Frequently asked questions for life in the UK and new arrivals, plus trusted links
Short, sourced answers to the questions our community asks most. Newest first.
101 posts
Leasehold means owning a property for a fixed period; most flats are leasehold. With 80 years or less left, extending costs far more and many lenders hesitate. The 2-year ownership rule went in January 2025; 990-year extensions and the ground rent cap are not yet in force.
Besides tax, buying a home brings a solicitor (about £2,000), a survey (from about £250 to £600+), a valuation, Land Registry fees (£20 to £500 by portal), searches, buildings insurance and moving costs. For a £300,000 home allow at least about £7,500 including tax.
A Railcard (£35, £80 for 3 years) gives one third off most tickets: 16-25, 26-30, Two Together, Family & Friends, Senior, Network, Disabled Persons (£20). Advance tickets open up to 12 weeks ahead; Delay Repay pays for delays. Regulated fares are frozen until March 2027.
Outside London most single bus fares in England are capped at £3; the government announced a £2 cap on participating buses from 1 January 2027, extended to the end of 2027. A free bus pass is available at State Pension age. The National Express Coachcard gives one third off.
In London, Oyster or contactless applies daily and weekly caps automatically, and the bus Hopper fare gives unlimited bus and tram changes within an hour. The bus fare rises to £1.85 on 1 November 2026. Students get 30% off Travelcards, 16 to 17-year-olds half fares; ages 5 to 10 travel free.
A Student visa needs a CAS from a licensed sponsor, course fees plus living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 elsewhere (up to 9 months), and B2 English at degree level. The visa fee is £558 and the health surcharge £776 a year. Decisions from outside the UK usually take 3 weeks.
The course length decides the visa: up to 6 months as a Standard Visitor, over 6 and up to 11 months the Short-term study visa (£228, no work, no extension), and longer courses at B2 or above need a Student visa. You cannot switch from the Short-term study visa to another visa inside the UK.
Full-time students at degree level and above can work 20 hours a week in term time, 10 below degree level, and full time in vacations. Self-employment is not allowed. Only PhD or research degree students, or government-sponsored students on courses over 6 months, can bring family.
None of these five routes, shared on social media as "no sponsor and guaranteed", is guaranteed. Global Talent and Innovator Founder need an authorised body's endorsement; Scale-up and Health and Care need an employer's sponsorship. There is no "self-sponsorship" visa.
"Self-sponsorship" is not an official visa: it means a UK company getting a sponsor licence and employing its owner as a Skilled Worker. The normal sponsor and Skilled Worker rules apply and the job must be genuine. Licence, certificate, skills charge and visa costs are paid separately.