Are you moving to the UK? You lucky duck! Perhaps you are going for an extended stop as a tourist, and longer stays as a student or a one-way ride because you are going for work.
Whatever the reason, before you know it, the big move will be here, and it’s very easy to forget something. So, first and foremost, make a list and make sure you add the following eight things:
Passport
You might already have a passport and if that is the case, checking the expiry date for your return trip is a smart idea. You don’t want to be in a foreign country and discover that your passport has expired while you’re here.
If you do not already have your passport, please ask that it be processed at least two months before your planned departure. You may get it expedited but, if you don’t have to, why incur the extra fee? If this is your first passport, you might need to apply to provide evidence of identity in person.
Immunisations
Immunisations are not strictly mandatory, but a few are prescribed as precautions, such as measles, mumps, rubella (if you haven’t had them before), tetanus, and influenza if you fly between November and April. It’s also a good idea to have a good medical checkup before leaving.
Travel Insurance
In terms of medical treatment, the National Health Service (NHS) looks like the be-all and end-all, but you will have to get to the UK first and be living here before you can get access to it. This is where travel insurance will come in handy.
Your healthcare here in the UK will also depend if you are coming from an EU based country or a country outside of the European Economic Area (EEA). However, be sure to do your research here, new regulations may apply post-Brexit.
Bank
it’s a smart idea to contact your bank to let them know you’re going to be out of the country. Otherwise, they could shut off your credit card or deactivate your debit card if they suspect there’s anything going on fraudulently. You definitely do not want to get financially shut out from your accounts.
In addition to notifying your bank about going overseas, it’s a smart idea to print out a current bank account statement for customs. While it’s not always the case, they may ask you for evidence that you can financially support your stay without working in the UK (unless you have a work visa).
Once you get here, you can open a current account, savings account and/or credit card from a new bank of your choosing here in the UK.
Phone
We recommend going in person to your mobile provider, rather than depending on a phone call or fax. Ask your operator if your handset is set up for international calls when you are in the UK – which may be costly. Because of the fees, you may want to buy a phone in the UK and use a UK based phone service. There are also other internet-based phone services that you can always use that allows you to retain your previous phone number.
There you go, five things you must not forget to get sorted before making the move. You should also make a list of people, friends and family that you need to inform, both at home and in the UK about your move.
To read more on topics like this, check out the Travel category.
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