Henk(64)

For thirty years I holidayed in the Cotswolds every year. The rolling hills, the honey-coloured villages, the pubs with open fires — it always felt like coming home. When I retired, I wanted to live there. But Brexit had slammed the door shut for retirees without a work visa.

The UK has no retirement visa. That was the hard reality. Unlike Portugal or Spain, where you can get a residence permit with passive income, the UK offers no route for retirees who simply want to come and live. I spent months researching and spoke with three immigration lawyers before finding a viable option.

My route became the Global Talent visa — not as a scientist, but through the arts and culture category. I had worked for forty years as a restorer and art historian, with publications and exhibitions to my name. Arts Council England can grant endorsement to people with exceptional contributions to arts and culture. It wasn't a guaranteed route, but with a strong portfolio and good references I received the endorsement after eight weeks.

Buying a house in the Cotswolds is expensive, but I had sold my apartment in Haarlem for a good price. The British property market works differently — you need a solicitor (not a notary as in the Netherlands), the process is called conveyancing and takes on average three to four months. Stamp Duty Land Tax was a significant extra cost: for a house at £450,000 I paid over £11,000. As a foreign buyer you also pay a surcharge of 2%.

Healthcare was my biggest concern. Through the Global Talent visa I have access to the NHS without paying the Immigration Health Surcharge. I registered with the GP in Chipping Norton. Care is good but different from the Netherlands — longer waiting times for specialists, but the GP is thorough and takes their time. I additionally took out private health insurance with Bupa for faster access to specialists if needed.

Life in the Cotswolds is exactly what I dreamed of. I walk the Cotswold Way daily, drink tea in village pubs and have joined the local historical society. British village culture is warm once you immerse yourself — I help at the church bazaar, I'm on the pub quiz team and my neighbour brings me a pot of marmalade every Sunday. It's quiet, beautiful and fulfilling. But be honest with yourself: without a creative visa route, the UK is virtually unreachable for retirees after Brexit.