Kats Gone Global

Category: Expat & Immigrating

Whether you are deciding to live outside your home country tentatively as an expat or deciding to immigrate permanently there are a few things you need to know beforehand. Make moving abroad as easy and as stress-free as possible by following these simple tips.

  • How to Drive a Foreign Car in the UK: Complete Requirements

    How to Drive a Foreign Car in the UK: Complete Requirements

    Planning a trip to the UK can be fun and daunting, especially when it comes to transportation. Driving in the UK has its own quirks, just like driving in any country. If you’re staying in the UK for any length of time, you may want to consider using your own car, especially if you live within driving distance of the UK.

    But how to drive a foreign car in the UK? If you are not a resident of the United Kingdom, you can drive a foreign car without registering it in the UK for up to 6 months. If you are a resident of the UK, you are not allowed to drive any car that is not registered in the UK with only a few exceptions.

    Whether you are a UK resident looking to import your dream car or a non-UK resident planning the trip of a lifetime, I have all the information you need to know about how to drive a foreign car in the UK.

    How to Use a Foreign Car in the UK If You Are Visiting

    If you are simply planning a short visit to the United Kingdom, then you are in luck because the UK makes it easy for visitors to use their own cars on UK roads. There is very little you will have to do to be able to travel to the UK with your foreign registered car.

    The United Kingdom allows all non-residents to use their foreign cars in the United Kingdom for up to six months as long as that car is registered and legal in the country where you are a resident, and the car is covered by insurance. (source)

    It is important to note that the six-month allowance does not need to be consecutive. If you are driving your car in the UK for six months total, no matter how many times you leave the UK, you must go through the process of registering the car, paying associated taxes, and getting insurance in the UK.

    This can pose a problem for people who travel to the United Kingdom frequently for business or to visit family. To drive legally in the UK, you will need to keep track of how many days you spend there throughout the year.

    So, if you are planning a trip to the United Kingdom, then you will probably be fine to drive your foreign registered car, but here are some requirements your car must meet and some things to consider like how you will get the car to the UK and whether you have enough insurance on it.

    Car Requirements

    There are some requirements that you and your car must meet in order for you to use it in the United Kingdom. In most cases, these requirements will not be difficult to meet and are rather reasonable. (source)

    1. The car must be registered to the driver, or the driver must have proof that they are allowed to use the car. This is to help prevent the theft of foreign vehicles.
    2. The registration number must be displayed on the front and back of the car.
    3. Registration numbers need to be displayed in Latin characters and Arabic numbers so those police officers can read it.
    4. There must be some sign of what country the vehicle is registered in on the rear of the car. This can be added to the car specifically for your trip or be a part of the registration number.
    5. The car must be legal and safe for road use in the country where it is registered.

    Essentially if you are legally driving your car in your country of residence, then you can legally drive it in the UK for a short visit without issue.

    Transporting the Car

    First make sure that you really want to bring your own car with you. If you’re only going to the UK for a short vacation and visiting primarily urban destinations, bringing your own car may just be an added headache.

    If you are committed to bringing your foreign car to the UK, you will need to figure out how you are going to get it there.

    If you’re coming from Europe, you can have your car transported (with you in it) by train on the Channel tunnel. It costs about £49 per vehicle. Not bad considering you can fit your whole family in the car, and the crossing only takes about 35 minutes.

    You can also take a ferry depending on where you are coming from, but this will take much longer than taking the Channel tunnel.

    If you live outside of Europe or you are not travelling across Europe in your car to get to the UK, then you will need to have the car shipped through a shipping company. This would be the case if you were from the United States or Australia, and probably only cost-effective if you are making a permanent move.

    Parking

    Before you get to the UK make sure that you have parking available for your car. This is especially true if you are travelling to a busy urban area like London. Parking comes at a premium in some areas.

    Check with wherever you are staying that there will be a place for your car to park.

    Driving on the Left Side

    An estimated 35% of the world’s population drives on the left side of the road, and the United Kingdom is one of these places. If you’re from a country that drives on the left side of the road, then your transition to driving in the UK will be much easier.

    If you’re used to driving on the right side of the road, then you’re going to experience a learning curve. Most people find driving on the left side a fairly easy transition, but it does take some getting used to. You’ll be surprised at how different it feels!

    You can use your right-hand traffic car, as in a car that is designed to be driving on the right side of the road, in the UK. You can even register a right-hand traffic car in the UK if you need to. However, it can be more difficult to get used to driving on the left side of the road if you’re still using your right-hand traffic car.

    Here are some tips if you’re used to driving on the right-hand side of the road:

    • Place a reminder on your dashboard like a post-it note that says “drive on the left!” It may seem silly, but it can be really helpful.

     Most of us spend enough time behind the wheel that the process of driving becomes second nature. We hardly need to think about it at all, but this can get you into trouble when you are still getting used to driving on the left side.

    • Before your trip, try practising simple manoeuvres like parking and turning in an empty parking lot. This will give you a chance to work out any initial issues you might experience in a safe environment instead of the first time you pull onto a road in the UK.
    • Avoid bringing a manual transmission. This is especially true if you aren’t used to driving a manual transmission vehicle. You don’t need to be thinking about shifting gears when you’re getting used to driving on the opposite side of the road and traffic signs and laws you aren’t used to.
    • If possible, start your trip someplace that does not have heavy traffic so that you can adjust to this different way of driving without the stress of traffic.
    • If you come across any traffic circles, and you probably will as they are very common in the UK, remember that traffic flows counterclockwise. You will need to turn left when entering a traffic circle.
    • Look up the most important traffic laws and what traffic signs mean in the UK so that you don’t unintentionally break any traffic laws. This will allow you to focus on driving on the left side instead of deciphering signs.
    • For your first trip, make sure you have mapped out where you’re going or that you have a GPS so that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

    Check Your Insurance

    To drive any car in the UK, you must have valid car insurance. If you use a rental car, the car will come with at least the minimum amount of insurance required. You can often choose to add extra insurance for an added fee.

    As long as your car is insured in the country where it is registered and that insurance covers you during international trips, you will not need to make any changes to your car insurance. If your insurance does not cover international trips, you will need to add that coverage to your policy.

    You do not need to get the insurance that is authorized to provide insurance in the UK unless you are in the United Kingdom for more than 6 months or if you are a resident of the UK. Essentially, if you need to go through the car registration process, you will need to switch the insurance as well.

    Paperwork when Traveling by a Foreign Car in the United Kingdom

    When you are travelling in the UK with a foreign-registered car, you will need to make sure that you keep proof that you are doing it legally in the car with you at all times to you to prevent your car from being confiscated.

    This will include your driver’s license, registration paperwork, proof of insurance, and any proof you have of the day you entered the UK with your vehicle. If you got an exemption from the HMRC so that you would not have to register your car in the UK, then you should also have that available.

    If you are driving a car that is not your own, you will also need to prove that you have permission to use the car.

    How Long Can I Drive in the UK with a Foreign Driver’s License?

    Registering your car is not the only thing you have to think about when driving in the UK as a non-resident.

    • As the law currently stands, no matter where you are from, you are allowed to drive in the UK for up to 12 months if you have a driver’s license from any country.
    • If you have a license issued by a country that is a member of the EU or EEA, you can use that license in the UK until it expires.
    • If you have an EU license because you exchanged it with a non-EU license, you can only use it for 12 months before getting a UK license.
    • If you have an exchangeable international license, you can use it for up to 12 months before you must exchange it for a UK license without taking a driving test.
    • If you are in the UK for over 12 months and you do not have an EU, EEC, or exchangeable driver’s license, you will need to take a driver’s test to obtain a UK driver’s license and be allowed to continue driving in the UK.

    You do not need to get an International Driving Permit, but if your license is in a language other than English, you may find it useful to have one in the event that you are pulled over for a traffic violation.

    • An International Driving Permit is essentially a translation of your driving credentials into several different languages.

    When Do You Have to Register a Foreign Vehicle?

    As I said above, if you are a resident of the UK, then you will need to register your foreign car right away regardless of how long you expect to use it in the UK. There is no loophole in the law that allows you to get around this.

    Some erroneously think that by leaving the UK every six months, you can avoid having to register the car in the UK, but this is not the case for a number of reasons. (source)

    First of all, the wording of the law is clear. If you are a resident of the UK and import foreign care, you must register your car in the UK and pay all necessary taxes that are associated with that.

    Secondly, for residents, there is not a six-month grace period for registering the car. You have to register an imported car within two weeks of its arrival in the UK, and you are not permitted to drive it before it is registered.

    If you are planning on visiting the UK with your car, but you are not planning to take the car back out of the UK when you leave, then you must register the car in the UK. For example, if you are visiting a vacation home, and you intend to leave your car at the vacation home while you are not there, it must be registered in the UK.

    If you become a resident while you are visiting the UK, you will need to register your vehicle in the UK. For example, if you decide to stay in the UK long term after finishing a course of study.

    Additionally, it is important to note that a UK resident cannot even drive a car that is owned by a non-resident unless it is registered in the UK. Seriously, there are loopholes!

    Who is Considered a Resident of the United Kingdom?

    To be considered a resident of the United Kingdom, you must reside in the UK for 185 days out of a tax year (source). This is just a few days over half a year. This means someone who travels to the UK for one week out of the month through the entire year is not a resident.

    If your residency status changes while you are in the UK, then you will need to go through the process for importing a car into the UK immediately.

    If you are not a resident, but your car is in the UK for more than 6 months out of 12 months, then you need to register it in the UK.

    A police officer may consider you to be a resident if you have a UK driver’s license, bank card, and employment in the UK (source). If you are not a resident, you must be able to prove it. Be sure to keep documentation that supports this claim.

    The Exceptions

    There are some very specific exceptions to these rules that allow a UK resident to drive a foreign car in the UK.

    The most commonly used exception is for rental vehicles. If you drive a rental vehicle from another country in the UK, you will not be violating any laws as a resident of the UK. This allows UK residents to travel freely. Meaning, a UK resident could fly to France, and return to the UK using a rental car registered in France.

    Diplomatic vehicles are also exempt from following the same rules as other vehicles that drive in the UK long term. A diplomatic vehicle is allowed to drive on UK roads with foreign registration without being subjected to the same requirements as other vehicles.

    If you work in a country that is part of the EU, you can temporarily use a company vehicle in the UK that is registered in your employer’s country. You also do not need to worry about breaking the law in this case.

    Students and temporary workers residing in the UK for a fixed period longer than 6 months may also be exempt from needing to register their car in the UK. They will need to apply to the HMRC for an exemption before or upon arrival. (Source)

    How to Register a Foreign Car in the UK

    If you are a resident or become a resident of the UK, then you must register your car in the United Kingdom, and if you plan on staying in the UK for more than 6 months, it is a good idea to register your car sooner rather than later.

    To register a car in the United Kingdom as a resident, you will need to go through the process of importing the car.

    First, you will need to notify HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). If you import the car from the EU, you will need to notify HMRC using the Notification of Vehicle Arrivals service. If you import the car from outside of the EU, you will need to use form C384. (source)

    After you submit the proper paperwork, the HMRC will tell you if you have to pay a Value Added Tax (VAT) or duty and will notify you when your application has been processed so that you can proceed with the next steps.

    You will not have to pay a VAT if you have already paid a VAT in another EU country, the car has been used for more than 6 months, AND the vehicle has been driven more than 6,000 kilometres or 3,728 miles.

    If you are required to pay a VAT, then you need to pay it to HMRC before you can register the car.

    Next, if the vehicle is less than 10 years old, then you will need to get vehicle approval. This step basically ensures that your vehicle meets safety and environmental standards.

    If the car is registered in the EU, you simply need a European Certificate of Conformity. If it is not an EU registered car you will need to apply for Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA). (source)

    Once you have completed all of these steps, you can order an imported pack from the DVLA to register the vehicle. It can take up to 6 weeks before you receive your registration certificate.

    Why Aren’t UK Residents Allowed to Drive Foreign Registered Cars?

    It seems strange that non-residents are allowed to enter the UK with foreign registered cars, but the residents of the UK cannot have such freedom, but there are good reasons that the government insists upon this.

    The UK government estimated that between 2010 and 2013 an estimated 350,000 cars had been driven in the UK illegally, which costs £60m in unpaid road taxes.

    But the financial hits don’t stop there. An estimated £2.3m in speeding fines were avoided by improperly registered drivers over a two-year period, as well as millions of pounds of parking tickets. (source)

    There is also an association between criminal activity and foreign-registered vehicles. Drivers of foreign-registered vehicles are difficult to track down, and they know it. They are more likely to flee the scene of an accident, and a foreign registered car will allow someone to get away with a crime more easily. (source)

    Of course, most people driving foreign registered cars are a tourist and not criminal masterminds, but using foreign-registered cars is a method used by some criminals to avoid detection.

    If a car is going to be in the UK permanently, the UK government wants to be able to track down who is driving it. It is not just about the money, but about the safety of the roads.

    What’s the Worst that Can Happen?

    What kind of consequences are in place for people driving improperly registered cars? The consequences are not overly severe as driving a car that is not registered the right way is not a criminal offence.

    No one is going to jail because they haven’t registered their car in the UK when they should have.

    The consequences can vary by location, but this is generally what you can expect to happen if you are found to be driving an improperly registered car. If a police officer pulls someone over for driving an improperly registered vehicle, he can confiscate the car on the spot and leave those in the car stranded.

    In order to get your car back, you must pay the pound a set fee, daily charges, and a surety fee. In addition, you must properly register the car in the UK within a certain number of days. Consequences for second-time offenders can be more severe including having their car taken and destroyed.

  • Can You Cash a Foreign Cheque in the UK? (Ideas on How)

    Can You Cash a Foreign Cheque in the UK? (Ideas on How)

    On a rare occasion, you may find yourself in the position of needing to cash a cheque.

    Can you cash a foreign cheque in the UK? Yes, it can be possible to cash a foreign cheque. Some UK banks will allow you to cash the cheque depending on where the cheque comes from, what bank it is drawn on, which currency it’s in – and how long you are willing to wait.

    While it is possible to cash a foreign cheque, an electronic cash transfer is the most efficient way to move funds to your account while you’re in the UK. If you’re a short-term visitor, it will be virtually impossible to make the transaction in time.

    Getting Started. What will Work?

    Cashing any foreign cheque in the UK isn’t easy and take a significant amount of time. If you need the funds relatively quickly, attempting to cash a cheque is not the way to go. Fortunately, access to personal funds electronically is more convenient and efficient than ever.

    According to Barclays bank, if you want to cash a foreign cheque, you’ll need a local account. If you have an account in the UK, you are one step closer to getting your cheque cashed. But the cash won’t be immediately available.

    Instead, at a local bank branch, you will deposit the foreign cheque into your account. Depending on the particulars of your cheque, it will be deposited into your account through either a negotiation or collection process. The transaction will be assessed a fee, depending on the amount of the cheque and/or the bank’s policy.

    Whether it’s negotiation or collection depends on:

    • where the cheque comes from and
    • what currency it’s in

    If a cheque is made out from one country but is in a different currency than the country of a cheque, the cheque will be held through the collection process, which means an additional delay.

    Watch out for high fees. Using banks can incur high fees and you should look into what will be most cost-efficient for you. For lower value cheques this may not be an issue but if you are looking at several thousand dollars then you could lose out on a significant amount of that money.

    Here Is How Each Cheque Cashing Process Works

    Negotiation

    Negotiation lets a bank customer use the funds from a foreign cheque before the cheque has cleared. The amount of the cheque will be credited to your bank account after three or more working days.

    The credit is only temporary – until the cheque clears. If the bank the foreign cheque is drawn on rejects the cheque, the amount is taken from your checking account.

    Collection

    With the cheque collection process, the bank does not credit your account until the cheque is completely cleared through the foreign bank. You will wait until the cheque has been cleared and the funds obtained from the bank before crediting your account. This takes on average about 4-7 weeks. There is also a fee.

    How Long It Takes

    There is no standard timeline for how long it might be until you’ll have your funds. It varies widely, based on the country and currency of the cheque.

    Danske Bank reported a process similar to Barclays, also stating on their website: “We recommend that funds from abroad be sent by bank transfer rather than by cheque. Bank transfers are faster, cheaper and safer.”

    The wait is generally long because the cheque needs to be physically mailed back to the foreign bank for processing. Maybe even to a specific branch. The bank the cheque is sent to will have its own process and timeline for sending funds back to the UK. Between the mailing, exchanging and processing, this method takes time.

    Exchange Rates

    Sometimes it takes so long, that the exchange rate between currencies can change during the process. Whatever happens, you will be paid in the amount that was quoted on the day you presented the cheque to the UK bank. It may be favourable by the time your funds clear.

    Opening a Bank Account in the UK

    Setting up a HSBC UK Bank Account

    Traditional banks will require more information to establish an account. They generally require proof of address, that you can work in the UK so visa or passport and potentially require proof of income or a certain amount to be deposited each month into the account. 

    You’ll need the following pieces of information to present to your new bank:

    • Proof of identity
      • Passport, driver’s license, ID card
      • Visa if applicable
    • Proof of address
      • Types and number of pieces varies by bank

    Providing that information can be difficult without a permanent address, although it’s getting easier with new-age banks like Monzo and Starling. You will need a UK mobile number, UK address (so you can be sent your card etc) and proof of identity. Both Monzo and Starling accept cheques GBP, however, unable to accept foreign currencies cheques.

    International Bank Accounts

    Some banks offer international bank accounts, with the option of working in multiple currencies and easing both the process and cost of funds transfer.

    Major UK banks, such as Lloyds Bank, HSBC, Citi Bank and Barclays, offer international accounts. Each bank will have its own policies, procedures and standards of eligibility. Some eligibility areas include:

    • Proof of Identity – Your passport and driver’s license or state ID. Many banks require two forms of ID.
    • Proof of Residency – You may need proof of residency in the United States, proof of an address in the foreign country, or both.
    • Startup Funds – Banks often have minimum startup funds required for deposit.
    • A student or work visa if you need one for the country
    • A university letter or proof of school enrollment
    • A letter of employment or employment contract

    While international accounts can simplify the process of working with money in multiple countries, this is the kind of thing you probably want to get taken care of before you leave home.

    If you plan on opening a bank account in your destination country, you can even begin the account opening process prior to arrival through the international banking centre of your home bank.

    To hold a local account in a foreign currency you’ll probably need to be living or working abroad at least some of the time. It can ease your money transferring woes but at a cost. There are likely to be charges for the account itself.

    Alternatives to Cashing Cheques in the UK

    Cheques are nearly obsolete in your everyday life at home, you can imagine why they’d be difficult to work with overseas. There are so many options that exist to make financial transactions easy while you’re visiting another country.

    Bank Transfers

    Organizing a bank transfer is a much smoother transaction when abroad. While you’ll still encounter some pretty high fees and exchange rates. I don’t generally recommend using your bank to transfer money due to the fees.

    If going this route, first find out how many pounds you’ll receive when all is said and done. You can then check how much your transfer service quote you against the “interbank rate” online.

    The interbank rate is the rate that is used between banks when they transfer and trade money between one another. XE.com is one source for the interbank rate.

    Agencies that can transfer your money:

    • Wise – this is what I use for my business and personal accounts to send money from USD, AUD etc to my UK bank accounts.
    • Currency/Forex brokers like Currencies Direct, TorFX and Money Corp
    • High street/major UK banks – generally the highest fees
    • Services such as Western Union or PayPal

    In short, there is no easy overseas, cross-border cheque clearing system. Your foreign cheque must be physically mailed back to where it came from, processed there and then the funds must be exchanged and entered into your account in the UK.  

    If you have the account and the time, you’ll still encounter significant financial penalties, in the form of high fees, for engaging in this process.

    Advice for Consumers Receiving Payment Abroad

    There are a variety of methods for making payments abroad. From electronic transfers to currency brokers. The UK’s Pay Your Way website offers advice and information to help you understand your options and choose the one that best suits your needs.

    If you have a choice in how you are being paid from home while you’re in the UK, request an automated payment directly to an account you can access in the UK.

    There are certain pieces of information the sender will have to know, such as your International Bank Account Number (IBAN) and your Bank Identifier Code (BAC). These international identifiers ease the transition of funds directly into your account in the UK.

    Speak to your bank before you leave home. This is the best way to ensure you know how to handle and receive any payments while you are in the UK. Figuring these things out before you’re overseas can save you a lot of time and headache.

  • Biometrics Appointment for UK Visas (UKVCAS Process Explained)

    Biometrics Appointment for UK Visas (UKVCAS Process Explained)

    There have been a lot of changes over the past year with the visa process and you may have been wondering – UKVCAS how does it work? I will run through:

    • How to book the biometrics appointment online
    • The biometric appointment locations
    • How to check UKVCAS appointment availability
    • UKVCAS upload documents and categories
    • What to expect when you attend the biometrics appointment.

    Disclaimer: This is based on my experience of going through the process (I’m not a lawyer or immigration advisor). If you have any issues make sure you contact UKVI or UKVCAS.

    As things are changing (due 2020 events) with UKVCAS service please keep up to date with UKVI latest information and UKVAS.

    Difference between UKVI and UKVCAS

    Before we get started on the process, let’s cover the difference between UKVI and UKVCAS.

    UKVI – UK Visa and Immigration

    Here’s a quick summary:

    • UKVI are the ones making a decision on your application
    • If you have any questions about the application they are the department to call
    • Most importantly if you want a quick decision (i.e. super-priority) on your visa and you are eligible for it, this is where you want to spend the money!

    Read more about the service here: UKVI Services and UKVI Information About UKVCAS.

    UKVCAS – UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services

    Here’s a quick summary:

    • It’s a third-party service run by Sopra Steria
    • Their website is where you book to have your biometric information taken
    • Upload your supporting documents for your application
    • Attend your biometric appointment at one of the centres which fingerprints, photo, signature and submitting your application.

    UKVCAS website.

    Choosing Standard or Super Priority Service?

    When you get to the payment screen you will be potentially presented with two options. This is the most critical part of the application, especially if you wish for a faster decision. They are:

    If your visa is eligible for super-priority, then you will have the ability to choose this during the payment screen. This will give you a decision within 24 hours. Just to note this doesn’t give you a faster biometric appointment.

    In this example, you can see there is only one option and unfortunately, UK citizenship is not eligible for super-priority.

    Payment screen on UKVI
    Payment screen on UKVI

    The type of visa’s service is offered to are:

    • Tier 2 or 4 visa
    • Tier 2 or 4 dependant
    • Tier 1 or 5 dependant
    • Remain in the UK with family – applying in the partner, family life as a partner or private life in the UK routes
    • Indefinite Leave to Remain
    • And a few more.

    The price of super-priority is currently £800. Here is the price list from UKVI.

    Step by Step Guide to Biometrics Appointment for UK Visa (UKVCAS)

    To complete your application, you must attend a UKVCAS service point to have:

    • your identity confirmed
    • any required biometric information enrolled
    • any required supporting documentation digitised and checked
    • confirm you are happy to send your application sent to UKVI

    I will show you the steps I completed to create my account, booking an appointment, uploading documents and what to expect during the appointment.

    UKVCAS has no bearing on the decision process, all it does if you choose to pick a premium appointment is to provide you with an appointment quicker, after hours etc. There are a few options. If you want a quick decision, then you need to choose this during the application process as stated above.

    If you prefer watching the step by step process here is a video version.

    UKVCAS Account Setup

    Once I reached the further actions page on the application I was presented with mandatory actions, one of these will be ‘book appointment’, I clicked this button to commence the set-up for the UKVCAS site.

    Further actions screen on UKVI
    Further actions screen on UKVI

    Please note: if you have any issues with setting up your account you will need to call UKVCAS.

    Next, I was presented with a screen to ‘get your access code’. This will be sent to the email address you registered with UKVI.

    UKVCAS screenshot of access code
    UKVCAS screenshot of access code

    In my inbox I received an email like this with 6 digits, you have 30 minutes to use the code.

    Email from UKVCAS that provides access code
    Email from UKVCAS that provides access code

    Finish the sign-up process I added the code and created my own password for the UKVCAS website.

    Setup UKVCAS account with password
    Setup UKVCAS account with password

    That’s it, my account was all set-up with the email I registered my UKVI application with.

    Book Your Biometric Appointment

    You can book an appointment in two ways:

    • On the UKVCAS website
    • by phone by calling the UKVCAS Premium Support Line on 0900 165 6600 (Calls cost £2.50 per minute)

    Personally I did all of this myself via the website.

    Once I set-up my account and then logged on, I was taken to a home page which explained the booking of the appointments, the extra services and stuff they offered. I kept scrolling through until I got the book appointment button at the bottom of the page.

    Choose a UKVCAS appointment
    Choose a UKVCAS appointment

    Next was choosing a service point location. The tool gave me the closest centres near me or I could search by using a postcode.

    Choose a service point location for biometric appointment
    Choose a service point location for biometric appointment

    If you wish to get a free appointment there are 6 core service centres offering free appointments – Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast and Croydon.

    Once I was happy with the location, I clicked on select this service point which gave me the available appointments.

    Example of UKVCAS service points
    Example of UKVCAS service points

    Next was the choose your appointment screen which showed me the appointments for the first week and you can keep pressing next for further dates. When I clicked on the dates it told me if there are appointments available and the price if it was a paid appointment.

    As you can see below there is a range of free and paid appointment between £50 to £100. Read more about the fees here.

    Choose a UKVCAS appointment
    Choose a UKVCAS appointment

    I was happy to wait for an appointment but it is dependent on what you want to do and how quickly you want to get your application done.

    I selected a time I was able to make and then went to the checkout screen which gave an order summary. As I had a free appointment it states 0 but if you have a paid appointment this is where you would enter the payment flow. You can also add additional services here like document checking.

    UKVCAS checkout screen
    UKVCAS checkout screen

    Once I finished booking the appointment and I received two emails. One was the tax invoice and one was the booking confirmation.

    The booking confirmation is a must to take to your appointment and this will be the thing that will track you through your biometric appointments. It’s really important. You can either print it or you can take it on your phone but you do need to have a copy available.

    It has a QR code and information about me and my appointment and that’s basically it, so nothing too exciting.

    UKVCAS Upload Documents

    Remember that checklist from the application? Well, that’s your guide on what you need to upload document wise! You do have the option of paying UKCVAS to do this for you but I just did it online at home for free.

    You can upload documents in stages right up until you attend your appointment. When uploading your documents, there are a few guidelines.

    1. Document type:  The documents are marked as either mandatory or other documents. A description of the mandatory documents required for each category is provided in the tabs.
    2. Category: Your supporting documents need to be submitted under the categories. Some are easier to determine than others – see categories below.
    3. File Format: PDF is the preferred format, JPG and PNG format. If you don’t have a scanner just search for an app in the Google Play or Apple Store, there will be quite a few available.
    4. File Name: needs to be as simple as possible e.g. bank-statement-Apr-2018.pdf. Do not use filenames having special characters, #,ë, or bank.statement.apr.2018.pdf
    5. File Size: maximum file limit is 6MB. You can separate your documents into parts if your file is too big and there is no limit on the number of documents/files you can upload.
    6. Scan in Greyscale or Black and white: This helps with controlling the size, although I didn’t end up reading this part before I scanned all my documents and they were fine in size. In fairness, there wasn’t as many as my ILR application.
    7. Password: Make sure there are no passwords on the files and they are fully accessible. I know it can be worrying by not protecting your information but it can delay a decision if they are unable to access any of this.

    How to Upload Your Documents on UKVCAS

    Depending on where you are ready to upload documents, you can either do this straight after booking the appointment or whenever you’re ready.

    I did this before my appointment so when I logged in you will be presented with a welcome page that had an upload your documents button.

    UKVCAS Manage your service screen
    UKVCAS Manage your service screen

    Once I clicked the button I was presented with visa applicants, as it just me, it’s only my details. I clicked the blue action link which took me to the next page.

    UKVCAS-Upload-your-documents

    There is some information about the files and formats which I have summarised above and you will reach the upload section. This example just covers the mandatory document.

    All I did was upload the named file I had and added a description which basically Katherine’s Front Page of Passport. Just to note I also uploaded a copy that had every page that was stamped in my passport in another section.

    UKVCAS-proof-of-application

    Once uploaded my document there was a status to say how many files were added.

    Uploading files to UKVCAS
    Uploading files to UKVCAS

    That’s it! I kept repeating until all my files were uploaded.

    UKVCAS Document Upload Categories

    One of the biggest things that I found a bit annoying is there is no guidance from the UKVCAS or UKVI on where you’re supposed to put them. I made a few assumptions and added information where I thought it suited best.

    This is all based on UK Citizenship to give you an example, if you are applying for other visas like Spousal Visa then chances are you will have documents such as life events. Just make sure you include all the documents that your checklist states in the visa application.

    Mandatory Documents

    Statement from UKVCAS website in the document upload section: Below is a list of mandatory document categories for your application. Each category tab contains a description of the documents required. Please ensure that you provide a document in each of these categories.

    Proof of Application – I only added my passport here because that’s what it stated I need to put here.

    Optional Documents

    Statement from UKVCAS website in the document upload section: Below is a list of optional document categories. Please ensure you check your Access UK document checklist before including documents in the categories below. For some application routes, ‘Optional’ documents offer you the ability to provide evidence in a number of categories at your discretion to satisfy immigration rules.

    • Other – I included my referees in this section.
    • Residence in the UK – I included my approval letter for my indefinite leave to remain and then I put my BRP card with my indefinite leave to remain there.
    • Finances – I included six P60’s from 2014 to 2019.
    • Proof of Business – I didn’t include any proof of business.
    • Life Events – I didn’t include any Life Event documents.
    • Medical Information – I didn’t include any medical information.
    • Sponsors / Employment – I included two employment letters and also one HMRC letter from 2018 from my indefinite leave to remain application.
    • Proof of Identity / Travel History – I included my Excel Spreadsheet that covers all of the dates I’ve been outside the UK, my current passport and my old passport, which includes all of the pages from the passport. The front page and then all the pages with stamps on them.
    • Educational – I included my life in the UK pass notification.

    What Happens at the Biometrics Appointment?

    When I arrived at the biometric centre, I was greeted by a security guard and he requested that I give my booking confirmation and my passport. The next step was speaking to the receptionist who my booking barcode to confirm what floor I needed to go to.

    Once I arrived at the appropriate floor I was greeted by another staff member who gave me a ticket number which was to be used during the process. They advised me that there will be two parts phase of the appointment.

    Part One: The Biometrics.

    Basically, they have these booths that record your biometrics with a computer system. The only way that I can describe it is like the passport e-gates at an airport. When you go through the e-gate and you scan your passport and takes a photo and then lets you through, that’s basically how these biometric systems were, except they just take your signature as well.

    You will be explained the process before you register your biometrics. The photo process is probably the lengthiest process of all of it. It’s very picky and can take a while to get a photo it likes.

    Once I did that, I walked back out to the waiting room until my number is called again.

    Part Two: Checking of Documents and Submitting Your Application

    Another representative came and collected me. This is the stage that they went through my application, documents and biometrics. The first thing again they ask for is that confirmation sheet with a QR code and your passport. They will scan that in, it’ll bring up all the details of that and your application.

    My biometrics was reviewed which just double-checks your photo, signature and fingerprints are ok. I had to explain any scars or markings on my fingerprints which was recorded against my biometrics.

    The next thing he did was scan my current passport again, I did previously have both my latest and older passport uploaded to my application.

    Next he just quickly scrolled through what I had put in there, for example, you’ve put life in the UK test on here and a few other documents, but he didn’t check a single one of my documents.

    After that, he asked, “Are you happy with the application and the documents you’ve put in your biometrics?” You must state yes and then they will submit the application for you. That will trigger the decision process for your application.

    Next Steps

    The waiting game! There is no ability to track your application through UKVCAS or UKVI, you just have to wait for a decision to arrive. You can call UKVI to discussion your application if you want further confirmation.

    Hopefully, my experience has given you an understanding of what you could potentially expect. Make sure you keep up with the UKVCAS and UKVI websites to see if there are any changes.

  • Do You Need a Car in London? Things to Consider.

    Do You Need a Car in London? Things to Consider.

    For a long time, it was expected that most people would own a car but with cities becoming less car-friendly do you really need a car in London? While some people may feel the need a car, London has great public transport so you can get around London easily without one. Lots of people have even turned in their keys for walking, cycling, train and buses.

    Do you need a car in London? The answer is yes and no. This will be entirely dependent on your situation which may require a car to get far out of town. However, if you are staying within the central heart of London, you most likely will not need a car.

    This guide will help you understand if you do or do not need a car in London. All of this advice will need to be filtered through to your personal circumstance or intention of using the car. Public transportation can be intimidating at first, but this guide will make you a suave pro in no time!

    How to Determine Whether You Need A Car

    The first steps will be understanding your commute, what areas you’ll be hanging around, or if you’re moving heavy things which would be miserable on the underground.

    I moved over from Western Australia where are a car is necessary to get around and public transport only goes in four directions. I went from driving all the time to not owning a car for 6 years in London.  I have always lived in zone 2 to 4 areas of London so that made things easier.

    In order to determine whether you need a car in London you should consider a few things:

    Your Job – Where you work is based and the type of job will play a big part in the decision of getting a car. Driving in central London (zone 1 -2) has a lot of additional charges, harder to park and many other challenges so the train can be an easier option. Alternatively cycling to work in a popular choice.

    Of course, if your job requires you to drive then the company may offer you a car to drive. It’s important that you read about the tax you may be charged using a company car.

    Where You Live in London – Generally, people that live on the outskirts of Greater London think it’s worth buying a car and will have cars. The distances can be far greater to the nearest station, shopping centre and general amenities.

    As someone that has always lived in transport zones between 2 to 4 and I have never found it worthwhile. The more central you live, the more eye-watering the parking prices will be! Unless you earn enough money or have been lucky enough to have affordable parking nearby.

    Personal Choice – If having a car is something truly what you want, then go for it! I have included all the important information below to factor in your decision.

    Parking in London

    Parking in central London is difficult to find and can be very expensive if you plan on staying there all day. Prices can vary significantly with street parking in London, in Westminster, the average price for parking is around £5.40 so quickly adds up to over £40 a day.

    To add to the difficulty in parking in central London, many apartments and houses in central London do not include a parking space. Next, think you of how your parking costs quickly add up to leave your car somewhere.

    It’s not all doom and gloom if you live less central, then parking does get easier, more house does come with parking spaces and the prices slowly go down.

    The most popular questions asked on the subject, and all the answers you’ll need are:

    • Is there free parking in London? Generally, in central London, you will not find free parking but outer London residential street can have no parking restrictions at all. To find free parking look at downloading the app AppyParking which will show you the regulations for every street in London. The app makes it a lot easier to find parking and the restrictions around those spaced.
    • Can you park on single yellow lines in London? In London you can only park where there are single yellow lines. Any areas where there are double yellow lines are it’s prohibited to park.
    • Where can I park in London Apps/Websites? There’s an app called Justpark that has completely changed my life! This will let you know if homeowners are advertising their spare parking space. This may sound crazy but in a busy city like London, we’ll take the spots we can get! This is also a perk to use the ‘Filters’ option and select ‘Driveways’ and ‘Garages’ near the area of town you plan to be in. Check it out here.
    • Do you have to pay to drive in London? For the most part driving in London and the UK is free. As London is extremely congested certain parts of London will require you to pay an £11.50 daily charge for driving in the city. The UK also has 23 tolls roads in the UK which 18 are river crossings.
    • Where is the congestion charge zone London? The congestion charge zone is around the city on and zone one areas of London so, for example, Clerkenwell, Marylebone, Westminster, Lambeth, Southwark, City of London, Covent Garden and Mayfair. You can find an interactive map on TfL’s website here.
    • How do I pay congestion charge in London? The best way to set-up paying for congestion charge is AutoPay. There’s an annual registration charge of £10 for each car you register but it means you pay the charge in time. Late payments will end up with you being sent a fine for £130!
    Day
    Time
    Congestion Charge Fee
    Monday – Friday
    07.00 – 18.00
    £11.50 – pay in advance or before midnight on the day of travel.
    Monday – Friday
    07.00 – 18.00
    £14.00 – If you pay after midnight on the previous days travel.
    Monday – Friday
    0700 – 18.00
    £10.50 – registered with AutoPay
    Monday – Friday
    After 18.00 and before 07.00
    Free
    Saturday – Sunday
    All day
    Free
    Bank Holidays – including Christmas and New Years Day
    All day
    Free
    • What cars are congestion charge exempt? There are a few exceptions to paying congestion charges, in most cases disabled drivers, motorbikes, mopeds, and bicycles are exempt. For more information about exemptions read here.
    • What are the ‘Ultra-Low Emission Zone Charges’ I’ve heard about in London? In April 2019 the Mayor of London introduced the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) which is an additional charge on the congestion fees. This is to help improve the air quality and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year within the same area of central London as the Congestion Charge. You will avoid this fee if you meet the ULEZ emissions standards. For most types of cars, this will cost £12.50 and for heavier cars, this will be £100.
    • Are there too many cars in London already? Yes. It’s very busy and this is a top reason many don’t bring their car. There’s not enough room and it would be slower getting through traffic than to just hop on the subway or take an Uber. With big cities, there is always going to be traffic and no escaping this factor, but London has brought in some rules and regulations to help minimize the use of cars and improve air quality.

    Contacts and numbers to keep saved on your phone list to make parking easier in London (and your life easier):

    • Council-run car parks –The car parks owned and managed by the City of London Corporation are cheaper than private car parks. If you’re towed, start with the city then here.
    • Private car parks – NCP, the UK’s biggest car park operator
    • To find other private car parks in London, try JustPark. Park in someone’s drive The JustPark website lets homeowners advertise their spare parking spaces.
    • Tube station car parks – see what parking spots are offered by your local tube/ underground subway network.

    Costs of a Car in London

    Evo 8 car in a London driveway.
    Evo 8 car in a London driveway.

    The cost of owning a car in London is up for debate and quite dependent on how often you use your car, how expensive the parking is where you go, and how far the travelling distance is you’re commuting daily.

    The average would be around £1500-£2000 a year on your car (outside of the initial cost to purchase the car). This will include everything from MOT, tax, parking permit, insurance, petrol and consumables (types etc) over 5000-6000 miles, etc. This is just an estimation but if you’re living here, you know London isn’t cheap.

    Keeping costs in mind early will prevent you from making an investment you regret. You’ll have many monthly fees and have difficulty parking outside of areas where you haven’t already purchased another permit. To some it can feel like one expense after the other.

    This is why people are so keen on simply travelling by subway, bus, or bike. The public transportation in Europe is far more developed than in the US and is very easy to use. It’s cost-effective and saves you a handful of bills and responsibilities.

    If you don’t absolutely need a car, you probably won’t need it. But if your job is an hour and a half outside of town and there’s no subway for miles or some situation as eccentric as that, a car may be your only option. In this case, buckle down on expenses by utilizing your public transport when convenient.

    According to the RAC we spend on average about 10-27% of our disposable income to buy and maintain our car. It can be a huge saving to avoid this, especially when calculated over many years or a lifetime. This will also reduce fuel pollution and your carbon footprint.

    Saving nature while saving your wallet? Sounds like a win-win to me!

    What You’ll Need to Own a Car in London

    The paperwork you’ll need will be just part of your responsibility in owning a car. This is the same for anywhere but in London specifically you will need:

    • Passport and ID
    • Documents for your car whether coming overseas with it (bring all of these documents as well if so) or if purchased in-country.
    • Valid Drivers license for that country.
    • Insurance as you must have motor insurance to drive on UK roads. Third-party insurance is the legal minimum. Bring your Certificate of International Travel Insurance.

    If you haven’t swapped your licence over yet, make sure you read Exchanging a Foreign Licence for a UK Drivers Licence.

    Alternatives to Owning a Car

    The decision to own a car really comes down to your personal situation and how useful it would be for your lifestyle. You can find more details on London specifically through clicking this link – London Area Reports.

    Some alternatives to owning a car in London are:

    • Zipcar – Consider hiring Zipcar. Zipcar is an American car-sharing company and a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group. Zipcar provides automobile reservations to its members, billable by the minute, hour or day; members may have to pay a monthly or annual membership fee in addition to car reservations charges.

    Joining this car club is perfect if you only need a car sometimes and don’t want all the responsibility and expenses attached to a full-time car. It is also ideal if you don’t have parking in your neighbourhood.

    There are other car clubs in the area so google online for the right brand for your needs.

    • Biking – London is made for bicyclists in a much bigger way than many large cities. The traffic is busy but if you’re a careful rider, you’ll zip right through all of it. Good for heart health and keeping the force off your joints as running would do.

    Many Londoners use public transport and their bikes never even dreaming of getting a car. To the home-grown Londoner, the idea of a car can be downright silly. One Englishmen says, “I cycleway more than I ever drove and haven’t had a car in years. Completely agree that for most Londoners (sans family) not having the burden and hassle of car ownership is probably a plus.”

    • Good ole’ Public Transportation: It’s everywhere, convenient, affordable, and fast. I personally love public transportation and wish I could use it more when living in Western Australia. It’s not as developed there but in London (and most of Europe) it’s truly the easiest way to get around.

    Now, you may simply enjoy the freedom of having a car and being able to get up and go whenever you please. In this case, you should hold onto your ride and keep the ease of control over your commute. Owning a car is just the right fit for some people. The same way not having a car is the right fit for others.

    • Airbnb Experiences and Rentals: You can go search for your dates, budget and town to see experiences all over the world on Airbnb, not just homestays. There are guided walking tours for foodies, drink lovers, and adventure enthusiasts. As far as transportation, there are dozens of hosts that rent you their electric bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and segways as unique ways to get around London town. This is a fun experience for the whole group or just for yourself to see London in a new way. Treat yourself a little and enjoy where you’re at.

    If You’re on the Fence

    If you’re not certain whether you should make the jump for a car or live life without it, here are some tips:

    • Try out both. Experiment with what works for you and challenge yourself to a month without a car. You may notice huge savings in your finances or losing 10 lbs from walking so much. See where you’re at then as you may want to keep the lifestyle change.
    • Know that it is required for you to drive on the right side of the car in the UK. If you’re moving from the US, this can be very challenging to learn and may eliminate the entire debate about having a car. In this case, yay! Decision made easy for you!
    • Read reviews and see what people say who are actually living it. This is the best way to hear from people who either think like you or the exact opposite of you. The answer will be clear.

    Final Thoughts

    A car can mean a great sense of freedom and not having to rely on anyone else for your commute. The need for a car is completely dependent on your situation but the general answer is – no, you don’t need a car in London.

    The options are truly endless, between the underground tube, trains spreading to all cities you can imagine, Uber / taxis, buses and Zipcar, car clubs, rentals, Airbnb experiences for odd rides like electric skateboards, scooters and segways and more!

    London has more versatile and flexible transport options than almost any city I can think of. If nothing else has convinced you in this article of selling your car and opting for the Bohemian lifestyle, I ask you this. Have you seen the traffic?

  • British citizenship by naturalisation: what I sent and paid

    British citizenship by naturalisation: what I sent and paid

    Moving to the UK

    By Kat · Applied August 2019, ceremony October 2019

    You’ve got indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and next is finalising British citizenship and getting the passport. “You alright?” will officially be your new greeting once this is done. What you want to know is the day you can apply, what it costs now, who these two referees have to be and what they want in the envelope.

    I applied in August 2019, a year after my ILR came through on the Ancestry visa. Sixteen days after my biometrics appointment the approval letter was in my hand. Two months after that I was in the council chamber in Bromley making the affirmation and by November I had a British passport.

    Mine was the Ancestry route. If you’ve come through a work visa, a partner visa or settled status, the shape is the same: five years here, a year on ILR, the test, two referees, the fee. The detail for your route is different and I’ve linked the official guide wherever I’ve used it.

    Here’s what I’ll take you through, in order:

    • the day you can apply and the absence limits that decide it
    • what it costs all in and the one way to pay for a faster answer
    • the two referees, who they have to be and who mine were
    • every document, in one list, with what I sent next to what they ask for
    • the ceremony, the certificate and the passport afterwards, with what my day looked like

    Fact check · 7 September 2026

    I’m not an immigration adviser. This is one Australian’s naturalisation in 2019, with the current rules and fees checked at gov.uk on 7 September 2026. I did it a while ago and the process changes a lot, so my run is here to show you what it looked like for one person, next to what the rules say today. Here’s my story and here’s the information. You make your own informed decision: read the guide for your route on the day you apply, or speak to an immigration adviser.

    Covers
    Naturalising after a year on ILR, which is what I did from the Ancestry visa. The core steps hold on the other routes; the detail differs.
    Have up front
    £1,839 for the application, which includes the ceremony. £500 more if you want the faster decision. £102 for the passport afterwards.
    Do first
    Count your days outside the UK against the limits. Then ask your two referees.
    Works for
    You, if you’ve had ILR for a year or nearly and want to know exactly what to gather and what the day at the end looks like.

    The day you can apply

    Twelve months after you got ILR, as long as you’ve lived in the UK for five years and you were physically here on the day five years before your application lands. If you’re married to a British citizen you don’t wait the twelve months and it’s three years, not five. Both are on the gov.uk page for citizenship after ILR and the one for the spouse route.

    Then the absences. This is the bit that decides it for most people, because the limits are tighter than the ones you met for ILR.

    Your route
    Years in the UK
    Days outside the UK, in total
    Days outside in the last 12 months
    On ILR, not married to a British citizen
    5, plus 12 months holding ILR
    450
    90
    Married to a British citizen
    3, no wait on ILR
    270
    90

    Only whole days count. The day you leave and the day you come back don’t, so a Friday-to-Sunday weekend away is one day, not three. That’s in the naturalisation guide and it’s the thing to know before you panic about your total.

    Mine. ILR on 14 August 2018. Application submitted 19 August 2019 at five past one, so a year and five days. The five years count back from the day your application lands, so for me that meant being in the UK on 19 August 2014. I’d landed in October 2013, so that was covered.

    The absences list was the spreadsheet I’d built for ILR with a year added on and my fingers did get a little sore entering every holiday. Start yours now, not the week before. If you’re Australian you can request your travel records from Home Affairs instead of rebuilding five years from memory. I didn’t know it existed at the time.

    What it costs, all in

    What
    Cost
    Source
    The application, per person
    £1,709
    Home Office fees from 8 April 2026
    The ceremony, paid up front with the application
    £130
    same fee table
    Biometrics
    no fee
    citizenship after ILR
    Priority service, decision usually within 30 working days
    £500 on top
    faster decisions
    Standard service
    no extra charge, usually a decision within 6 months
    citizenship after ILR
    Life in the UK test, if you haven’t passed it already
    £50
    Life in the UK test
    Your first British passport, afterwards
    £102 online, £115.50 on paper
    first adult passport

    That’s £1,839 to apply, £2,339 if you pay for the faster answer and about £1,940 by the time the passport lands without it.

    There’s no super priority for citizenship. Priority is the only faster option and it’s thirty working days, not five, so don’t budget on the ILR timings.

    What I paid. £1,349.20 in August 2019: £1,330 for the application and £19.20 for biometrics. There was no faster service for citizenship then, so standard was the only service. The total has gone up by about five hundred pounds since my run and the ceremony fee is now folded into it.

    How long mine took. Sixteen days. Biometrics on Monday 2 September 2019, letter in my hand on 18 September. Everyone’s timeline is different and gov.uk still says usually within six months with some taking longer, so I count mine as luck, not the rule.

    What you need before you start

    Three things have to be done before the form is worth opening.

    • The Life in the UK test. £50, booked at least three days ahead, the name on the booking matching your ID exactly. If you passed it for ILR you don’t sit it again. I’d sat mine for ILR the year before and just entered the pass, which I was thankful for, because that test was the most stressful part of ILR. Don’t leave it late: the pass is valid for a long time and a fail can cost you your application window.
    • English. As an Australian you’re exempt: your passport is the proof. Same for New Zealanders, Canadians and the rest of the majority English-speaking list. Anyone else needs an approved qualification or a degree taught in English.
    • Two referees. Next section, because it’s the bit people ask me about most.

    And good character, which you can’t prepare for. The naturalisation guide sums it up as observing the law and respecting the rights and freedoms of its citizens. Convictions, money trouble, deception and immigration breaches are what they look at. If any of that is in your history, that’s the point to talk to an adviser, not a blog.

    The two referees

    Two people who’ve each known you for at least three years and will sign a form saying you’re who you say you are.

    • One can be any nationality but has to be a professional person, an accountant or a solicitor for example.
    • The other must hold a British passport and be either a professional person or over 25.
    • Neither can be related to you or to each other, be your solicitor or agent, work for the Home Office or have an imprisonable conviction in the last ten years.

    All of that is in the naturalisation guide. If you’re not sure your person counts as a professional, ask UK Visas and Immigration before you rely on them.

    Mine, in 2019, were a lawyer and an accountant, both friends, both easily on the professional list. Finding them wasn’t the struggle. Finding the form was. I looked for the referee declaration for ages before I worked out that, in 2019 at least, it was only handed to you in the step after the documents page. Look there before you start hunting the internet for it.

    What the online form wants from each referee, so you can ask them for it in one message:

    • full name and date of birth
    • every address they’ve had in the last three years
    • profession
    • phone number and email
    • British passport number, for the one who has one
    • how they know you

    They each fill in the declaration themselves, sign it and give you a passport photo. The form told me to write my name and date of birth on the back of the photo. I was uploading everything, so I uploaded the signed form with the photo and that was accepted.

    Every document, in one list

    Two columns. What the checklist asked for and what I sent in 2019. The online form builds the exact list for your case at the end and it’s different if you’re applying through marriage.

    What they want
    What I sent in 2019
    Your current passport
    My Australian passport
    Proof of English
    The same passport. Australians are exempt
    Proof you’re free of immigration time restrictions
    My passport, the ILR approval letter and my biometric residence permit (BRP) card. The cards have all expired now and your ILR lives in your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account as an eVisa
    Life in the UK pass
    The pass from my ILR run, entered into the form
    Proof you’ve lived here for the five years
    Both my passports with the stamps, plus the same working evidence I’d used for ILR: my P60s, the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) employment history letter and two employer letters. The checklist said bank statements and household bills don’t count and I still get asked about that, so check the guide for your route before you print your bills
    Two referee declarations
    Both signed forms, each with a passport photo
    Evidence of identity
    My old passport, the one I’d used as ID for the Life in the UK test, plus my current one

    Where my experience stops. I’ve never had an eVisa. I became a citizen before they existed, so I can point you at the UKVI account page and I can’t tell you what that step looks like from the inside.

    The working evidence is the same method as ILR, a year on. Either ring HMRC again and ask for five years of employment history in a letter, or take what you sent for ILR and add the newer evidence on top, the P60 and the employer letter for the year since.

    The HMRC letter is the same one they send if you’ve lost a P60, so if you’ve got gaps, do it early. Mine took about a week to arrive.

    Originals or copies. In 2019 copies were fine for everything except passports, which had to be originals. You either uploaded to the appointment service, UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS), yourself or paid to have them scanned at the appointment. The naturalisation guide now says you don’t have to resend anything you uploaded for a previous application, because they already have it. If you did ILR online, that’s most of your pile.

    Before you open the form, have these to hand, because the form asks for all of it and digging through the drawer every time a long question pops up is what turns it into a whole evening:

    • your addresses for the last five years, with dates
    • National Insurance number and the tax reference off a recent payslip
    • your parents’ names, dates and places of birth
    • ten years of UK work history, with start and end dates and employer addresses
    • your ILR application: the date, the reference number, the date of your fingerprints
    • every trip outside the UK in the five years, with country, reason and dates
    • degree details if you have one
    • the referee details above

    The form, the payment and the appointment

    The application is online and it’s received the day you submit it. The form itself is simple once the pile above is next to you. In 2019 the payment page warned me in bold that once I paid there was no going back. After paying you book a biometrics appointment for your fingerprints and photo, which costs nothing now.

    Mine. Submitted Monday 19 August 2019 at five past one. Biometrics on Monday 2 September. Letter on 18 September. I did the whole thing myself, uploaded the documents to the UKVCAS portal and it was, honestly, straightforward.

    You can still travel while you wait. My sister did, in 2022. Her approval email landed while we were flying to Gdańsk and she didn’t see it for two months. Check your inbox from the airport.

    The letter

    The approval comes as a letter and it’s also your ceremony invitation. It tells you your application’s approved, how to get your certificate and how to book. Read the whole thing, because it also says you have to bring it with you on the day or the ceremony’s postponed and they may ask for ID as well, which they did for mine.

    You have three months from the invitation to attend. You book through your local council and the ceremony’s already paid for in your application fee. Getting the council slot was the longest wait in my whole run, longer than the decision itself, so ring them the day the letter lands.

    Booking mine, on the phone to Bromley, they asked four things:

    • Group or individual. The group ceremony is free. An individual one costs and I was quoted either £160 or £180 in 2019, so I waited for the next group slot, which at Bromley was every Tuesday at ten. The price and the slots are your council’s, so it depends where you live. gov.uk still says a private ceremony can cost more.
    • How many guests. Two is the usual limit. I asked for two.
    • Oath or affirmation. The oath is sworn by God, the affirmation isn’t. I’m not very religious, so I took the affirmation. Either is fine and the pledge that follows is the same for everyone. In Wales they also ask English or Welsh.
    • Whether I was happy to shake hands with the Mayor. Say now if you’re not.

    A week before, the council emailed the details again with a map and the photographer’s price list.

    The ceremony

    Thirty to forty-five minutes. Smart dress. Two guests. Then tea, coffee and a queue for the photos that took longer than the ceremony did.

    Mine was Tuesday 22 October 2019 at Bromley Civic Centre, six years and four days after I’d landed. My sister came and so did my boyfriend at the time. The letter said smart, national costume welcome. It’s not a casual-attire day. I went with a white dress.

    What happened, in order:

    1. Signs around the building. Checked in at the door: letter, ID, ticked off the list, given a number and a seat.
    2. Housekeeping from the host, then a councillor came in to welcome us on behalf of the Queen and the government. It was the Queen in 2019. It’s the King now.
    3. The room was split in two: one side took the oath, the other the affirmation. Then everyone in the room, guests included, said the pledge.
    4. One by one to the front for the certificate and a handshake. Mine came with “Congratulations Katherine, you are a British citizen. Look, we share the same name.” The councillor was a Kathy.
    5. One verse of the national anthem.
    6. Tea and coffee in the room next door while you look at the photographer’s shots and decide. Cash or cheque only in 2019: £15 for a mounted print, £20 with the digital file, passport photos on the day for £5 alongside the ceremony photos or £10 on their own. gov.uk says you also get a welcome pack.

    Then it’s done. I spent longer in the photo queue than in the chamber.

    The order of ceremony card from Bromley Civic Centre, 22 October 2019: registration at ten, the ceremony at half past, the national anthem and a reception in the Old Palace.

    Your BRP. In 2019 the letter told me to cut mine up and send it back to the Home Office. Every BRP has expired now, so if you’ve still got one in a drawer, cut it through the chip and the details and bin it. The naturalisation guide says the same.

    Dual citizenship, if you’re Australian

    You keep it. The UK allows dual citizenship and there’s nothing to apply for. Australia allows it too. I’ve held both passports since 2019.

    The one rule: use your Australian passport to enter and leave Australia and the British one once you’ve left. Home Affairs says an Australian citizen without an Australian passport can be stopped from boarding a flight home, so keep it renewed even if it never sees another stamp.

    In 2019 I chose the 34-page British passport rather than the 50, because I could split trips across two. With stamps on the way out and everything going electronic, I wouldn’t sweat the page count now.

    The passport afterwards

    Once you’ve got the certificate, apply online for a first adult passport. £102 online, £115.50 on the paper form, usually within three weeks and longer if they want to interview you. The fast-track and premium services aren’t open to first adult passports, so there’s no paying your way out of the wait.

    You can’t apply before the ceremony, because the certificate is one of the documents. Copies aren’t accepted: the certificate and the passport you entered the UK on go in the post as originals.

    Someone has to confirm your identity: eighteen or over, living in the UK with a current UK or Irish passport, in or retired from a recognised profession and known you for two years. Not a relative, not a partner, not anyone at your address. You give their name and email, the passport office sends them a link with your photo and a few questions and that part is done.

    Mine, in November 2019. Applied online on a Sunday morning, £75.50 plus £5 for secure return post, £80.50 all in. I paid the fiver because the certificate cost a hundred pounds to replace then. It’s £456 now. Pay the fiver.

    The red warning on the back of the ceremony card: a laminated certificate of naturalisation is rejected by the Passport Office and a replacement cost a minimum of £100 in 2019.

    The form stalled on me once: my mum holds a British passport and the form wanted her passport details, so I stopped, messaged her and waited. Have your parents’ passport details in the pile if either of them is British. My sister took the photo. You’re not allowed to smile.

    Then it went like this. Posted the documents by registered post on the Monday. Wednesday, a text: received. Friday: approved. The next Tuesday: on its way, delivery Wednesday. The courier tried on the Tuesday, I rebooked for the Wednesday and it came Wednesday, while the passport office was still texting me it’d be Thursday. Believe the courier.

    Ten days from applying to holding it, 10 November to 20 November. The certificate came back in its own envelope alongside it.

    The best thing about it, after two visas and a citizenship application where you hear nothing until a letter drops: the passport office texts you at every step. You know exactly where it is.

    Doing it yourself or paying someone

    I did it myself, because for a straightforward application it is straightforward: the form tells you what it wants, you gather it, you book the appointment. I felt comfortable, so for me that was worth it. If you don’t feel comfortable, that’s exactly what the services exist for, to make it smooth and easy. If your application has a complication, a conviction, a gap, a messy immigration history, get advice from a lawyer or an adviser before you pay, because the form warns you there’s no going back once you have. Neither way is wrong.

    What I’d do differently

    Ring the council the day the letter landed, because the ceremony slot was the longest wait of the lot. And have my mum’s passport details ready before the passport form asked for them, instead of stopping halfway through on a Sunday morning to message her.

    Worth it

    Doing it myself. I knew what I was doing, so for me it was worth it. If you don’t feel comfortable, that’s what the services exist for. Neither is wrong.

    Not worth it

    The paper passport form. £13.50 dearer for the same passport.

    Worth it

    Secure return post on the passport. Five pounds against a £456 certificate.

    Not worth it

    Bank statements as proof of living here. The checklist said no in 2019 and I still get asked.

    Worth it

    The group ceremony. Free, forty-five minutes, two guests.

    Not worth it

    Ignoring your inbox on holiday. My sister’s approval sat unread for two months in 2022.

    Worth it

    Requesting your Australian travel records. The absences list builds itself. I wish I’d known.

    Worth it

    Travelling while you wait. Your life doesn’t stop for the Home Office. Just read your emails.

    The Pivot

    Worth it

    Six years and four days after landing, a certificate with my name on it and champagne out of a red wine glass because I don’t own flutes. My sister’s version is better: she was a British citizen for two months before she noticed. That one’s on Controlled Chaos.

    Where this sits

    If you’re a year out from this, the two pages that feed it are indefinite leave to remain and the Life in the UK test. ILR is where the absences spreadsheet and the test pass come from. The test is the one you only want to sit once.

    If you’re further back than that, start at moving to the UK from Australia: the visas, the money before you’ve earned a pound here and the Australian admin. Six years is a long road and it’s one of the choices I’m most glad I made.

    FAQ

    Who fills in the referee form?

    The referee. They complete the declaration, sign it, add a passport photo and give it back to you to upload with your documents. You type their details into the online form yourself.

    Why does the form want three years of my referee’s addresses and their passport number?

    Because the online application asks for them. I asked the same thing in 2019 and the answer is to give what it asks for.

    Can my friend’s profession count for a referee?

    If they’re not clearly a professional person, ask UK Visas and Immigration before you rely on them. The rules are in the naturalisation guide.

    How long does British citizenship take?

    Usually within six months on the standard service, or usually within 30 working days on the priority service at £500. Mine took 16 days in 2019 on standard.

    How much does British citizenship cost in 2026?

    £1,839, which is £1,709 to apply and £130 for the ceremony, paid together. Biometrics are free. Priority is £500 on top and the first passport is £102 online. The fee table has the current figures.

    Can I apply for a British passport before my citizenship ceremony?

    No. The certificate you’re handed at the ceremony is one of the documents you post with the passport application, as an original.

    Do I lose my Australian citizenship?

    No. Both countries allow dual citizenship. Use your Australian passport to enter and leave Australia and the British one once you’re out.

    Watch

    UK Citizenship Application (HOW TO APPLY ONLINE) | UK Visa’s
    UK Citizenship Documents (WHAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR APPLICATION)
    UK Citizenship Ceremony (WHAT TO EXPECT AND MY EXPERIENCE)
    How to Apply for a British Passport (MY EXPERIENCE)

    Also worth reading: Indefinite leave to remain →

    Moving to the UK from Australia →

    Life in the UK Test →

  • 13 Tips on How to Make Friends in London

    13 Tips on How to Make Friends in London

    As someone that has hopped on a plane and moved to London by myself, I know exactly what you are feeling when trying to make friends in London. The city can certainly be a very lonely place when you first move over.

    London is such a transient city and that can impact your group of friends as people come and go. This is certainly something that I have experienced while living here as friends’ visas expired, they wanted to move to another city, go travelling and so on.

    To maintain a group of local friends you will need to build new friendships regularly.

    I am sure I am not telling you anything new when I say making friends takes time and commitment to finding the people you click with. Build your initial friend network and then be prepared to go on lots of friend dates! I find a lot of people end up being lonely in the city because they don’t have the time or give up easily. Here are some ways to help you build your group of friends…

    Where to Meet Friends in London?

    Facebook

    One of the most popular places to connect with people is Facebook and there are several Facebook groups you can join that host events, you can suggest events or join other peoples groups.

    There is a bit of misbalance between groups that are mixed and ladies only – sorry guys, there are more groups that the ladies can join. Don’t be shy to post your own meet-ups on these groups!

    There are many more groups that you can join, these are just the ones I personally use and you will see me posting in them occasionally. I have found some great events and support in the groups.

    Let’s Start with Mixed Groups

    Kiwi’s in London

    Facebook Group run by Clint and famous for making people read his FAQ’s (haha). There are monthly Kiwis in London drinks which are generally located in the South West/ West of London. Even if you are not a Kiwi they are a welcoming bunch so check them out.

    Aussies in London

    The group provides a lot of entertainment, they host a few events but not as many as Kiwis in London.

    The Non-Boring London Collective.

    The Non-Boring London Collective is run by Gigi and John, as expats themselves, they understand the difficulty of making friends in London. They run a meet-up only group where they host various events every month plus others create side events.

    Britbound

    Britbound is run by Sarah, who has been welcoming new faces to London since 2008. Their social package does cost money but they provide you with all sorts of other benefits to like setting up your bank account and NI Number. Without Britbound I wouldn’t have been able to establish my life in the UK.

    They host lots of events at their base in Putney, pubs crawls and various other events across London.

    See more about their social package here.

    Ladies Only Facebook Groups

    London New Girl

    The group doesn’t host events itself but there are lots of people who create WhatsApps groups or events on the group so just look through the search bar and see if there is something that takes your fancy.

    London | Girl Gone International

    The group hosts events like colouring nights and a bookclub which you can join via their meet-up page. Similar to London New girl there are lots of people posting events or groups to join. I recently joined a dinner club via this group and has been really fun so far!

    Aussie & Kiwi Women in London

    Recently Hayley and Kaitlyn have started a group for Aussie and Kiwi Women in London. They have been hosting quite a few events since the group started so I recommend joining if you are an Aussie or Kiwi.

    Meet-up Groups

    Meet-up has 1000’s of events that you can join, this is great if you have a hobby like photography where there will be heaps of groups based on this. Some will cost money as the organiser can be experts in that field helping you grow your skills.

    Links to the Groups

    Move into a Share House

    Finding an apartment or house in London can be soul-crushing but getting the right people to live with will change your London life (no pressure ;)). Make sure you check out the Facebook groups I mentioned above as they will have people advertising rooms or posts about searching for places together.

    Other places you can look at Spareroom (the most popular), GumTree (be careful with scams) and Room Buddies.

    On Spareroom you can create a profile telling people about you and join up with others looking for a place. When I first moved to London I met two guys that were looking for an apartment in my price range. They got in touch with my friend and I to see if we were keen and went on a few viewings together.

    If you have found some buddies to rent with make sure you check out my article on How to Find a Flat in London.

    Connect with People You Know

    Friends-Visiting-from-Australia

    If you have acquaintances or friends of friends living in London this can be a great way to connect with people. I had an old co-worker that moved to London at the same time I did, while we were friendly at work we weren’t super close. I got in touch with her when I moved to London and she became one of my closest friends in London.

    I actually find that people that know acquaintances don’t end up getting in touch and therefore miss out on potential friendships. There is something about moving overseas and bonding that changes your relationship with that person. In most cases for the better as you get a good friend and they can relate to your challenges.

    Get to Know Your Friends’ Friends

    Do you have any friends or family members know people in London? See if they will connect you together. When I moved over my Grandma connected me with my Great Uncles Brother and while I didn’t become super close with them it was nice to hang out with family and know that they were there.

    It’s amazing the kindness of people when living overseas and truly welcome you into their homes.

    Pick Up Some New Hobbies

    New hobbies are a great way to meet some new friends and like-minded people. Learn a new language, go on a cooking class (the Bread Ahead baking classes look amazing!) or join a sports group.

    I found yoga classes a great way to meet new people, my personal favourite yoga studio is Fierce Grace which has a few locations around London.

    If you are into sport, then here are some clubs you can look into:

    Get to Know your Local

    The pub culture is strong in the UK so what better way than making friends by heading to your local pub. Get involved with the events too, chances are your local will hold quiz nights, cheap food nights and much more.

    Alternatively, drag your new co-workers for drinks. You will find that as long as the drinks are Monday to Thursday you will generally find someone keen to go for a drink (at least in my industry).

    Go and Volunteer

    Volunteering is the perfect way to help the communities around you and expand your social network. Some types of volunteering will have a waitlist in London so picking less popular volunteering activities like cleaning up rubbish or something in your local community will be more available.

    Check out the Mayor of London’s Volunteer team, Hands-on London or Do It are just two websites you can look into.

    Join Apps

    Just like the dating thing you can also get apps for the make your friendships. Check out apps like Hey Vina, Bumble and Citysocializer. Some of these apps we will have charges associated with them so they’re not the freeway to make friends.

    Citysocializer does host event quite often which you don’t need to pay to attend so just doing some of their weekly or monthly drinks and get to know the people going.

    Be a Leader Rather Than a Follower

    My-London-Bookclub

    I cannot recommend this enough to be a leader rather than a follower. Make your own destiny in London and create an event and invite other people along. Advertise your event on the Facebook groups and the next thing you know you will have a sea of people joining you.

    When I move to London I met my friend Mel in a hostel and ended up becoming friends. One day we started talking about book clubs and next thing I know I’m a part of a book club. We started off with a few ladies and then the group dwindled down to 3 members.

    We advertised on some Facebook groups and next thing you know we have 10 new people attending our bookclub the next month.

    It’s been such a success in the way that I make friends in London, every few years we have to do another recruitment run as people move away but it has been the number one way I make friends in London by running this group.

    Say ‘YES’ to Everything (Within Reason)

    Mimic Jim Carrey in Yes Man and just say yes to everything. Taking that leap and putting yourself out there is the best way to make friends. If you are just watching events go by and not joining any, the journey to finding friends will be longer.

    Just be careful and don’t get burned out but truly it is a great way to meet a bunch of new friends.

    Stay in a Hostel

    When I first moved to London I stayed in a hostel for 3 months and it was the place that I made my initial friends.  I even ended up moving out with one of the guys that I met and then eventually our other friend joined us in the flat.

    I get that living in a hostel isn’t for everyone but they can be buzzing places and great a place you can meet people. If sharing a room isn’t up your alley then look at a private room whilst you are flat searching.

    Talk to the Organisers if you have Social Anxiety

    Recently on a few social media groups, there have been posts about people reluctance to come to events as they suffer from social anxiety. Everyone has a different level of anxiety and I know it can be strong enough for people to cancel.

    A lot of the lovely people I have met in London will be happy to help out and try to ensure you feel comfortable. Reach out to the organisers and in most cases, they will do their best to discreetly help you to feel at ease and relaxed.

    I’d hate to think people might be missing out because they’re uncomfortable. It’s not easy being away from home. Feel free to PM me on social media as well!

    Hopefully, that has given you a few ideas on how to make friends in London and some of these have personally worked for me. If you have any other suggestions on how to make friends don’t forget to leave them in the comments and let’s help the community out!

    More Living in the UK Articles

  • A Helpful Guide on How to Find a Flat in London

    A Helpful Guide on How to Find a Flat in London

    The quest to find a flat in London is an involved process and with all the different types of properties, ways you can rent, ways to search for accommodation, knowing what to look for and figuring out the rules, it can get confusing.

    I know just how overwhelming this can be when you are new to London. Rental properties are snapped up quickly. If you are immigrating here, you can have a disadvantage with the lack of credit score and UK based references. Those from the UK will find it easier to find a flat.

    To save you having to wade through the tricks and pitfalls of the game I am going to give you the best resource for finding a flat in London. This guide to finding a flat in London covers the key things you should know when searching for a flat including:

    • When to start flat hunting
    • Things to know as a renter
    • Setting a budget
    • Learn the London flat terminology
    • Creating a list of deal-breakers and must-haves
    • Researching neighbourhoods
    • London expat neighbourhoods
    • Using websites and apps for finding flats in London
    • The viewing – what to look out for
    • When you’ve found a place – offer, contracts, etc
    • How to deal with issues if they occur

    The guide to flat hunting in London comes not only from my experience and others I have helped over the years but also contributed to by my amazing partner who is an estate agent. With his expertise, we have made sure you have all the tops tips to make your flat hunting go smoothly.

    Please note this article isn’t about finding a shared house which will be covered in another article.

    When to start flat hunting

    It’s normal for you to want to get a flat before you arrive in London and by all means do go online to get a feel of what is available. However, I recommend not starting the process until you arrive.

    Not only will it be easier but you will also have the important things established (like a job or bank account). Plus, you will have the ability to get a sense of the neighbourhoods, safety, commute to work and much more once you are in the city.

    If you do want to start searching for flats before arriving in London tend, then start you search 4 to 6 weeks (as this when properties tend to come available) prior to your desired move in date.

    This is not to say it is impossible to get an apartment before you arrive. However, in my time of living in London, I’ve only met one couple that successfully got an apartment before arriving in the UK.

    They had a friend that was willing and able to go house hunting for them and assist during the process. Plus, they had enough money to pay 6 months rent upfront.  

    Another alternative is to employ a Search Agent, they will hunt for a flat on your behalf. Simply they will take all your requirements, view the properties, set-up virtual viewing (if you want) and as they have knowledge in the industry pick up any issues with the flat or negotiate.

    A Search Agent will normally have the following fee structure:

    • Retaining fee – Payable upon instruction prior to the commencement of the search.
    • Success fee – a percentage of the annual rent. Payable – Upon signing the rental agreement.

    Things to Know as a Renter in London

    Some of the key things to know about flat renting in London are:

    • Your annual salary (as a general rule) needs to be 30 times more than the monthly rental price. This will vary between different agents and landlords but is a good benchmark to have in mind. If you are renting with other people the combined salary of all on the agreement will be taken into account.
    • The tenant fee ban is being introduced on the 1st of June 2019. Here are the Permitted Charges in accordance with the Tenant Fee Act 2019:
      • First month’s rent in advance
      • Tenancy Deposit 5 or 6 weeks depending upon the rental amount
      • Holding Deposit maximum one week’s rent
      • Early termination when requested by the tenant a charge not exceeding the financial loss experienced by the landlord
      • Utilities, communication services, TV licence and council tax
      • Default charge for late payment of rent limited to interest charged at 3% above Bank of England base rate, when rent is more than 14 days late
      • Default charge for replacement of lost key or security device equivalent to cost incurred
      • Changing the tenancy documents after the commencement of the tenancy
    • With the changes in June there will also a cap on deposits agencies and landlords can request. If the yearly rent is under £50,000 a year the maximum deposit that can be requested in 5 weeks rent. For properties that the rent is over £50,000 the maximum deposit is 6 weeks rent.
    • There is now a Zero Deposit Guarantee which means you no longer have to pay a deposit upfront, instead these deposit guarantee will request 1 weeks’ worth of rent and a yearly admin fee. You will not get your money back using this method so if your rent is £1,000 a month and therefore, you’d lose around £200 + the admin fee. If there are any damages during the tenancy you will still be liable for these.
    • Your deposit should be protected if you rent a flat under Assured Shorthold Tenancy contract (AST). This will change if you are renting a short let (i.e. anything under 6 months).
    • Pets can make searching for a flat more difficult as not all leases allow pets in the building.
    • Read how to rent guide.
    • This is a really useful document for anyone struggling with understanding the new acts and fees you can be charged.

    Immigrated to London? Things to Know Before Renting

    Relocating to London can make renting harder especially if you’ve just arrived in England. The more time you spend in London working, the easier it will get over time. Here are some things to consider:

    • Not having a credit history will impact your ability to be accepted through estate agents. Some landlords will request that you provide 3 to 6 months rent in advance to ensure the landlord has security.
    • If you wish to go down the guarantor route to avoid paying so much rent up front you would need a person that is a UK homeowner who is willing to act as your guarantor so this can be a challenge for those who immigrate here.
    • You need to prove that you can legally be in the UK so British Passport, EU Passport or working visa. The paperwork can’t be started until you can prove this.

    Set A Budget

    Kat raining money
    If you want a good flat in London it can feel like you are spending a lot of money to get it. There is hope when budgeting correctly and having patients. P.s. December is a great month to negotiate deals.

    According to the National Statistics Office the top four categories of spending in England are transport, housing, fuel and power, and recreation and culture.

    Based on those statistics, in 2017 BBC released an article stating that Londoners are spending 41.1% of their annual salaries on rent so as you can easily see your money is gone quickly.

    It’s no wonder that London is consistently ranked as one of the worlds most expensive cities to live in.

    The best way to help you determine the budget you have available is to use a pay calculator and get a rough idea of your take-home pay. In my experience, this has given me a close enough figure to work with.

    Now you can determine which neighbourhoods you can potentially afford; the next step is to consider how much money you will spend on bills and council tax.

    In the UK the renter pays property tax and will be based on the occupancy, the band the flat is in (from A to H) and borough you live in.  

    The council tax will be based on a yearly cost, for example, I live in Bromley in a band c property which is £1,367 a year. Note that students don’t have to pay council tax, and single occupants get a 25% discount.

    There are other factors to consider like food, utilities, transport, etc and you can read more about my breakdown of how much it costs to live in London.

    Learn the London Flat Terminology

    London flats in Peckham
    Flats in London can be converted houses or purpose-built flat blocks.

    If you speak English then you will know that there are different terminologies we use in each country. In this section, I will cover the nuances plus a few additional UK rental terms that you may not have heard of.

    What is a flat in London? Simply just terminology difference between the UK and countries like Australia and the US. There is no difference between the two. Flats can be built or converted, the two terms are:

    • Purpose-built – A block of apartments that were built as apartments when first constructed.
    • Conversion (e.g. Victorian Conversion) – A building that was originally a house once upon a time and then converted into flats and one of the most common styles of flat living in London.

    Here is some additional London flat terminology to get you started:

    • Flat share/House share – The most common way of renting in London. It’s where you live with others, either friends or strangers. If you’re renting with strangers there is normally an interview process to see if you fit within the houseshare.
    • Maisonette – There are different set-ups for Maisonettes but basically means that it will have its own private entrance.
    • End of terrace, Terraced, Semi-detached are houses and not flats.
    • Furnished vs. Unfurnished – Rental properties can come with various levels of furnishing so fully furnished, semi-furnished, or unfurnished. White goods are included in most cases – this includes refrigerator/freezer and washing machine. Don’t expect a dryer as there often isn’t space for these in flats in London. If a flat is unfurnished you can request the landlord to add furniture like a bed, wardrobe, sofa and dining room table however the landlord is under no obligation to do as you request and this will vary usually depending on the strength of your offer.
    • PCM – In the UK you can here PCM which means Per Calendar Month.
    • PW – Sometimes properties are advertised with a Per Week price.
    • Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) – The most common type of tenancy if you rent from a private landlord or letting agent. You won’t have an AST if you share accommodation with your landlord. To read more about AST here.
    • Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) – This is only relevant if you are renting a property with at least 3 people who are not from 1 ‘household’ (for example a family) but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen. For example, if you are renting with 3 other friends then this could become an HMO. To check if a house is an HMO here.

    Don’t forget to read the essential you need for a flat in London.

    Create A List of Deal-Breakers and Must-Haves

    When you’re looking for a place to live you will have a list of deal breakers and a list of must haves for you to want to move into that property. The list shouldn’t be extensive otherwise you’ll never find a place to live but a handful of things will help you assess the properties out there.

    Here are a few things to consider:

    • Commute time
    • Furnished/ Unfurnished
    • Proximity to tube/train station, bus and shops
    • Number of bedrooms, size i.e. do you need double rooms
    • Number of bathrooms
    • Parking
    • Pet-friendliness
    • Garden/outdoor space
    • Kitchen amenities/space

    Research London Neighbourhoods

    With so many choices in London it can be hard to narrow the search to which neighbourhoods suit you. Luckily there are some tools out there to help you refine your search.

    There are lots of handy websites which will give you the latest area costs. Using maps tools will help guide you with the prices for areas in London. Here are some to start out with:

    • London Mayor website has a heat map that breaks down costs by postcode (for example E1 Whitechapel area) with sample data from the past 12 months.
    • Sparerooms has a “where to live wizard” which is a good starting point to get a rough idea of the potential areas. The downside is its based-on room prices and not the rental prices of a flat.
    • GoodMigrations is another website that helps identify neighbourhoods. Select the filters that suit you best and it will automatically start pulling up neighbourhoods. When you click on the area it will give you a breakdown of average rent price for the area, what’s around the area, safety, transport and walkability.

    Determining if the London Neighbourhood is Safe

    Determining the safety of the area can change depending on the person and your comfort levels so it’s good to have some statistics as well. The police publish a crime map and under the find your neighbourhood tab you can enter your postcode or the accommodation you are planning to stay at and see all reported crime in the immediate area.

    Wandering around the London neighbourhood during the day and night will give you a good sense of whether you do feel safe.

    Determining Your Commute

    Citymapper is a great app for getting a sense of the commute you will have to work and is loved by Londoners. The app will provide you in real-time the fastest route to work. Just make sure you set the departure time to your commuting hour.

    National Rail is great if your area is on a National Rail route. South East London and a few other areas don’t always access to the underground.

    London Expat Neighbourhoods

    London is a city filled with expats and there are some areas that we are just famous for building our roots in.

    For example, Aussie and Kiwis tend to live in West and South West London like Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush, Fulham, Putney, Southfields, Wimbledon, Wandsworth and Clapham. Even I have spent some time living in Clapham and it was hard not to pass a fellow antipodean. 

    The antipodeans have slowly spread their wings to North and East to be in the hip and trendy areas. Shoreditch, Hackney, Dalston, Angel, Islington and Old Street.

    Kensington, Notting Hill and Islington are meant to be where the American live.

    Finding your expat neighbourhood in London can make you feel settled in like having familiar people, supermarkets catering to your nationality and making friends. Although I always this it’s always good to spread your wings out a little.

    What are the Best Property Websites for Finding Flats in London?

    Zoopla or Rightmove

    The best place to start your hunt is Zoopla or Rightmove as they are the big players in listing properties. The search settings will allow you to set a budget and property preferences.

    What is the difference between Zoopla and Rightmove? There is no real difference in the portals. They have different interfaces and different agents will choose where they advertise.

    London Estate Agents

    Using the estate agents in the neighbourhood you’ve narrowed will provide you with more options and contact when new properties come to the market. Some of the common ones are Hamptons International, Foxtons, Knight Frank and Savills.

    A good way to check if an estate agent is reputable is that they are a part of the Property Ombudsman. I would also check their physical office, branding and online presence to see if that all matches and they are legit.

    The Aggregators

    Home.co.uk and Nestoria collate properties from across the various portals and act as a search engine for property listings across the web.

    Private Landlords

    OpenRent – is where private landlords list their rental properties. The properties will be managed directly by the landlord and not via an agency. The stock is not as abundant on OpenRent so you might not find the property you are looking for.

    I tend to avoid websites like Gumtree when searching for a flat as there are lots of scammers and less genuine listings.

    Finding a Rental Property in London that is Pet-Friendly

    Cat playing in a London flat
    How can someone say no to renting you a flat with London pets this cute!?

    Whatever your reason is for wanting to move to London, you’ll likely want to bring your pet along with you if you own one. They are such a big part of our lives!

    Is London a dog-friendly city? Yes, London is a dog-friendly place to live and is known as one of the most pet-friendly cities in the world. London offers plenty of beautiful walks and places to live that dogs will enjoy. 

    Even though London is one of the most pet and dog-friendly cities in the world, it will still take your time doing some research to figure out where the best place to live will be for you and your pet. Lets with Pets is a fantastic starting point as you’ll need to find a pet-friendly rental property, especially a dog-friendly one.

    If you have found an area that you already want to live in then make sure you speak to the lettings agent to help find you a pet-friendly rental property that isn’t overpriced. Do be prepared that this might take some time.

    Pet Renting Additions

    When shopping around for rental properties for you and your pet, consider making a “pet CV. Creating a “pet CV” can be similar to a person’s CV, but you should list the rental properties you’ve lived in with your pet before.

    Then you should also add “references,” like previous landlords and neighbours that can attest to how well-behaved your dog is. That way, you can persuade landlords to consider your pets when they might not otherwise have done so.

    Besides figuring out a beautiful place to rent for you and your dog when you live in London, you’ll also want to know about some fantastic places to go with your dog. We’ve developed a list of some of the best dog walks in London for you.

    The viewing

    Now that you’ve spotted some flats that you wish to view, and you’re all pumped for the viewing, you should have some questions on your list for the viewings.

    With the list of must-have this should be your starting point at the viewing to make sure it ticks all the boxes you were looking for. There are some additional questions and checks I’d recommend adding to the list when going on views.

    Questions to Ask When Viewing a Flat

    Financial Considerations

    How much is the rent and what is included? This would have been included in the advert but it’s always wise to reconfirm with the agent.

    How much of a deposit is required? What are the conditions for the landlord deducting money from the deposit? As per things to know as a renter there is a cap being placed on deposits so you shouldn’t be requested more than 5 weeks rent. Also if you wish to do the Zero Deposit Guarantee then ask the agent if they are offering this service.

    What are the estimated running costs of the property? Helps to get a sense of how much you will be paying in bills (unless the contract is bills included).

    Flat Considerations

    What type of boiler is there? In the UK there are generally two types of boilers;

    • Combi boiler is instant hot water.
    • Standard boiler will heat up water on a daily basis (as long as you have the right settings).

    Is it managed by the landlord or by the agent? Landlords can do find a tenant only or managed by the agent so this will give you an idea of who you will be speaking to when issues occur.

    Who is responsible for what? Depending on the type of flat there could be common areas, such as kitchens, gardens, courtyards or hallways to upkeep so its good to know what you will be responsible for.  

    Are repairs required? This will help form a part of your offer if there are issues you can state I would like x fixed before moving in.

    What’s the water pressure like? This was a massive issue in some of my flats but this was mainly the shower didn’t have enough pressure to shower in.

    Do kitchen appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers work? As most rentals come with white goods you should check that these are in working order and if any issues add this to the repairs.

    Can I decorate? Before making somewhere feel like home check what you’re allowed to do to the flat.  

    Put in an Offer

    Now that you’ve found a place you just have to put in an offer and get the contracts sorted!

    When you put in an offer then you need to put any terms you want them to meet, for example,

    • Adding furniture (beds, wardrobes etc)
    • Repairs

    Then stipulate:

    • the amount you wish to pay
    • break clause that you wish to have, for example, 6 months
    • the length of the contract
    • the date you want to move in

    The landlord will either accept or reject the offer which you can decide the next way forward from there.

    Signing the contract

    At the point of signing the contract make sure you check the following as a minimum:

    • the date
    • the terms you agreed
    • amounts
    • break clause
    • length of the contract
    • where your deposit is being held

    Inventory

    The landlord or agent should provide an inventory (or check-in report) which you agree before you move in.

    Make sure you agree with any amendments and as an extra safeguard, make sure that you take photos.

    If there is ever a dispute about the deposit at the end of tenancy this will make it easier.

    Once you are happy to sign it and keep a copy from your records.

    Meter Readings

    Last thing you want to be doing is paying for the previous tenants’ bills so check the meter readings before you move in.

    Contact details

    It’s in your rights to know the name and address of your landlord and agent including phone numbers. These to be used in the case of an emergency.

    How to Deal with Issues If They Occur

    Sometimes things don’t go well and if you are unable to resolve the issues with the agent or landlord then there are services to help support you. Here is a list of companies you can contact if issues do occur:

    • Citizens Advice – provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. They will be able to help you understand your contract, issues with break clauses, condition of the property and much more.
    • Shelter – housing and homelessness charity who offer advice and support.
    • Crisis – advice and support for people who are homeless or facing homelessness.
    • Your Local Housing Authority – to make a complaint about your landlord or agent, or about the condition of your property.
    • Money Advice Service – free and impartial money advice.
    • The Law Society – to find a lawyer.
    • Gas Safe Register – for help and advice on gas safety issues.
    • Electrical Safety First – for help and advice on electrical safety issues.
    • Marks Out Of Tenancy – information for current and prospective tenants.

    Let me know in the comments how your flat hunting is going and if you have any additional tips!

    More Living in the UK Articles

  • Can I Move to The UK Without a Job? How I Did

    Can I Move to The UK Without a Job? How I Did

    One of the most frequently asked questions before moving to the UK is, can I move to the UK without a job?

    Yes, you can move to the UK without a job if you have enough money to support yourself and if you are born to British parents or qualify for one of the following visa’s:

    • Tier 5 Youth Mobility (this is country and age-restricted)
    • UK Ancestry
    • Right to Abode
    • Spousal Visa (this includes if you have an EEA partner as well, will change for EEA after Brexit)
    • Student Visa (limited working hours)
    • Investor/ Set-up or run your own business
    • Exceptional Talent
    • And a few others…

    To check if you qualify for any of the visa’s above there is a check UK Visa questionnaire you can use here.

    Breakdown of Common UK Visa’s

    Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa

    If you are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Monaco, Hong Kong, Taiwan or the Republic of Korea and between the ages of 18 and 30 the Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa could be the one for you.

    It’s a perfect visa for those who want to move aboard, plus the UK is a great base for travel. Although this visa cannot be extended and means after the 2-year term has ended you will have to leave the UK, obtain sponsorship or another visa.

    What you will need for a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa:

    • Your passport
    • £1,890 in the bank
    • Visa fee plus the healthcare surcharge

    Some professions will require you to be certified in the UK or have restrictions on certain jobs so do some research beforehand. For example, my friend couldn’t work as a pharmacist on her New Zealand qualification so she’s had to work as pharmacist’s assistant.

    UK Ancestry Visa

    If you have a grandparent born in the UK and are a Commonwealth citizen you may be eligible for a UK Ancestry Visa. Not only does this visa cover you moving to the UK but this visa can be extended to your family members or dependants (including unmarried and same-sex partners).

    After spending 5 years in the UK, you can switch from the UK Ancestry to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) which is permanent residency and then naturalise after being on IRL for a year.

    What you will need for a UK Ancestry Visa:

    • Your Passport
    • Birth certificate
    • Parent birth certificate
    • Grandparent birth certificate
    • Potentially your grandparents’ and parents’ marriage certificates
    • Savings in your bank account – no official guidelines
    • Visa fee plus the healthcare surcharge.

    Read more about applying for your UK Ancestry Visa here…

    Right to Abode

    If you have a British parent then you might be eligible to apply for a ‘right of abode’. Essentially as the child of a British citizen, you have the right to permanent residency. This is a right you inherited at birth.

    What you will need for Right to Abode:

    • One of your parents was born in the UK and a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies when you were born or adopted
    • You were a Commonwealth citizen on 31 December 1982
    • You didn’t stop being a Commonwealth citizen (even temporarily) at any point after 31 December 1982.
    • Evidence of employment in the UK (if applicable)
    • Financial evidence – bank statements, term deposit statements etc.
    • Letter of invitation from a British citizen living in the UK (not mandatory, but preferential)
    • Proof of relationship documents – your birth certificate, your mother’s birth certificate (grandparents are not required)
    • Evidence of accommodation upon arrival (this can be a hotel booking or your referee in their letter of invitation can state that you are staying with them, even if this is not a long-term arrangement).

    Read more about applying for your Right to Abode here…

    Spousal Visa

    Are you or your partner a British citizen, EEA National or settled in the UK (they have ‘indefinite leave to remain’ or proof of permanent residence) and you’ve been living together for more than two years or are married? Then you could be elidable for a spousal visa.

    What you will need for a Spousal Visa:

    • A civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK; or
    • Prove that you have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years
    • A plan that you will marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving
    • Be capable of speaking English to a good level
    • Proof that you can financially support yourself
    • Visa fee plus the healthcare surcharge.

    Can a US Citizen Live in the UK?

    US Passport money and flag

    It’s not as easy for an American to move to the UK like it is for Australian, Canadian or Kiwi. The most common type of visas for US citizen is a student, work or family visas.

    Tier 2 Sponsorship visa is your best bet unless you have met the love of your life that’s a UK Citizen or someone that can have a spouse on their visa like the UK Ancestry. Sponsorship does defeat the purpose of moving without a job but it is a great option if you can find a placement.

    Another option is if you have a UK heritage where your mum, dad or yourself were born in the UK you can get a passport.

    If you have a Canadian (or another Commonwealth country) passport you could also look into your eligibility to get a youth mobility visa.

    The Tier 4 Student visa is also an option but there will be restrictions for the adult and child visa types. The adult visa will allow you to work up to 20 hours as long as it doesn’t interfere with your studies.

    Lastly the Tier 1 visa’s can be an option if you have enough money to get an investor, get an entrepreneur or bring your own business to the UK.

    Use the link in the above section to see what you qualify for or consult with an immigration lawyer for the best options for you.

    How to Move to the UK Without a Job

    Many people have made the move like myself and it’s totally doable to move to the UK without a job. So how were myself and other successful? And if so, how did we go around finding employment once they got there?

    From here on out I am going to assume you’ve figured out that you have the ability to work in the UK and you are now ready to start with the next steps. This guide will walk you through the two to three fundamental steps of moving to the UK:

    • Do you have enough funds ready for the move?
    • Applying for your visa (if required)
    • How to successfully job search (with hints and tips)

    Do You Have Enough Funds Ready for the Move?

    How much money should you bring to the UK

    In my article how much money should I save to move to the UK I recommend bringing over £5,000 as a single person. The budget based on getting cheap accommodation like living in a hostel or moving into a shared house and without the visa cost included.

    You should consider an amount that will cover three months’ worth of accommodation, travel, food, six weeks’ worth of bond money, being without a job and some money for fun activities per person.

    You should also factor initial travel costs which can be another £50 to £1000 per person.

    If you are lucky enough to have friends and family to stay within the UK they will be a life saver. Saving you a ton of money on accommodation!

    You can also save money on travel cost by locating yourself near to a high street which will give you access to shops, parks and other facilities you may need. Being savvy with your money in general and knowing where to spend it will help the pocket too!

    Planning to move to a new place without any funds is always risky. It’ll put you in positions like:

    • accepting a job you may not want to do
    • not being able to support yourself if there are issues with the market
    • many other issues that crop up when finding a job
    • or 2020 hits the world and we have no idea whether they will have a job.

    Of course, this is fine if you are happy to accept the risk of not having enough savings.

    Speaking from experience, I didn’t have enough money saved when I moved here and it ended up with a ton of credit card debt.

    By making this mistake it meant having to go to my family and asking for my first months’ rent and bond.

    Moving overseas was totally worth it but if I had put it off by three to fourth months to have enough money would have been better for my financial stability. I ended up spending four years paying off my debt each month.

    How to Apply For A UK Working Visa (If Required)

    The biggest part of getting a UK work permit is the preparations, mainly, the time to save (unless you’ve got that all sorted). All working permits will have pre-requisites and the two common ones are:

    • English language requirement.
    • Financial maintenance for yourself and any family members.
    • Valid Passport – No matter where you’re from, you’ll need a valid passport in order to enter the UK.

    As a minimum, you will need to meet the financial requirements for your visa even if you don’t plan on moving with the recommendation mentioned above.

    Additionally, the visa cost can be quite expensive in itself with the IHS surcharge.

    I moved over on a UK Ancestry visa which is a 5-year working visa. It’s one of the more expensive visas as you have to pay for the IHS fee for every year of your visa a UK Ancestry Visa (i.e. 5 times £400 plus visa fee) which will set you back around £2,000 in fees alone.

    Not all visas are clear in the financial requirements so to be safe I always recommend using the Youth Mobility requirement which is £1,890 per person if there is no definition.

    Process for Applying for UK Visa’s

    Six to three months before you intend to arrive in the UK you can apply for a UK visa depending on your visa type. Applications go through the British Embassy or High Commission closest to you and tend to be quicker when dealt with in Commonwealth countries. Processing time, in general, is around 3 weeks but it is visa dependent.

    You can check the likely processing time for different nationalities on the UK government website.

    Applications are started online, some visas are required to have your fingerprints and other biometric data recorded. This means that you will need to visit your nearest visa application centre (in your home country) to have your biometric data processed.

    If you’re already in the UK (and need to switch your visa type or extend it for example) then you can apply at a UK based application centre. It’s highly unlikely you will be eligible to apply within the UK.

    The general application process will be as followed:

    • fill in the application form and answer in English
    • pay the health surcharge
    • pay for the visa fee online (in most cases)
    • print out your form
    • book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre
    • have your biometrics taken (fingerprints and photo) for a biometric residence permit

    What Happens If I Don’t Qualify for One Those Visas?

    If you can’t meet any of the above then you will need to look into sponsorship which will require a job before you can move to the UK.

    The visa structure means that your employer needs to be licensed before you can be considered for sponsorship.

    Depending on the Tier 2 visa types you could also be evaluated against the points system and appear on the shortage occupation list. Make sure you double-check that the employer has a license or is willing to apply for one and for a better chance that your job is on the shortage list.

    Alternatively, tier 1 visas could be an option if you have the exceptional talent, business or investor.

    How to Successfully Job Search (Hints And Tips)

    Finding a job in the UK can either be really easy or hard depending on your profession. London is very competitive and generally always has been.

    It’s never affected my ability to get a job, with motivation and determination you will get there.

    However, some industries are having a rough time with Brexit like the property industry and there have been redundancies with the downturn of the market.

    My day job is as an IT project manager and on average each job it has taken me one month to land a job. I was willing to accept any job when I arrived so my first job in the UK was actually as an Information Manager not as a Project Manager.

    After 9 months of deciding I wanted to stay in the UK I took a lower-level role as Project Coordinator. After another 9 months I moved on to be a Project Manager again and since then all my jobs have been as a Project Manager for the last 4 years.

    The main ways I applied for these jobs was through jobs boards, connecting with recruiters and individual companies.

    Here are 10 tips to get you started:

    1. In this day and age social media plays a big part in our lives. Check that your Facebook and social media presence is boss proof. Google yourself. Might be a bit awkward if they find a compromising photo of you.
    2. Update your resume, LinkedIn, any portfolios and general documents that go with job hunting. Then ensure on LinkedIn that you have ticked that you are open to new opportunities and are following influencers in your industry. LinkedIn is a popular tool in the UK to find jobs, I get a message at least every week from recruiters asking whether I want to apply for xyz job.
    3. Have a UK number – no one wanted to speak to my mum whilst she had an Australian number.
    4. In the UK the majority of jobs go through recruiters and they typically specialise in fields. Target recruiters that may suit your career by looking at who is advertising the job suitable for you.
    5. Register with the largest employment websites like Monster, Indeed, Total Jobs, and Job Site.
    6. Upload your resume to these job sites like Monster and Indeed. One of my bosses always recommended doing this on a Sunday so you are in the first batch that week recruiters are sifting through.
    7. When you find a job to apply to tailor your application to suit. You should be demonstrating your experience and utilising examples of how you meet the job description.
    8. In your cover letter and resume you could go beyond the role itself and look at the objectives of the organisation at large then help solve for those in your application.
    9. Be ready to write your resume to address different application requirements.
    10. Allow extra time for travel in case of some unforeseen event especially if you are new to the area. It is almost impossible to recover from being late to an interview.

    More Living in the UK Articles

  • Exchanging a Foreign Licence for a UK Drivers Licence

    Exchanging a Foreign Licence for a UK Drivers Licence

    Now that you have finally settled down in the UK it’s time to exchange your license to a UK drivers license. It’s a pretty easy process to exchange your licence once you’ve been here for over 185 days.

    Why Should You Change Your Foreign Driving License To The UK One?

    The reason I changed my licence is because I was tired of everyone looking my Australian licence asking is this “valid” when I was buying alcohol, using it as proof of ID and I couldn’t use it as proof of address. The main benefits for you changing your licence are:

    • Proof of Address – One of the benefits of having a UK licence is that it is the most convenient Proof of Address you can have. Before having my licence I needed to carry my passport around when I needed to something at the bank and requiring me to remember in advance with having my UK licence I didn’t need to worry.
    • Cheaper Car Insurance – Most companies offer cheaper car insurance for full UK driving license holders. I recently tested this on confused.com to see whether it was true using VOLVO V60 SE T3 as the car model of choice. The first quote with my Australian licence came to £2924.32 and the second quote using my UK licence came to £937.56. It’s worth making the switch if you are planning to buy a car to save those £££’s.
    • Continue driving in the UK – If you wish to continue driving in the UK you must change your licence after 12 months of staying in the UK on a foreign licence. I waited 3 years before exchanging mine however I don’t really drive in the UK. You can exchange it up to 5 years after becoming resident if it hasn’t expired.

    Can You Get A UK Driving Licence On A Visa?

    As long as your visa allows you to hold a permanent address in the UK and have lived in the country for at least 185 days of the last year you will be able to get a UK drivers licence. For example:

    • Tier 5 Youth Mobility
    • UK Ancestry
    • Right to Abode
    • Spousal Visa
    • Student Visa
    • And others…

    How to Exchange a Foreign Licence for a UK Drivers Licence

    The process for exchanging your licence is (note that this is only for England, Scotland and Wales, Northern Ireland has its own process).

    Check If Your Country Has A Reciprocal Exchange Agreements

    To exchange your licence your home country must be a ‘designated country’ (countries with exchange agreements with Great Britain), the countries in this agreement are; Andorra, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.

    The application does ask which country your licence was issued in and where you passed your test. If you didn’t pass in one of the above countries you will have to complete a driving test. You will be able to drive on your licence for 12 months before requiring to exchange.

    Complete driving test (if required)

    Countries that don’t have a reciprocal agreement you will need to apply for a UK provisional licence and pass the UK practical test. It’s not required that you take any driving lessons before taking the test but it could be helpful to familiarise yourself with the UK rules.

    Check out this handy little tool to see if you can drive in the UK on your non-UK drivers licence.

    A Copy of Your Licence or Proof of Entitlement Letter From The Issuing Authority

    You need a copy of your drivers’ license or proof of entitlement letter from the issuing authority confirming your licence is valid with all of your details etc. and send that in with your application in the UK. Saves you having to re-order another licence.

    When I was in Australia I said my licence was lost and paid for a new one. Plus got a new photo whilst I was at it.

    If you passed your driving test in Canada or New Zealand you will need to provide proof that you can drive a manual gearbox if you want a manual license.

    Manual or Automatic Licence

    Your licence should be switched to the type of licence you had in your home country so in Australia I had a manual licence and when I exchange I also received a manual drivers licences. The same happened when my sister applied, she has an automatic licence and received an automatic licence back.

    Order Form D1 From The Driver And Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)

    D1 Instructions and Form
    D1 Instructions and Form

    The easiest way to get a D1 form is by ordering it online, otherwise post offices should have copies of the form.

    Get A Passport Sized Photo

    You will one standard UK Passport size photo to send with your application. Just like a passport the photo is valid for 10 years so make sure you look your best ?.

    Where to get photos? I always end up going to Snappy Snaps for my passport photos as there are so many around. They will ask you what type of photo you require and provide the correct type.

    Complete the D1 Form

    Simply complete the two page form. If you need any help there is also a guide to support the application.

    Send the Application with Your Documentation

    D1 form and ID
    D1 form, Australian license and biometrics card.

    You will need to include:

    • Completed D1 form
    • Passport Photo
    • Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) (if you’re on a visa)
    • Your licence or proof of entitlement letter from the issuing authority
    • £43 fee – As I don’t have cheque book I decided to get a postal order to pay the £43
    • Self-addressed registered post envelops (optional)

    If you arrived in the UK on a British passport then you just need to add your passport in the application and you will not need to send your passport off with the application.

    Please note: If you don’t provide a self-addressed registered post envelope then your documents will be posted back to you in second class post. DVLA will not compensate for any loss or delay in the return of your documents. I highly recommend paying extra for the registered post envelope for a piece of mind.

    How to Pay Via Postal Orders and Checks

    For some reason the DVLA only accepts cheques! The easiest way to get one is a postal order from the post office. The cheque will cost 12.5% of the value order which will be £5.37 on top of the £43. Simply go up to the counter, ask for a postal order to the DVLA Swansea and one will be produced with the correct amount.

    Alternatively, you can visit your bank or credit union’s branch to request a counter cheque. Make sure you check with your bank branch before you make a trip there and see if counter cheques are available. If you use an online bank like Monzo this option won’t be open to you.

    Make sure you add your name and date of birth or licence number on the back of the cheque.

    Where should I send the application?

    The application should be sent to:
    DVLA
    Swansea
    SA99 1BT

    I sent mine by registered post and included an addressed registered post envelope so it could be tracked when my documents were returned. Your new UK licence and identity documents will be sent separately.

    How long does it take to get a driving license UK?

    Allow about 3 weeks for your driving licence to be sent to you. This can take longer if they need to check your health or personal details.

    Understanding Your UK Driving Licence and the Codes

    On the back of your UK licence there will be a table of vehicles (categories) and licence codes which state what you can and can’t drive.

    If you have a standard licence then chances are yours will say something similar to mine. My exchanged licence it says I can drive the following categories and with the associated conditions:

    • AM which is a 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled vehicle with a maximum design speed of over 25km/h (15.5mph) but not more than 45km/h (28mph) if I comply with code 122 (see below).
    • A with restriction of 79 (3) which is motor tricycles with a power output more than 15kW.
    • B1 which is basically a quad bike.
    • B the one we are most likely to drive, a car. It’s exchanged to a full licence, if you had an automatic licence it would say 70, 78 which is restricted to vehicles with automatic transmission.
    • BE I can drive a car with a trailer.

    The codes determine what conditions are on your licence. Here is a quick highlight of the codes I think are most common:

    • 01 – eyesight correction, for example, glasses or contact lenses
    • 70 – exchange of licence
    • 71 – a duplicate of the licence
    • 78 – restricted to vehicles with automatic transmission
    • 79 – restricted to vehicles in conformity with the specifications stated in brackets on your licence
    • 79 (2) – restricted to category AM vehicles of the 3-wheel or light quadricycle type
    • 79 (3) – restricted to tricycles
    • 122 – valid on successful completion: Basic Moped Training Course 125 – tricycles only (for licences issued before 29 June 2014).

    For more information on the code here.

    Video on How to Get a UK Driving Licence

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  • How to Build a Credit Score as a New UK Resident

    How to Build a Credit Score as a New UK Resident

    When moving to the UK I had no idea I would be starting from scratch with my credit score (totally naïve of me!). No matter how good or bad your credit score is in your home country you will be starting from zero when you move to the UK.

    Whether you’ve just moved to the UK or been here for a couple of year this article will cover who the credit agencies are, what they generally look for and how to build your credit score as a new resident.

    Stay tuned until the end to hear about the drama I had getting a phone contract and contactless card.

    Who Are the Credit Reference Agencies (CRA) in the UK?

    The UK has three Credit Reference Agencies (CRA) that lenders generally use to verify you when you are applying for credit. Just to keep us on our toes the credit scores are not standardised so each one will score your credit differently.

    Here is Experian, Equifax and TransUnion (the three CRA’s) score breakdown from very poor to excellent:

    Agency
    Score
    Rating
    Experian
    0-560
    561-720
    721-880
    881-960
    961-999
    Very poor
    Poor
    Fair
    Good
    Excellent
    Equifax
    0-279
    280-379
    380-419
    420-465
    466-700
    Very poor
    Poor
    Fair
    Good
    Excellent
    TransUnion (formerly Callcredit)
    0-550
    561-565
    566-603
    604-627
    628-710
    Very poor
    Poor
    Fair
    Good
    Excellent

    Here’s what my basic credit report looks like with Experian:

    basic credit report

    What is Included and Not Included in my Credit Score Rating?

    Even though your credit score will be totally blank as a new resident of the UK it’s good to know the factors that you are measured on.

    What’s included:

    • Name, address and date-of-birth.
    • Past credit applications.
    • Credit repayment history, including late or missed payments.
    • Your existing debt.
    • Your electoral register presence.
    • Any joint credit cards or loans.
    • If you’ve been declared bankrupt or have an IVA.
    • Any county court judgements (CCJs).
    • Current account turnover.

    What’s not included:

    • Student loans.
    • Medical history.
    • Council tax arrears.
    • Criminal record.
    • Parking or driving fines.

    What Credit Scores Affect

    Here’s a quick overview of how your credit score can affect major finance areas:

    • Mortgages – Poor scores will simply get you rejected. Work to improve this before you look at buying a property. 
    • Credit cards – whether you will be accepted and the rates you will be offered, 
    • Loans – same as credit cards. 
    • Utility bills – as they share data between themselves it’s important you pay your bills on time. 
    • Mobile phones – generally as you are spreading the price of the handset so this is counted as a loan. If you are rejected you won’t get a contract and will need to pay as you go.
    • Car and home insurance – Opting for monthly payments means that the insure is giving you a loan for the money over the year and generally charging you interest. They will run a credit check for this. It’s cheaper to get yearly insurance due to this. Even when you use comparison markets for insurance they will run soft credit checks to provide you quotes from insurance companies.

    Here are 12 Simple Steps You Can Do to Build Your Credit Score as a New UK Resident

    1. Get a UK Address

    London flat block in Peckham.
    London flat block in Peckham.

    As a new UK resident finding accommodation will be high on your list anyway as you need somewhere to live! Having a UK address is one of the few common denominators that is shared across your credit accounts. Therefore, you do need a permanent address in order to get credit as it forms part of the data shared with credit agencies.

    What do credit agencies use your address for?

    • to confirm your identity.
    • to match all your credit information to you.

    When providing your address it’s important to always write it in the same format. For example, Flat 5, 64 verse 5/64 can impact some of your applications. It’s best to keep it consistent so you don’t have any issues with your credit reports.

    Another thing to be mindful of is any type of credit, the lender will ask you to address history over the past three years. For example, if you apply for a sim-only contract on a phone companies website you might get rejected whereas going into a store you can be accepted. This has happened to me, I was accepted in store but rejected online as I was unable to provide the address history. 

    How Does Your Address Affect Your Credit Score?

    Credit agencies use your address to determine how you have handled credit in the past.

    ClearScore states that things like what area you lived in and who lived at your address before you shouldn’t have an impact on your score.

    The one thing to be careful of is how much you move could indirectly affect your ability to get credit. Lenders look for stability in people’s credit scores so moving can indicate that you have a number of issues.

    At the end of the day, you can’t avoid moving so don’t worry too much but be mindful if you move 3 or 4 times a year then lenders will be cautious about lending money.

    2. Open and Manage a Bank Account

    Setting up a HSBC UK Bank Account

    Opening a bank account can be challenging in the UK and a bit of a catch 22 as a new resident. You need proof of address to open a bank account but then you don’t have the proof and so on it goes.

    Get a Bank Account Before Moving

    To make things simpler before moving to the UK, see if you can open a bank account for the UK in your home country, banks like Citibank and HSBC offer these services. Just be aware that this could cost you money to open an account internationally.

    Allow at least one month before you leave to open one of these.

    Get a Traditional Bank Account in the UK

    To get an account with one of the high street banks like Lloyds, Santander, Barclays, HSBC or NatWest you will need to do this by attending an interview and bring the following information:

    • Your passport (mandatory).
    • Biometric Residence Permit (mandatory if you are on a UK visa).
    • A letter of employment (bank-dependent), proof of address which can be a rental contract or bills in your name to a UK address (mandatory) and potentially a letter from your current bank advocating you as a customer (bank-dependent).

    When I struggled to get a bank account, I used Britbound service to help me. They have a package for a UK Bank Account and Sarah makes the process really easy. The only downfall is the appointments must be in London with the bank they have the relationship with. If you are moving somewhere else in the UK this might not be the best option. 

    Challenger Bank/App Focused Bank Account

    Challenger banks were created as digital-only banks in the UK. They are an alternative to the traditional high street banks. They will provide you an app as the base to run your banking needs. 

    I recommend looking into Starling, Monzo and Revolut as options for your banking needs. Both Starling and Monzo are FSCS protected which means if they go out of business your money is protected up to £85,000. 

    Revolut and Wise use safeguarding as their means of protecting your money which means they have to hold the equivalent amount of money in a safeguarded account. If they went under then this money is used to return your money. 

    I currently use Monzo for my everyday spending and Wise for all of my international transfers, plus parts of my business banking. Most of my income is paid in USD so this is a perfect solution as in between the bank and saves on exchange fees. 

    To open an account with a Challenger Bank:

    • Have a UK phone number (you generally will get rejected if you don’t have a UK number).
    • Download the app of your prefered bank.
    • Provide proof of your identity by taking a photo of your passport.
    • An address where you can receive the debit card.

    How Does Your Bank Account Affect Your Credit Score?

    Bank accounts will affect your scores if you do things like switch banks too regularly or if you switch before you apply for a big loan, an overdraft or credit card when you don’t need it.

    As a new resident, you may end up with a bank account that wasn’t exactly what you wanted to start off with. Once you’ve got yourself settled, shop around until you find the right bank or financial institution and then switch.

    If you plan on switching bank accounts look for the seven-day switching service. This means that you are not stuck in limbo when switching bank accounts and if you forget to change a payment like your salary or direct debits and standing orders these will be transferred into your new account.

    3. Show Proof of Employment

    Getting a job is probably high on your to-do list when! The benefit of having a job is to show that you have a regular income and a salary to pay for things like debt.

    How Does Your Employment Affect Your Credit Score?

    When you first arrive, you may struggle get a mobile phone contract or a credit card. Once lenders see regular payments into your bank accounts this should make the process easier.

    4. Get on the Electoral Roll

    When you register to vote, your electoral details are recorded on your credit report. The confirmation of your name and address boosts up your credit rating after 30 days.

    This is only applicable if your nationality allows you to be eligible to vote. For example; EEA citizens and Commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

    If your nationality isn’t one that allows you to vote, for example, US citizens then you can request a Notice of Correction to your credit report. You will need to sign-up to a credit agency and get a report run first and then explain the reasons why you can’t register to vote.

    You can register vote two ways, either online or by post. The local council will send a letter to your household each year requesting you to confirm the voters at that address.

    How Does Your Electoral Roll Affect Your Credit Score?

    You could be missing out on additional points which will boost your overall credit score rating.

    Voting isn’t mandatory in the UK so if this isn’t something that you don’t wish to do then it’s fine.

    5. Manage Small Credit Accounts

    Stack of credit cards

    Building credit through forms of credit such as a mobile phone contract or credit card will help build your score steadily. When you have no credit history the types of credit cards you can apply for will have higher interest rates and lower credit limits.

    With mobile phone contracts, you may find you can only apply for a SIM-only contract while you build your credit score (I have a funny story about this which I will add to the end).

    Showing lenders that you can manage a line of credit and pay those bills on time is key to level up to kick-a** adulting skills/ building your score. Once established you can move on to the actual type of credit cards or phone contract you wish to have.

    Just to answer questions on forums like:

    Can I get a credit card on a Youth Mobility Visa or UK Ancestry Visa?

    Yes, you can! Being a resident, you will be able to apply for a card, you just may need to start with a credit builder credit card as it’s likely you have no credit score.

    At the moment I only have one credit card with American Express and a phone contract which I will be changing to a SIM-only contract. I did have an overdraft which I cancelled as I no longer need to after having a credit card. This was all while I was on my UK Ancestry visa.

    Credit Builder Credit Cards

    Here are a few options for cards to start off building your credit with are:

    • Capital One Balance Transfer Card
    • Chrome Credit Card
    • Tesco Bank Foundation Clubcard Credit Card
    • Chrome Credit Card
    • Aqua classic Credit Card

    Find out more about Credit Builder Credit Cards at uSwitch or Money.

    AMEX Card

    American Express makes the move abroad seamless for 20 countries. This is a great option if you’re an existing member or look at applying for one a few months in advance so you can make the switch. Once you move, let them know and they will transfer your card across. 

    What you must have: 

    • An eligible American Express Card.
    • A home address.
    • A phone number.

    Don’t have an Amex Card? Use my referral link to get started. I currently have the British Airways points card. This is great for collecting air miles and if you meet the companionship vouchers these are amazing for long-distance flights. I’ve flown to Mexico for £300 return in the past. 

    How Does Your Small Credit Accounts Affect Your Credit Score?

    Several factors can affect your credit score when it comes to credit like payment history, length of credit history, types of credit and new credit lines. It all comes down to managing your credit lines, so:

    • Making sure your payments are on time and you don’t miss any.
    • Establishing a longer-term credit line so getting accounts you actually want in the long run.
    • Type of credit you have has an impact so having a mortgage, student loans, credit card debt, medical bills or retail accounts will be factored in when applying for credit.
    • Opening too many new credit lines, this will increase your risk factor and flag to lenders.

    6. Set Up Direct Debit Payments

    Look at setting up direct debits for your personal loans, credit cards, phone bill, rent or household build as it allows you to pay your bills on time.

    As each accommodation arrangement is different this will depend on how your bill arrangement is set up, live in or private landlords may want to manage the household bills whereas renting or owning your own bills means you can manage it however you want. The more you establish yourself in the UK you can build on establishing direct debit payments.

    How Does Direct Debits Affect Your Credit Score?

    Late payments will damage your credit score, even one late payment can affect your credit score. Direct debits help ensure that you always pay your bills on time and don’t have to worry about remembering all those dates.

    7. Don’t Apply for Credit too Often

    Hard searches (when credit is applied for) are noted on your report so applying for credit you are not ready for will have an impact. It’s best to wait until you have built a credit score before applying for bigger credit lines.

    Check with Experian, Equifax or TransUnion before applying to see if you will make the cut and be successful with that credit line. See if you can find any information about what the lenders are looking for as well.

    You can run soft searches for credit that you are likely to be accepted for. This is used in things like when you get a quote for car insurance and it doesn’t affect your credit score. 

    How Does Applying for Credit too Often Affect Your Credit Score?

    I’ve mentioned this just above it will be noted on your report so having 10 hard searches on your report won’t make you look favourable to lenders.

    When I was having issues getting a mobile phone I only tried twice over the year before I was successful the third time. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t have too many marks on my score.

    8. Close Accounts You No Longer Use

    Keeping nice and tidy accounts shows to financial companies your suitability for credit and how much credit you already have available to you.

    This is a balancing act as you don’t want too many short relationships and it can be better to leave them inactive. It can give you a short-term boost closing them when you need it. 

    How Does Having Too Many Account Affect Your Credit Score?

    A bit of a balancing act is needed as the length of the accounts also is factored into your credit score. Have a look at your report before closing accounts. Potentially you could see a dip in your credit score but nothing that should stop you from getting credit.

    9. Check Your Credit Report and See If There Are Any Errors

    Finance error report

    After you’ve been here a while and are established, start looking at ordering a copy of your credit file. These can be ordered online for a small fee from the websites of the three main credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Alternatively, you can sign up to the websites to monitor your score (some do come with a monthly fee).

    Check if you have any errors and ensure any notice of corrections are added to your file.

    I currently use Experian to check my credit scores as they offer a free report to see how my score is growing and then a paid service if you want to dive deeper into your records.

    10. Consider Tools like LOQBOX To Improve Your Score

    Companies like LOQBOX help build your credit score. Think of it as a digital piggy bank but it’s reported as loan repayments to the credit reference agencies. This shows that you can handle credit and improve your score. 

    When using this option make sure you can make the payments, if you are unable to make the payments then do cancel your account and avoid any impacts on your reports. 

    Read the fine print before joining these companies. Here’s some feedback from a friend on their experience with LOQBOX: 

    For LOQBOX make sure you currently have income and your credit score is high enough to apply for an overdraft. There’s nothing to imply the account they link you to set up does a credit check but it does. It is a savings account with TSB that has an “optional overdraft”, however in their experience this was not optional. Since the “savings” account required a credit check and she was unemployed their application got declined and their credit score went down. 

    They thought from LOQBOX was only a savings account and didn’t require employment for using the service. 

    12. When Applying for Credit

    Here are some things to be mindful of when applying for credit. 

    The application form – fill in the form correctly with your key details, one slip such as entering your salary wrong can impact your application. Also, inconsistency can raise your fraud scoring like different job titles, the way you write your address, phone number, etc. 

    Previous dealings with the lender – companies will assess your past data/dealings with them. For example, you may find your bank is more willing to lend you money than an alternative bank as you have a rapport with them. However, if you’ve had problems then they might make it harder to get accepted there as well. 

    Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit files – I’ve detailed at the start of this article what credit agencies will look for but in summary: 

    • Electoral roll information.
    • Court records.
    • Search, address and linked data. 
    • Utilities such as gas and electricity firms (as they do hard checks).
    • Account data. Banks, building societies, credit cards etc.

    Fraud data – if you have committed fraud or someone has stolen your identity and committed the fraud then this will be held on file. 

    Why I Couldn’t Get A Mobile Phone and How It Was Resolved

    A couple of years ago I tried to get a phone on a contract and I was rejected! I couldn’t understand why it was so I mentioned this to my boyfriend and he’s like have you checked your credit score? I had not even considered that I needed a credit score to get a phone! I look at my credit score and it was fair but not good or excellent.

    I spoke to my boyfriend again, he’s like have you register to the Electoral Roll? Nope, I had not done and at the time had no idea it would affect my credit score so much. Off I go to apply to be on the Electoral Roll. Waited a couple of months for it to apply on the credit report (it takes around 30 days) but during this time I had been given a new work phone so I just switched over to that one for a while.

    Year and a half later I try again! It fails yet again, no idea why! Since then I had applied for a credit card and I was enrolled to vote. I also had bills in my name for quite sometime, these were on direct debit and managing my credit lines well. I didn’t check my credit score because I was trying to save money by not paying the fee with Experian as I had already completed the free trial.

    Fast forward a couple of months I was trying to pay my credit card and the payments were failing. My bank calls me and asks me to confirm my details, but they kept failing. I had no idea what was going on, I was getting my birthday right, after all, it’s my birthday.

    After back and forth with the bank, I have to go into the bank to show my ID to prove who I am. Turns out that my birthday was out by 5 days! All this time my birthday had been incorrect, super strange.

    When the whole birthday sager settles down I reapply for the phone and it was successful.

    Huzzah I finally got there after a series of being rejected.

    Not Being Approved for Contactless

    My sister moved here a couple of years after I had been living here. She applies for a bank account and upon opening an account she was given a contactless card but I wasn’t. I ask my bank to switch me to contactless and they just tell me I’m not eligible for one with no explanation. As she didn’t have any credit score yet again I am confused why I can’t get contactless.

    I ask a couple of times confused why I couldn’t get one and still no answer. I forget the whole issue for while, after all, it stops quick spending.

    Then not long ago I lose my wallet (after the whole birthday incident) and ask for a replacement card. Open the mail a couple of days later and to my surprise, there was a contactless card. It seems that the birthday issue had been affecting my finances this whole time.

    Do you have any tips building your credit score in the UK? Any disastrous stories that impacted your score? Let me know in the comments below.

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