The Guide to: Moving to London in 2021

By Richard Greenbury
04 May 2021

Moving to London can be a tedious and sometimes stressful process, especially if you are unfamiliar with the city. To help you out, we have put together a shortlist of the main things you will need to be aware of before you make the move.

VISAS

Whether you apply for a tourist visa or a resident visa, the procedure is followed through the official website of the government.

The procedure may seem hard and complicated, but it is actually as simple as it should be! The only thing you should do to not getting denied is to fill the forms with the right information and have a trustworthy profile -such as not being an ex-criminal. :)

To apply for the Visa, you need to follow certain steps:

FIND OUT IF YOU NEED A UK VISA

You can check from this website if you need a UK visa or not.

CHOSE THE RIGHT VISA TYPE FOR YOUR STAY

There are several visa types:

The UK Tourist Visa, UK Transit Visa, UK Work Visa, UK Short-Term Study Visa, Long Term Tier 4 Study Visa, and other types of visas such as Setting a Business Visa, and Join a Family Member Visa.

COMPLETE THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

This procedure is simple, all you need to do is fill out the module with the correct information. If the provided information is not correct then your application will get rejected!

COLLECT THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR YOUR APPLICATION

According to your type of visa application, you are requested to provide some documents, you can find out what they are from here.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

After you have collected the necessary documents, now you can create your appointment online. You can choose among different application centers for your appointment.

ATTEND YOUR INTERVIEW

You must attend your interview in person and deliver your documents with biometric information. Applicants must meet all the stated requirements outlined by the British Home Office or else face certain refusal.

FINDING A PLACE TO LIVE

Renting in London is notoriously expensive and so where you live will largely depend on your budget. London is mapped out in rings. Naturally, the closer to the city center – the first ring – you go, the more expensive accommodation will be. The cheapest accommodation tends to be on the east side of the city center, in rings 2 and 3, with popular neighborhoods including Bethnal Green and Bow. Popular high-end neighborhoods include Chelsea, Kensington, and Notting Hill – but be prepared to spend a lot extra!

Due to the high cost of renting in England’s capital, plenty of house-sharing options are available in London, and it is perhaps much easier (and cheaper) to find a room in a shared house as opposed to an empty apartment/house.

Make sure to visit the accommodation before you hand over any money and familiarize yourself with the details of your rental agreement, in order to avoid any nasty surprises later!

For property purchases, you should contact local London agents.

HEALTHCARE

Healthcare is currently a contentious issue in the UK, as the system has recently fallen slightly behind the standards. However, in recent years, some developments have been realized and the UK was chosen as the best in the care system and equity among patients.

All permanent residents in the UK are entitled to public healthcare. This is free and funded by the taxpayer. In London (and the rest of England) this is provided by the NHS (National Health Service) and does not include general check-ups and private healthcare services.

Holidaymakers visiting London should make sure that they have valid and up-to-date travel insurance.

NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBERS

Once you have arrived in the UK you will need to apply for a National Insurance (NI) number in order to avail of tax benefits. Most employers will require you to have one of these, however, you are entitled to begin work before receipt of your NI number. In rare cases, applicants may be asked to attend an interview to explain the need for an NI number.

In order to apply, you must call +44 (0)345 600 0643 from within the UK. This line is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 06:00 PM.

Note: Most banks will require that you have a UK address as well as a NI number before you will be able to open an account, so it is important that these things are taken care of as soon as possible.

GETTING TO KNOW LONDON

Once you are settled in, all that is left to do is to get to know the fantastic city in which you now find yourself! Tourist or resident, London is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining cities anywhere in the world. Treat yourself to a West End show, go out shopping in London's top spots, share a pint in a traditional pub or enjoy the nightlife, or get lost in the historical attractions of London. Despite all the details that go into moving to London, one thing is certain – you will have a great time!

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Richard

Richard is the founder of Cribmed. He was born and grew up in New Zealand. In his twenties, he traveled and backpacked extensively before finally settling down in Rome, Italy in 2011.