be extended or reapplied.

Currently, the only countries in the UK that are allowed to work holidays are Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan.

<Requirements>

・ Saving more than £ 1,890 (approx. 280,000 yen)

・ No children to support

Tier 5 Temporary Worker (temporary work visa)

Charity, government-approved personnel exchange, international agreement, arts, sports, A visa given to personnel required for personnel exchange, such as religious personnel. You can stay for 2 years.

The above is a typical work visa.

After Brexit, visa rules are expected to change significantly. For non-EU Japanese, it doesn’t seem to have a big impact so far, but the immigration law in the UK changes suddenly, so I can’t let my guard down.

Next time on marriage visas and family visas.