Register for Council Tax and onto the electoral roll
Collate all health and dentistry records from your present home country
Finalise all paperwork in the country you are leaving
Pay all outstanding bills, taxes, fines
Moving from the UK to another country to live is a dream for many people and historically 4.5 million Brits have chosen to do just that, (and if you are considering moving overseas then this guide to International Home moves will be invaluable)
But equally, there are expats that for one reason or another choose to return to the UK, usually for family or job-related reasons.
Returning to the UK after living abroad, especially if you have lived overseas for years, will take some planning and there are many things that you need to organise to cut through the inevitable red tape you will encounter.
In this guide for returning UK expats, we look at the things you need to get in order, a comprehensive moving back to the UK checklist for expats.
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Ensure you use the proper boxes to protect your items on their international journey back to the UK.
#1 Open a UK bank account
If you need to open a UK bank account again you will need to do this as soon as possible.
Some banks have international online accounts or you can wait until you are resident in the UK again, just bear in mind that any transactions you make from overseas accounts may be subject to transfer charges and exchange rate fluctuations.
#2 Find a new home
You will need to sort out your accommodation in the UK well in advance of moving back as this can be quite time-consuming.
Many people choose to rent when they first move back to the UK so that they have time to research and decide upon an ideal home to move into.
If you are unsure exactly where you are going to relocate to back in the UK we have a whole library of guides to living in every part of the country. From county to town guides, coastal living to city and suburb life, we have guides that you will find invaluable in our home moving blog.
#3 Register for Taxes
When you become a UK resident again you will be subject to the usual taxes of the UK.
This link here will tell you what you need to know.
#4 Find Employment
If you are looking to find work when you get back in the UK you can get a good idea of the positions available locally online at sites such as www.indeed.co.uk, and from jobscentreplus.
Most people choose to move back to the UK during the School holidays when there is plenty of time to complete the home move and get settled before the new school year begins.
Here is a list of all the Local Education Authority websites in the UK that will be able to give you advice on schools for your children.
#6 Transfer your Pension
The UK generally has better pension plans than most countries so it may be prudent to transfer any overseas pension back to the UK.
This is obviously subject to individual circumstances so you should always seek professional advice.
After many hours of travelling to get back to the UK, one of the first things you probably want is a nice hot shower. So make sure all your utilities are reconnected in time for your arrival.
This can usually be done online before you get back to the UK.
Websites such as ukpower.co.uk allow you to compare prices from multiple providers in your area.
#9 Register for Council Tax
Although this can wait to be organised once back in the UK, it is useful to have it on your checklist so that you don’t forget that you have to pay your council tax.
#10 Register with a GP
Before leaving your current country, collate all your health and dental records.
These can then be handed over to your new doctor in the UK.
You can find all the information you need about finding a local GP and the forms you need to complete to register here.
If you have any private medical insurance notify them of your change of address.
#11 Leave with a Clean Slate
Before you head back to the UK, ensure that all your financial commitments are paid up-to-date and that any legal or official paperwork is fully completed before you leave.
You should leave a forwarding address with the local authorities, mayor, or postal service so that any mail or final bills can be forwarded to you.
Must have: You should use a change of address checklist to ensure you do not forget to notify anyone of your move back to the UK. Here we have created a comprehensive list of companies and organisations which is a great starting point for you to customise your own list.
Remember to notify your children’s school of your return to the UK.
How your things are transported back to the UK will have a big bearing on the actual cost
It does not matter whether you are moving within Luton, or from Peru to Swindon, the more items that you intend to move from point A to point B will cost you more time and money.
No doubt there will be keepsakes that you will want to take back to the UK from your time overseas, but the fewer items you intend to ship the lower your removal costs will be.
You need to appraise every item you have, the risk of damage whilst in transit, and the cost of replacing items back in the UK.
Often, especially in the case of furniture and electronics, it is cheaper to buy new than pay for shipping it back to the UK.
Often properties abroad are sold with all the furniture in situ which will save you shipping costs.
You will also need to sort through your wardrobe and your clothing, if you have lived in shorts and t-shirts for the last 5 years, you are unlikely to need those in Aberystwyth.
Electronics will likely not work in the UK due to the different voltage or broadcasting systems for example.
There are of course adapters and transformers you can buy, but they are costly and often are a short-term fix only. It is best to refer to your owner’s handbook or contact the manufacturers’ helpline for advice on specific models.
So take the time to declutter before you start the home moving process so that you only move the things that you really need to.
Most people will opt for a shipping container or road transport for their international home move due to the prohibitive costs of air freight.
And if you can share container space with other freight this will save you even more money.
The one aspect of the home move that you should not cut corners on is packing. It is vital that your items are properly protected using quality packing materials.
Often a removal company must pack your goods so that a valid inventory list for customs can be produced, and additionally, some insurance companies will only insure your things if they have been professionally packed.
Check with your removal company for the regulations regarding this in your current country and any borders your things will pass through.
If you have a left-hand drive car you should consider selling this before moving back to the UK as insurance costs will be higher for a left-hand drive.
It can also be unsafe to perform certain maneuvers, such as overtaking when driving from the ‘wrong side’ of the car.
However, if you are considering importing your car into the UK, here is some information that you will find useful.
How to Choose a Reputable International Removal Company
Choosing the right removal company to get you back to the UK is crucial. Unfortunately, there are a lot of rogue companies out there.
There are many UK removal companies who travel overseas weekly and it may cost effective for you to find such a company to ship your things back to the UK.
If you hire the services of a BAR Overseas Group registered International Removal Company you will be assured of a consistently good service for each leg of the return journey.
Must read: BAR Overseas Group Advice which provides lots of useful advice about members of the BAR Overseas Group, movers who abide by a strict code of conduct and are regularly audited by BAR for compliance with their rules and regulations.
Additionally, they will be able to offer support and advice on the paperwork required and any restrictions on things you are prohibited from bringing back into the UK.
If you are moving back to the UK from anywhere in the world it would be wise to ensure that any international removal company you hire is a member of FIDI-FAIM, Federation of International Removal Companies.
You can find a full list of FIDI members, listed by country.
Members must adhere to a code of conduct and are vetted as being legitimate and trustworthy companies.
Be sure to thoroughly research any removal company you intend to hire, ensuring that they are licensed and have the necessary insurance and experience to move you.
We cannot stress enough how important it is to ensure that the removal company you intend to hire is legitimate, and has a good reputation.
There are many many horror stories of untrustworthy International Removal Companies.
Hiring a removal company from the UK to bring your things back may be a prudent move, especially if they are members of BAR Overseas Group.
If things do go wrong at least you will have a better chance of resolving the problems if the company is UK based or at least has a UK office.
You may also like to read: How to Pick a Good Removal Company: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide. Whilst this article is aimed at moving within the UK the steps to choosing a good international removal company are just the same. Here we take you step by step through the process with a real-life example of finding the best mover for your relocation.
Here you can get a quote for your international home move from a reputable international removal company.
How to Avoid Culture Shock When Moving Back to the UK
Moving home is stressful but moving countries can be totally overwhelming
Finally, it is worth considering how moving back to the UK will affect you, it is very common for expats to experience culture shock when moving back home having been away for a number of years.
Some parts of the UK have changed tremendously in recent years and whilst you will not have to struggle with learning a new language or adapting to a totally new culture, you may still feel the effects of relocation depression or culture shock.
The best defense against both culture shock and relocation depression is becoming familiar with your new surroundings as quickly as possible whilst making your new home feel like it is your home by surrounding yourself with familiar and comforting things.
Culture shock and relocation depression are complex subjects and you may, or may not, suffer from either or both.
You may like to read: How to Avoid Culture Shock in which we look at this subject in far more depth including the topic of reverse culture shock and transition shock both of which are common amongst expats returning to the UK.
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