How to Move to London in 2024 (complete Guide)
United Kingdom has long been a favourite destination for many of us. It is a place where we can give wings to our dreams. Once you’ve decided to take the leap and the decision to move to the UK is finalised, with the excitement comes many questions.
You know you want to move, and you want to prepare well and do as much research as possible to ensure a smooth move.
Everything gets easier once you have a job or admission to a school or college.
Many things go into a successful and smooth move, and if you don’t know another country too well, as there are usually a lot of unknowns.
We’ll try to write down the top 10 things from our experience that you should definitely do to make your transition easier.
- Visa
- Accommodation
- School
- NHS
- Transportation
- Credit History
Most importantly sort out your visa.
This can be done in several ways:
– Apply for a work visa,
– A student visa,
– A visa for exceptional talent or celebrities,
– An ancestry visa, if applicable,
– or an investor visa.
If you’re applying for a work visa or a skilled worker visa, the idea of entering on a tourist visa and then looking for a job isn’t the best option.
Try applying for a job from your home country through LinkedIn, Indeed, Reed, and Monster.
Another option is to ask your own company to transfer you to the UK.
Recently it has become challenging to find a company that will sponsor a visa for young professionals unless you have exceptional training or a highly sought-after skill.
The best option available is to visit the UK government website and look at the list of in-demand jobs. If you meet the criteria, it’ll be easier for you to get a UK work visa and find a company or agency willing to sponsor your visa.
– Look for an accommodation at the earliest.
Once your UK visa application is approved, you’ll need to start looking for housing. Unlike other countries, the rental market in the UK, specifically in London is in very high demand, and finding a perfect apartment that meets all your requirements is a time-consuming and tedious task.
It’s highly advisable to book a serviced apartment where you can stay for a specific period when you arrive in the country.
It is advisable to initially live near your place of work or education.
Depending on whether you are moving to the UK as an individual, it’s best to stay in a serviced apartment or hotel for a while, until you figure out permanent accommodation.
If you’re moving with your family, it’s best to stay in a serviced apartment near your workplace and then look for a house.
It’s best to keep your workplace at the center and then look around in different directions such as N, NW, SW, S, E, or SE depending on suitability and affordability.
Central London tends to be more expensive than Greater London.
Remember that it is normal for people to drive an hour to work.
The way UK house bidding works.
When you choose your home, you may only have one viewing for you to make a decision. You’ll be expected to offer more than the list price. The key to a successful home bid is an offer that is a little higher than the list price.
Once the owner has accepted your offer, you’ll be asked to provide a reference or guarantor and your credit history (I explain what a credit history is below).
So you must have all the details of your last rental, be it a service apartment, ready. You can also use your previous landlord’s reference from another country. Having a good reference makes all the difference.
Council Tax
– Another thing for expats to keep in mind with a rental property is that, not only do you have to pay the rent and utilities, but you also have to pay the council tax.
Council Tax is a tax paid to the local council for the upkeep of the area, expensive areas have higher council tax, and it depends on the size as well as the number of occupants residing.
The owner in most countries is likely to pay the council tax, whereas in the UK it’s paid by the tenant. Therefore, always add 120-400 pounds sterling per month as the amount of council tax to the cost of the rent.
London is Expensive so budget properly.
No matter what your income, London life can be hard on the wallet. So, as an expat it’s essential to plan and budget accordingly.
A studio flat in the heart of London will cost around 2000 pounds; whereas if you’re okay with going a bit further out from the city center, you might find a three-bedroom house for the same price.
However, if you want something more luxurious, expect to pay 4000 pounds or more for a three or four-bedroom property.
If a good school and safe neighbourhood are a priority for you, then you should factor this into your budget – it tends to make these places even more expensive.
Another thing to keep in mind is that houses in UK tend to be much smaller compared to USA & South Eastern Asian countries.
So the Furniture which would look good in USA tends to not fit in & seems too bulky.
UK School Admission.
Getting a child into a good London school is the national pastime of the UK. The chances are better if they are younger, as older children getting admission to secondary school can find it more competitive to get accepted.
There are different types of schools, including public non-selective schools which are slightly easier to get admission to than others.
For grammar school, your kid must take an entrance test and pass it for them to secure a spot; these exams generally happen in February or March for a September intake.
Private schools also require entrance examinations, depending on seat availability. It’s possible to enroll mid-year for international students- the best way to find out is to contact the borough or the private school you’re looking at.
To assist with getting ratings of potential schools, there are guides and websites such as Ofstead, Snobe, and Education.gov.
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/
Register for NHS
The next most important thing to do on your arrival is that register with National Health Services and get your NHS number.
As you would be aware all residents of UK are entitled to NHS services.
This means that on your arrival without wasting any time, you should register for NHS & get your appointment with GP sorted.
Visiting your GP and registering your history with them is important in-case of an emergency.
For any future problems, your GP is the first point of contact and can be referred from there on.
Private Clinics, as well as Private hospitals, are options so you can take Health insurance with Allianz Care or Cigna Global if you plan to use private doctors.
Open a bank account.
Opening a bank account is an important step to take when you arrive in the UK. You can open an account from your home country if supported by select banks, such as HSBC and Lloyds.
Consider bringing along a credit card and some cash for precaution. Since Covid, more places accept cards only.
However, some online banks like Starling can open up an immediate account.
Yet, getting a credit card requires at least six months to build up a credit rating before applying.
When signing up for a new bank account, you may need to present a valid passport, UK driving license, and visa.
To verify your identity, bills like a utility bills, council tax bills, and tenancy agreement may be asked for.
Be sure to check what the specific verification requirements are for each bank in order to receive approval.
Listing below is the website that can help you manoeuvre through your banking.
https://www.expatica.com/uk/finance/banking/opening-a-bank-account-in-the-uk-103992/#overview
Taxes in the UK
Taxes in the UK are known to be steep, though they are broken up into various slabs. The first £12570 of your income is exempt from taxation. Beyond that, tax rates are as follows:
Band. Taxable Income Tax rate.
Personal Allowance. Up to 12570. 0%
Basic Rate 12,571-50,270. 20%
Higher Rate. 50,271- 150,000. 40%
Additional Rate. Over 150,000. 45%
For more information please check the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/income-tax-rates
What Kind of Transportation is available in the UK.
The UK has an excellent public transportation network. Owning a private car for daily commuting is usually too expensive due to the high levies and parking fees in the city center. Every city, town, and village is connected via a bus or tube network.
Thus, it’s important when searching for a house to find one that is located near either a bus stop or railway/London underground.
This is especially true during the winter months when it can be difficult to walk to the station if your house is far away from it.
You can also acquire an Oyster card for public transport which will help you get around the city by bus, tube, or over the national network up to a certain limit.
Private cars are primarily used for long-distance travel or family outings.
Getting yourself a Wi-Fi and TV connection.
The process of getting a home Internet connection established can be somewhat arduous and time-consuming. After you submit your application to the provider, with documentation proving your address, and select the package that meets your needs, they will provide you with an installation date.
This could take anywhere from two weeks to two months.
Furthermore, it should also be noted that a TV Licence is required to view any live television. The most popular providers are Virgin Media, BT, and Sky.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/
What is Credit History?
A credit score is a score of 3-digit number given to you, depending on your ability to pay your mortgage, loan, or credit card repayment.
A high credit score better than a low one.
Throughout your stay, credit scores will play a vital role in the financial products or loans you take out. For example, when applying for a credit card or maybe a mortgage, your credit score would be applicable to help determine whether your application is accepted and what you’ll end up paying.
An individual with a higher score is often lower risk, which gives lenders confidence to provide them with credit.
It’s important to remember that every lender follows a different policy for credit scoring. So, if you don’t meet up with the criteria of one lender, you will still be able to get credit from someone else. However, it’s essential to find out why you were turned down before making another application.
https://www.equifax.co.uk/resources/what-we-do/what-is-a-credit-score.html
Loneliness is real.
Socialising is not that easy when you first arrive in the country. With most people working or involved in their own social circle, finding new friends and families needs extra effort and you going the extra mile.
With international moving and the new unknown place and being away from the familiarity of your own surroundings, one tends to miss family and friends from back home.
It’s important to maintain your friendship from where you’re coming from and go the extra mile to make new friendships.
It’s recommended that join classes like music, gym, yoga, or even learning new cuisine to socialise and meet like-minded people.
The people who are pretty tech savvy and would want to meet people on a meet-up or inter-nation are also available.
It’s important to make your own safety net as you never know when you would need help and advice from a person you can trust and rely on.
London can be a great place if you have a good social circle.
Last but still very important is to improve your understanding of British English.
Communication skills must not be overlooked. Becoming familiar with the English language and its nuances can prove invaluable in London.
As it is home to people from around the world, English is the common language here.
Therefore, brushing up on one’s English and being able to understand the British accent can help to facilitate a successful social and professional life.
Move to UK Checklist.
Prioritizing the most challenging tasks is essential when relocating. Make sure to secure a job offer and have your visa sorted before anything else. After that, start looking for accommodation and schools for your children — these two tend to be the most difficult to arrange. Additionally, opening a bank account in the new country and getting to know people who can help you adjust once you arrive would be beneficial.
chopracheena.1
I'm Cheena Chopra presently living in London (UK). Have lived in 4 different country previously & 10 Cities. The Travel Bable isn’t only about helping your journey of immigration easy it's a way to explore new destinations and point of views which can help you make an informed decision to immigrate to a place best suited for your needs. Rather it intends to inspire you to go beyond the ‘beaten to death’ itinerary and explore far & beyond – for food, for local communities, for inspiring stories, and for unseen unheard places.
