Emigrate to Great Britain
Emigrate to Great Britain: Find out the most important information for your stay here
The United Kingdom is an island country in north-western Europe comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England is the home of Shakespeare and the Beatles. The capital London is an internationally important financial and cultural center. England is also home to the Neolithic Stonehenge, the Roman baths of Bath and the centuries-old university cities of Oxford and Cambridge. For many people who want to emigrate to the UK, these cultural and historical treasures are just as attractive as the diverse professional and social opportunities.
Facts about Great Britain
Capital City
London
Population
67.33 million
Surface Area
151,372.24 mi² or 243,610 km²
Continent
Europe
Official Language
(British) English
Currency
(Britain) Pound (GBP)
Emigrating to Great Britain: An overview of the political system
The United Kingdom is a parliamentary hereditary monarchy in which a cabinet government is responsible to Parliament. The Crown has mainly representative powers, while the Prime Minister has a strong position in the Cabinet and in the party. Although the state is centralized in many areas, certain powers have been devolved to the constituent nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland since 1990 as part of devolution. England, the largest constituent nation, does not have its own executive and legislature. Parliament consists of two chambers: the elected House of Commons and the House of Lords, whose members are not elected but, with a few exceptions, appointed for life. The House of Lords has a suspensive right of veto over certain bills. The highest court is the Supreme Court, which was created in 2009.
Climate in Great Britain: Important information for emigrants
The UK has a temperate maritime climate with mild temperatures despite its northern location due to the Gulf Stream. The weather is generally very changeable and occasionally stormy. There is a lot of rainfall throughout the year, although the south tends to receive less rain than the west or north. In summer, average temperatures are usually between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius, although in some regions temperatures of over 30 degrees are possible. In winter, maximum temperatures generally remain above freezing and double-digit minus temperatures at night are rare. Snowfall occurs mainly in the north and east, particularly in the Scottish mountains. Otherwise, snow rarely falls and snow cover rarely lasts longer than a week.
Healthcare system in Great Britain: Important facts for emigrants
The British healthcare system provides citizens with virtually free medical care, regardless of their individual circumstances. Healthcare expenditure in the UK is regulated by the state and is lower than in Germany, for example. Nationals of an EU or EEA member state who are permanently resident in the UK are entitled to medical care through the National Health Service (NHS).
The NHS is funded by tax revenues and contributions to the National Insurance Scheme. There are no individual contributions to a public health insurance scheme. The NHS provides free access to healthcare for all those entitled to it (with the exception of medication charges in England, for example). Access to the NHS is mainly open to employed permanent residents and their dependent family members. Pensioners and students, on the other hand, must provide proof of their own comprehensive health insurance cover. As a pensioner, for example, this is done using the S1 form, which certifies reimbursement of costs by a health insurance provider to the NHS.
Emigrating to Great Britain: An overview of the economic situation and quality of life
The gross domestic product per capita in the UK in 2023 was 48,912.78 dollars. The Gini coefficient of wealth describes the distribution of wealth. The indicator is an established, internationally comparable measure of wealth inequality. It is measured on a scale from zero to one. The higher the value, the greater the inequality. The Gini coefficient in the UK amounted to 0.36 in 2022 (source: Statista).
Great Britain is one of the preferred destinations for emigrants. Many choose this country because the job opportunities are well paid, the standard of living is similar to that in Germany and English can be easily learned as a foreign language. There is also the advantage that the old country is only an hour's flight away, which helps to quickly overcome any homesickness. For those who want to emigrate to the UK, the country also offers a rich cultural diversity and historical sights that make life there particularly appealing.
Emigrate to Great Britain - Entry Requirements
Entry is possible for German nationals with the following documents:
- Passport: Yes
- Temporary passport: Yes
- Identity card: No, exception: Gibraltar
- Temporary identity card: No
- Children's passport: Yes, occasional problems with the recognition of extended children's passports
FAQs for emigrating to Great Britain
Where can I find relevant information about my country of entry and the entry regulations that apply there?
We have compiled destination country information as well as entry requirements and customs information for many countries in the Relocation Service section of our website and are constantly expanding this section.
Can I use my own container that I already own for the move with DACHSER & KOLB?
For every removal, which we at DACHSER & KOLB always offer as a door-to-door (full service) removal, a container is rented for the duration of the removal. We therefore do not offer the option of using your own container.
Who is responsible for my move abroad and the services I need there?
As a FIDI member, we work abroad with selected, long-standing partners who work in accordance with our service standards.
Are my removal goods insured in the event of damage?
For every overseas move, we naturally cover transportation insurance at current value for the used household goods and personal belongings
What types of transportation do you offer for overseas relocation?
It is generally possible to carry out overseas removals via air freight or sea freight. In the case of sea freight, it is possible to ship the removal goods as additional cargo (“LCL shipment” with Liftvan) or with a container (FCL shipment in 20 feet, 40 feet or 40 feet high cube). We will be happy to discuss which option is best for you in a personal consultation.
When and how must the move be paid for and what is the payment deadline?
You will receive an invoice a few weeks after placing the order and pay the full amount directly in advance.
Do I have to pay taxes and customs duties on my removal goods?
Removal goods can be imported tax and duty-free into most countries if you have a valid residence permit. We will be happy to check the options for importing the removal goods for your desired destination country in a personal consultation.
Are you interested in moving to Great Britain or another destination country?
Then do not hesitate and contact us today.
Alexander Brugger
Teamlead Customer Service & Sales - AIR&SEA
