Moving to the UK from Germany: Guide
A guide for German nationals moving to the UK after Brexit, covering visa requirements, EU Settlement Scheme, and costs.
- Section
- Moving to the UK From...
- Reading time
- 6 min
- Last checked
- 3 March 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- Free movement ended on 31 December 2020. New German arrivals need a visa.
- Short visits of up to 6 months need a £20 electronic travel authorisation, not a visa.
- No tuberculosis test: Germany is not on the Home Office list.
- An English language test is required for most routes, at B2 for a new Skilled Worker application.
- Germany permits dual citizenship following its June 2024 nationality law reform.
Brexit ended free movement for new German arrivals. Since 1 January 2021 a German citizen moving to the UK needs a visa, chosen from the same routes as any other non-UK national. A visit of up to 6 months is different: Germany is not a visa national country, so a visit needs a £20 electronic travel authorisation instead. This guide covers visa routes, document requirements and what the Home Office publishes about each.
The German Community in the UK
Germans are well represented across the UK, particularly in London (the financial sector, academia, and creative industries), Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Manchester. German schools, churches, and cultural organisations such as the Goethe-Institut serve the community.
Visiting Rather Than Moving
Germany is not on the UK's visa national list, so a German citizen does not need a visa for a visit of up to 6 months. What is needed instead is an electronic travel authorisation, which costs £20. Everyone travelling needs their own, including babies and children. It is also needed to pass through UK border control on the way to somewhere else; staying airside in the airport does not need one.
Visa Routes After Brexit
- Skilled Worker visa. The main route. Requires a licensed sponsor at the minimum salary of £41,700 a year, or the going rate for the occupation code if that is higher. Since 22 July 2025 a new applicant's job must also be at graduate level (RQF 6).
- Youth Mobility Scheme. Germany is not one of the countries or territories listed on the scheme, so this route is not open to German nationals.
- Family visa. See the spouse visa guide.
- Student visa. German students now pay international fees. See the student visa guide.
- Graduate route. 2 years after a UK degree, or 3 years after a PhD. For applications made on or after 1 January 2027 the 2-year period shortens to 18 months. See the Graduate route guide.
Document Requirements
- Valid German passport. Personalausweis is no longer sufficient for UK immigration.
- No TB test required.
- English language test. Required for most routes. A new Skilled Worker application has needed level B2 since 8 January 2026. Tests are available in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg and other cities.
- Fuhrungszeugnis. Certificate of good conduct from the Bundesamt fur Justiz, available at your local Burgeramt or online. The fee and processing time are published by the Bundesamt, not by the Home Office.
What It Costs
The Home Office publishes its fees in pounds. It does not publish a euro price, and the exchange rate it applies is the rate on the day you pay, so this guide gives no euro conversion.
- Skilled Worker visa, applying from outside the UK: £819 for 3 years or less, £1,618 for more than 3 years
- Healthcare surcharge: £1,035 a year, or £776 a year for students, their dependants and anyone under 18
- Student visa: £558
- Electronic travel authorisation for a visit: £20
GOV.UK publishes no price for an English language test; the test providers set their own. See our UK visa fees guide.
After Arrival
- Set up or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and check your online immigration status. There is no card to collect: biometric residence permits stopped being issued at the end of 2024
- Apply for a National Insurance number
- Register with a doctor (GP surgery)
- Open a UK bank account
Dual Citizenship
Germany reformed its nationality law in June 2024, now permitting dual citizenship in most cases. This means German citizens can acquire British citizenship without losing their German nationality — a significant change from the previous rules.
Path to Settlement
After 5 years on a qualifying visa, apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain). After 12 months with settlement, apply for British citizenship.
Next Steps
For official information, visit the GOV.UK EU Settlement Scheme page and the GOV.UK Skilled Worker visa page.
Questions and answers
Do German citizens need a visa to work in the UK after Brexit?
Yes. Since 1 January 2021, German citizens must apply for a visa to live and work in the UK. Those in the UK before 31 December 2020 may have EU Settlement Scheme status.
Do German citizens need a TB test?
No. Germany is not on the Home Office TB testing list.
How do I get a German police certificate?
Apply for a Fuhrungszeugnis (certificate of good conduct) from the Bundesamt fur Justiz (Federal Office of Justice) in Bonn. You can apply in person at your local Burgeramt or online through the BfJ website. The Bundesamt fur Justiz publishes the fee and the current processing time on its own site; check it there rather than relying on a figure quoted elsewhere.
Does Germany allow dual citizenship with the UK?
Germany has historically been restrictive about dual citizenship. However, since June 2024, Germany reformed its nationality law to allow dual citizenship in most cases. German citizens can now generally acquire British citizenship without losing their German nationality.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.