Working in London after Brexit: Skilled Worker visa, salaries and sectors

◆What makes London worth it

London is still one of the world's capitals of finance, tech and the creative industries, just two hours from Paris by train. The density of companies, the Anglo-Saxon work culture and the international mix make it a genuine career accelerator, with a huge French community already on the ground to soften the landing.

Brexit changed the paperwork — there's no point pretending otherwise — but it hasn't dented the city's pull. You simply have to approach the move differently than before: today, going to work in London is planned like a genuine international relocation, not like a short-hop European move.

◆The visa, since Brexit

Since Brexit, free movement no longer applies, and it's the point people underestimate most: as a French national, you now need a visa to work in the UK. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa. Three conditions come up systematically: an employer holding a 'sponsor' licence, a role meeting a minimum salary threshold, and a demonstrated level of English.

Other routes exist depending on your profile: the Global Talent visa, for recognised profiles in tech, research or the arts, and the Graduate visa, which lets you stay on to work after UK studies. Here too, I'd rather be clear: salary thresholds and eligibility rules are revised regularly by the UK government. Treat this overview as a starting point and check the current conditions on gov.uk.

◆High salaries, expensive city

London salaries, especially in finance, tech and consulting, rank among the highest in Europe. The trap is to stop at that figure, because the cost of living moves the same way: London is regularly listed among the most expensive cities on the continent, particularly for housing and transport.

Before accepting an offer, think in net-after-rent rather than gross — it's the only calculation that tells the truth. The UK tax system works in progressive bands, deducted at source through PAYE. To estimate your real purchasing power, lean on recognised indices like Numbeo or the Mercer rankings, and remember that rents and taxes shift from year to year.

◆How French professionals get there

As with any post-Brexit move, almost everything turns on one thing: visa sponsorship. The most common paths:

• Sponsor employer: land an offer from a company holding a sponsor licence, which takes on the Skilled Worker visa.
• Intra-company transfer: a group relocates you from France to its London office — and the City is full of headquarters and subsidiaries.
• Graduate visa: stay on to work in the UK after completing higher education there.
• Global Talent: for recognised profiles in tech, research or creative fields, without depending on a single employer.

◆The local hiring codes

The UK market has its own codes, and ignoring them shows immediately. The CV runs one to two pages, with no photo, no date of birth and no marital status, and emphasises quantified achievements. A cover letter is often expected; it should be polished and personalised, not copied from one application to the next.

Professional references matter: you'll frequently be asked to provide former managers as contacts. For interviews, prepare for competency-based formats, where structured, concrete examples are expected, following the situation-action-result pattern. Be precise, factual and own your wins: the excessive modesty prized in France tends to read poorly to UK recruiters.

◆The network and the French community

London is home to one of the largest French communities in the world, and that's an asset to use without hesitation. The Franco-British Chamber of Commerce, professional associations, French schools and outlets like lepetitjournal.com, in its London edition, form both a safety net and a network of opportunities.

Don't hesitate to tap these channels early. A coffee with someone already settled will spare you plenty of rookie mistakes, and many openings circulate through referrals before they're ever posted — so it pays to be in the loop early.

◆The steps to settle in

Once you're there, several steps follow in sequence. You'll need a National Insurance number, the UK's social security number, to work and pay contributions. To rent, expect to provide guarantees — deposit, proof of income, sometimes several months upfront — in a tight rental market where competition is fierce.

On healthcare, you generally fall under the NHS, the public system, once your rights are open; the immigration health surcharge is in fact often paid at the visa-application stage. These conditions vary with your situation and change regularly: confirm each step on gov.uk before committing.