Moving to the UK from Canada
Youth Mobility Scheme, Ancestry visa and Skilled Worker routes. How Canadians navigate UK visas, the NHS, Council Tax and the rental market.
Canadians aged 18 to 35 can apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme, which allows a two-year stay with full work rights and 10,000 places allocated annually through a ballot system. Those with a UK-born grandparent can apply for the Ancestry visa at any age, and the Skilled Worker visa covers everyone else provided they have a licensed sponsor.
The Immigration Health Surcharge gives you full NHS access from day one, but Council Tax, the rental deposit system and National Insurance registration all work differently from anything in Canada. These guides cover the sequence, the costs, and the cultural adjustments that trip up most Canadian newcomers.