United Kingdom Country Profile

Passport
For more details visit United Kingdom Passport Ranking
  • Passport Grade
    A
  • Passport Ranking
    31/198
  • Passport Score
    175.5/198
  • Visa-free Countries
    158
  • Visa-required Countries
    40
  • Access to the World's GDP
    76%
  • Access to the World's Surface Area
    61%
  • Access to the World's Population
    47%
  • Access to the Unesco Sites
    81%
Citizenship and Naturalization
Birthright citizenship (Jus Soli)
  • Birthright citizenship (Jus Soli)
    Restricted
    Restricted: The UK grants citizenship to a child born in their territory if at least one of the parents was living in the UK and had any of the following: - Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) - Right to re-admission - Right of abode
Naturalization - Standard Conditions
  • Minimum residency period
    5 years
    Also need to have an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for at least 1 year, which is possible to obtain after as little as 2 years of residency.
  • Physical presence requirement
    At least 9 months a year
  • Language test
    Yes, English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic
  • Need to renounce original citizenship?
    No
  • Can minor children naturalize?
    Yes
  • Can naturalized parents pass citizenship to a child born abroad?
    Yes
  • Can you lose naturalization due to prolonged absence/ naturalization elsewhere?
Naturalization - Your Spouse is a Citizen
  • Living IN the country: Residency/marriage requirement
    3 years / 0 years
    May apply immediately after marriage, assuming you have resided there for 3 years.
  • Living ABROAD: Marriage requirement
    Not allowed
  • Language test
    Yes, English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic
  • Need to renounce original citizenship?
    No
Naturalization - Other Beneficial Provisions
  • Your child is a citizen
    No provisions
  • Citizens of specific countries
    No provisions
"–": The provision has not been analysed.
Taxation
For more details visit Cost of Living
  • Taxation Type
    Residence-based
A tax resident of a country with a RESIDENCE-BASED tax system pays taxes on their WORLDWIDE income. However, if you lose tax residency status there (e.g., by moving out), the country will generally stop taxing you.

Non-citizens will be taxed on their worldwide income only if they remit it to the UK, OR if they are "domiciled" there. Foreigners generally become domiciled after being residents in the UK for at least 15 out of the 20 tax years.
Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area (CTA), allowing their citizens live and work in either country.
Schiff Sovereign's Take on United Kingdom
June 23, 2016 will go down as one of the most important dates in modern British history. That’s when the country voted to leave the European Union. 

As with any divorce, this breakup has been painful, to say the least.

Finally, after years of negotiations and extensive back and forth, on December 31, 2020, the UK severed all ties with the European Union.

The imminent economic disaster, predicted by many, has not happened. The UK’s economy has largely hummed along, and the pound even appreciated against the euro.

But what happens next is the big question: Does the UK become the next Singapore, or rather another Italy?

The UK enjoys enormous advantages. Its standard of living is very high, its workforce is educated, and... it is the nation that invented the English language – the planet’s main language of business, commerce, science, diplomacy, etc. 

London, particular, is a global hub for human capital. It’s unlikely that all the bankers will leave the City and move to Frankfurt or Luxembourg; London will remain one of the world's primary financial centers.

And many successful people are still trying to immigrate to the UK. The country’s domicile concept allows most foreigners to avoid taxation on their worldwide income for many years – even if they live there full-time.

However, there are problems too. Britain today is still too much of a nanny state. While they did get rid of EU regulations, they didn’t stop producing heaps of their own.

As for living there, Britain offers a life that is culturally and historically very rich. Your life there can be both tranquil (in the countryside) and exciting (in London). 

Just keep in mind that the cost of living is high, and the weather is rainy and gloomy.

The country’s world famous, top quality universities are, of course, another key drawcard. Oxford and Cambridge are not any worse than American Ivy League schools, and may perhaps be even better.

And while English universities tend to be relatively expensive, the total cost is still significantly lower than in the US. Hence, studying in the UK may be a very smart choice for students hailing from the US, in particular.
Schiff Sovereign's Rolodex
Service Providers available in United Kingdom
  • Tax advice (attorneys and/or accountants)
  • Corporate services (company formation, etc.)
  • Citizenship by Ancestry
Obtain access to our Rolodex by signing up for Sovereign Confidential Join Sovereign Confidential Today

Sovereign Global Explorer

Benefiting from over a decade of our team’s boots-on-the-ground experience, Global Explorer is where your international journey begins.
United Kingdom Overview
  • Region
    Europe
  • Capital City
    London
  • Largest City
    London
  • Currency
    Sterling
  • Languages
    English, regional languages
  • Population
    67.1 million (21st)
  • Life Expectancy
    81.9 years (31st)
  • GDP (Nominal)
    $3.2 trillion (6th)
  • GDP/Capita
    $47,681 (26th)
Useful Data
For more details visit Cost of Living
  • Cost of Living
    Very expensive (6/7)
  • Climate
    Comfortable (2/5)
  • Safety
    Very Safe (2/7)
  • Pollution
    Clean (2/5)
  • English Proficiency
    Native

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