LifeX Blog
Moving to London a Step-by-Step Guide
Moving to London is sure to be an exciting adventure, as Europe’s largest city, there is truly something for everyone! It’s easily one of the most iconic cities in the world and you can be sure there will never be a dull moment. Throughout history, people from all over the world have been enchanted by London; it’s no wonder that it’s now one of the most diverse cities in the world and home to over 8.9 million people.
If you’re thinking about making London home, we’ve created a guide to help you sort out the paperwork, figure out where to live and to help you envision your life there. The guide is for EU citizens who are moving to London. Not an EU citizen? or moving to another city in England? No worries, this guide should still provide you with the foundation for what you will need to do - you will just need to modify a few things to fit your situation!
Keep Calm and Read On
Our guide covers everything from the initial steps you will need to follow, to how to settle in and kickstart your life in London! If you’re still making your plans to move to London this is sure to have some helpful tips for you 🇬🇧
In the guide you will find:
- The prerequisites, such as securing a valid long-term rental contract (LifeX can help 😉) and having a signed employment contract.*
- Book appointments (online or by phone), this will help you start to get your essentials in order, such as, National Insurance number (NI), Bank account, European Health Insurance Card, and phone plan.
- Complete in-person appointments, you will need to complete a short interview to get your NI, you will also need to open your bank account and get a tax number.
Ta Ta - London is Calling
That’s it from a paperwork standpoint, you should be all set to get started! Of course, there is much more to moving to a city than the paperwork - it is only the beginning of an exciting journey! You can also check out more info about the culture, climate, and healthcare so you will be fully prepared. 💪
Feeling settled in might take some time - it can be a big help to join a community or club. LifeX has a growing community in London, and by living in one of our co-living apartments, you will be sure to have some friends from day one. Then you can kick back and take in all the amazing things that London has to offer!
*If you’re an EU citizen it can be possible to move to the UK without a signed work contract but it makes it easier. If you’re from outside the EU, you will also need a visa, you can find more information about that here.