If you are considering relocating to the UK without receiving a job offer, well, it’s a super cool decision! However, it can be challenging if you don’t already have a job or sponsorship for your visa.
There are many unanswered questions about the viability of moving to a new country without job security and the requirements for obtaining a UK work permit without a job offer.
To reside in the UK without employment, you must first obtain a visa! The biggest obstacle is that you must fulfill certain requirements.
Not to worry—we’ve got you covered! Keep reading as we discuss the various immigration routes to relocate to the UK without a job.
Immigration Routes to Relocate to the UK Without a Job
UK Ancestor Visa
If you are lucky enough to have British grandparents, you may qualify for a UK Ancestor Visa. One feature that makes this visa unique is that should you move with a spouse or child, it can be readily extended to include the rest of your family.
After five years of validity with the UK Ancestor Visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, a permanent resident permit in the UK.
To obtain this visa, you only need to provide your birth certificate, the birth certificates of your parents and grandparents, and, in certain situations, their marriage certificates. You do not need a job!
This is in addition to all the standard visa paperwork, such as your passport, proof of savings or enough money to support yourself, and evidence that you have paid the health surcharge that all foreigners must pay to access the NHS.
Student Visa
One of the simplest methods to relocate to the UK without a job is to study!
Obtaining an undergraduate, graduate, or doctorate will qualify you for a student visa that will let you live and work in the UK for up to 20 hours a week to support yourself.
Many universities in the UK provide overseas study programs or year-abroad programs.
Additionally, there are listings of UK colleges that provide loans and financial help to international students and locations where financial assistance is available outside the country.
There is a graduate program in the UK where you can stay up to two years after graduation to help you find employment after completing your Master’s.
If you can find a job where the company will sponsor your visa, you can swap your visa type over to a work visa and stay for two years. Otherwise, you need to leave the UK and move elsewhere!
Youth Mobility Visa
This visa is only for people between the ages of 18 and 30 from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Monaco, Hong Kong, Taiwan, or South Korea.
It only lasts for two years, but it gives you the freedom to work in the UK without the need for employer sponsorship!
You have two options: stay in the UK for two years and leave when your visa expires, or hunt for a job with sponsorship to extend your stay there. It’s a fantastic chance to spend some time living elsewhere without relocating permanently.
Right to Abode
If you have British parents, you can apply for the right to abode, although it is an unusual route to becoming a resident of the UK.
The right to abode is technically a permanent residency path, as it’s your birthright to live, work, and study here as the child of a British citizen.
It’s interesting to note that at this point, your parents currently don’t need to be British citizens; it only matters if they were British citizens when you were born or adopted.
To apply, you must be a Commonwealth citizen and provide evidence of your income and all the documentation proving your relationship to a British parent. Although this is somewhat specialized, you’re fortunate if it applies to you!
Spousal Visa
Assume your partner is a citizen of the United Kingdom or a European Economic Area country who has been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (also known as Settled Status, which is essentially permanent residency).
If so, you should be permitted to reside and work in the United Kingdom! However, there are certain restrictions.
It would be ideal if you are married or in a civil partnership, have been living together for at least two years, or want to get married or form a civil partnership in the UK within six months of moving here.
The usual requirements for obtaining a visa include demonstrating your ability to sustain yourself financially, paying the healthcare premium, and going above and beyond to demonstrate your fluency in English.
Although it’s not quantified, most people rate the B1 level as knowing a language at a “good level.”
How to Find a Job After Relocating to the UK
Once you’ve reached the UK and settled into your new residence, it’s time to look for work. This should be your first step because, more often than not, obtaining a long-term rental contract will require you to have a job.
Searching and applying online is, like much of the world, the simplest way to find employment in the UK. Ensure you use the British English versions of your CV or resume to polish it before applying to major employment sites!
One of the most popular websites for job seekers is LinkedIn, the networking social media platform everyone loves to hate.
You can look for temp jobs and remote work, as well as contact hiring agencies, to find out whether they will support your job visa application in the future if you need to switch it over or accept your visa style.
LinkedIn is an excellent resource for job seekers who want to set up customized alerts to receive job postings straight to their inbox. It’s also helpful because its Easy Apply feature lets you share your profile directly with recruiters.
It also minimizes the number of cover letters you must compose, which is always beneficial!
Indeed.com
Indeed.com is also an excellent job website. It is a typical online job board where you can search, apply, create alerts, and save resumes and CVs for quick access.
If you’re searching for hourly wage employment in retail, restaurants, cafés, and other industries, Indeed.com is a fantastic place to start. Indeed, it is still heavily used by smaller, local firms because posting jobs here is less expensive than on LinkedIn!
The Old-Fashioned Way
If you live in a larger city with many hourly rate roles or a more seasonal seaside town, you might find many places with vacancy posters in the window.
It’s always worth having a few CVs or resumes printed in your bag and strolling around the local area. It’s undoubtedly an old-fashioned method that takes longer, but it still works!
Work Online
Although the epidemic taught us a lot, it also demonstrated that much work can be done remotely and online from anywhere in the UK if you meet the requirements to work there and pay taxes.
So many online jobs are available, from IT jobs to writing, online teaching, accounting, and more; you can always choose remote jobs. You can take your job with you if you decide to leave the UK during your visa period or need to move!
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I need a job to be eligible for a UK visa?
It’s that simple: if you can’t obtain a UK visa without employment, you can’t relocate to the UK.
It would be best to locate a job that will sponsor your visa or find a wonderful British person to marry or be in a relationship with for the next two years at the latest. Right now, those are your only options!
How long can I stay in the UK without a job?
One of the longest UK visas that don’t require a work offer is the ancestry visa, which lets you stay in the country for up to five years.
Of course, you must be able to sustain yourself, so you must have a sizable amount of savings or live with a family who will cover your rent, food, and other expenses.
Depending on your visa, you can legally remain unemployed in the UK for up to five years, after which you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain; however, in practice, you’ll eventually need to start earning money.
The cost of living is high in the UK!
Can Americans move to the UK without a job?
Yes, Americans can move to the UK without a job if eligible for a student, ancestry, or spousal visa.
A lot of the other jobless visas are mainly eligible for Commonwealth nations, so the US isn’t included, but there are ways for US citizens to move to the UK without a job.
What are the financial requirements for moving to the UK without a job offer?
If you’re moving to the UK without a job offer, you must demonstrate sufficient savings to support yourself during your stay. The exact amount required can vary based on the visa type and your circumstances.
When applying for a UK visa, do I need to pay a healthcare surcharge?
Yes, all visa applicants are required to pay a healthcare surcharge as part of their application. This fee grants you access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) during your stay.