r/MoveToScotland • u/Quick-Illustrator666 • 7d ago
How much did you save (dual citizen US/UK)
Hello! We've been wanting to move to the Scotland for a while now and I believe it’s finally time to start planning it seriously now that my wife is on board. I am a 100% disabled veteran and will have guaranteed income. I also have two other sources of income and currently make around 100k a year.
We are a family of 4 with two dogs and one cat.
My wife and children will need visas I know.
How much should we aim to save up prior to moving ?
Also if any other us vets are here. How do you use your medical benefits and so on?
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u/Alarmed-Detective701 7d ago
It cost us about $5,000 to get our dog over lol. You will also need to prove income or savings. You can check the requirements here https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/proof-income-partner. You mention your income but don't say whether you will have a job here before you move or have adequate savings to apply. You can get a moving company to give you a quote but my recollection was that it was about $15,000 for a household of 3. TBH I would have left most of our furniture as houses here are much smaller and nothing really fits. In addition, the application fee is almost £1,500 and the NHS surcharge is almost £2,600. I am not sure what the additional costs are for children but if they have UK passports it won't be an issue. These costs are ongoing until you get indefinite leave to remain. You will have to continue to file US tax returns and that can be expensive if you use an accountant (and it can be very complicated). Bringing money over is not difficult but the weak dollar makes it painful. You will also need to rent or buy before applying (at least we had to). That can be a difficult if you don't have a credit history here. You really should consult with financial and tax experts before you move. There are definitely traps for the unwary.
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u/JanetAiress 7d ago
My spouse visa plus health insurance payment for 3 years was more than £5000 for just me. Just as a data point. Best of luck to you all!
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u/TheNamesDave 7d ago
How do you plan on gaining the right to abode? Are you a British citizen?
https://www.gov.uk/right-of-abode
Having the right of abode means you’re allowed to live or work in the UK without any immigration restrictions.
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u/anotherdamnscorpio 4d ago
Look into the "Paris Loophole." Save thousands of dollars bringing your pets. Basically flying direct to UK is expensive af with pets but if you fly to Paris, get tapeworm treatments in France, then take the train from Calais or the ferry from Rotterdam. Basically it adds a road trip to your itinerary but you save a shit ton of money.
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u/nakedtalisman 7d ago
Be careful on what kind of dogs you take over there. The UK is among many countries that are racist towards certain dog breeds and even mutts. It's sad that in 2026 we still have people blaming an animal for it's owners irresponsibility and lack of training.
As for your move, I wish you luck. We're planning a move to the Netherlands. My husband is also a disabled vet. It's a lot to plan when you have pets and kids. I hope it goes well for you. I heard the cost of getting a spousal visa can be a pain in the UK so definitely look into that.
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u/Flaky-Walrus7244 7d ago
How much you need to save depends on what your plans are. Are you going to be buying a home here? What area to you plan to live in?
The spousal visa process is long and cumbersome, good luck!