Relocate your business to the United Kingdom
EuropeLaunch jurisdiction
Thinking about business immigration to the United Kingdom? Below are the residency routes for founders, investors and startups, and the set-up services a foreign-owned business needs: company registration, a bank account, tax, payroll, trademark and licences. Set-up comes first, because a company does not grant residency on its own. See also business immigration explained and relocating your business abroad.
4
nations: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
68M
people
0°
longitude, the Greenwich meridian runs through London
- Capital
- London
- Population
- About 68 million
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP)
- Languages
- English
Best things about doing business in United Kingdom
- London is one of the world's leading financial centres
- An English-language legal system trusted around the world
- Quick online company registration through Companies House
Fun facts
- The UK does not have a single written constitution.
- Greenwich Mean Time is named after a district of London.
Figures are rounded and approximate.
Business Setup Services
Company, bank, payroll, brand and licencesNot a residency routeWe handle company incorporation, bank account and payroll set-up, trademark filing and the licences and permits your business needs. Tell us what you need.
Cards without a "last verified" date have not been independently checked yet. Confirm the details with the official source before you act.
Warning: These do not grant residency on their own. A separate visa is required.
Company Registration
Set up your legal entity so you can operate, hire and pay tax.
Business Bank Account
Opening an account with a bank in the United Kingdom
Open a business bank account for your new company. ORBIZLY prepares the application, and the bank decides.
Official source: bankofengland.co.uk
Employer and Payroll Registration
Registering as an employer in the United Kingdom
Register as an employer so you can hire and run payroll. Handled by HM Revenue and Customs (PAYE for employers).
Official source: gov.uk
Trademark Filing
Trademark Filing (UK IPO)
Last verified October 2026 · Official source: gov.uk
IP and Patent Filing
IP and Patent Filing (UK IPO)
Protect your invention with a patent. Filed with the UK Intellectual Property Office.
Official source: gov.uk
Licences
Permits that let your products and business operate legally: import permits, tax and goods/services registration, sector-specific permits, export licences, drug and health, food safety, lab test reports and product trials.
Import Permits and Importer Registration
Register as an importer and get permits for regulated goods. Handled by HMRC (EORI number) and the Department for Business and Trade for controlled goods.
Official source: gov.uk
Tax and Goods/Services Registration
Register for tax and for goods and services tax. Handled by HM Revenue and Customs (VAT registration).
Official source: gov.uk
Sector-Specific Permits
Permits for regulated industries. Overseen by the regulator for your sector and your local council.
Official source: gov.uk
Export Licence
Get permission to export controlled goods. Handled by the Export Control Joint Unit (Department for Business and Trade).
Official source: gov.uk
Drug and Health Product Licence
Approval to sell medicines, devices and health products. Handled by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Official source: gov.uk
Food Safety Licence and Registration
Register your food business and get approval to import or sell food. Handled by the Food Standards Agency and local authority food registration.
Official source: food.gov.uk
Lab Test Reports and Product Certification
Get your product tested and certified for the market. Overseen through laboratories accredited by UKAS.
Official source: ukas.com
Product Trial and Sample Approval
Approval to trial a new product before launch. Handled by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Official source: gov.uk
Residency & Visa Pathways
Programs that grant residenceThese grant a right to live and work in the country. Talk to an expert before you apply.
Innovator Founder Visa
No fixed capital minimum, but only 3 approved endorsing bodies remain (down from 50+) — endorsement is the real bottleneck.
Last verified September 2026 · Official source: gov.uk
Questions about moving a business to the United Kingdom
What business immigration options are there for the United Kingdom?
ORBIZLY lists startup visas (Innovator Founder Visa). Each is shown on this page with its status, the official source and when it was last verified. Rules change, so confirm the details with the official source before you apply.
Can I relocate my business to the United Kingdom?
It depends on your business and the route you choose, and it is really two separate things: setting up or moving the business, and getting the right to live there. Company registration, a bank account, tax and licences are the set-up side. A visa or residence permit is the residency side. Start with the free eligibility check to see which routes fit your business.
Does registering a company in the United Kingdom give me residency?
No. Registering a company does not give you the right to live in the United Kingdom on its own. Residency needs a separate visa or residence permit.
What do I need to set up a business in the United Kingdom?
The usual order is: plan, register the company, open the tax and bank accounts, register as an employer, protect your brand, then get any licences and permits. For the United Kingdom, ORBIZLY lists company registration, drug and health licences, export licence, food safety, ip and patent filing, import permits, lab test reports, business bank account, product trials, employer and payroll registration, sector-specific permits, tax and goods/services registration, and trademark filing. Government fees are paid to the authorities and are separate from ORBIZLY's fees.
How do I start moving my business to the United Kingdom?
Take the free eligibility check, which takes about three minutes, or book a free 15-minute discovery call. ORBIZLY then shows which routes look like a fit and what to do first. ORBIZLY gives directional guidance and is not a law firm or immigration adviser.
Dreaming of United Kingdom?
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Brands built in United Kingdom
Well-known companies from United Kingdom, including unicorns and businesses that grew a global presence.
Revolut
UnicornGlobal digital banking app
Arm
Chip designs inside most smartphones
Wise
Low-cost international money transfers
Dyson
Engineering-led home appliances
Monzo
UnicornDigital bank with millions of customers
Examples only. Logos belong to their owners and are shown to identify the companies. A unicorn is a private start-up valued above US$1 billion at some point.
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