Migrating to somewhere else is a massive decision not to be taken lightly. It took me 6 months to research the UK and make a decision to come over, then another 1 year to do all the plannings.
I am not trying to tell you that you should do the same, but to make your decision to relocate to the UK, or, to affirm your decision, I’ve made this article to summarise all the reasons that pulled me all the way here.
Apparently, the United Kingdom is one of the top desired immigration destinations with over 200,000 people moving to the UK every year. As I newly arrived, I certainly experienced many pros that affirmed my decision to relocate to the UK. However, the move doesn’t come without its downsides and life changes as well.
If you’re debating the pros and cons of immigrating to the UK, this post outlines key factors I learned after living here as an immigrant. Hopefully my first-hand experience provides helpful perspective as you weigh the decision for your own situation.
Table of Contents
Why You Should Relocate to the UK
Here are some of the biggest advantages that the UK offers as a destination for immigrants:
Reason 1: English Speaking Country
This is perhaps the strongest reason why I came. Who would want to move to a place where you need to learn a new language from scratch?
As you are reading my post, I am pretty sure that your English level is more than enough to survive in the UK. To be honest, English is not my native language, and Brits have generally been very forgiving and understanding when I speak with accent or grammatical mistakes.
They obviously won’t patronise you by deliberately speaking slower (which is seen as quite offensive to most non-native speakers here), but if you ask them to repeat once more, they are always happy to do so.
You may argue that the UK is not the only English-speaking country, why shouldn’t we choose the US, Canada, Australia or other English-speaking areas that you can think of instead? Well, let’s continue to read to understand about the more unique features of Britain.
Reason 2: Multicultural
If you are classed as an ethnic minority in the UK, you might be glad that you are not the only one here. Indeed, the UK is a multicultural country with large immigrant populations exist from all over the world.
If you are keen to live with people that share the same origin as you, it is relatively easy to find cultural communities particularly in bigger cities, such as London, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. These cities tend to have more international supermarkets, restaurants and events to make integration easier too.
Reason 3: Universal Healthcare
The National Health Service (NHS) is the one thing that most Brits are extremely proud of. It has an ultimate aim to provide free-to-delivery care to everyone in the UK, including its residents, visitors and overseas students. Even if you are holding a visa without a resident status, the NHS fee has already been included in what you paid for the visa, so calling an ambulance and seeking medical care here is absolutely free!
As I am used to a broken healthcare system in my country in which every single medical consultation is a choice between a 5-year wait or an extremely expensive private fee, the NHS comes as a surprise to me.
I still can’t believe that I can see a GP (a primary care doctor in the UK) without paying a penny when I first relocate to the UK, though I have to wait for several weeks for a non-urgent appointment. However, when it comes to truly urgent case, it is common for the GP to escalate it and see us within a day.
Reason 4: Strong Employment Market
Being one of the international hubs in the world, the UK offers enormous amount of job opportunities. Just to give an example, home working jobs are almost non-existent in my area due to technological restraints, however this has been widely adopted in the UK and I easily found a part-time work-from-home job after relocating to the UK to supplement my income.
I also used to work in a MNC company in my home country, but due to market restraint my division was a relatively small one with very limited opportunities to climb up the ladder. However, the UK is the home to many headquarters of MNCs – Astra Zeneca, GSK, Reckitt, Burberry and Pearson are just a few examples. Needless to say, working in the headquarters naturally maximise your opportunities.
Reason 5: World Class Education
Oxford and Cambridge are perhaps the two most famous universities in the world, comparable to Harvard in the US. Other than that, it also has three other reputable universities in the G5, also known as the Golden Triangle: Imperial College London, the London School of Economics (LSE) and University College London (UCL). I studied in one of the Russell’s Group University, which is a prestigious group containing 24 universities including the G5, and it offered one of the best experience you could have by providing world-class education through great tutors and classmates!
Apart from its university, the private education here is also excellent despite being extremely expensive. The Eton College (the school that the royals love to go to), Westminster School, Winchester College are just a few to name. If you have children and want them to receive the best education, these are places to go. Grammar schools, on the other hand, are also fab if you are concerned of money but still want to provide a high standard of education to your children. They are state-funded, but academically selected schools.
Reason 6: Rich Culture and Heritage
Ever watched Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes or Pride and Prejudice, and wondered where all these marvellous pieces originated from? UK is the place for you!
As I am a huge fan of Harry Potter, I went to the Kings Cross Station in London, the Shambles in York, the University of Oxford and the Harry Potter Studio just to admire what it’s like being in the places that it was filmed or inspired. The interesting thing with the UK is that it is very old-looking, but its historical buildings are all well kept.
Its musical theatres are also as famous as its films. The Phantom of the Opera and Harry Potter drama is just two most famous examples among the many.
Explore castles, palaces, cathedrals, and ancient sites scattered across the country. Immerse yourself in world-class museums, theatres, galleries, and live music venues. Wander the footsteps of Shakespeare, Austen, Dickens, and many more literary giants. From vibrant carnivals to quirky local traditions, there’s always something to celebrate.
Reason 7: Work-Life Balance
The working culture in the UK is very humane. Unlike where I came from, the UK emphasises the importance of leaving on time and view it as a basic human right. If you stay behind voluntarily just to complete your work, your colleagues and seniors will strongly encourage you to leave to have your own life. You don’t have to overwork to show your loyalty at all if you don’t want to.
Also, if you are preparing to have your own kids in the near future, parental leave is actually a thing in the UK! To attract employers to work for their companies, it is common for private companies to include parental leave as one of its benefits. If you are going to become a dad, you can be paid while taking leave to care for your wife and your baby here!
Reason 8: Diversity and Tolerance
While I’ve mentioned that the UK is a multicultural country, race and colour certainly aren’t the only things that we should consider when thinking about diversity.
Though some forms of discrimination certainly exist (just like any other country), the UK maintains progressive attitudes and policies around inclusion, human rights and social support in the general society, schools and workplace.
LGBTQ rights are protected, and I am so surprised to see so many LGBTQ friends openly talking about their sexual orientation and this never happens in the conservative place that I came from! It is unusual for someone to judge you based on your personal choice and preference when choosing your very own partner and who you want to become.
Racism is illegal. Though racism happened on me before based on my colour, it occurred very rarely and mostly only when that person obviously has a severe mental condition (which is uncommon and I never take them personally). People will generally respect you as long as you are a sensible person.
Reason 9: Friendly and Polite People
“Mind your Ps and Qs!” Brits uphold a high standard of etiquette, they are educated to say “please” and “thank you” as commonly as they should. They also feel guilty for disturbing or causing inconvenience to others and say sorry very frequently.
Though this means you should also blend in and uphold the same standard, it feels nice to be surrounded by a friendly and polite group of people.
Reason 10: Safe to Live
Most cities in the UK are very safe to live, and I have to show my ID even when I’m just buying a small knife for cooking! No guns are allowed in the UK, and murder is almost unheard of.
The most severe crime that the UK has is shoplifting and burglary. I’ve seen kids stealing purses from a TKMaxx or filling their water bottles with Pepsi in Burger King which they didn’t pay for. For some reasons, once these kids grow up they will become significantly more educated than you would expect.
If you are looking for places that are completely free of crime, go for suburban and rural areas. It is crucial to do a research before you rent or buy a property about the local neighbourhood and crime rates before you relocate to the UK, my advice is to live away from city centre and council houses if you want to be absolutely safe.
For many, the UK offers the complete package in terms of economy, language, community, services and quality of life. The high standard of living acts as a strong magnet attracting newcomers to relocate to the UK.
Adjustments Needed After Relocating
Of course, immigrating to a new country inevitably involves tradeoffs and challenges as well:
1. Bureaucratic Immigration System
Navigating the UK’s complex visa system often requires legal help. Applications are lengthy. Fees and income minimums apply. Renewals are ongoing. Overall, establishing long-term residency involves hassle.
2. Strict Tax Compliance
Brits are sticklers for compliance. Non-residents must report and pay taxes on all worldwide assets and income. It’s imperative to get professional tax advice. Penalties for errors are severe.
3. High Cost of Living
Everything from housing, transportation and utilities is expensive, especially in cities like London. Grocery prices can be up to 30% higher than some countries. Just like any other places, salaries don’t necessarily rise proportionally to match the cost of living.
4. Housing Shortage
Limited available housing, competitiveness of markets and high rents make securing accommodation difficult, especially in desirable cities. Landlords often require substantial proof of income, which is hard when you have just relocated to the UK.
5. Weather Variability
Mild but rainier weather means constantly dealing with drizzle. Winters are dreary with short daylight hours, often causing a depressive emotional state known as the “Winter Blue”. Summer heatwaves are rarer, but can reach up to 40C. As a result, Brits are known to be obsessed with sunlight and often stay outdoors to enjoy sunbath when the weather is nice.
6. Cultural Differences
Brits can be seen as more reserved. Tacit etiquette rules exist for greetings, conversations, humour and behaviour. As an immigrant, you stand out and may unintentionally breach unspoken norms. Be sure to make some local friends when you relocate to the UK, and try to observe and learn from them in order to fit in.
7. Missing Home
Being far from family, lifelong friends and all that is familiar is difficult. Flights home are lengthy and costly. Overcoming homesickness while establishing a new support system takes time and effort. Make good use of technologies like Zoom or Skype to stay connected while you are still adjusting.
Ultimately relocating to any new country involves a period of adjustment. But for most immigrants, the United Kingdom’s strengths and opportunities outweigh the disadvantages. It’s simply a matter of going in informed and realistic. Get prepared for the adjustments needed and you are suited to relocate to the UK!
Key Takeaways to Relocate to the UK
To wrap up, here are quick pros vs cons:
Pros:
- English language
- Cosmopolitan communities
- NHS healthcare
- World class education
- Strong economy
- Work-life balance
- Diversity and inclusion
- Friendly and polite people
- Safe place to live
Cons:
- Visa hassles
- High taxes
- Housing shortages
- Dreary weather
- Cultural differences
- Homesickness
While challenging at times, life in the UK as an immigrant provides major advantages and an excellent quality of life. With realistic expectations about the country’s flaws too, most newcomers can adapt and thrive in their newly-chosen homeland.
Does this overview help summarise some of the key tradeoffs? Let me know if any resonate with your own experience as an immigrant to relocate to the UK! There are certainly both pros and cons to weigh.
