When you’ve travelled far and wide and your eyes have been opened to the possibilities that lay with not only exploring other countries and their cultures, but also the potential of enjoying the everyday, making a more permanent move can be an exciting prospect.
If a move to the UK is on the cards for you then it’s good to know what this change entails in terms of the logistics and paperwork, and if you like the idea, but you’re on the fence, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, we take a look at why people move to the UK and if you’re considering it, how you can make the jump successfully.
Why do people move to the UK?
According to Statista, more than 1.1 million people moved to the UK in 2023, and if you’re wondering why, then there are myriad reasons that convince people to make the move, from access to healthcare to business owner’s benefits.
Healthcare
The National Health Service is free at the point of use for all, including immigrants. You can unlock the benefits of free healthcare by paying the Immigrant Health Surcharge when applying for a visa. After that, regular national insurance contributions keep you in the system.
Education
The education system in the UK is among the world’s finest. According to the World University Rankings, four of the top 10 best universities in the world are located in the UK – the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and UCL.
Business and tech
A TechNation report from 2021 found that the UK was home to more than 95 tech companies worth between £200 million and £600 million. A survey by BCG asked 10,000 tech workers where they would relocate to for a job, and many of them chose London. So, if you’re in the tech sector or have a business with links to it, the UK is a great place to be.
Scenery
William Blake isn’t the only person to have admired England’s green and pleasant land. The rolling green hills of the South Downs and other national parks across England are a sight to behold. The same goes for the valleys of Wales and the Highlands of Scotland. When it comes to natural beauty, the UK has a lot to offer.
There are many other reasons people move to the UK, of course, with culture, diversity, and access to amenities being some of the main reasons the wealthy gravitate to London. Forbes senior contributor Ollie A Williams pointed out in 2019 that London had almost 11,000 multi-millionaires within its midst. For comparison, Manchester, the next most popular destination, had 1,060 multi-millionaire residents.
London remains the top place to live in the UK if you’re affluent but, as Williams also noted, technology has enabled the wealthy to live outside of London. Now, picturesque towns and villages, such as Alderley Edge, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow, Bray, Sandbanks, and Cookham, are all popular places to live if you’re looking outside of London and money is no object.
Make the move as smooth as possible
The UK’s proverbial doors don’t open up just because you have a healthy bank account, though. The immigration system can be tricky to navigate, particularly if you’re looking to move yourself and a considerable amount of assets. That’s why many people planning to come to the UK long-term get professional help. Reiss Edwards clarifies that the role of immigration lawyers is about more than making a successful visa application. These UK immigration experts provide tailored advice on the optimal visa options available, taking into consideration your long-term goals and unique circumstances.
This expertise is particularly vital in light of recent tightening measures on investment-related visas by the UK government, such as the closure of the Entrepreneur visa and Investor visa. If you’re considering establishing a business in London, immigration lawyers can guide you through the most suitable business visas under the prevailing immigration rules. Additionally, they can also handle visa refusals and secure UK visas for your eligible family members.
Or perhaps discretion is your main concern. Individuals with a high net worth moving from one country to another can often generate unwanted interest. Lawyers who regularly work with wealthy clients are used to providing the highest levels of confidentiality and discretion. This means you can sail through the immigration process with as little fuss and attention as possible.
Final thoughts
There’s no doubt that other countries have stolen some of the UK’s shine in recent years. However, even though places such as Dubai are fast becoming places to live if you’re affluent, there’s something about London and its surrounding towns and cities that endures. Maybe it’s the diversity. Maybe it’s the business opportunities. Maybe it’s the UK’s stunning countryside. Whatever the reasons, millions of people still choose the UK as their preferred place to live and you could do, too.
