Moving to the UK From the USA in 2026: Visas and Costs
An American can visit the UK with a £20 travel authorisation, but cannot live or work there on it. Moving means a visa, and the route depends on whether you have a job offer, a place at a university, a British partner or a record that qualifies you on your own. US citizens also keep an obligation after they move: filing US tax returns. This guide covers both sides, from GOV.UK, the Home Office fee table of 8 October 2026 and the IRS, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
To visit, US citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA): £20, valid 2 years, for stays of up to 6 months. To live in the UK you need a visa. A Skilled Worker visa costs £819 or £1,618 plus a healthcare surcharge of usually £1,035 per year, and the job must usually pay at least £41,700. US nationals do not have to prove their English for that visa, and the United States is not on the UK's tuberculosis test list. You remain subject to US tax on worldwide income.
Step 1: Visiting is not moving
The United States has been on the UK's ETA list for travel on or after 8 January 2025. An ETA lets you come for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and certain other reasons. It costs £20 and lasts for 2 years, or until your passport expires if that is sooner.
A visitor cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, and cannot live in the UK through frequent or successive visits. The Immigration Rules do allow a visitor to carry out activities relating to their employment overseas remotely, providing this is not the primary purpose of the visit.
Step 2: 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 for the job, whichever is higher | £819 for up to three years, £1,618 for longer |
| Student | A place on a course, 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 awarded by 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 |
Two routes that are not open to Americans
- Youth Mobility Scheme. The United States is not among the countries GOV.UK lists for the scheme.
- UK Ancestry visa. It is for Commonwealth citizens, certain British nationals and citizens of Zimbabwe with a grandparent born in the UK.
Step 3: What US nationals are spared
| Requirement | Position for US nationals |
|---|---|
| Proof of English for a Skilled Worker visa | Not needed. The USA is on the list of countries whose nationals do not need to prove their knowledge of English. Other applicants must reach level B2 |
| Tuberculosis test | The United States is not on the list of countries where a test is required |
Step 4: Budget for the fixed costs
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Healthcare surcharge, most visas | £1,035 per year, for example £3,105 for a 3-year visa |
| Healthcare surcharge, students and under-18s | £776 per year |
| Savings for a Skilled Worker visa | Usually at least £1,270 |
| Average UK private rent, August 2026 | £1,400 a month |
| Average private rent in London, August 2026 | £2,332 a month |
The surcharge is paid up front for the whole visa, for each person. A decision on a Skilled Worker or Student visa usually comes within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK, and a family visa within 12 weeks.
Step 5: Your US tax obligations move with you
The IRS states the rule plainly. If you are a US citizen or resident alien, the rules for filing income tax returns are generally the same whether you are in the United States or abroad, and you are subject to tax on worldwide income from all sources.
- Reliefs exist, but only if you file. Many Americans abroad qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion and the foreign tax credit. The IRS notes that they can only get these benefits by filing a US return.
- Foreign accounts. A US person must file an FBAR if the aggregate value of their foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.
- The treaty. The UK and the USA have a double taxation convention, which entered into force on 31 March 2003.
Step 6: UK tax residence
Whether you are UK resident usually depends on how many days you spend in the UK in the tax year, which runs from 6 April to 5 April. You may be resident under the automatic UK tests if you spent 183 or more days in the UK in the tax year, or worked full-time in the UK for any period of 365 days. If the UK and another country both tax the same income, you can usually claim relief to get some or all of the tax back.
Step 7: Driving, belongings and pets
- Driving: with a licence from a country that is not on the designated list, you can drive in Great Britain for 12 months from when you became resident. After that you need a provisional licence and must pass the theory and practical driving tests. The United States is not on the designated list.
- Belongings: you might be able to claim transfer of residence relief on tax and duty, with form ToR01 filled in before you move.
- Pets: a dog, cat or ferret must be microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies, with a wait of at least 21 full days after the first vaccination, and travel with a pet travel document from your vet on an approved route.
Step 8: Staying for good
With a work visa you must usually have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years before applying for indefinite leave to remain, which costs £3,226. A reform that would make 10 years the baseline for many migrants was consulted on, and the Home Secretary said in September 2026 that the final policy would be published later in the year. Naturalisation as a British citizen costs £1,709. Dual citizenship is allowed in the UK, so you do not have to give up another nationality under UK rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can a US citizen move to the UK?
Yes, with a visa. The main routes are Skilled Worker, Student, Family, Global Talent, High Potential Individual and Innovator Founder. An ETA covers visits only.
Do Americans need a visa to visit the UK?
They need an electronic travel authorisation, not a visa, for visits of up to 6 months. It costs £20 and lasts 2 years.
How much does it cost to move to the UK from the USA?
For a Skilled Worker, the fixed costs are the £819 or £1,618 visa fee and the healthcare surcharge of usually £1,035 per year, with at least £1,270 in savings to show.
Do Americans have to take an English test for a UK work visa?
No. The USA is on the list of countries whose nationals do not need to prove their knowledge of English for a Skilled Worker visa.
Do I still pay US taxes if I live in the UK?
You remain subject to US tax on worldwide income and must file returns. The foreign earned income exclusion and foreign tax credit are available only by filing.
Can I drive in the UK on my US licence?
For 12 months from when you became resident. After that you must pass the British theory and practical driving tests.
Can Americans get a UK working holiday visa?
The United States is not among the countries listed for the Youth Mobility Scheme.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK
- GOV.UK — Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List
- GOV.UK — Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor
- GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa
- GOV.UK, Home Office — Immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026
- GOV.UK — Immigration health surcharge
- GOV.UK — Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants
- GOV.UK — Youth Mobility Scheme visa
- GOV.UK — Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence
- GOV.UK — Tax on foreign income
- GOV.UK, HM Revenue & Customs — USA: tax treaties
- IRS — U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad
- FinCEN — Report foreign bank and financial accounts (FBAR)
- Office for National Statistics — Private rent and house prices, UK
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Tax positions depend on your own facts, so take advice before you move. Information, not legal or tax advice.