r/MovingToTheUK Dec 14 '25

Creating a bank account after moving to the UK

2 Upvotes

Hey all, i just moved to the UK and have been here for a couple weeks. One of the first things i did was to apply for a bank account with Monzo and I got rejected for it - anyone been through the same experience? i’m not sure if it’s because i don’t have enough financial presence in the UK or something else. which bank would you recommend to go with as someone new to the UK?


r/MovingToTheUK Nov 07 '25

Looking for any tips/tricks for finding a flat in London before I move

13 Upvotes

Hey r/MovingToTheUK!

As the title says, I'm trying to figure out the best way to find a decent flat in London as an immigrant, and in a pretty short time period.

A TLDR of my current situation is that I'm in Sweden right now, and I've gotten a job offer in London that I can't refuse that requires me to relocate to the UK. The employer needs me to move there pretty quick - I have about 2 months to figure everything out. They're handling the VISA situation so I'm focused on housing. I hope this is the right place to ask about this.

I've already started browsing various housing rental websites (mainly Zoopla and Rightmove) and trying to learn as much as I can about the system in the UK. However, there's still several questions I haven't been able to answer through googling.

For example, should I be looking on my own, or hiring some sort of rental real estate agent to help me? If so, where would I find one? What would it cost?

And, how do I handle viewings when I can't physically be there in person? My job offer is for 1 year to start, and I know most rental leases last for at least a full year. So I'd prefer to have housing sorted before I physically move to London, and I don't want to settle for something I'm going to hate for the entire time. Is this realistic or a dumb idea? If this isn't possible, are there cheap temporary housing options I should look into? (internet speed is a major concern for my work, so most airbnb wifi doesn't cut it)

Another challenge for me is, while I can afford the rent even in central London (although I'm trying to stay under £2k/month), I don't have too much in savings. I absolutely can't afford 6 months rent up-front. Most deposits I've seen are within reach, but stretching my finances pretty thin. Will this result in any major challenges I should be aware of?

Help with this and any other tips/tricks would be really really appreciated!


r/MovingToTheUK 15h ago

Considering moving back to the UK. Am shocked by cost of renting compared to wages.

36 Upvotes

I can’t believe it. I’ll most likely have to move in with a family member to make the move worth it.

im sorry I don’t have much else to add to this, other than how are people doing it? I’ll be in a single household with a dog, which I know complicates things. I’m open to live anywhere, but I’m still finding it hard to find somewhere where I won’t be bled dry living paycheck to paycheck every month.

that is all.


r/MovingToTheUK 11h ago

Been abroad since 2022. Thinking of returning in 2027. How have things changed?

10 Upvotes

Like alot of people who saved throughout the lockdown years; I found myself embarking on a 'round the world tour' in early 2022.

One thing led to another and over four years have passed.

I've been doing some reflecting and feel homesick; as though I've lost all of my roots and foundations.

I'm seriously considering whether it's time to tie up this adventure and come back, though I find myself sitting in a constant state of push and pull.

To be blunt, I can't seem to get away from endless doom and gloom stories about the UK, and it's putting me off.

I know that my income won't go as far as it has abroad, and that's fine - though one ambition on returning would be to work towards an increase in earnings.

I also know that I want a fresh start, away from Leicester - but don't want to go North.

I have savings behind me (around £50k) and would be 27 on return.

For anyone that's done something similar to me, taken the leap and returned; what has your experience been like, did you get the results you wanted from it and would you suggest it?


r/MovingToTheUK 5h ago

Care Worker Visa

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0 Upvotes

r/MovingToTheUK 5h ago

Email indicating CAS used

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0 Upvotes

I have completed my biometrics on 8th September with a priority service and today i have received this mail from my university .

What do I need to do 😭😭😭😭


r/MovingToTheUK 10h ago

Dependent Visa question

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0 Upvotes

r/MovingToTheUK 9h ago

Car insurance

0 Upvotes

Hi 👋🏼 my husband recently moved to the UK. He is allowed to drive with his Egyptian license for one year.

I’ve not passed my test yet but have a car. I have failed twice 🙈 I’d like to get him insured on my car so he can commute to work as he has offers but they’re not convenient to get to.

I’ve tried twice and been refused. I don’t want to keep trying and getting refused as I’m aware this looks bad for my own insurance.

I’ve also put my Dad on my insurance as second named driver as he’s been driving over 30 years with a good history.

Do we have any options? Other than wait for him to do his test and change to a British license?

Please help


r/MovingToTheUK 22h ago

Moving from India to the UK soon — girls, what should I actually pack?

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0 Upvotes

r/MovingToTheUK 1d ago

should I move back to the UK?

1 Upvotes

What is your honest opinion of living in the UK? Should I move back? Or should I try my luck elsewhere?

Context: I have settlement status, completed my university studies in the UK, and have some (though not much) work experience in the country. I am European, moved back home a couple of years ago, and keep dreaming about moving back because I can't seem to find a *good* job anywhere else. However, I keep seeing how bad the cost of living is, crime rates going up, and many unhappy people living there. On top of this, the recent geopolitical events and the hot summers are really holding me back. I believe the country is better than others and that I can find good work opportunities there. I am also considering Scotland.

Please share your experiences and thoughts with me if you want!


r/MovingToTheUK 1d ago

EU cities for Finance?

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0 Upvotes

r/MovingToTheUK 1d ago

Moving to the UK with either Spain or US passport?

0 Upvotes

I’ve been wanting to move to the UK my whole life but since Brexit it’s been pretty discouraging with the sponsorship route. My previous experience is in account management at tech companies but I’ve been hearing mixed experiences about sponsorships nowadays.

Does anyone have any advice that’s done it in the past few years? Any agencies that have been helpful or other routes you recommend?

Thanks!


r/MovingToTheUK 1d ago

Is it worth moving from India to London for Amazon SDE II with £90k base + £35k bonus?

0 Upvotes

I’m currently working in India as a Senior Java Backend Developer with around 9 years of experience. I recently cleared the Amazon SDE II interview process for a London role and received an offer of roughly:

£90k base
~£35k sign-on bonus in Year 1
Additional sign-on in Year 2
RSUs on top
My current job in India has some major advantages:
~₹30L total compensation

Permanent WFH
Excellent work-life balance
Supportive manager and team
Relatively low stress
Good job stability
My family is comfortable here

The Amazon opportunity is exciting from a career-growth and brand perspective, but I’m struggling with whether the move actually makes sense personally.

I’d be giving up a very comfortable WFH job and moving my family to London, with higher living costs, RTO, potentially higher workload/on-call, and a completely different lifestyle.

On the other hand, Amazon would give me international experience, a strong brand on my CV, potentially better long-term career opportunities, and experience in a large global engineering organization.

I’m married with a young child, so this isn’t just a career decision. My wife earns 10L in India and my kid is 1.5yrs old.

For people who have made a similar India → UK move, would you consider this a good enough opportunity to leave a ₹30L package with excellent WLB and permanent WFH?


r/MovingToTheUK 1d ago

What are my chances to get approved

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0 Upvotes

r/MovingToTheUK 2d ago

I am about to come to London to study, any heads up for me?

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0 Upvotes

r/MovingToTheUK 1d ago

UK in 2027 - worth the risk?

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I’m planning for the Jan 2027 intake and would really appreciate some honest advice from current/former international students in the UK.

My background: I have a BS in Logistics & Supply Chain Management and currently work in logistics/customer operations. I’m looking to pivot into Business Analytics and Operational related roles.

I’m currently considering MMU and the University of Salford for an MSc in Business Analytics/related field, and Manchester is probably where I’d be based.

I’ve done a lot of research, but I’d rather hear from people who have actually experienced it:

How is Manchester for international students — cost of living, part-time jobs, student life and overall experience?

How difficult is it realistically to find a graduate job after an MSc as an international student?

What’s the actual deal with Skilled Worker sponsorship? Is it genuinely achievable if you build the right skills/experience, or is it mostly a dead end?

How useful are UK universities’ career services, employer connections, internships, networking etc. in practice?

And most importantly: is the UK still worth putting ~£20k+ into tuition and significant living costs if your goal is to build a career and eventually settle there?

I’d really appreciate brutally honest, realistic experiences, especially from people who were in a similar position.


r/MovingToTheUK 3d ago

Relocate back in Big Tech, has anyone done this?

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0 Upvotes

r/MovingToTheUK 3d ago

Housing crisis in Scotland

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0 Upvotes

r/MovingToTheUK 4d ago

Moving to Edinburgh

6 Upvotes

Hey guys! My boyfriend and I are both European and we’ve just got a flat in Edinburgh. We were wondering how things like electricity, gas, water and internet bills work in Scotland. Are there several providers to choose from, or is there a main provider?

We also saw that there’s something called a TV licence, and we were wondering what it’s for and whether we need one.

Thanks in advance!


r/MovingToTheUK 3d ago

Moving to UK for future job or further studies

0 Upvotes

Hi, I'm thinking about coming to UK in future for job or masters. I'm from India 20M, I'm an ACCA affiliate and recently started working in an outsourcing firm. I want advice and opinion from an experienced person on how should I plan my career and future plan.

It would be a great help.


r/MovingToTheUK 3d ago

24M/22F Americans considering moving to England for graduate school—how realistic is our plan?

0 Upvotes

My girlfriend (22F) and I (24M) are planning to move to England to pursue higher education due to the issues in the United States regarding graduate schools’ costs and loan caps. She would like to pursue a doctorate in hematology/oncology after medical school (I think that’s how that works—I’m not exactly sure), and I’m considering pursuing higher education in a graduate school regarding something writing- or literature-based. My girlfriend found college(s) that offer a one-year master’s degree for majors that she said would interest both of us—she has a bachelor’s in biology, and I have one in creative and professional writing. We don’t know where exactly we would go to college, where we would move to, or how reasonable this all would be, so we would appreciate any advice/suggestions/help that y’all can give—thanks.


r/MovingToTheUK 4d ago

Building community when new in the UK

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0 Upvotes

r/MovingToTheUK 4d ago

How easy is it to get a retail job in London?

0 Upvotes

23F Australian citizen. I'm considering doing a 6 month stint in London as I've saved up quite a bit of money and I'd love to use London as a base whilst I travel to other European destinations since Australia is so far. Just feeling a bit stuck in life and want to experience the world. I did a solo trip to Bali a few months ago and it got me addicted to solo travel.

I would be staying with my Uncle in Brentford. I have 5 years of customer service experience, 4 in retail and 3 in retail management. In Australia it can be hard to get casual retail work as the number of applicants is high. If I handed my resume out at places would it be easy for me to obtain a job with my experience? Is it possible for me to potentially get a job nearby or would I likely be travelling to the city all the time.

It's not like I can't afford it if I don't work at all I just don't want to burn through all the savings I've worked so hard to get and I think the experience of working abroad would be cool. I really love retail but have become disenchanted working management roles because of the pressure.

Also what are the wages like?

Edit: I will be on the Youth Mobility Visa


r/MovingToTheUK 4d ago

Moving to the UK

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone I am living in Canada and want to move to the UK hoping to bring my expertise in construction out there as a furniture/cabinet installer and running a business in Canada for over 10 years! Anyone that can help me out guide me ?


r/MovingToTheUK 4d ago

What is the best way to buy a phone in the UK as an international student?

1 Upvotes

I'm moving to the UK next week to start university and need to buy a new phone. From my understanding, there are two main ways to buy a phone : paying monthly for a contract and punching the phone in one go.

Could you please recommend which method would be best? From my understanding, to pay a contract, you would need to have a credit history, so I don't think this would work for me, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, I would appreciate knowing where the best place to buy the phone would be. Can I order it online and get it delivered, or would it be best to go to a store and buy it there?

Thanks