For many years, the United Kingdom has been a dream destination for foreigners from all around the world thanks to its attractive job opportunities, top-notch universities, and rich and diverse culture. In 2022, the country let in approximately 1.2 long-term migrants, many of whom came from India.
Although there is already a large diaspora willing to share their knowledge with newcomers, life in the UK may sometimes be hard for Indian citizens without extensive travel experience. That is why we at Profee have come up with this guide containing practical tips to make your immigration process as smooth as possible. You will learn about the legal grounds to migrate to the UK from India, discover the country’s geography from the expats’ point of view and find out which digital resources can significantly improve your life abroad.
How to move to the UK from India?
All Indian citizens, with very rare exceptions, mainly related to diplomatic visits, are required to obtain a visa before travelling to the UK. There are about twenty different visa types, and you should determine the reason for your stay in the country in advance to select the type you need and collect a suitable package of documents.
People who intend to migrate to the UK from India rather than come for a short visit consider the following options:
Student visa
This kind of travel document is designed for people who have received a study offer from one of the eligible UK educational institutions. Apart from the offer evidence, you will need to prove that you are able to pay for your tuition and financially support yourself while living in the UK. You also must demonstrate your proficiency in English.
Work/business visa
Perhaps the most popular kind of travel document in this category is a Skilled Worker Visa. If you wish to come to the UK as a skilled worker, we would advise you to update your CV and start checking relevant jobs as soon as possible; even if you do not find anything in London, do not give up, as there are plenty of opportunities for Indians in other cities. Having a job offer from an employer approved by the Home Office is a prerequisite for applying for this kind of visa.
If you are unable to find anything while still in India, you may consider a Global Talent visa or India Young Professionals Scheme visa. If you are interested in opening your own business instead of working for someone else, we recommend you familiarize yourself with the Innovator Founder visa eligibility requirements.
Family visa
Another option for Indian citizens willing to move to the UK is obtaining a family visa, for example, a partner or spouse kind, which allows international couples to start a life together in the UK under the condition that one of the partners has the right to permanently stay in the country. The applicant must also provide a number of other documents; their list largely coincides with the requirements for a student visa, but instead of submitting the study offer from a recognized educational institution, you will need to provide proof of your relationship.
Which place is the best to live in the UK?
The state of the United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They share the same primary language (English), currency (British pound) and political institutions, like the monarchy and the UK parliament. However, there are also a bunch of differences related to cultural identity, local languages and traditions, as well as regional legislation, education and healthcare. To make the most of your relocation experience, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with basic information about each of these four territories before moving to the UK from India.
| Country | Geographical location | Capital | Languages | № of inhabitants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | Southern part of Great Britain | London | English | ∽55 million |
| Scotland | Northern part of Great Britain | Edinburgh | English, Scottish, Gaelic | ∽5.5 million |
| Wales | Western part of Great Britain | Cardiff | English, Welsh (Cymraeg) | ∽3.2 million |
| Northern Ireland | The northern part of the island of Ireland located to the west of Great Britain | Belfast | English, Irish (Gaeilge) | ∽1.8 million |
*The data corresponds to statistics for the beginning of 2022
Choosing a suitable place of living depends on the purpose for which you have decided to migrate to the UK from India. If you are moving to study, your choice of residence will be closely tied to the location of your university. According to the current QS World University Rankings, London is the best city for international students not only in the UK but around the globe. The UK capital is home to 18 huge universities, in particular, Imperial College London and UCL (University College London), which are globally renowned for their academic excellence. London is also well-known for its vibrant culture and large international community. If you come to this city wondering how to settle in the UK after moving from India, you will definitely find someone who has already walked this path. Nevertheless, you must be aware of the fact that the average cost of living in London is relatively high: for students, it is around 1200 – 1500 GBP (approximately 123 000 – 153 000 INR*) per month.
**The data is relevant as of early November 2023 ***The exchange rate is valid as of early November 2023
If you want to lead your life in the UK away from the capital, there are multiple other locations with excellent educational opportunities for Indian students. You may look into Manchester, Coventry or Sheffield if you specifically target England, or go to Cardiff, the capital of Wales, which is considered to be one of the cheapest places to study in the country. If you are not bothered by high prices and only care about the quality of education, pay attention to the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland, which made it to the top 30 of the QS Best Student Cities 2023.
Apart from dozens of educational establishments, the United Kingdom has abundant job opportunities for people working in diverse fields. It is not that easy, however, to name the best work sites since it depends on your speciality, salary expectations, personal priorities and many other factors. Labour market researchers tend to believe that if you plan on moving to the UK from India for professional reasons, it is worth considering smaller cities, as they often have more job listings and a higher level of worker satisfaction. Cambridge, for instance, is especially praised by researchers; other attractive destinations are Oxford, York and St Albans. If you prefer an urban environment, we would advise you to think about moving to Leeds or Bristol.
Compared to the above-mentioned places, London ranks quite low on the list of the best UK cities for work. Nevertheless, you should not wholly discard this option. There are dozens of jobs in London suitable for Indians and candidates from other countries; the capital also remains one of the highest-paying cities in the United Kingdom.
What online services can I use to comfortably live in the UK?
In the UK, there are many local and international web services designed to make expats’ lives easier, as well as social media groups created specifically for Indian natives. In this chapter of our guide, we have assembled and categorized some of the most useful resources.
Job search
Regardless of what was your initial reason for moving to the UK from India, you are likely to start looking for a job at some point. Even students have a right to work in some positions, though they must carefully check their visa conditions beforehand. The following websites can be a great help, as they contain hundreds of jobs for Indians residing in London and other cities:
LinkedIn
Indeed
Reed
Totaljobs
Renting an apartment
The process of renting a place to live in the United Kingdom is rather straightforward. However, there are certain steps that you might be unfamiliar with if you have just come from India and have limited knowledge of how to settle in the UK. For instance, if you decide to stay in England rather than go to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you will need to prove your right to rent in the UK. The appropriate document can be generated on the gov.uk website. It is also likely that you will be asked to provide evidence of your paying capacity and references from the former landlord(s).
To find a place for a long-term stay, you may use the following resources:
OpenRent
Rightmove
Zoopla
IdealFlatmate
SpareRoom
Meeting people
Moving to another country cannot but affect your social life. Some may even wonder: “Is it actually worth moving to the UK from India if I have to leave my friends and loved ones behind?”
Though we are persuaded that maintaining long-distance relationships with your friends, relatives, and partners is possible, we also believe in the importance of establishing new connections upon emigration. If you quickly get along with strangers, you may join a social club or start volunteering in your area. If you feel more comfortable talking to people online at first, multiple apps can be used for that purpose:
Meetup
Yubo
Friender
Bumble BFF
Hey! VINA
Managing personal finance
One of the keys to a comfortable life in the UK – not only for Indian citizens but also for expats from other countries – is the ability to handle personal finance efficiently. The first step towards this could be opening a UK bank account. Of course, you are not obliged to do it, especially given the rather strict entry requirements of the local banks. Still, it may be more beneficial than keeping your Indian bank account or exchanging INR to GBP and paying with cash everywhere. In addition, with a UK bank account, you will be able to send funds back home with services like Profee. Profee, an online remittance company that offers favourable exchange rates. As of now, we offer you to transfer money to India without a service fee.
