Immigrating to the UK from South Africa: What are your options?

Determining which UK visa is right for you is the first step towards ensuring a successful application. These are the best options for South Africans.  

Getting a UK Ancestry visa

The UK Ancestry visa is highly sought-after because it allows you to live and work in the UK for up to five years. What’s more, after spending five years in the UK on this visa, you may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which can then lead to British citizenship.

How to qualify for an Ancestry visa

 You must meet all of the following criteria:

• One of your grandparents was born in the UK
• You are a Commonwealth citizen
• You intend to work in the UK

You also need to be over 17 years old and have enough money to support yourself and any dependants joining you in the UK. 

Benefits for partners of an Ancestry visa holder

If you’d like your partner or family members to join you in the UK, you can include them on your Ancestry visa application. This will allow them to move with you to the UK as soon as your visa application is approved. Should your dependants decide to join you at a later stage, they will still be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain when you do – even though they have lived in the UK for a shorter time.

Partners and dependants enjoy the same rights as main visa holders – they too will be able to live and work in the UK for the duration of the Ancestry visa. 

Choosing between an Ancestry visa or British citizenship

If you’ve got any family ties to the UK, such as a grandparent or even great-grandparent, you should always take a British Citizenship Assessment. There may be a route to citizenship that you are unaware of. The assessment is quick and free, and you’ll receive a response on the likelihood of qualifying for citizenship.

If you do not qualify for a route to citizenship after taking the assessment and you want to relocate to the UK, the Ancestry visa is still a great option. 

What’s more, if you hold an Ancestry visa, you will not need to fulfil the minimum income requirement. To meet this requirement, you and your partner/spouse must have a combined income of at least £18,600 per year. You will also need to earn an extra £3,800 for your first child and £2,400 for each child after that who joins you in the UK. Therefore, it is much easier and less costly to bring your family to the UK on an Ancestry visa.

Moving to the UK on a work visa

To work in the UK, you need to have an offer for a skilled job and be sponsored by the same UK-based employer. You can only apply for a job that’s on the UK Shortage Occupation List or if your employer has proven that the position cannot be filled by a UK citizen or someone who has the right to live and work in the UK. 

The Tier 2 (General) visa is points-based, which means you need to acquire a certain amount of points to be eligible. Points are awarded for the following:

• Meeting the income requirement – 20 points 
• Sponsorship – 30 points
• English language skills – 10 points
• Enough funds to support yourself and any dependants – 10 points

Intra-company transfer

The Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa lets you transfer to your employer’s UK-based branch. Your employer must be a licensed sponsor and have offered you a job at the UK branch. They will also need to show that you can do the job they’re hiring you for. This visa does not lead to settlement and British citizenship.

The new points-based UK visa system 

In 2021, the UK will be implementing a new points-based system. Under the new system, skilled migrants will need to have 70 points to be able to work in the UK. It also means that EU nationals will be treated in the same manner as non-EU citizens, marking the end of free movement for EU citizens in the UK. This is good news for South Africans applying for a job in the UK, as it places you on a far more equal footing for potential positions. 

UK partner visas/spouse visas

You can apply for a UK spouse visa or partner visa if you’re in a relationship with a British citizen or someone with ILR or settled status. 

You must both be over 18 and either be in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK, in a relationship and living together for at least two years or plan to get married or become civil partners within six months of arriving in the UK.

Partner visas are valid for two and a half years, after which you can extend your visa for a further two and a half years. After living with your partner in the UK for five years, you can apply for ILR.

If you are married to an EU national, you are still able to move to the UK on an EEA family permit and switch to a pre-settled status once you get to the UK. This route is only available until 31 December 2020.

Qualifying for British citizenship 

The good news is, you can qualify for British citizenship whether you hold an Ancestry visa, spouse visa or a Tier 2 (General) work visa. 

Step 1: Get indefinite leave to remain (ILR)

ILR (also known as permanent residency) allows you to stay in the UK indefinitely. You’ll be eligible for ILR once you’ve stayed in the UK on a work, Ancestry or spouse visa for five years. You’ll need to pass the “Life in the UK Test”, meet English language requirements as well as meet income requirements between you and your partner.

Step 2: Apply for British citizenship

Once you’ve held ILR status for 12 months, you can apply for British citizenship and get your British passport. You must also:  

• Have lived in the UK for five years without spending more than 450 days outside the country before you apply (90 days per year)
• Be “of good character”, which means not behaving in ways that are criminal, deceiving or dishonest, and not breaching any immigration laws

If you’re married/in a partnership with a British citizen, you do not need to wait 12 months after ILR to apply for citizenship. You can apply immediately. 

Our consultants stay up to date on all the latest UK immigration news and amendments to the rules and regulations. If you have any questions about applying for a UK visa or want to know more about your options, send our immigration team an email and we’ll help you out.