Moving to Scotland, the land of unicorns, Loch Ness Monster, and the Weird Sisters, is bound to be an adventure. The Scots love myths, legends, and are proud of their whiskey. To make your relocation to the northernmost part of the UK country as swift as possible read our list of the most important things you should know about this place.
Scotland’s capital and the second-most populous city is Edinburgh. Glasgow counts the largest number of people who live there and is a pretty relaxed town. The Scottish are generally welcoming towards immigrants, and it can be said that this place is among the friendliest countries in the world. The official language is Scottish English, but when you move here, you’ll realize that Scots tend to use slang, dialects, and regional accents, along with unique jargon. Breaking the language barrier will be difficult at the beginning, but after some time, you’ll get used to it. The official currency is the British pound sterling (£).
Before you start living in Europe as an American, you’ll have to gather documents needed to travel abroad. If you plan to live here for longer than six months, you will need to obtain a visa. Start your research and apply for a visa way before you start collecting boxes and moving supplies or hire movers to provide you with packing services.
Living overseas requires a lot of time spent on paperwork. If you are planning to live here, you’ll need the National Insurance Number. It’s a fiscal number that is used to record your national insurance and tax contributions.
People moving across the world will want to know how much medical care costs. The UK’s residents have free health care under the National Health Service (NHS). The good news is that you, as an expat, are eligible for NHS free care. You just need to have a visa that has been valid for at least six months.
Phone plans are pretty great here since you can get unlimited texting and 3GB of data for just £10 ($14) per month. These are not limited to phone services only. Depending on a deal you choose to purchase, you can get a movie ticket or a meal at the restaurant.
Many temporary career agencies are easily accessible if you need help finding work. Whether you want to work in an office or on a farm, it shouldn’t be too difficult to land a job here. On the other hand, if you are expanding your business internationally, make sure to hire corporate moving services to move your office safely.
A great thing about relocating to Scotland is that you’ll find a fully furnished home for rent easily. Prices will depend on where you choose your home to be. For example, the median rent in the city center in Edinburgh will cost around £819 ($1069). When you find an apartment, make sure to hire reliable international moving services to help you transport your precious belongings safely.
Adjusting to a new country can be a bit difficult at the beginning. You’ll just have to gain some experiences yourself to see what it’s like. However, we can still give you some useful heads-up.
Living here is more affordable than in some other UK areas. For example, weekly expenses are 20% cheaper than in London and around 10% lower than in the UK as a whole. However, this country is still pretty expensive. Some expats compare Edinburgh – London to the relation of Boston – New York. This means that Edinburgh is like a smaller and genteel cousin to London.
With low crime rates, this country is quite safe, but you should be more cautious in some areas, especially in Edinburgh and Glasgow. However, generally speaking, the only safety problem can be public drunkenness that is very rare. One way to avoid it is to stay away from those people because they are not generally aggressive.
Whether you decide to settle in a big city like Edinburgh or in a smaller town, you’ll notice that the public transportation is great. Transport is quick and pretty cheap all over the country. However, if you feel more comfortable driving your car, be sure to do some research on shipping a car overseas and hire reliable overseas vehicle shipping services.
Well, they don’t really panic, but when the temperature gets higher than 72℉, the Scots will definitely act a bit weird. Since Scotland’s bordered by the ocean, humidity is always high, and that is why this country is often described as a cold place. Sunny days are very rare, and if you move here, you’ll mostly be exposed to rain, wind, and cold.
In conclusion, Scotland is undoubtedly a great place to live in. The people are welcoming, there is free healthcare, and more nature and history to discover than you would ever have the time for. We know it can be a daunting process, but once you make the decision, moving abroad can become the best thing you’ve ever done.
