Retiring, Independent Means, Seeking 5-year Visa to start

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

I don’t know where you saw that, but the UK doesn’t offer retirement visas to anybody.

Cynic
Expat Team

Well I guess someone needs to tell these people, then...

"Establishing residency in Scotland is not as difficult as some countries, depending on your nationality. It is relatively easy for residents of Great Britain, the Commonwealth, and the European Union to retire in Scotland. Even if that is not your case, you can apply for a 5 year residency permit as Retiree with Independent Means."

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I was wondering the same thing about "retirement with independent means", but have avoided asking questions due to a reply that I saw to an inquiry on a Facebook group.  The person basically stated that retirees weren't welcome in Scotland because they hadn't contributed to the resources during their "working years"  and that they shouldn't expect to be taken care of when they got old.  I was hoping that the person replying had misunderstood; because an energetic and healthy retired couple with a permanent income, a personally funded health care plan, who has spent considerable time in the UK and love the history and way of life would only contribute to the economy and country as a whole.  Can anyone provide additional clarification on the general acceptance or non-acceptance of retires?

Thanks for this reply.  I agree it is confusing.  My husband is barely 50, and I am not yet 50, so we would be "retiring" early.  Basically we want to sell our house, take our retirement account, and move to Scotland and contribute to the economy there.  There must be some way for people who have enough means to move to legally do so.  We wouldn't be taking jobs away from any local citizens.  We'd pay our council taxes and contribute to NHS Scotland.  It's mind-boggling to me that there doesn't appear to be a way to get a 5-year visa unless you are going to be a student, a paid worker, or a business startup.

Anyway a friend of mine in Orkney has asked her MP to follow up with me.  If there's good information to share, I will share it!

rebeccafs1018 wrote:

Well I guess someone needs to tell these people, then...

"Establishing residency in Scotland is not as difficult as some countries, depending on your nationality. It is relatively easy for residents of Great Britain, the Commonwealth, and the European Union to retire in Scotland. Even if that is not your case, you can apply for a 5 year residency permit as Retiree with Independent Means."

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Hi again.

You've just highlighted one of the problems with internet-based information, that being one of currency, the information you are referring to is out of date and that part of the website has not been updated.  The document they refer you to for the application was archived by the UK Government on 23 April 2017, which I assume is the date they stopped offering retirement visas.

Today, you should be aware that Scotland is (currently) a part of the United Kingdom and does not operate its own immigration system, so the same rules apply there as in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).

As US citizens, you have 2 options if you wish to visit the UK, you either come here to work on a work visa, or you come here as a visitor.  All of the possible visas available to you can be seen on the UK Government website; this link will take you straight there.  From what you've said previously, I'm assuming the work visa is not suitable for you, so the tourist visa is your only option; on this visa, you can stay in the UK for a maximum of 6 months in any 12 month period.

I should add that should you come to the UK on a work visa, then it is possible to extend your visa to the point where you effectively become permanently resident in the UK and on into retirement there.  So, if you're prepared to put off retirement for the +5 years it will take you to reach that milestone, perhaps it's worth considering.

Probably not the answer you were hoping for, but I hope this has helped you in this part of your search.

If you have any further specific questions, then please come back to us.

Cynic
Expat Team

p.s. sorry for my rather short earlier reply, I was using my mobile phone and having fingers like fish sticks is not conducive to long internet usage.

I would not take any notice of what people say on Facebook.

It's kind of you to take the time to reply, and much appreciated!

I'm aware the internet is a cesspool of sketchy info.  That's why forums like these are helpful.  People sharing first-hand knowledge are a valuable resource.

To that end, I'll post more information to this thread as I go through my research.

Have a great day, everyone!

Thanks for the info!  I had checked the government website in 2019 and thought that the visitor visa was the only way to spend more time in the country, but thought maybe the rules were in the process of being changed. I suppose those restrictions would apply if one were to purchase property also.  Might just have to get another job! 

Updating my research:

There have been many changes to the UK visas in recent years, so finding the most current information is key.

Since the Independent Means visa does not exist anymore, I went looking for other options/scenarios.  The Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa also does not exist anymore.  It has been replaced by the Innovator Visa and the Start-Up Visa, which are very similar to each other in that they both require the new business to be "unlike anything else on the market, totally unique in concept."

My very helpful conversations with an MSP's office in Orkney led me to reach out to a specialist advisor's office near Beauly.  I have yet to hear anything from them.  I've followed up to ask if they could let me know they've received the message.  No reply yet.

It would be so helpful to hear from someone who has moved from the US to Scotland on something other than a work visa.  Anyone out there fit the bill?  :-)

An update for those of you who may be following this thread.

After speaking with an MSP’s office and getting a referral, I spoke with Stephen Barton of the Dingwall CAB (the office of Ross & Cromarty, solicitors), Stephen.Barton@alnesscab.casonline.org.uk, 01349 864850.  Dingwall is just a train stop away from Beauly, where we intend to settle.  The goal in reaching out to someone nearby to Beauly was to speak with someone with local knowledge as well as official immigration knowledge.

It was Stephen’s determination that we do not meet the criteria for any (any!) visa. 

We have the means to pay cash for a large house in Beauly, an agreement with the sellers to purchase it in a private sale, and a detailed business plan to run it as a guest house.  In addition, we have the means to hire two locals to help run the house.   All of this amounts to a significant investment in the local economy in Beauly and the Highlands.  And yet, somehow, we do not meet the criteria for any visa. 

Stephen was very apologetic, and sympathetic to our plight as his wife is from Colorado, but he was unable to offer any further advice.

I’ve reached out to others for any insight or guidance they might have, and it is the opinion of our many friends and colleagues in Scotland that as long as Britain is in control of Scotland's immigration, they are simply too xenophobic to allow "foreigners" to buy property and run a business.  It’s maddening and ludicrous.  They are absolutely shooting themselves in the foot, financially.  Well... they're shooting Scotland in the foot, anyway.

This isn't the end of our search, but it is certainly a major roadblock for the moment.  The owners of the house we want to buy are reaching out to their friends and colleagues for advice, as well, since they really want us to buy their house.  (We been talking about it with them since 2018.)  If they turn up any leads or work-arounds, I will post those updates here.

All best!

Thanks so much for the update.  I know how disappointed you must be to have a plan and the finances to support your investment in the property and still not be able to make it happen.  Best of luck; and if it does work for you,  perhaps we'll book a night or two in your guest house!😊

I have been following your thread with great interest and wanted to thank you for your work getting the visa info for your status. I’m seeking to move to Scotland, too. I’m 65, still working, but not needing to, as a graphic designer. If you need an employee in your soon to be owned B&B, let me apply for the position now!
Sue from KC

One last comment on this matter.

If any of you can claim Irish citizenship and obtain an Irish passport, there is an agreement in place between the UK and Ireland called the "Common Travel Area"; the UK Government guidance on this can be found at this link.

Hope this may help some of you.

Cynic
Expat Team

I have been looking but cannot find any information on specifically why the UK's visas are so poorly designed. It seems obvious that they are turning away foreign investors, as in this situation, due to an arbitrary capital threshold (£2 million). I want to move to the UK with my girlfriend and have my retirement-age mom come along as well, but there appears to be truly no way that my mom would be able to remain. Have I understood this correctly that the UK is actively telling the retirement-age middle class of independent means across the rest of the world to stay away? What in the world are they thinking?

- @Extra Nomicon

@Cynic

Hello Cynic,

I am a little late to this Forum, but I appreciate your straightforward insight on moving to Scotland.  I live in the US and am beginning the process of getting a divorce, selling my home and moving to Inverness, UK.  I want to work (I am a real estate agent) in Scotland and spoke directly with several agents during my visit to Scotland last year. Internet info is very confusing, so I stick mostly to the UK government sites for my info.  They are quite responsive via email.  I am at retirement age, but postponing that to make this move is a no brainer for me.

I discovered expat.com recently and was hoping to get in touch with people from the US who have succeeded in moving to the Highlands. If anyone would like to reach out and offer experienced advice, or are somewhere in the process, that would be amazing!

Cheers, aye

Sue in Washington state, USA