UPDATED February 2025
How to Move to England from the USA
1. Moving to England as a Temporary Resident
2. Moving to England as a Permanent Resident
3. Visa Options for Residency & UK citizenship
4. What Does UK Citizenship Mean?
5. Find a Place to Live in the UK
6. Moving Your Personal Goods to the UK
Your Options to Move to England from the USA
There are basically two options for American citizens to live in England:
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As a temporary resident or
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As a permanent resident with Indefinite Leave to Remain or Citizenship.
1. Moving to England as a Temporary Resident
American citizens can live in the UK up to 6 months without a visa. You’re allowed to visit friends, family and generally be a visitor. For a complete list of what’s allowed and what’s not, go here.
If you want to visit more frequently then apply for a 2, 5 or 10 year Standard Visitor Visa. The Standard Visitor Visa allows you to stay for up to 6 months at a time for the duration of your visa. There’s no restriction on how often or when you can return, but if customs think you’re trying to live in the UK through successive visits they will question you and possibly refuse you entry.
If you’re coming to work, study, get medical treatment, get married or on official business; you should apply for the specific visa related to the purpose of your stay.
Can you work in the UK without a visa?
NO – not even remote, unless you have a specific visa allowing you to work.
Can you study in the UK without a visa?
YES – for up to 6 months. A study visa is required to stay for 6 months or longer
2. Moving to England as a Permanent Resident
If you’re not eligible for British citizenship (through birth for example), you can still become a permanent resident of the UK if you qualify for something called Indefinite Leave to Remain. ILR is gaining the right to citizenship status through a visa for example.
Either through direct citizenship or ILR, you gain “Right of Abode” or Right to Remain, which gives you the right to live and work without restrictions in the UK.
British Citizenship is Granted if:
- you were born in England
- married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen
- have a British parent (see below)
- have a British grandparent (see below)
- if you have indefinite leave to remain (see below)
• Citizenship through a British Parent If you have at least one British parent who was born in the UK, you might be a citizen and not need a visa. Find out if you qualify. There are some exceptions.
For example your grandmother was born in the UK, but your mother couldn’t register as a British Citizen and you were born before 1983. Other qualifications may also exist for you here too. Find out if you qualify.
• Citizenship through Ancestry You have Canadian citizenship and one grandparent born in the UK, then you can qualify through ancestry. Unfortunately Americans can’t qualify through this ancestry loophole unless they’re also Canadian citizens. Find out if you qualify.
• Indefinite Leave to Remain If you want to live in England permanently but you don’t have citizenship, you’ll need to apply for “indefinite leave to remain” or settlement. Indefinite leave to remain gives you “leave” to settle here. It gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible. You can use it to apply for British citizenship. Find out if you qualify.
I’ve also written about qualifying for British citizenship here.
3. Visa Options for Residency or UK citizenship
Don’t qualify for citizenship through the above guidelines? Try one of these visas to gain residency:
- Study as an undergrad or grad (doesn’t include continuing ed courses but does include certain trade schools)
- Study as a high school or grade school student. One parent can come too!
- Exceptional Talent – You’re a superstar in your field
- High Potential Ivy league graduate educated within 5 years allowing you to work for 2-3 years.
- Skilled worker- see skills shortage list
- Spousal Visa – Marriage or Civil Partnership includes LGBT+
- Non-Spousal Visa– Couples who co-habitate for 2 years plus, includes LGBT+
- Fiancé Visa – (6-month visa) Includes LGBT+
- Parent of a Child– When your child is British
- Parent of a Child – When the child is attending school in the UK
- Work visas – list of UK short term and long term work visas.
4. What Does UK Citizenship Mean?
With British or UK citizenship you’re eligible to live, work and travel freely in all four United Kingdom countries including: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
To make it more confusing, Ireland (Southern Ireland) is NOT part of the United Kingdom but part of the EU. If your flight lands in Dublin, that’s Ireland and not the UK. If it lands in Belfast, you’re in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.
5. Find a Place to Live in the UK
Who can BUY or RENT a home in the UK?
- You can buy a home without citizenship or the Right to Remain, but you’ll only be able to live in the home for up to 6 months at a time until you qualify.
- You can NOT rent a home unless you have the Right of Abode (Right to Remain) in the UK. Landlords and estate agents can get in trouble if they bypass this law! Expect to find short term accommodation until you gain legal residency.
Get more information on finding a place to live in the UK here.
Visit my Youtube channel for ideas on where to live in England.
6. Moving Personal Goods to England
HMRC (UK customs) gives you one year to move your personal goods over to the UK without paying customs or VAT taxes on them.
I highly recommend you take advantage of this 12 month period to avoid extra costs when shipping your personal stuff.
- It’s cheaper to pay for extra bags when you fly than ship them separately. Be prepared to answer any customs questions!
- I used UPakWeship to ship my favorite possessions in a small crate and can recommend this service. They also handle any customs duties.
Although I’ve written this article specially for my fellow Americans, most advice applies to anyone who wants to relocate to England. Please remember to seek professional legal advice if and when you choose to relocate!
Get the “Your Guide to Living in England” here.
Book a place to stay and to look around. See if living in the UK is right for you. I’ve started using Booking.com over Airbnb. You can book hotels, short term rentals and more. If you prefer to pay later rather than upfront choose the “Free Cancellation” filter.
More Resources on UK Residency:
- What Options do Americans Have to Retire in the UK?
- Can I Work Remotely in the UK?
- Can You Qualify for a Move to the UK?
- UK Spouse, Partner or Fiance Visa – What You Need to Know
Join Americans in the United Kingdom, a helpful expat group on Facebook
