Welcome to your complete
expat guides on moving, living & working in the UK
If you’re planning to relocate to the UK we've put together comprehensive expat guides that are packed with information on moving, working and living in the United Kingdom. Discover everything you need to know about how to relocate to the UK, your rights to work, indefinite leave to remain (ILR), routes to British citizenship and many more.
At Moving to the UK, we provide clear, up-to-date information and practical tools to help individuals and families relocate with confidence. From visa guidance and job market insights to housing, healthcare, education, and everyday living — we simplify the process, answer your questions, and connect you to the services and resources you need to thrive in your new home.
Wherever you are in your journey, we're here to help you make the UK feel like home.
Complete Relocation Guide for Expats (Visas, Housing, Cost of Living & Cultural Insights)
Whether you're coming for work, study, family, or a fresh start, preparing properly before you arrive is essential.
What Documents Do You Need to Enter the UK
Whether you're visiting for tourism, business, study, or other purposes, ensuring you have the correct documents is crucial for a smooth entry. This comprehensive guide provides up-to-date information on the documents required to enter the UK.
UK Visa and Immigration Requirements: The Complete Guide for 2025
Whether you're coming for work, study, family, or a new life experience, the UK's visa system can be complex, and getting it right will save you time, money, and stress.
Everything European Citizens Need to Know About Living and Working in the UK Post-Brexit: Visas, Work Permits, and the ETA Explained
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through everything EU citizens need to know about living and working in the UK in 2025, including visa routes, work permits, and the newly introduced Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
Driving and Converting a Foreign Licence in the UK
Moving to the UK involves many practical adjustments, especially when it comes to driving. Whether you're visiting temporarily, relocating for work or study, or settling permanently, understanding how your foreign driving licence is treated under UK law is crucial.
Finding Employment and Understanding the Job Market in the UK (2025)
Whether you’re relocating to the UK or have just arrived, finding a job is often one of the top priorities. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to understand the UK job market and secure employment efficiently.
Moving Your Belongings to the UK: Shipping Options, ToR1 Customs Relief, Costs & Timelines
Moving your personal items across borders can feel overwhelming, but the right preparation makes all the difference. This guide explains the options, costs, paperwork, and rules you need to know when shipping your belongings to the UK.
Relocation by Road from Europe to the UK (2025): Moving Your Belongings by Car, Van or Lorry
For many moving to the UK from Europe, road relocation offers the best blend of speed, cost, and flexibility. This guide covers everything from choosing vans or lorries, to completing customs paperwork, to calculating costs — all to help your journey run smoothly.
Sea Freight Relocation to the UK 2025: Moving Your Belongings by Container
Sea freight offers a cost-effective way to relocate, but it comes with unique timelines and requirements. This guide covers containers, ports, and what to expect when shipping to the UK.
India Young Professionals Scheme (IYPS) Visa
The IYPS visa is a bilateral youth mobility agreement between the UK and India. It offers eligible Indian nationals the opportunity to experience life in the UK through employment, education, or travel.
UK Skilled Worker Visa Guide (2025): Requirements, Process, and Key Updates
The UK Skilled Worker visa is a key route for non-UK nationals seeking employment in the UK. It enables individuals with a job offer from a licensed sponsor to live and work in the UK.
Health and Care Worker Visa Complete Guide
Launched to support the NHS, adult social care, and approved health providers, this visa offers a fast-track entry with reduced fees, no Immigration Health Surcharge, and a clear path to permanent residency.
UK Partner & Spouse Visa: What It Is, Who Qualifies, and How to Apply in 2025
Find out how to bring your partner to live with you in the UK through the Spouse or Partner Visa route. This updated 2025 guide covers eligibility, application steps, requirements, and key changes.
What to Do If Your UK Spouse Visa Is Refused – A Thoughtful Guide for Couples Facing the Unexpected
If your UK Spouse Visa has been refused, you're not alone—and it's not the end of the journey. In this thoughtful guide, we explore why refusals happen, what your options are, and how couples can navigate the next steps with clarity and hope.
Bringing a Child to the UK on a Family Visa – Requirements and How to Apply
We cover eligibility rules for dependent children under 18, how to apply, what documents you’ll need, financial requirements, how to prove sole responsibility, and how the process works for biological, adopted, or stepchildren—everything you need for a successful family reunification.
The National Health Service (NHS) Origins and Principles Explained
Born from the wreckage of the Second World War and fuelled by a radical vision of equality, the NHS has endured constant debate, financial pressures, and political reform — yet its founding principles remain intact. In 2025, those same principles still shape every GP appointment, every ambulance call, and every hospital ward.
Who Can Get NHS Treatment in the UK? Eligibility Guide 2025 for Expats and Students
Can anyone use the NHS? Do students, workers, and expats receive the same entitlements as British citizens? And what about tourists who might need urgent care? This guide explores those questions in detail, offering a comprehensive look at who can get NHS treatment in the UK in 2025.
How the UK National Healthcare System (NHS) Works in 2025: Complete Guide
The NHS is one of the UK’s most important national institutions, built on care and pride. This guide explains how public healthcare works in 2025 — from GP registration and hospital care to costs, private options, and what expats and residents alike can expect.
UK ETA for US Citizens (2026): Do Americans Need an ETA to Visit the UK?
From 2026, most Americans must have a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before boarding travel to the UK. This guide explains who needs an ETA, who is exempt, how to apply, what it costs, how long it lasts, and what activities are permitted on ETA entry.
UK Visa Types for Americans (2026): Work, Study, Family & Settlement Options
Americans can visit the UK with an ETA for short stays, but moving requires the right visa. This 2026 guide explains the main UK visa types for US citizens, who they suit, key requirements, typical costs, and the clearest routes to settlement.
Complete 2026 Guide for Americans Moving to the UK
This 2026 guide explains how U.S. citizens can move to the UK, covering visa options, ETA requirements, cost of living, healthcare access, cultural differences, and the path to permanent residency and British citizenship.
Student and Graduate Visas Guide for EU Citizens
From eligibility criteria and required documents to post-study work options, this comprehensive article will walk you through everything you need to know.
Start-up and Innovator Visas – Everything You Need to Know
Dreaming of launching your business in the UK? Explore your 2025 guide to the Start-up Visa and Innovator Founder Visa. Learn which route suits you, how to apply, and what it takes to turn your entrepreneurial vision into reality in Britain.
EU Settlement Scheme (Settled and Pre-Settled) – 2025 Guide: How to Apply, Deadlines & Rights
We’ll cover deadlines, how to switch from pre-settled to settled status, what documents you need, your rights to work, travel, claim benefits, bring family members, and even the steps toward British citizenship.
Companies House Identity Verification 2025–26: Deadlines, Personal Code & How to Verify
From 18 November 2025, all UK company directors and Persons with Significant Control must verify their identity with Companies House. Find out who’s affected, key deadlines, and how to complete the process.
How to Get Company Information Free from Companies House: Complete UK Search Guide
Discover how to access free, official UK company information through Companies House. From director histories and mortgage charges to insolvency records and email alerts, this guide explains how to search, interpret, and use the data for due diligence, compliance, and market insight.
How to File Your Company’s Annual Accounts with Companies House – Deadlines, Requirements & Penalties Explained
A complete 2025/2026 guide to filing annual accounts with Companies House. Learn deadlines, formats, filing methods, and penalties, with practical steps to ensure your submission is accurate, compliant, and on time.
Customs, Taxes & Import Rules: What You Can and Cannot Bring to the UK (2025)
Travelling or moving to the UK? Discover how HMRC and UK Border Force enforce customs rules after Brexit—even for goods from the EU. Whether you’re arriving at Heathrow, taking the Eurostar, or shipping belongings, learn what to expect at UK customs and avoid surprises at the border.
What is Settled Status and Who is it For? A Complete Guide for European Citizens in the UK (2025)
Since Brexit, the immigration landscape has changed significantly. One crucial concept at the heart of these changes is “Settled Status.” But what exactly is settled status? Who can get it, how does it work, and what rights does it bring?
Everything European Citizens Need to Know About Living and Working in the UK Post-Brexit: Visas, Work Permits, and the ETA Explained
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through everything EU citizens need to know about living and working in the UK in 2025, including visa routes, work permits, and the newly introduced Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
UK (Public) Bank Holidays 2026: Full Date List for England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland
Planning a trip, a long weekend, or just looking for an excuse to relax? Knowing the UK bank holidays in 2026 can help you make the most of your time. From national holidays to regional observances in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, this comprehensive guide outlines every key date you need to know to plan ahead.
London Borough Spotlight: Moving to Westminster, Chelsea & Surrounding Areas — What to Expect
Relocating to Westminster or Chelsea requires patience, planning, and precision — but the reward is unmistakable. With the right support, it becomes more than a logistical feat; it becomes an introduction to a different kind of London living.
Moving to North & East London – From Camden to Shoreditch and Beyond
For those planning a move, this part of the city offers two parallel stories: the domestic calm of North London’s terraces and the creative hum of East London’s industrial heart. Each has its rhythm, its quirks, and its logistics.
The Best Places to Live in London for Families with Children
For families seeking a particular kind of urban gentility—a life that is both richly stimulating and serenely grounded—London offers a handful of neighbourhoods that rise above the fray. We wander through five of the capital’s most beloved enclaves for families: Richmond, Hampstead, Hyde Park and Holland Park, Dulwich Village, and Highgate.
The Cost of Living in the UK in 2025
From London’s soaring rents to the quiet affordability of Cardiff and Belfast, discover how much it really costs to live across the UK in 2025. Our in-depth guide breaks down rent, transport, food, schooling, and salaries—region by region and city by city—for international expats planning their next move.
British Weather for Expats and International Travellers
Whether you’re relocating to the UK or just arrived, understanding the country’s famously unpredictable weather is key to settling in comfortably. This guide breaks down what to expect across all four seasons — with global comparisons — so you can adapt your wardrobe, daily habits, and expectations with confidence.
Where Should I Send My Child to Boarding School in Scotland? Parent’s Guide 2025
Scotland is home to some of Europe’s most distinctive boarding schools. This guide explores St Leonards, Fettes, Gordonstoun, Belhaven Hill and Glenalmond — helping parents decide where their child will thrive in 2025. Discover the traditions, character and global outlook that set these schools apart.
Life at a Scottish Boarding School: What Parents and Students Can Expect (2025 Guide)
Whether you’re considering boarding in Scotland or exploring options for your child, understanding daily life beyond the classroom is essential. This guide explains what to expect — from routines and pastoral care to weekends, traditions and international communities — so parents can make an informed choice with confidence.
Moving in London – Complete 2025 Guide to Relocating Across the Capital
Moving house in London is less an errand than an art form — a balance between timing, access, and borough quirks. From Islington’s Georgian terraces to Battersea’s riverside lofts, every district poses its own logistical puzzle. This 2025 guide explores what to expect when relocating across the capital: costs, permits, timing, and the professionals who make it all look effortless.
Types of Car Insurance in the UK Explained
New to UK car insurance? Our 2025 guide explains Third-Party, Third-Party Fire & Theft, and Comprehensive cover in clear, practical terms—what each protects, what it costs, and how to choose the right policy. Whether you’ve just arrived or are renewing your first policy, it breaks down how UK insurance really works and what expats should keep in mind.
I Only Drive Occasionally – Do I Still Need Car Insurance in the UK?
The question is simple but common — do you still need car insurance if you only drive occasionally? The short answer is yes, but there are smarter, more flexible ways to stay covered without paying for a full year of unused protection.
How Nigerians Can Get Affordable Car Insurance in the UK – Complete Guide
This guide explores everything Nigerian expats need to know about car insurance in the UK: how it works, why it’s often expensive for newcomers, and what you can do to find affordable, transparent cover that recognises your driving experience from back home.