Moving to the UK is a tremendous opportunity for personal and potentially professional growth whether it will be for one year or the rest of your life.
Are you ready?
With so much to consider it is easy to forget an important thing or two.
This page is designed to keep you right on track no matter where you are in your journey.
Tip: Most people can’t do everything all at once – it is a process, but getting one thing done can set you up for success.
Moving
The physical process of moving to Britain can be daunting even if it’s just a backpack full of stuff.
But in the case of moving a family, getting your things into a 20ft or 40ft shipping container may seem like an Everest.
Having personally moved internationally five times – including Australia, Canada and the UK I can share a few things.
But these are the top three things you really need to consider first.
UK Essentials
1. Get a Visa
Without the appropriate visa, you cannot enter the country to live and work.
2. Open a Bank Account
Opening a UK bank account can be a little frustrating but oh so important to get sorted out ASAP. Luckily, there are accounts now that make this step a breeze.
3. Get an NI Number
You can’t legally work in the UK without an NI Number and not only that, you will be subject to an “emergency tax” rate which is significantly higher than the usual tax rate.
Get a Job
For most people finding a job is the most important and potentially most challenging part.
For professionals, it can be a huge advantage to get the ball rolling before you arrive – like registering with recruitment agencies and getting feedback on what opportunities exist and where. This saves time and sets you up for success.
For trades, skilled and unskilled employment actually being in the country and ready for work is the priority.
Choosing a Removal Company
Moving internationally can seem like a daunting task, but if you have the right moving company, it can be easier to move to the UK than around the corner.
The first consideration is what you want to move. If you have some furniture to bring typically you will need to employ the services of an international moving company.
On the other hand, if you just have personal items that can be shipped in standard removalist boxes (often called tea chests. How British is that?)
For selected personal items only: There are specialist companies (many are UK-based companies) who collect and batch your boxes with other boxes to fill shipping containers.
This can be the most cost-effective way to move your most treasured things while saving on moving costs and simply purchasing furniture at your destination.
For furniture and personal items: These days the best international removal companies begin by surveying the things you plan to bring.
A tablet and specialist software enable them to get a surprisingly accurate picture of exactly how much they can fit into a container (usually 20 or 40 feet long). A 20ft container will fit the contents of an apartment or small house.
Typically this survey is part of the quoting process, and so inviting two or three companies around is the best way to ensure you get a great result.
Things to look for/ask when they come around:
- Experience: The crew that packs your things is probably the most important part of the whole process. Experience and reputation are really the only indicators you have of how well things will go.
- How they pack: International removalists commonly handle the packing of your things. This is not just only a good way for them to make money but its also a matter of insurance and customs regulations. That’s why personally packing your things might not be a good idea for you to do.
For example, delicate items like glass table tops, antiques and fragile items often need to be packed in specially made containers for safe transport.
A good company will actively tell you what they will need to make certain containers – this is a good sign that everything will be packed well.
- Who do they partner in the UK and do they unpack: Having a reputable company who unpacks your things (although not as important as the company who packs) in the UK makes life a lot easier.
- Insurance:
- Who do they use?
- How much does it cost?
- What does it cover?
- What does a claim look like?
Checklists
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