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Moving to the UK can be both exciting and extremely scary all at the same time. When you move to a new place, especially a new country, it often seems like you’re going in blind. During our move to Scotland, we found eleven things that we think everyone should know when moving to the UK.
Whether you’re moving to the UK for a short while or long term, we hope these 11 tips make your move a bit smoother!
In this guide on moving to the United Kingdom, we assume you have a valid passport, can support yourself in a new home abroad, and have in fact secured a British visa. If you’d like more information on different visa applications, have a gander at this website.
Click on the topic that most suits you, and see how to apply for your United Kingdom visa! Keep in mind, when coming from different countries, like say New Zealand vs. the United States, you will be applicable for different visas. Being a student in the UK offers the chance of obtaining a student visa, for both you and a spouse, for the duration of your schooling, and if you have any kind of family in the UK, or with British citizenship, your application process will be much smoother!
11 Things to Know About Moving to The UK
1.) Get a Zero Transaction Fee Credit Card
- Before moving to the UK, definitely look into getting a new credit card. We got the Chase Sapphire Card and love it! We have heard great things about Capital One Venture as well, but we liked the perks of the Chase Sapphire more. Regardless of what card you choose, be sure to get one that has no abroad transaction fees. If you buy it before you buy your plane tickets and everything then you can use it to rack up loads of points in the beginning, where in most cases, you will receive extra rewards for those points!
2.) Bring A Background Check
- If you’re planning on working in the UK, be sure to get a background check from your home country first! Not all jobs require this, but many do, and it’s a hassle to try and get done when you’re already abroad. Some jobs, like teaching, require a federal background check. This means you’ll need fingerprinting done and have to go through a mess of paperwork, which is basically impossible to do abroad, before obtaining this check.
- We would recommend getting a federal background check done if you’re interested in working with people.
3.) Apply for National Insurance Number
- If you want to work in the UK, you will need to apply for a National Insurance Number. Your job prospects will ask you for this, so it’s best to jump on this right away. You can learn more here.
4.) Council Tax
- This is a monthly housing fee, billed to you by the city council. It can be up to £100+ extra per month when renting, so do take this into consideration when budgeting a flat or house price. There are cases where you can be exempt from Council Tax. Want to know if you’re exempt? Check here! If you’re a student or a non-British spouse of a student than you’re 100% exempt from this tax!!
5.) Bring Things That Remind You of Home
- Leaving home and setting out on your own adventure is extremely exciting! You’re moving to the UK, going out on your own to be independent, and you don’t want anything to remind you of home… WRONG!! After a couple of months, you’re going to want something small to remind you of your loved ones back home. We brought pictures and a homemade calendar our grandma painted, both lightweight and didn’t take up much space in our luggage.
6.) Check Out AirBnB and CouchSurfing
- You’re going to need somewhere to stay for a bit while finding a flat or place to rent. AirBnB and CouchSurfing both offer great ways to get to know some locals, get the inside scoop on the area, and learn about the culture. Both are online sites where you find someone in a particular area offering their spare room, couch, or even apartment for you to stay.
- Couchsurfing is free and much more community-based. Participating in couch surfing requires a desire to really spend time with your host, as well as creating a profile that tells others a bit about yourself. Please don’t use this for just a free place to stay. Only use it if you’re really into meeting some locals!
- AirBnB is a paid for option, but cheaper than most hotels and you usually meet pretty rad people too!
7.) Pull Out Money for Rent/Deposit
- When you do score that lovely flat on a cobblestone street you’ve been dreaming of, you’re going to have to pay the first month’s rent and a hefty deposit up front. Banks usually put a cap on the amount of money one can pull out of an ATM in one day, so be sure to plan accordingly, and start pulling out money before your move-in day. (As a side note, the deposit is typically the same amount as first month’s rent.)
- Be sure you have a debit card you can use abroad with no extra transaction fees! You will get a UK debit card, or “bank card” as it’s called in Great Britain, but you might not get it right away. So set your pin on a debit card from your home country, be sure to let the bank know you’re moving abroad, and be prepared to pull out loads of cash!
- This purse is the updated version of the Pacsafe purse we use and love! It’s a safe way to carry loads of money with its slash-proof strap and lockable zipper. They also have a fanny pack that’s gone with us all over the world too! (It’s also great for all the international travel you’ll be experiencing while living abroad!
8.) Shop at Charity Shops
- Alright, folks… You don’t have to bring every little thing you want from back home. International shipping costs are far too high for that kind of move! And plus, international moving should be setting you up for a whole new experience. Bringing all your things from home will not only cost you an arm and a leg, but will also make it feel like you’re still living in your home country!
- There are things you should bring when moving to the UK (see tip five), however, charity shops are everywhere and carry so many great things! Charity shops are second-hand shops, like a Goodwill or Salvation Army, that sell everything under the sun for really cheap! And in most cases, the proceeds from purchases at these places go to charity. What a great way to shop!!
9.) Plugs/Voltage
- Don’t bring over your favorite curling iron, electric razor, coffee grinder… basically, don’t bring over any electronics that don’t meet UK plugs/voltage requirements! Not only will they not fit into the sockets, but the voltage difference is so high that you will fry the appliance and break your converter in the meantime! UK voltage is 230V… All in all.. just buy it all in the UK. After all, you are going to live here, you may as well have electronics that work well with their plugs!
10.) Give Yourself More Time to Move Than You Think
- The process of renting a flat in the UK can make you feel like a chicken running around with their head cut off. Organizing viewings can take weeks, (especially if moving before the start of a school year). Proof of address is required to set up things like a bank account and doctor, and you’ll need a bank account to arrange a phone plan. So after signing your lease, you’ll need a good couple of days to arrange those things. We recommend giving yourself two weeks to arrange everything and start settling in!
- A little secret here… you can get a pay as you go SIM card right when you arrive in the UK. Once you find a flat and arrange a bank, you can then get some kind of phone plan which is a much cheaper option than pay as you go.
11.) Renting… Check Out These Websites
- You can rent in the UK through agencies or through private parties. We have heard of both good and bad experiences with both. You can find rentals on Gumtree (UK’s version of Craigslist) or on this great rental website that compiles all rental properties no matter the agency.
- Fair Warning.. We typically try to not directly put down any company/person/business, however, with our horrific experience with our rental agency, we are going to warn you to NOT rent through them. Stay away from Contempo Lettings and Property as your letting agent. We won’t go into too much detail, but no letting agency should treat their tenants how we were treating. Trust us here. Just don’t use them.
Remember that when you’re moving to the United Kingdom you’re starting a new life abroad! Give yourself time to adjust to your new beginning. It’s going to be a rollercoaster of emotions, but we totally encourage you to embrace those emotions! Enjoy the lovely people, and don’t use the word “pants” to describe someone’s “trousers”… you’ll be describing their underwear instead 😉
Are you moving to Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, London, somewhere else in England, or even the Isle of Man? We’d love to hear where you plan on moving! Let us know in the comments below!
More on Living in the United Kingdom
READ MORE | Things to Know About Buying A Car in the United Kingdom
When we moved to Scotland, we weren’t sure we’d get a car. After all, we thought we’d be spending all the time in school and not so much time traveling around. Boy were we wrong. When buying our van we learned all the ins and outs of purchasing a car in the United Kingdom.
READ MORE | Our Move to Scotland
Moving to Scotland.. a total dream come true.. even with the unheard-of flooding happening all across the country our first week there!
LEARN MORE | Life in The UK for 2.5 Years
Living and traveling around the UK for 2.5 years gave us a lot of insight on best places to explore in the UK, don’t miss holiday spots, and where to find all the best food. Check it out on our UK travel page.. basically a big Pinterest board for all things UK!
READ MORE | Top Fish and Chip Mistakes Every Foreigner Makes
You can’t move to the United Kingdom without having your fair share of fish and chips! But don’t make these mistakes when ordering your fish supper!
WATCH MORE | Best Places to See on the Isle of Skye
Scotland’s famous isle, the Isle of Skye. After multiple trips to Skye, we put together this video on the best places to visit on Skye. Check out our other Scotland travel videos and get inspired for your move to the UK!
GET INSPIRED | Castles of Scotland
We visited nearly 100 castles when living in Scotland. And you guessed it, we put together a guide for you! Check it out here!
Save and share this post with this picture of Inveraray Castle in Scotland.. one of many castles you’ll see when you move to the UK!
