Moving to the United Kingdom

Moving to the UK (Immigration or Coming Home)

If you are moving to the United Kingdom, whether to England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, Britannia Movers International has the local knowledge and experience to tailor the move to your individual needs.

	Importing Personal Effects to the UK Shipments of household goods and personal effects are allowed duty-free entry into the UK, provided that they have been owned and used for at least six months prior to importation. It is possible to have your goods cleared by customs before you arrive in the UK, if they do not arrive more than six months before your own arrival and all necessary documents are completed correctly and received by Britannia in advance of the shipment. Assistance can be given to help you with the customs formalities. We shall provide you with the correct customs form to complete and return before the arrival of the shipment in the UK. You can find further information on moving your personal and household effects from the UK Government using the following link: HMRC TOR01 Info
	Prohibitions and Restrictions for UK Imports In general, it is in your interest not to import the following items: Firearms & ammunition Inflammable goods & substances Plants & plant material Foodstuffs, perishables or otherwise Narcotics and dangerous goods Offensive materials Alcohol & tobacco
	Transit Times to the UK Sole use containers are usually the fastest way of sending your shipment by sea. Groupage or shared load containers have a longer overall transit time than a sole use container. We have regular services to all major UK ports and as soon as we know your removal date and method of shipment, we can provide you with advice on when the shipment should arrive at the port and be available for delivery in the UK.
	Protection for Your Items All shared load consignments will be bar-coded before they are loaded into the vehicle. This will ensure that no items are left at origin.
	Moving Pets to the UK Britannia can recommend a specialised shipper of animals to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures. Find out more about pet transport.
	Moving Vehicles To the UK You can bring your vehicle with you without payment of customs duty and tax in the UK, providing you have paid all local taxes and owned and used the vehicle for more than six months overseas, and equally important you must be able to prove you have lived outside the UK for more than twelve months. The vehicle must arrive no more than six months after your own arrival. Should you be unable to meet all of the requirements, you can still bring your vehicle, however, it will subject to payment of customs duty and tax on its arrival. You can find further information on shipping vehicles on the following links: HMRC TOR01 Info, DVLA and VOSA.
	UK Currency Transfer When you are making international payments for individuals you can benefit from IFX expertise in seeking the best possible rate, whether you are sending or receiving foreign currency. IFX can help to protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and save you time and money on international payments. IFX offers : International payments Regular overseas transfers Prepaid currency card Forward contracts More info on the IFX website.

Moving to the UK with Britannia

Your Move to the UK With Britannia – Britannia has established and developed a long-standing successful relationship with a global network of dedicated international movers who can assist you with your move to the UK. All Britannia members (there are forty-five offices across the UK) are part of the extended Britannia family and meetings are held regularly to ensure standards of service are maintained.

Destination Services – If you have paid for a door-to-door service, following customs clearance, your shipment will be delivered to your home on a mutually convenient and agreed date. Goods will be delivered to your new home and placed in the relevant rooms as directed by you. Professionally wrapped and packed goods will be unwrapped and cartons unpacked onto a flat surface.

Customs Clearance – It normally takes on average 5 to 7 working days for customs clearance and delivery for a sole use container within the mainland on the UK, and generally 7 to 14 working days after arrival at the Britannia customs approved warehouse for a groupage consignment. Charges raised by Customs and port authorities will be paid for by Britannia and collected from you prior to arranging the delivery.

Additional Removal Services – Britannia can provide a variety of additional removal services when moving to the UK. We are authorised to provide comprehensive removals insurance and can arrange storage prior to delivery.

If you are interested in moving to the UK, you can request a quote, read more about our international removals, and contact us for more information on 0845 6006661 or email sales@britannia-movers.co.uk.

Living in the UK

Whether you are moving back to the UK after a long-term stay abroad, or emigrating to the country for the first time, you’ll find a rich culture, a multicultural society and a variety of professional opportunities. The UK’s strong economy, varied culture and liberal immigration policies make the UK a very popular expat destination around the world.

Located off the north-western coast of mainland Europe, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea and Irish Sea, the UK is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, and consists of four separate countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK is a developed country, one of the world’s largest economies, and is leading political and military power. It is also a member of many international organisations, including the G8, the G20, the OECD and the WTO.

Whether you are planning to move to one of the world’s most exciting cities, and financial centres, London, or explore a unique culture in Scotland, the UK will offer a variety of opportunities. It can also boast good economic and professional opportunities, a developed infrastructure, and a good healthcare and public transport system.

Cost of Living in the UK

You can check out some of the items you are likely to purchase regularly whilst living in UK below. Using data from Numbeo, prices are shown in GBP.

Weather in the UK

The UK has a varied climate due to its path by the polar front jet stream. Different types of weather can be experienced in one day, ranging from sun to rain and back to sun again.

The UK climate is generally a humid temperate oceanic climate. Northern Ireland, Wales, and western parts of England and Scotland are close to the Atlantic Ocean and so are generally colder, wetter, and windier. The eastern part of the UK will be typically drier and warmer, but will also experience more temperature variation. Below are the maximum average temperatures and number of rainy days for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

England

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

Interesting Facts About the UK

• The London Eye is the tallest observation wheel in the world and each rotation takes around 30 minutes.
• The UK was the world’s first industrialised country.
• English people consume more tea per capita than anybody else in the world.
• French used to be the official language for about 300 years, between 1066 until 1362.
• Stonehenge is older than the pyramids, dating back to around 3,000 BC.
• The Welsh town Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch has the longest town name in Europe.
• Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn.
• The largest freshwater lake – Lough Neagh – is found in Northern Ireland.

Tips About Moving to and Living in the UK

• You’ll need to apply for a work permit if you are planning to work in the UK. A points-based immigration system was introduced in 2008, which was further modified and capped in 2011. Expats will need to have an employer sponsor to receive a UK work permit, which means that expats need to have a job prior to moving to the UK.
• Public health care is provided by the NHS. Expats are entitled to free emergency treatment but are liable to pay for in-patient and dental treatment. Reciprocal healthcare agreements are in place with many countries.
• The education systems in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland show some slight differences, so find out as much about the local system as you can before moving there. State-provided education is available free of charge.
• The cost of living in the UK is relatively high, though the exact amount will depend on your location and lifestyle. London is regarded as one of the most expensive cities in the world, while northern England and Scotland will be cheaper,

Contact Britannia for your Move to the UK

If you are thinking about moving to the UK and want to find out more about our UK removal services or request a quote, you can call us on 0845 6006661 or email sales@britannia-movers.co.uk. Our team will be happy to discuss how we can help you with your international relocation.