Despite the uncertainty around Brexit and its implications for the UK and Europe, the number of South African companies looking to expand their businesses to the UK has more than doubled in the last six months.

Last week we discussed the popularity of the UK as an overseas destination for students looking to study abroad and the importance of choosing the best suitable educational institute. In this edition, we are focusing on the costs of studying in the UK and the situation regarding dependants of the Tier 4 Student.

There are, unfortunately, more bright young South Africans than there are university places. This may be a good problem for the country to have, but if you’ve got an eager would-be undergraduate in your family, you likely feel quite differently.

Many South African parents get anxious about the stance of tertiary education institutes in South Africa and are looking at the possibility of their children rather studying overseas. Persons are however often overwhelmed, as they are not sure where and how to start the process, what visa to apply for and what to expect in terms of cost.

Many clients applying for UK visas for the first time, are very surprised to hear that they are subject to pay a UK Immigration Health Surcharge.  In order to provide first-time applicants with the necessary information on this levy, the consultants at Breytenbachs Immigration have compiled some guidance on the issue.

As most South African expats will tell you, arriving in the UK involves a steep learning curve. From which end of the Tube platform to stand at to get a seat – through to what time to telephone the GP’s receptionist to actually get an answer, knowledge comes with experience.

The UK Ancestral Visa remains one of the most popular ways for Commonwealth Citizens to live and work in the United Kingdom.

So, your beloved partner lives in the UK and you’d like to join them. Well here’s some good news: If you’re in a relationship with an Ancestry visa holder, EU citizen or UK citizen, you will be able to move to the UK and live with them. There are various criteria and qualifications, but most of them are simpler than you think.

As a recent arrival in Britain, or as someone still planning their move from South Africa, you may already be familiar with the UK Immigration Health Surcharge. This is a fee payable by non-EEA nationals (including South Africans) during the visa process to reflect the cost of making use of Britain’s National Health Service (NHS).

The UK Immigration rules, fortunately, make provision for non-British parents to exercise their right of access to children resident in the UK. There are however strict requirements to be met.

In the last two years, UK visa applications from South Africa have jumped by 50%. So, in the spirit of giving, here are some top tips to help you out should you be looking across the pond.

The year 2016 was a busy year for UK Immigration, with events like the vote for Brexit that caused a lot of concern for immigrants in the UK. There were also some other major immigration changes, such as the new minimum pay threshold that impacted significantly on the lives of many immigrants.

Moving countries is daunting. Letting go of the familiar to embrace a new culture can be tricky, albeit exciting.

On a daily basis, the consultants at Breytenbachs Immigration encounter cases where clients have been fed incorrect information, and given often ill-advised advice, by unqualified and unscrupulous immigration advisors.

Clients who receive their first UK Visa, often think of the British Citizenship application as something that needs to be handled somewhere in the distant future. The truth is however that one needs to prepare for the British Citizenship application from the first day you set foot in the United Kingdom!

The English Language requirement for non-EEA partners and parents will be changed to Level A2 on 1 May 2017.

Expert advice for businesses and individuals wanting to settle in the UK.

The UK Government has announced that it is making changes to the Tier 2 Immigration Category.  The changes will apply to all applications made on or after 24 November 2016.

So you’ve taken the plunge and booked your one-way ticket straight out of O. R. Tambo International Airport to join the huge expat community of Saffas already living in London. What next?

A lot of South Africans are dead keen on getting their hands on that maroon British passport. The good news? It could be a lot easier than you think. Thanks to the shared history between the two countries, there are loads of South Africans who can trace their ancestry back to the UK or one of its former territories.

Since 1 February 2016, all new tenants have to prove that they have a right to rent a property in England. Should a person not be able to provide the acceptable documents, he/she will not be able to rent property in England.

Persons are often unsure about when it is possible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK or, as it is sometimes known, Permanent Residence.

From April 2017, new rules are set to be introduced that will significantly change the circumstances under which non-domiciled (non-dom) status can be claimed by those that are UK tax resident.

Many persons are often surprised to find out that they can qualify for permanent residence in the UK, despite the fact that most of their time spent in the UK is not on visas leading to permanent residence.

Over the past year, the Tier 1 Entrepreneur immigration route to the UK has grown in its popularity amongst non-EU citizens.