The UK has no retirement or passive-income visa — that route closed in 2008. What's left: ancestry (Canadians only), family, work, and business. Here they are with 2026 numbers — no salesmanship.
Figures verified 3 July 2026| Visa | Who it's for | Money requirement (2026) | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancestry Full guide → | Commonwealth citizens 17+ with a grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man — Canadians qualify, Americans don't. Must be able and intend to work (part-time, voluntary or self-employment count) | No income threshold. Fee £726 + immigration health surcharge £5,175 for the 5-year visa | 5-year visa → ILR at 5 yrs (fee £3,226) |
| Family / Partner Full guide → | Partners of British or Irish citizens, or of people settled in the UK | Sponsor income of £29,000/year (savings can substitute). Fee £2,064 outside the UK + IHS £3,105 for the first 2 yrs 9 mo | 2 yrs 9 mo + 2 yr 6 mo extension → ILR at 5 yrs |
| Skilled Worker | People with a UK job offer and certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer | Salary of £41,700/year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher. Fee £819 (≤3 yrs) or £1,618 (>3 yrs) + IHS £1,035/yr + £1,270 maintenance | ILR at 5 yrs |
| Innovator Founder | People starting an innovative, viable, scalable business endorsed by an approved body; English B2 required | No fixed minimum investment stated. Fee £1,357 outside the UK + £1,000 endorsement + £500 per checkpoint meeting (12 & 24 mo) + IHS £1,035/yr | 3-year visa → ILR possible at 3 yrs — the fastest mainstream route |
All four routes start outside the UK — there's no switching into the Ancestry route in-country. Decisions: ~3 weeks (Ancestry), ~12 weeks (partner).
Ancestry runs 5 years in one grant; the partner route needs a 2 yr 6 mo extension (£1,407 + £2,587.50 IHS). Keep absences under 180 days a year — it counts at settlement.
5 years today on the main routes; 3 on Innovator Founder. Fee £3,226. Life in the UK test £50 — exempt at 65+. English B1 now, B2 from 26 March 2027. Caution: a 10-year reform is pending — see below.
After 12 months holding ILR (waived if married to a British citizen): naturalisation, £1,839 (2026). Absence caps: ≤450 days over 5 years, ≤90 in the final 12 months. Dual citizenship is fine with the US and Canada.
Why the route closed, the six paths people actually use, why the Adult Dependent Relative visa nearly always fails, and the part-year alternative.
Read the guide → GuideA UK-born grandparent, £726, and a work requirement that part-time and voluntary work satisfy. Five years to settlement.
Read the guide → Guide£29,000 minimum income, £2,064 fee, two grants over five years — and what happens if you can't meet the income bar.
Read the guide →The £41,700 threshold in practice, sponsorship realities for older applicants, and which sectors actually hire from abroad.
The Adult Dependent Relative route on paper vs in practice — and why "my kids live in London" is not a plan.
A UK-born parent may make you British already — no visa needed. How to check, prove it, and get the passport.
Visa applications fail on paperwork details. We'll introduce you to an English-speaking immigration lawyer we've independently vetted — licensed, and experienced with expat cases in the UK.