UK visas for US citizens
Last verified 5 September 2026 against GOV.UK sources·Page updated 5 September 2026
| Visiting the UK | Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) — no visitor visa needed for short visits |
|---|---|
| TB test | Not required for people who have been living in the United States; it applies only if you have lived in a listed country for 6 months or more in the last 6 months |
| English requirement | Met by nationality — US citizens do not need to sit a test |
| ATAS certificate (sensitive subjects) | Exempt by nationality |
| Youth mobility | No youth mobility scheme |
| UK Ancestry visa | Not available — Commonwealth citizenship is required |
| Dual nationality | The United States permits dual nationality; acquiring British citizenship does not affect US citizenship, and US tax obligations on worldwide income generally continue |
For US citizens the UK system is simpler at the edges than for most nationalities: no visitor visa, no TB test, no English test, no ATAS certificate. The routes in the middle — Skilled Worker, Global Talent, the partner visa, Student — are exactly the same as for everyone else, and this page covers only what differs. There is no special US route, no youth mobility scheme, and no shortcut to settlement.
Visiting the UK
US citizens do not need a visa to visit, but since January 2025 they do need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before travelling. The ETA is applied for online or through the UKVI app, costs £20, is normally decided within a few days, and is valid for multiple visits over two years or until the passport expires. It permits visits of up to six months for tourism, business meetings, short study and similar purposes, but not work. Anyone who already holds a UK visa or other immigration permission does not need an ETA.
No transit visa is needed for changing planes in the UK.
Working in the UK
Skilled Worker is the main route: a job offer from a licensed sponsor, at or above the salary threshold and normally at RQF 6. American applicants are concentrated in finance, technology, law and academia, and the going rate for those occupations is often well above the £41,700 general threshold, which then becomes the real minimum.
Global Talent is widely used by US academics, engineers and creatives with a documented record, and removes the sponsor tie. The High Potential Individual route is open to recent graduates of top-ranked universities, and a substantial share of the eligible list is American; it gives two years (three with a PhD) to find sponsored work but does not itself lead to settlement. Innovator Founder suits founders with an endorsed business plan. Intra-company moves use Global Business Mobility, which does not count towards settlement.
The United States is not a Youth Mobility Scheme country, and US citizens are not Commonwealth citizens, so the UK Ancestry visa is not available on US nationality alone.
Joining family in the UK
US–UK couples use the partner visa. The requirements are the same as for any nationality: a genuine relationship, the £29,000 minimum income requirement, where applicable, and adequate accommodation. The English requirement is met by nationality. Couples who want to marry in the UK rather than before applying use the fiancé(e) visa first; see the partner vs fiancé(e) comparison. Marrying in the United States first and applying directly for the partner visa is the more common path.
Studying in the UK
US students follow the standard Student visa process, without the English or ATAS requirements. The Graduate visa follows: two years for applications made by 31 December 2026, 18 months from 1 January 2027, three years for doctoral graduates.
What US citizens do not need
TB test. The United States is not on the tuberculosis test list. The requirement is based on residence, so a US citizen who has lived in a listed country for six months or more in the last six months would still need one.
English. The United States is a majority-English-speaking country for immigration purposes. US citizens meet the English requirement by nationality on every route that has one, including settlement and citizenship, and do not sit a test.
ATAS. US nationals are exempt from the Academic Technology Approval Scheme for sensitive subjects.
Applying from the United States. Applications are submitted online and completed at a visa application centre in the United States, where biometrics are taken. Whether a priority or super priority service is available depends on the route and on capacity when you apply; where it is, it costs extra. Permission is now granted digitally: successful applicants get an eVisa in their UKVI account. The passport sticker ended on 1 July 2026, and a form for accompanying an eVisa (FAV) is issued to some applicants for the journey.
Routes to settlement
Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder and the partner route lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain under current rules — five years on most, three on Global Talent for exceptional talent and academics and on Innovator Founder where the business meets the success criteria. Time on HPI, Graduate, Student and Global Business Mobility does not count towards those periods, though it counts towards the ten-year Long Residence route.
The United States permits dual nationality, so naturalising as British does not affect US citizenship. British citizenship does not end your US tax obligations either: US citizens living abroad are generally subject to US tax rules on worldwide income, although whether you need to file and what tax is ultimately due depends on your circumstances. Spouses of British citizens can apply for citizenship as soon as they hold ILR. See the ILR vs citizenship comparison.
Common questions
Do Americans need a visa to visit the UK? No visa, but an ETA is required before travelling.
Can I work on the ETA? No. The ETA is for visits. Any work, including remote work for a US employer while living in the UK, needs a work route.
Do I need an English test for the spouse visa or ILR? No. US citizens meet the requirement by nationality.
Will becoming British affect my US citizenship? No. The United States permits dual nationality.
The route guides
- British citizenship by naturalisation From ILR to a British passport: residence and absence limits, the good character test, £1,839 in fees — and what to check about your own nationality law first.
- Settlement: Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) Permanent residence in the UK: the 5-year routes, absence rules, the £3,226 fee, English rising to B2 in 2027 and the earned settlement proposal.
- Spouse and partner visa Joining a British citizen or settled partner: the £29,000 financial requirement, English tests, the 5-year route to ILR and unmarried partners.
- Student visa CAS, money requirements, work rights and who can bring family — the main route for courses with a licensed UK education provider.
- Global Talent visa For leaders and potential leaders in academia, digital technology and arts — no sponsor, no salary threshold, settlement in 3 to 5 years.
- Skilled Worker visa Sponsorship, the £41,700 salary threshold, degree-level job requirement, B2 English and the path to settlement — the UK's main work visa explained.
- High Potential Individual (HPI) visa Two years of unsponsored UK work rights for recent graduates of top-ranked universities worldwide — no job offer needed.