As the years go by, more and more Australians are moving to England. The United Kingdom is a popular destination for Australian expats as its culture, economy, and government structures closely resemble our own, while providing an exciting opportunity to live at the gateway to Europe.
If you’re planning on moving to the UK from Australia, then you need to make sure you have everything in order before you take off. There is a lot to juggle when relocating to the other side of the world, so you need to find a way to keep everything in a neat and orderly fashion. A moving to the UK checklist is a great way to ensure you have everything sorted prior to leaving Australia while guaranteeing you don’t accidentally skip over something important along the way.
At Overseas Packers & Shippers, we provide high quality international removalist services for people moving all around the world–including to England, Ireland, Scotland, or Wales. This ultimate checklist is essential for anyone currently planning and preparing a move to the UK from Australia, ensuring a seamless transition to your new home.
Prepare for Your Move to England
Moving to England from Australia is more than just hiring overseas removalists and booking some plane tickets. Relocating to a brand new country requires a lot of thoughtful planning to be in place, typically long before the actual moving day.
In this ultimate checklist, we will look at some of the most important boxes to tick prior to your move to the UK. From getting all your documents in order to organising your belongings, here are some of the most important things you need to complete for your UK relocation.
Research, Research, Research
The first step in the process, no matter where you’re moving to, should always be to thoroughly research the country and get a good understanding of what life will be like when you move.
While there are many wonderful places in the UK to live, it’s important to choose a destination based on what’s going to suit your lifestyle and work, not just where you might want to live. For example, work opportunities in London are generally reflected in the city’s high cost of living, while northern areas of England are much more affordable.
Below are some good points to start your research:
- Cost of Living
- Job Opportunities
- Healthcare
- Schooling (if you have children)
- Housing Market
- And more
Organise your Visa
The great thing about moving from Australia to the UK is that the two countries have a number of reciprocal agreements that has resulted in numerous visas being vailable. Some of the most common visas Australians can move to the UK on are, but not limited to:
- UK Ancestry (grandparents were born in the UK)
- Tier 5 Youth Mobility (between ages 18-30)
- Right to Abode/ UK Passport (parents born in the UK)
- Spousal Visa
- Student Visa with limited working hours
- Investor/ set up own business
- Exceptional Talent
It’s important to remember that the type of visa you select will always depend on your reasoning for moving to the UK, and your work and study intentions.
Job Search in the UK
After securing your visa, you’re free to embark on your job hunt in your chosen British city. One of the great aspects of relocating from Australia to the UK is the relative ease with which you can secure employment.
In recent times, there’s been a notable uptick in the hiring of expatriates, spurred by a lack of local talent to fill specialised roles. This surge in demand for skilled workers presents an advantageous situation for Australians, allowing for a smoother transition into the UK job market.
Moving your Belongings from Australia to the UK
One of the most overwhelming challenges you’ll face when relocating abroad is the process of packing and shipping your belongings to your new residence. The emotional weight of entrusting a company to handle your treasured possessions, without your oversight during the journey, can be significant.
At Overseas Packers & Shippers, not only do we offer a comprehensive packing service for all your items, but we also fully customise our solutions to align with your specific requirements. Whether you’re concerned about safely transporting fragile heirlooms or your extensive collection of books, we tailor our approach to give you peace of mind.
Our experienced team takes every precaution to ensure that your belongings arrive in pristine condition, making use of quality packing materials and state-of-the-art tracking systems. This allows you to focus on other important aspects of your move, while we take care of ensuring your possessions reach their destination securely.
If you are considering moving to the UK from Australia, then request a free quote from Overseas Packers & Shippers to determine how much it will cost to ship your belongings.
Moving your Car from Australia to the UK
As everywhere in the world has different laws around the roadworthiness of a car, you will need to take steps to ensure your vehicle is safe to drive on UK roads. If you don’t comply with these procedures, it will be very difficult to have your vehicle approved to enter the UK. Overseas Packers & Shippers can assist with helping you move your vehicle to the UK, ensuring you meet all the necessary requirements.
For moving your car to the UK, there is an online Transfer of Residence application that prospective expats should complete. Overseas Packers & Shippers have a customs instruction sheet detailing the steps you need to take to ensure your application is processed properly. Unfortunately, due to piracy reasons, Overseas Packers & Shippers are unable to assist you with completing the form, however, we are happy to answer any questions you have along the way.
Healthcare in the United Kingdom
Each country in the UK provides public healthcare to all UK permanent residents that is free at the point of use as it gets paid from general taxation. Each country also has a private healthcare sector which is considerably smaller than its public equivalent.
England
Most health care in England is provided by the NationalHealth Service (NHS), England’s publicly funded healthcare system.
Scotland
The Majority of healthcare in Scotland is provided by NHS Scotland.Although this organisation is separate from the other public health systems in the United Kingdom,patients often don’t realise this due to the level of cooperation and coordination when “cross-border” or emergency care is involved.
Northern Ireland
Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland provides the biggest part of healthcare in Northern Ireland. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘NHS’ even though the name ‘National Health Service’ is not used for this organisation.
Wales
The majority of Healthcare in Wales is provided by the Welsh public health service, NHS Wales.
Culture in the UK
The United Kingdom is world renowned for its cultural significance, which has permeated throughout much of the globe. Here are some of the main cultural touchpoints to keep in mind when living in the UK.
History
The United Kingdom was formed on May 1 1707 with the political union of the kingdoms of England, including Wales and Scotland. A further Act of Union in 1800 added the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Sport
Some of the main sports in England include cricket, soccer (if you move to the UK call it football to avoid being a joke),rugby union and tennis.
Fun Facts
- Believe it or not, the UK is home to over 300 distinct accents. Despite its relatively small geographical size, the country boasts a rich linguistic tapestry. In some regions, accents can change dramatically within just a few kilometres!
- According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest pub in the world is in the UK. Known as Ye Olde Fighting Cocks and located in St. Albans, it dates back to the 8th century.
- The Kray Twins are one of the most well known organised criminal outfits in the East End of London from the 1950s and 1960s. Ronald and Reggie Kray were involved in armed robbery, arson, protection rackets, assaults, and the murders of Jack “The Hat” McVitie and George Cornell.
- 165 million cups of tea are consumed a day in Great Britain.
- The tradition of having a Poet Laureate dates back to the 17th century in the United Kingdom. This role is often considered the nation’s “official poet,” and they are tasked with writing poems for significant national events. The position is a great honour in the literary world and has been held by renowned poets such as Alfred Lord Tennyson and Carol Ann Duffy.
- There is not a point in the UK that is more than 75 miles away from the coastline – make sure to check out some of the awesome beaches on offer.
Best Places to Live in England and the UK
For those new to the UK,some of the happiest UK destinations (based on safety, contentment, neighbourliness and area enjoyment) include:
- Worchester, Worcestershire
- Wrexham, Wales
- York, Yorkshire
- Gloucester, Gloucestershire
- Aberdeen, Scotland
- Swansea, Wales
- Aberystwyth, Wales
- Manchester, Greater Manchester
- Brighton, East Sussex
- Coventry, West Midlands
Moving to England with Overseas Packers & Shippers
We hope this ultimate checklist makes your move to the UK that little bit easier and less daunting. If you have any more questions, or if you would like to make use of our international removal services, then contact Overseas Packers & Shipper today!
