Moving to the UK From Germany in 2026: Visa Rules
Since the end of free movement, a German citizen who wants to live in the UK needs a visa. A visit needs a passport and an electronic travel authorisation. Work, study or family life needs a visa, with the standard fees, salary rules and English test. The exception is for people who were already living in the UK by 31 December 2020. This guide sets out the rules from GOV.UK, the German Federal Foreign Office and German registration law, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
To visit, Germans need a passport and an electronic travel authorisation: £20, valid 2 years, for stays of up to 6 months. An identity card is not enough. To live in the UK you need a visa: a Skilled Worker visa costs £819 or £1,618, and the job must usually pay at least £41,700, with English at level B2. A Student visa costs £558. The healthcare surcharge is usually £1,035 per year. A German driving licence stays valid in Great Britain. Before leaving, you must deregister in Germany within two weeks of moving out.
Step 1: Visiting
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Travel document | The German Federal Foreign Office states that a passport is required to enter the United Kingdom and that entry with an identity card is not possible, including for transit |
| Electronic travel authorisation | Germany has been on the UK's ETA list for travel on or after 2 April 2025 |
| Cost and validity | £20, for 2 years or until the passport expires if sooner |
| Length of visit | Up to 6 months |
A visitor cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person. The Immigration Rules do allow a visitor to do work for their overseas job remotely, providing this is not the primary purpose of the visit.
Step 2: Were you in the UK before 2021?
The EU Settlement Scheme is a route tied to EU citizenship. Its deadline for most people was 30 June 2021, but GOV.UK says you may still be able to apply if you or your family member started living in the UK by 31 December 2020. The scheme is free. People who hold settled or pre-settled status do not need an ETA. If none of this applies to you, you need one of the visas below.
Step 3: Choose a visa
| Route | Main condition | Application fee |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | A job with a licensed sponsor, usually paying at least £41,700 per year or the going rate, whichever is higher | £819 for up to three years, £1,618 for longer |
| Student | A course place, and £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 elsewhere, for up to 9 months | £558 |
| Family | A partner or family member who is British or settled in the UK | £2,064 |
| Global Talent | A leader or potential leader in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology | £766 |
| High Potential Individual | A qualification from an eligible university in the last 5 years | £880 |
| Innovator Founder | A business idea endorsed by an approved body | £1,357 from outside the UK |
No working holiday route yet
Germany is not among the countries GOV.UK lists for the Youth Mobility Scheme. The UK government has published its summary of the EU Council decision that gave the European Commission a mandate to negotiate a youth experience scheme with the UK. On 13 October 2026, GOV.UK showed no such scheme open for applications.
Step 4: Requirements that now apply to Germans
| Requirement | Position for German nationals |
|---|---|
| English language | Germany is not on the list of countries whose nationals are exempt. A Skilled Worker applicant must prove English to at least level B2, with an approved test or a degree taught in English |
| Healthcare surcharge | Usually £1,035 per year, or £776 for students and under-18s, paid up front for the whole visa |
| Savings | Usually at least £1,270 for a Skilled Worker visa |
| Tuberculosis test | Germany is not on the list of countries where a test is required |
A decision on a Skilled Worker or Student visa usually comes within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
Step 5: Deregister in Germany
Section 17 of the Federal Registration Act sets the rule. Anyone who moves out of a home and does not move into a new one in Germany must deregister with the registration authority within two weeks of moving out. Deregistration is possible one week before the move at the earliest.
Step 6: Driving
EU licences have their own rule. With a licence issued in the EU you can drive in Great Britain on your full and valid licence:
- until you are 70, if you were younger than 67 when you became resident
- for 3 years from becoming resident, if you were 67 or older
You can exchange it for a British licence without retaking your test. If your EU licence was itself obtained by exchanging a non-EU licence, you can only drive for 12 months.
Step 7: Tax, belongings and pets
- UK tax residence usually depends on days spent in the UK in the tax year, 6 April to 5 April. Spending 183 or more days is one of the automatic tests. If two countries tax the same income, you can usually claim relief.
- Belongings: goods moved from Germany to Great Britain come from outside the UK, so you might need to claim transfer of residence relief on tax and duty, with form ToR01 before you move.
- Pets: microchip first, then rabies vaccination, a wait of at least 21 full days, and a pet travel document from your vet.
Step 8: Housing costs
The average UK private rent was £1,400 a month in August 2026, and £2,332 in London, according to the Office for National Statistics. Your landlord must put your deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme.
Step 9: Settlement
With a work visa you must usually have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years to apply for indefinite leave to remain, which costs £3,226. A reform that would make ten years the baseline for many migrants was awaiting final decisions in September 2026. People with rights under the EU Settlement Scheme are out of scope of that reform. Dual citizenship is allowed in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Can Germans live in the UK without a visa?
Only if they hold status under the EU Settlement Scheme, which is for people who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and their family members. Everyone else needs a visa to live, work or study.
Can I travel to the UK with a German ID card?
No. The German Federal Foreign Office states that a passport is required and that entry with an identity card is not possible.
Do Germans need an ETA for the UK?
Yes, for visits. It costs £20 and lasts 2 years. You do not need one if you have a UK visa or settled or pre-settled status.
Do Germans need an English test for a UK work visa?
Yes. Skilled Worker applicants must prove English at level B2, by an approved test or a degree taught in English.
Is my German driving licence valid in the UK?
Yes. With an EU licence you can drive in Great Britain until you are 70 if you became resident before 67, and you can exchange it without a test.
Do I have to deregister in Germany?
Yes. If you move out and do not move into another home in Germany, you must deregister within two weeks of moving out.
Is there a UK working holiday visa for Germans?
Germany is not on the Youth Mobility Scheme list. A UK-EU youth experience scheme has been under negotiation, and none was open for applications on 13 October 2026.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
- GOV.UK — Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
- GOV.UK — Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List
- GOV.UK — Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme
- GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa
- GOV.UK, Home Office — Immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026
- GOV.UK — Immigration health surcharge
- GOV.UK — Youth Mobility Scheme visa
- GOV.UK, Cabinet Office — Explanatory memorandum on negotiation of a UK-EU youth experience scheme
- GOV.UK — Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence
- German Federal Foreign Office — United Kingdom: travel and security information
- Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz) — Section 17
- Office for National Statistics — Private rent and house prices, UK
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. The German sources are in German; the English wording here is our own. Information, not legal or tax advice.