Hello,
Interior Designer here who would love to move to London in 2026. Has anyone in the design and architecture field had success and if so I'd love to hear about it and your path to get there.
FYI: While I know not everyone is a fan of London I am not asking your opinion on my move location, I have family and friends there as of the last few years and it is very much of interest to me personally. I am not looking for a quick answer and am up for the challenge - insightful responses are truly appreciated.
Thanks!!
Go to their immigration website, it has all the information about moving to that country.
They don't share similar stories as I was requesting above but you're correct. Thank you so much though!
I think you should educate yourself on the country before moving there. You don’t seem aware of the challenges and general state of the UK in relation to immigration.
Hello - Apologies I did not divulge my life's story of having inquiries out on immigration lawyers, family throughout all of the UK and open connections in my industry. I am so sorry I upset you by asking if anyone on this website had a similar story to share.
How would anyone have a similar story if they don’t know what they were comparing to? That’s senseless. You asked a general question so got a general response. No one here can read anyone’s mind. You asked about the path, the path is through the immigration website. Question answered. I was being nice and you maintain being passive aggressive, I wish you no luck.
"Has anyone in the design and architecture field had success and if so I'd love to hear about it and your path to get there."
I’m sure that attitude will take you very far.
Just not to the UK.
why are you so obsessed with me I'm flattered!
The literal truth is that Interior Designers are occupation code 3421 in our Skilled Worker Visa system. This code is classed as medium skilled. From July 2025, no immigrants can be sponsored in medium skilled jobs. Even if you found a job as an Interior Designer, no employer can legally sponsor you for a visa as your occupation isn't classed as highly skilled and absolutely required by the UK economy.
Architects are occupation code 2451 and are classed as High Skilled, so can be sponsored. However, the annual salary to be eligible must be £47 600, bear that in mind.
Thank you so much!! I am thinking diving more into my architectural background will be the pathway but I genuinely appreciate this breakdown. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
You can’t move to a country just because you “would love to move” there. I doubt the demand for interior designers is such that they will distribute visas like candy.
Sorry for dropping truth bombs, I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear.
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Let’s stay civil, your original comment had good info but was tonally an issue and caused the expected defensive response from OP. This exchange will be locked to prevent further sniping back and forth.
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Are you in a relationship with someone there, by any chance? Spousal visa is the easiest path.
What about a student visa?
I don't know enough about that. That would be temporary status of course.
Right.
I believe that undergrads get a year & grad students get up to 3 years to remain for job searching.
That may have recently changed, of course.
*creates UK Hinge account* You may be onto something here
I'm not suggesting a MOC of course. I know someone who moved there who is in your general field through spousal sponsorship. She struggled to get a job in her occupation and ended up changing professions to something somewhat adjacent. I think it may have been construction project management? I know the job market is super tough there right now in general so timing may be not really right for employer sponsorship if that's what you need to make the move. Good luck.
Thank you! I have been starting to consider an adjacent field as well thats really helpful to hear. Art, construction all viable fields. Thank you again!
So to the best of my knowledge, for employer sponsorship to be a feasible path, the job you secure in the UK would need to be fairly directly linked to your current occupation. My friend was able to do the adjacent thing because she got permanent residency (or whatever it's called) through her spouse and didn't need employer sponsorship. Hope that makes sense.
The UK is having a massive social wave against immigrants at the moment. Are you worried about that? Or are you white?
I mean even if you are white they are in general making immigration harder and take longer. OP has probably chosen one of the hardest anglosphere countries to try to immigrate to at this point.
It looks like interior design is considered a medium skilled job per Home Office so OP will likely have difficulty via the skilled route path.
No I know, but white people tend to have more of a warped view of immigration (aka - I’m not one of “them” so I have nothing to worry about and I’ll be welcomed right away)
I know an Architect who did the move but his parents were UK citizens and he had to do a ton of extra certifications to be able to work in the UK. He also had a job at an esteemed firm lined up prior. It took him close to five years to do it. Oh and he’s independently wealthy which helps.
If his parents were citizens it was also likely he was so that takes at least the visa and sponsorship out of the equation. It would be harder for OP since they would presumably need both.
It wasn’t as simple as that for him because their citizenship wasn’t from birth and partially involved a UK territory. I don’t know the exact specifics.
Ah yeah British nationality law is very complex. I become British tomorrow (not kidding) but wasn't at birth because at the time British women couldn't pass on citizenship to their children born overseas.
Thank you!! I'm open to the challenge and have several connections with esteemed firms and art institutions as well as financial wellness so I am happy to hear of success in the industry - even if it came at great length! Hopefully your friend is thriving still there!
You’re fucked
do you know someone who can bring you in and set you up? Because, interior design is all about who you know, what school you went to and what your surname is. The pubs there are full of minimu wage workers who hold such degrees!!