London is undoubtedly one of the best cities in the world. Its diverse culture, great career opportunities, and general high quality of life are all key features that make it an attractive destination for expats from across the globe. If you truly wish to unlock the full potential of London life, though, you must put the right preparations in place. 

Here are six things you should do for the smoothest possible move. Doing these in advance helped me with my move from Los Angeles to London. I hope that they help you as well.

1. Know The Legal Requirements In Advance

While London is blessed with a multicultural population, anyone wishing to live in the UK will need to gain the right to live and work in the country. Moreover, the political fallout of Brexit means that even EU members must now complete the visa requirements. The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on 31 October. If you are an EU citizen, the government provides a handy checklist of things you need to do in order to stay in the UK. Also, there is information on general visa requirements for non-EU citizens. There are many routes to take, such as ancestry visas and student visas. In terms of work visas, company sponsorship is the most direct path for most expats, but you can also invest money in the UK with an Investor visa. You can set up a business with a Start-up visa or an Innovator visa. If you’re a spouse, partner or family member of someone who has British citizenship or settlement in the UK, you can apply for a family visa to join them. They may need to show that they can support you financially.

Whichever option is best for you, conducting the necessary research and starting your paperwork well in advance of your proposed move is essential. 

Until then, you can’t do anything with confidence.

2. Prepare for Life in a Smaller Property

London is one of the best cities in the world, but it’s also one of the most expensive. The harsh reality, then, is that it’s likely you will need to downsize your property. Rather than transporting unneeded assets to London, use this as an opportunity to declutter and earn a little extra cash. You can further support your preparations for life in London by going paperless and considering furniture with hidden storage – like ottomans and similar pieces.

TV wall brackets and shelving can be used once you move in to aid the cause even more. Facebook groups like Expat Swap Meet are good sources for pre-owned furniture. David Phillips offers full furniture packages both for purchase and rental of new furniture.

3. Find the Right Part of London To Live in

London is home to 14 million people. Naturally, then the contrast of housing prices across different parts of the city is huge. As well as financial fluctuations, you’ll want to think about schooling, transports facilities, crime rates, and other factors that could influence your daily life in a big way. Moreover, you may want to look for an area with amenities that appeal to your background – whether it be cultural or recreational passions or hobby preferences. AirBnB has a useful collection of neighbourhood guides that might be a good place to start your research.

You aren’t only investing into a home; you’re starting a new life. Make it count.

4. Research Job Opportunities & Salaries

Life in London isn’t cheap, but the career opportunities are fantastic. You can start applying for jobs before you arrive while this approach may also aid your visa applications. A little online research will show you what positions are available for your skills, along with a rough guide of the salary you can expect to command. In turn, this should enable you to make far more accurate calculations about what type of property you can live in. Establishing a sense of control before you’ve completed the move will go a long way to making the transition as smooth as possible. If you plan to work, you will need a National Insurance Number (NIN).

5. Open a UK bank account

Opening a UK bank account can be a little tricky if you try whilst you are still overseas. Most UK banks require two forms of identification, one being a UK proof of address. Broadly speaking, these include:

• a tenancy agreement or mortgage statement;

• a recent electricity or gas bill (less than 3 months old);

• a recent (less than 3 months old) bank or credit card statement that’s not printed off the internet; or

• a current council tax bill.

If you haven’t moved yet, or are still in transition with your housing situation, then your proof of address isn’t readily available and you may have to wait until you are settled in order to open the account.

Alternatively, you could open a TransferWise borderless multi currency account, which allows you to pay and get paid in multiple currencies. You can convert your money between the supported currencies for a small fee, and transfer the money to a local bank account. You will also be able to get a debit card connected to your borderless account, which will make it even easier to pay for your life in the UK.

Your home bank may be able to set up an account for you if it has a correspondent banking relationship with a British bank. Many major UK banks also have so-called ‘international’ accounts. These are designed specifically for non-residents, so they’re a great option if you don’t have the documents to prove your UK address. In fact, you can even apply for an international account online. Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC and NatWest all offer international bank accounts.

6. Connect to the Right People

We have listed a number of organisations on our Relocation page that can help ease the transition. Also Facebook groups for expats like Americans in the UK can help answer many of your initial questions. Last but not least, you need an expert to support you through your property purchase or tenancy. To discover more, give us a call, text us on Whatsapp or shoot us an email. We’re always available for a coffee or chat.