Where Can UK citizens live permanently without a visa?
Australia, Canada, the USA and New Zealand are major English-speaking countries where UK citizens emigrate. Britons don't need a visa to travel to these countries.
The Common Travel Area
It's an agreement between the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Ireland that allows British and Irish citizens to live and move freely.
Popular options for Brits living abroad
The most popular choice is Australia, which has been welcoming UK citizens for years. Canada is another great option for those looking for a British presence. There are also many smaller countries, such as Malta and Cyprus, that have a strong British influence.
There is also no need to apply for a work permit in Switzerland if you are a UK citizen, making this another reason Switzerland is an easy place to immigrate to. If you are looking to move to Iceland from the UK, again there is no need for a visa if you are staying for less than 3 months.
To apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen seeking to immigrate generally must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident immediate relative(s), or prospective U.S. employer, and have an approved petition before applying for an immigrant visa.
The Withdrawal Agreement guarantees British citizens (who are lawfully resident in EU member states) broadly the same rights as they have now. They can continue to live, work and travel (although these rights would cease after a leave of absence of more than five years).
Since the 1st of January 2021, moving to an EU country like Spain, Portugal, or France, has meant that British expats must secure permanent residency status. This means you'll be considered a third-country national and are subject to the same terms of entry as everyone else outside of the EU.
- New Zealand.
- Australia.
- Spain.
- Paraguay.
- Germany.
- Montenegro.
- Czechia.
- Thailand.
...
British diaspora.
Total population | |
---|---|
United States | 72,065,000 (2015) 678,000 |
Australia | 10,764,870 (45.4% of population) |
Canada | 10,749,150 (30.6% of population) |
New Zealand | 2,425,278 215,000 |
Voting and citizenship
Your UK citizenship will not be affected if you move or retire abroad.
Can you live in America with a British passport?
As a British citizen wanting to live and work in USA on a temporary basis, you will need a nonimmigrant visa. Some of the main options here include: E-1 & E-2 visas for the treaty trader or investor. L-1A & L-1B visas for intra-company transfers.
This involves the retiree investing in a pre-approved US enterprise and the current minimum investment amount is $500,000. If the retiree provides this investment amount, there is an opportunity to become a full US citizen and reside in the US permanently.

The UK is often considered to be a cheaper place to live. The cost of living in both countries is not the same and can vary depending on where people choose to live. It's also important to note that the average salary for someone in the US is significantly higher than what it would be in the UK due to taxes.
- Antigua and Barbuda. The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment program grants qualifying individuals citizenship rights and an Antigua and Barbuda passport in five months in exchange for a qualifying investment worth at least $100,000. ...
- St Lucia. ...
- Dominica.
International Mobility stream allows British nationals to move to Canada through one of The International Experience (IEC) programs. The agreement between Canada and select countries, including the U.K., allows foreign nationals to work in Canada.
Also, if you intend to stay longer than 90 days, then you need to apply for a visa.
Both the UK and US allow dual citizenship so Americans who would like to apply for British citizenship are able to maintain both citizenships. There is no specific application process to apply for American British dual nationality – all you need to do is to apply to become a UK citizen.
Those wishing to remain longer than six months will be required to apply for an extension of stay with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services having jurisdiction over their place of residence in the U.S.
You can live and work in the UK free of any immigration controls if you're a British citizen. You can also get a UK passport.
If you stay outside the UK for longer than this you lose your 'right to return' - this means you lose your settled status or your indefinite leave to remain. If you get British citizenship, you can leave the UK for as long as you want without losing your right to return.
How long can a British citizen stay in Portugal?
Following Brexit, British citizens have the right to stay in Portugal for 90 days in a 180-days period. If you have long-term residency plans to live in Portugal, you are going to need a visa, such as the Portuguese Golden Visa or D7 Visa.
You can stay in another EU country for up to 3 months without registering there but you may need to report your presence. The only requirement is to hold a valid national identity card or passport. If you want to stay longer than 3 months, you may need to register your residence.
Tavira, Portugal
Unspoiled, golden-sand beaches that stretch for miles are a short boat ride away from Tavira's center. Portugal is one of the easiest countries in Europe to retire because of the low financial threshold of about 1,200 euros per month required to qualify for residency.
Austria, Belgium, Ecuador, Belize and Costa Rica, countries where you can get citizenship and work visas easily of you have an Indian passport. Travel Tips, Immigration with Indian Passport: There are many countries in the world who give citizenship of their country if you have the passport of India and some documents.
So, where do American expats go? The majority of U.S. citizens living abroad can be found in our neighboring countries of Canada and Mexico. That being said, hundreds of thousands of Americans have successfully ventured to faraway countries such as the Phillipines, Italy, and South Korea.
Rank | Country | Country |
---|---|---|
1 | Singapore | Luxembourg |
2 | Switzerland | Taiwan |
3 | Ireland | Estonia |
4 | New Zealand |
Singapore. Singapore is a country where you can find political stability as well as safety, as there is a low crime rate there. You can also find people from various nationalities already living there. They include people from China, Malaysia, and India.
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15 Expat Countries that Speak English (and Make Sense Tax-Wise)
- Bahamas. ...
- Belize. ...
- Bermuda. ...
- Dominica. ...
- Gibraltar. ...
- Ireland. ...
- Isle of Man. ...
- Jersey.
A survey also revealed that out of all countries in the world, America has the highest average income. It is also incredibly inexpensive in terms of food and fuel which is attractive to many Brits who wish for their salary to stretch further. Housing in America is incredibly cheap to most Brits.
You can live abroad and still be a UK resident for tax, for example if you visit the UK for more than 183 days in a tax year. Pay tax on your income and profits from selling assets (such as shares) in the normal way. You usually have to pay tax on your income from outside the UK as well.
When can you lose British citizenship?
Removing someone's British citizenship, also known as deprivation of citizenship, is used against those who obtained citizenship by fraud and against the most dangerous people, such as terrorists, extremists and serious organised criminals. It always comes with a right of appeal.
British citizenship allows you to live and work in the United Kingdom free from UK immigration controls. As a British citizen, you are also entitled to a UK passport that you can use to travel freely in and out of the country.
- New York (White Plains) Suburb, New York. Population within the city: 56,853. ...
- Austin, Texas. Population within the city: 950,715. ...
- Seattle (Bellevue suburb), Washington. ...
- Portland, Oregon. ...
- San Francisco, California. ...
- Boston, Massachusetts. ...
- Denver, Colorado. ...
- Sarasota, Florida.
Holders of the U.S. passport are entitled to stay in the United Kingdom for a period of up to six months with no need of applying for a visa unless they are travelling for work or study. For stays of longer than six months, a visa will be necessary regardless of circumstances.
You can claim and receive a UK State Pension while living overseas. But Pension Credit stops when you move overseas permanently. This is a means-tested benefit, which can top up your weekly income. Your State Pension can be paid to a UK bank or building society account, or to an overseas account in the local currency.
If you have Social Security credits in both the United States and the United Kingdom, you may be eligible for benefits from one or both countries. If you meet all the basic requirements under one country's system, you will get a regular benefit from that country.
Panama. Named to the top spot of "Best Places to Retire in 2022" on International Living's Annual Global Retirement Index, Panama has become a popular retirement destination.
Key Takeaways. Overall, the cost of living in the U.K. is 0.49% lower than in the United States. Rent overall is about 22.55% lower in the U.K.
Although the latest statistics from the World Population Review rank the United States as a slightly more expensive country to live in than the UK, it is important to note that this is on average, and the cost of living varies widely across the USA.
That's a three-spot gain from last year, when the U.S. was 19th. The U.S. now ranks above countries like the United Kingdom, Czechia, Belgium and France in an array of happiness metrics.
What is the easiest country to move to from the US?
Which are the easiest countries to immigrate to from the US? Portugal, Malta and Spain are some of the easiest countries to relocate to from the United States. American citizens can either gain permanent residency or apply for citizenships via each country's Citizenship by Invest programs.
Easy Countries To Get Citizenship by Descent
Italian citizenship by descent is one of the easiest to obtain. You may be eligible for citizenship if you have Italian heritage.
Austria, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, and the United States are five nations that make it especially difficult for foreigners to establish permanent residency or obtain citizenship.
To apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen seeking to immigrate generally must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident immediate relative(s), or prospective U.S. employer, and have an approved petition before applying for an immigrant visa.
UK nationals do not need a visa or residency permit to live, work or study in Ireland. Within the Common Travel Area ( CTA ), British and Irish citizens can live and work freely in each other's countries and travel freely between them. Both the UK and Irish governments are committed to protecting the CTA .
Generally, as a British citizen, you do not automatically have the right to permanently move to British overseas territories. If you want to move to one of them, you need to apply for a visa. To receive assistance with your immigration query, call us today on 0333 305 9375.
As a British citizen wanting to live and work in USA on a temporary basis, you will need a nonimmigrant visa. Some of the main options here include: E-1 & E-2 visas for the treaty trader or investor. L-1A & L-1B visas for intra-company transfers.
What If I'm Over 30 Years Old? If you are not eligible for the International Experience Class, the best way to move to Canada from the UK is to become a permanent resident. Typically, between 5,000 and 10,000 UK citizens become permanent residents each year by applying through one of the two skilled worker programs.
Does the United States allow dual citizenship? Yes, practically speaking. The U.S. government does not require naturalized U.S. citizens to relinquish citizenship in their country of origin.