Every question about moving, answered

Most people use the Skilled Worker visa (which needs a job offer from a UK-licensed sponsor), the Global Talent visa (for those endorsed in fields like tech or academia), or a family visa (if you have a UK or settled partner). The right route depends on your job, qualifications, and family situation — use the free tool on gov.uk to check.

Yes, on several routes: the Global Talent visa, the Innovator Founder visa, and family visas all work without a UK job offer. The Skilled Worker route does require one. If you're a citizen of a country on the Youth Mobility Scheme list, that's another no-sponsor option — though the USA isn't currently on that list.

The IHS is a fee most visa applicants pay as part of their application, and it gives you access to the NHS while you're in the UK. The amount depends on the length of your visa and whether you're a student — it's paid up front with the application fee.

Fees vary a lot by route and application type — Skilled Worker fees depend on the job's skill level and how many years you apply for, and you'll also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge on top. Check the current fee for your specific route on gov.uk, as they change regularly.

Irish citizens can live and work in the UK without a visa thanks to the Common Travel Area. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who were living in the UK before the end of the EU free-movement period may be covered by the EU Settlement Scheme — anyone arriving after that period usually needs a visa.

Most work and family visas let you bring a partner and dependent children as dependants, but the rules differ by route — some visas don't allow dependants at all. Check the dependant rules for your specific visa on gov.uk before applying so you plan the whole move, not just your own application.

App-based banks such as Monzo, Starling, Revolut, and Wise can open a UK account before you have a fixed UK address — you usually just need to be resident (or have a visa application in progress). High-street banks like Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, and NatWest normally want proof of address, though some offer basic accounts with lighter requirements.

Yes — several app-based banks let you open a UK account while you're still abroad, as long as you have (or are applying for) the right to live in the UK. You'll typically need a UK phone number and your passport or visa, and you can have money sent into the account before you land.

UK banks and landlords generally can't see your overseas credit history, so new arrivals often have a thin UK credit file. Opening a UK bank account, taking a phone contract in your name, and — once you're eligible — registering on the electoral roll all help build UK credit history over time.

In most of England and Wales the maximum deposit is capped at five weeks' rent, and your landlord must protect it in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme and return it at the end (with any deductions agreed in writing). Budget for first month's rent plus the deposit up front — it's usually needed the moment an offer is accepted.

Beyond the deposit, buyers pay stamp duty (or its Scottish/Welsh equivalent), a solicitor or conveyancer, a survey, and mortgage arrangement fees — often several thousand pounds on top of the price. NestMatch shows real house prices by area so you can compare what a home truly costs before you commit.

Council tax is a local property tax paid to your council for most homes — the amount depends on the property's band and your council's rate, and it's usually collected monthly over 10 months. Tell your new council when you move so they bill you correctly, and check for discounts like single-occupancy relief.

Typical essentials are energy, water, broadband, council tax, and — if you watch live TV — a TV licence; combined they can add several hundred pounds a month to your rent or mortgage. NestMatch shows area-level costs so you can budget against real numbers for a town before you move, not national averages.

Yes, but it needs a little more preparation. Many landlords accept a UK-based guarantor, a larger deposit or several months' rent in advance, or an alternative-referencing check that looks at income and overseas history instead. A letting specialist or relocation agent can point you to landlords who accept newcomers.

Referencing is how letting agents and landlords check you're reliable before they sign — they look at your credit file, employment and income, and sometimes your previous landlord. Having payslips, an employer letter, and a previous landlord's contact details ready speeds everything up.

Renting first lets you learn an area before committing a large deposit and is usually faster and cheaper up front; buying locks in a monthly cost but needs a deposit and takes months. Many people rent for the first year in a new area, then buy once they're sure it's the right fit.

Set up alerts on Rightmove and Zoopla for your shortlisted areas, arrange virtual or video viewings (most agents in major cities offer them), and consider a short-term let for your first few weeks so you can view properties in person before committing long-term.

Beyond the obvious, look for damp and mould, check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating and boiler age, test water pressure and phone or broadband signal, and check transport links and flood risk for the street. NestMatch's area profiles cover the neighbourhood-level data — schools, safety, connectivity — that a single viewing won't show you.

A guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you can't — often a parent or close relative, usually based in the UK. You'll likely need one if you have no UK credit history or don't meet the income criteria, so ask your letting agent up front whether they'll accept one.

If you don't already have one, apply for a National Insurance number through the DWP online (or by phone if you can't apply online). You can start work before it arrives, but apply promptly so your tax and National Insurance contributions are tracked correctly from the start.

Find a GP surgery near your new address and register — it's free, you don't need an NHS number, and you usually just need to be resident. Register as soon as your address is confirmed; NHS dentists book up, so register with one early too.

Tell your bank(s), employer, HMRC, and the DVLA (both your driving licence and vehicle log book), plus your GP and any subscriptions. A Royal Mail redirect — around £35 for three months — catches anything you forget in the meantime.

Tell your new council you've moved in — usually online — and they'll put the property in the right band and send a bill, often across 10 monthly instalments. Let your old council know too, so you stop being billed there.

Take meter readings on moving day and give them to your new supplier, and arrange gas, electric, and broadband before you move in — broadband installations can take up to two weeks. Water usually stays with the local supplier, and you need a TV licence if you watch or record live TV.

Give notice exactly as your tenancy agreement requires — usually a written notice period — agree the date, and arrange an end-of-tenancy inspection. Photograph meter readings and any existing wear and tear on moving day to protect your deposit.

You can order a UK SIM online and have it delivered before you move, or pick one up from a shop after you arrive. A pay-as-you-go SIM is the fastest way to get a UK number; a monthly contract in your name can also help build UK credit history.

For a domestic move, start around 8–6 weeks ahead; moving internationally, begin 6–5 months ahead because visas, deposits, and shipping all run on their own timelines. NestMatch's plan page breaks it into chapters so you know exactly what to focus on each month.

A man-and-van is usually the cheapest paid option and fine for smaller moves; full removal firms pack and transport everything but cost more; doing it yourself is cheapest but hardest work. Get at least three quotes and book early — good movers go quickly around month-ends.

Sea freight takes 6–8 weeks and costs 60–70% less than air freight, which arrives in 1–2 weeks. Whichever you choose, insure the shipment, keep a detailed inventory for customs, and use a UK-specialist company to handle the paperwork.

Take meter readings at both properties and photograph them, do a final walkthrough, hand over the keys, and keep important documents and an overnight bag with you rather than in the van. Have your new postcode saved for deliveries and let the moving crew know the parking situation in advance.

Under the UK Pet Travel Scheme, pets must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, and — for dogs — given an approved tapeworm treatment before travel; the exact steps depend on whether you're travelling from a listed or unlisted country. Start at least three months early and check the current rules on gov.uk.

Sort the essentials first — register with a GP, take meter readings, and set up council tax and utilities. Then spend your first month exploring: find your café, park, and shortcut home, and join one local group; NestMatch's area pages show what's actually there before you arrive.

Join one or two local groups in your first month — a sports club, Meetup, or a hobby class — and visit the same places regularly so you become a familiar face. NestMatch's community data shows which local groups are actually active in an area, so you don't have to cold-search.

Check Ofsted ratings, the school's admission criteria and catchment area, and how it feels on a visit. NestMatch's area pages include school ratings and counts, so you can compare the school picture across areas before you commit to a move.

Visit at different times of day — evenings and weekends feel very different — and look at real data on schools, safety, transport, and costs rather than reputation. NestMatch's area profiles combine exactly that, and Trending Locations shows which places people are searching for right now.

The electoral register lists people registered to vote at an address — you register with your local council, and once you qualify you can vote in UK elections. Being on it can also make it easier to open credit and prove your address; you can opt out of the open version used by credit agencies.