Moving to the UK from Italy: Guide
A guide for Italian nationals moving to the UK after Brexit, covering visa routes, the EU Settlement Scheme and the well-established Italian community.
- 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 Italian arrivals need a visa.
- Short visits of up to 6 months need a £20 electronic travel authorisation, not a visa.
- No tuberculosis test: Italy is not on the Home Office list.
- An English language test is required for most routes, at B2 for a new Skilled Worker application.
- Italy permits dual citizenship.
Italy has one of the oldest and most established immigrant communities in the UK. Italian migration to Britain dates back over a century. Brexit changed the rules for new Italian arrivals. This guide covers the current options.
The Italian Community in the UK
The Italian community in the UK is one of the most historic, dating back to the 19th century. Italian-British communities are particularly strong in London (Clerkenwell was historically known as "Little Italy"), Bedford, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Italian cultural institutions, churches and businesses are long established in British life.
Visiting Rather Than Moving
Italy is not on the UK's visa national list, so a Italian 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. 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).
- Family visa. See the spouse visa guide.
- Student visa. Italian 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 Italian passport. Carta d'identita no longer accepted.
- 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 Rome, Milan, Naples and other cities.
- Certificato del casellario giudiziale. From the Tribunale. Ask the Tribunale handling your request how long it takes; no single national figure is published.
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
Path to Settlement
After 5 years, apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain). After 12 months with settlement, apply for British citizenship. Italy permits dual 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 Italian citizens need a visa to work in the UK after Brexit?
Yes. Since 1 January 2021, Italian citizens must apply for a visa. Those in the UK before 31 December 2020 may have EU Settlement Scheme status.
Do Italian citizens need a TB test?
No. Italy is not on the Home Office TB testing list.
How do I get an Italian police certificate?
Apply for a certificato del casellario giudiziale (certificate of the judicial register) and certificato dei carichi pendenti (certificate of pending charges) from the Tribunale in your area. The Italian Ministry of Justice does not publish a single processing time; ask the Tribunale handling your request.
Does Italy allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Italy permits dual citizenship. You can hold both Italian and British passports.
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.