Are you planning to leave the UK and relocate to another country in Europe?
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 784,900 British citizens are classed as long-term residents in EU countries other than the UK and Ireland. The most popular destination for Brits looking to move abroad is Spain, which is home to 293,500 people from the UK.
Other popular EU countries to emigrate to include France, with 152,900 resident Brits, Germany with 96,500 and the Netherlands with 45,300.
May 9 is Europe Day – a date in the calendar designed to celebrate peace and unity throughout the continent. Europe Day is held on May 9 every year as this is the anniversary of Robert Schuman’s historic speech in 1950 when he set out his idea of forming a European Union while he was the French foreign minister.
To mark this occasion, here is our checklist of things to consider if you are getting ready for a move to Europe:
1. Find out about money transfers
When you move to another country, you are likely to need to transfer money from the UK to accounts in your destination. Ask your current bank for details of any fees they charge as well as information about how they calculate exchange rates for international payments. Look into alternative money transfer services to work out which will be the most economical and practical for you. There are a number of different choices available so it may well be worth using a comparison website to weigh up your options.
2. Sort out a healthcare plan
Don’t take your good health for granted and make sure you have plans in place for how you will pay for any healthcare or medical treatment you might need while you are living abroad. If you are moving to another EU country permanently, you will no longer be entitled to care on the NHS. However, as an EU citizen, you will be able to receive state healthcare on the same terms as a resident of the country you are living in. This varies depending on which country you will be living in so check what care you will be expected to pay for and whether it is worth investing in health insurance. It is also worth remembering that your rights may change when Britain eventually leaves the European Union.
3. Use an international removals expert
Moving house is a challenging time for anyone but when you are relocating to another country, the process is even more stressful. Make sure you choose a removals firm which specialises in European relocations. Andrew Porter Limited has extensive experience in helping customers move from the UK to destinations all over Europe. Our specialist team provides an end-to-end service so you can be certain that your belongings are in safe hands at every stage of the moving process.
4. Brush up on your language skills
Spend time learning the language of the country you are moving to. Even if English is widely spoken in your new home, local residents will appreciate you making the effort to speak to them in their mother tongue. According to the Expat Insider 2017 survey, 52 per cent of British people living abroad could either not speak the language of their host country at all or could only manage a few basic phrases. If you really want to settle in your new home, take language lessons, try learning at home with an app and practice speaking it as much as you can until your confidence improves.
5. Do your homework
Before you make your move of a lifetime, do as much research as you can to prevent problems further down the road. Make sure you find out what will happen to your state pension if you leave the UK and whether you will still need to pay tax here as well as in your new country. Get professional advice if you are buying a property as the laws in each country vary and some of the rules can be extremely complex. It is also a good idea to join a support group for expats in the country you are moving to so you can ask them questions and find out about potential pitfalls and how to avoid them.
