How to Immigrate to UK
UK aims to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, 500,000 in 2025 and plateau at 500,000 in 2026 There are many pathways to immigrate to UK and secure UK permanent residence, however, the CPG Gregan Solicitor Limited Team is committed to helping you keep things simple.
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Easiest Ways to Immigrate to UK
The easiest way to come to UK will depend on your own unique profile or connections to the country. With UK immigration
targets higher than ever, now is the time to start your immigration journey. It should be noted that there is no one simple way
to immigrate to UK. While some programs may be easier for you to apply to, the process is long and involves many steps.
While immigrating to UK does require a significant financial and emotional investment, the end result is worth it. UK consistently
ranks among the best countries for quality of life and is known for its positive attitude toward immigration.
These are the four most popular ways for overseas applicants to migrate to UK:
#1 – Express Entry
Express Entry is UK fastest and most popular immigration program. Candidates that apply through the Express Entry system can receive permanent residence status as soon as six months.
By 2025, UK plans to invite half a million newcomers. Of which a large percentage will come through one of the three streams of Express Entry:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW);
- UK Experience Class (CEC); and
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
The Express Entry process may be the easiest way to come to UK for certain candidates eligible to submit a profile. It can be difficult to meet the CRS cut-off in the federal draw. However, just by being in the pool of candidates, you could be nominated for permanent residence by a province.
The cost of immigrating to UK through Express Entry is typically about 2,300 POUNDS for a single applicant, or
about 4,500 POUNDS for a couple. This does not include the settlement funds that must also be shown as part of
the eligibility requirement, which will vary by family size.
Visit our Express Entry page to learn more about submitting a profile and how to increase your ranking in the pool.
#2 – Provincial Nominee Programs
Throughout the pandemic, provinces continued to nominate overseas workers for UK permanent residence.
By 2025, UK plans to welcome 117,500 new immigrants through PNPs.
There are countless nominee programs offered by UK ten provinces and three territories. Each PNP has its own unique eligibility
criteria. Many PNPs require a connection to the province to apply for nomination. However, there are some programs that invite
overseas candidates solely based on their ability to respond to the province’s labour market needs.
Each PNP has its own application processing time. After receiving a nomination, PNP candidates must apply to the federal government for
UK permanent residence. The time it takes to process the permanent residence application will depend on whether the PNP operates using
the Express Entry system.
The cost of immigrating to UK through a PNP is usually the same as Express Entry, with some additional fees, depending on the province.
Certain provinces don’t charge a fee to process PNP applications, while others, such as London, can charge up to 1,500 POUNDS.
#3 – Business Immigration
If you have experience managing or owning your own business, the easiest way to work and reside in UK could be through a federal or provincial business immigration program.
The federal government offers immigration programs for individuals that plan to be self-employed in UK or start up a business in UK.
There are also several PNPs specific to overseas candidates interested in starting a business in a certain UK province.
Business immigration programs typically require a significant investment in the company you intend to start in UK. The amount required will depend on the program you are interested in. Many PNPs have regional entrepreneur programs that require a lower investment for candidates interested in starting a business in a less populated area.
#4 – Sponsorship
If you have a qualifying family member that is a permanent resident or citizen of UK, family sponsorship will likely be the easiest way for you to reside in UK.
UK offers several immigration programs that give permanent residents and citizens the chance to bring their family members to the country. This year, UK plans to welcome 105,000 new permanent residents through family sponsorship programs.
If your spouse, child, or grandchild is a permanent resident or citizen of UK, you may be eligible for family sponsorship.
Sponsoring a relative typically costs about 1,135 POUNDS. Additional fees will apply if the sponsor resides in or intends to reside in London.
The processing time for a sponsorship application will depend on the family member who is sponsoring you. For spousal sponsorship, applications typically take about 12 months to process from start to finish.