Frequently Asked Questions
What is UK Bright Future?
UK Bright Future (ukbrightfuture.com) is a private, Internet-based company (we are not in any way affiliated with the British Government and we are not a law firm) which was established with the goal of helping people around the world explore their options for legal relocation to the United Kingdom (for example, through a UK work visa program). UK Bright Future collaborates with Immpact, a leading legal-tech immigration platform based in the United Kingdom that simplifies immigration and residency processes and helps to connect skilled workers from overseas with employers in the United Kingdom, and we also collaborate with Migrate UK, a specialist immigration legal practice based in the United Kingdom providing expert advice and representation in UK immigration law for both businesses and individuals, in order to provide beneficial services to UK Bright Future customers according to the highest standards.
What services does UK Bright Future offer its customers?
UK Bright Future, in collaboration with a leading legal-tech immigration platform in the United Kingdom and a UK-based specialist immigration legal practice, offers UK Bright Future customers beneficial services to facilitate a smooth UK relocation experience. The services offered by UK Bright Future include a UK Visa Assessment that informs customers about their best options to relocate to the United Kingdom. UK Bright Future also offers membership to an advanced online platform that facilitates UK job-seeking and relocation efforts. Additionally, UK Bright Future makes available to customers online courses to improve their English language abilities, prepare for the IELTS exam, or enhance their job skills. Qualified customers of UK Bright Future are given the opportunity to receive guidance from a UK-based specialist immigration legal practice during the UK visa application process, to make sure their forms and documents are properly prepared and submitted to the British immigration authorities, as well as to answer questions they may have about the process.
How can I learn about my potential UK relocation options?
UK Bright Future offers a UK Visa Assessment based on an evaluation of your relevant details that will let you know which UK visa(s) for relocation to the United Kingdom best match your personal profile. Examples of UK visas for relocation include the Skilled Worker Visa, Health and Care Worker Visa, Global Talent Visa, High Potential Individual Visa, Innovator Founder Visa, and UK Ancestry Visa – among others. Each UK visa has its own eligibility requirement and application procedure, so knowing which UK visa(s) you are qualified to apply for is generally an important first step in the UK relocation process. Simply complete our online assessment application form, submit your details for evaluation, and receive your assessment results within 14 days.
Can my family relocate to the UK with me?
This depends on which UK visa for legal residence in the United Kingdom you are approved for. Many UK visas for temporary legal residence allow the spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under 18 years of age of the visa holder to live in the United Kingdom if they are issued the relevant UK visa for family members. Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
What is the UK Skilled Worker Visa?
The UK Skilled Worker Visa authorizes a foreign worker to live and work in the UK for an approved sponsoring employer in an eligible occupation for up to 5 years. Eligible family members of a Skilled Worker Visa holder can also live in the United Kingdom with the relevant UK visa for family members.
The Skilled Worker Visa can be renewed for up to 5 years and has an option to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (i.e., permanent settlement) in the United Kingdom after 5 years and meeting other eligibility criteria. In general, applicants for the UK Skilled Worker Visa need to receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from an approved employer in the United Kingdom for an eligible occupation and receive a salary that meets the criteria, as well as satisfy the English language and other requirements, including paying the governmental fees. Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
What is the UK Health and Care Worker Visa?
The UK Health and Care Worker Visa authorizes a foreign medical professional (such as a qualified physician, nurse, adult social care worker, or other health professional) to live and work in the UK for an approved sponsoring employer (e.g., the National Health Service or NHS, a social care provider for adults, or a supplier of the NHS) in an eligible occupation for up to 5 years. Eligible family members of a Health and Care Worker Visa holder (excluding family members of Care Workers SOC 6135 and Senior Care Workers SOC 6136 applying after March 11, 2024, with some exceptions) may also live in the United Kingdom if they are issued the relevant UK visa for family members. The Health and Care Worker Visa can be renewed and has an option to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (i.e., permanent settlement) in the United Kingdom after 5 years and meeting other eligibility criteria. In general, applicants for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa need to receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from an approved employer in the United Kingdom for an eligible occupation and receive a salary that meets the criteria, as well as satisfy the English language and other requirements, including paying the governmental fees. Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
What is the UK Global Talent Visa?
The UK Global Talent Visa authorizes an eligible leader or potential leader in digital technology, arts and culture, or academia and research, to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years. Eligible family members of a UK Global Talent Visa holder can also live in the United Kingdom with the relevant UK visa for family members. The UK Global Talent Visa can be renewed for up to 5 years and has an option to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (i.e., permanent settlement) in the United Kingdom after 3 years or 5 years (depending on various factors) and meeting other eligibility criteria. In general, the UK Global Talent Visa does not require a job offer from a sponsoring employer in the United Kingdom and does not have English language requirements; however, an applicant must apply for and receive an endorsement from the relevant recognized endorsing organization for their occupation in the UK, pay the governmental fees, and satisfy other criteria. Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
What is the UK High Potential Individual Visa?
The UK High Potential Individual Visa authorizes individuals who graduated with at least a Bachelor’s Degree from an eligible university during the previous 5 years and satisfy other criteria to live and work in the UK, be self-employed, and search for UK employment for up to 2 years (up to 3 years with a doctorate, such as a PhD). Eligible family members of a UK High Potential Individual Visa holder can also live in the United Kingdom with the relevant UK visa for family members. The UK High Potential Individual Visa cannot be renewed, however, the visa holder may be able to apply for a different UK visa for legal temporary residence (such as the Skilled Worker Visa) before their High Potential Individual Visa expires. Applicants for the UK High Potential Individual Visa are not required to have a UK job offer, however, they do need to meet the English language standards, show that they have enough money to support themselves when they move to the UK, pay the governmental fees, and satisfy other criteria (including the main requirement of receiving at least a Bachelor’s Degree from an eligible university during the previous 5 years). Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
What is the UK Innovator Founder Visa?
The UK Innovator Founder Visa is for entrepreneurs who want to establish and operate an innovative business in the United Kingdom. The UK Innovator Founder Visa is valid for up to 3 years and can be renewed for up to 3 years. Eligible family members of an Innovator Founder Visa holder can also live in the United Kingdom with the relevant UK visa for family members. There is an option to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (i.e., permanent settlement) in the United Kingdom after living in the UK for 3 years and meeting other eligibility requirements. In general, the applicant must have an idea to start a new, innovative, viable business in the United Kingdom that is different from what exists in the UK market; receive an endorsement from the relevant endorsing organization in the UK; satisfy the English language criteria; pay the governmental fees; and meet other eligibility requirements. Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
What is the UK Ancestry Visa?
The UK Ancestry Visa is for an individual who is a citizen of a Commonwealth country or a British overseas citizen or a British overseas national or a citizen of a British overseas territory or a citizen of Zimbabwe AND who has at least one grandparent that was born in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands. Applicants for the UK Ancestry Visa must also be capable and intend to work in the UK, have enough money to support themselves and their dependent family members, pay the governmental fees, and satisfy other eligibility requirements. The UK Ancestry Visa authorizes an individual to live, study and work in the UK (including self-employment) for 5 years and can be renewed for 5 years. Eligible family members of a UK Ancestry Visa holder can also live in the United Kingdom with the relevant UK visa for family members. There is an option to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (i.e., permanent settlement) in the United Kingdom after living in the UK for 5 years with a UK Ancestry Visa and meeting other eligibility requirements. Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
Can a temporary legal resident of the UK apply for permanent settlement?
Yes, there are several non-visitor UK visas for temporary legal residency in the United Kingdom (such as the Skilled Worker Visa, Health and Care Worker Visa, Global Talent Visa, Innovator Founder Visa, UK Ancestry Visa, etc.) that have the option to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status in the United Kingdom (i.e., permanent settlement) after living in the UK for 3-5 years (the amount of time needed depends on the UK visa and other factors). Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
Can an individual with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status apply for British citizenship?
Yes, someone with Indefinite Leave to Remain (i.e., permanent settlement/residency) status in the United Kingdom can generally apply for British citizenship after living in the UK with ILR status for 12 months and satisfying other eligibility requirements. Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
What is a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)?
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic record assigned by an employer who is a licensed sponsor in the United Kingdom to a skilled foreign worker that confirms that he or she has received a qualifying UK job offer. The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is valid for 3 months and is required for a skilled foreign worker to apply for certain UK work visas, such as the Skilled Worker Visa and the Health and Care Worker Visa. Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
How many UK employers are authorized to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)?
At the end of 2025, the UK Government reported that there are over 122,000 employers in the United Kingdom who are registered and authorized to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which is required for certain UK work visas, such as the Skilled Worker Visa and the Health and Care Worker Visa. Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
What is an endorsement from an authorized endorsing organization in the UK?
An endorsement is a letter issued by the relevant authorized endorsing organization in the United Kingdom that confirms, based on its evaluation of supporting documentation, that an applicant satisfies the requirements for a certain type of UK visa, such as the Global Talent Visa or the Innovator Founder Visa. The endorsement is valid for 3 months and is required in order to apply for certain types of UK visas, such as the Global Talent Visa or the Innovator Founder Visa. Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.
How many people relocate to the UK as temporary legal residents each year?
Approximately 852,000 people were issued a UK non-visitor visa for temporary legal residence in the United Kingdom (e.g., student, work, family, humanitarian) in the 12-month period ending in June 2025, including around 183,000 main applicants through various work visa categories (e.g., Skilled Worker Visa, Health and Care Worker Visa, Global Talent Visa, etc.), according to data released by the British Government (UK Home Office, Summary of Latest Statistics, October 20, 2025).
UK non-visitor visas granted for relocation (year ending June 2025) included:
- Study Visas – 414,000
- Work Visas – 183,000
- Family Visas – 76,000
- Humanitarian Visas – 62,000
The UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) reported that in the 12-month period that ended in June 2025, 75% of the individuals relocating to the UK were nationals of countries located outside of the European Union (EU), whereas 9% of the people relocating to the UK were nationals of the EU, and 16% were British nationals (UK House of Commons Library, Migration Statistics, December 1, 2025, page 19). Please note that this is general information and should not be considered as legal or professional advice.