Are you flying to the UK? I am sure you must be as excited as I was a few years back. The scenic beauty, the awesome weather, and the excellent career opportunities always attract millions of people from all around the world to settle down in the UK.
Well, you might be really excited to finally move abroad and start a new chapter in your life! While moving to another country is fun, it can be an unnerving experience for first-time travellers. When you move from India to another country, you have to plan many things and make various arrangements in advance. It is a bit more complicated than simply booking air tickets and finding accommodation. You need to make visa arrangements, manage finance and get funds. To make the process easy, you need to plan the move beforehand.
If you are feeling anxious about flying out of India and don’t know what to do and where to start, I can help you. I have been through this same anxiety a few years ago and my experience can be a guiding light for you.
In this article, we are going to discuss ten things to do before you fly out of India. This guide will help you to plan your move and make all the necessary arrangements.
Things To Do Before You Fly Out Of India To The UK:
If you’re moving out of India, there are a few things that you should get done before you leave. It will help you to make your move go smoothly and without any problems. Here are the ten things you need to do before you finally leave India and start your life in a new country.
1. Packing
It is of utmost importance that you plan what you need to pack well in advance, so as to make sure you take all the important items with you. A good rule of thumb is to only bring necessary items. This will allow you to avoid paying extra baggage fees. Of course, keep in mind to pack according to the country you are travelling to.
You need to start packing early to avoid missing any items at the last minute. It is best to create a list of all the items you will need. Make sure you carry such items which are not available in the country. Remember to pack your chargers, medicines, personal hygiene kit, laptop, and all the other necessary things. Also, remember to keep some extra room in your bag. Check your baggage limit and pack accordingly.
Here are a few things that you must carry when travelling to the UK:
· Warm clothes: Since the UK is a place that has unpredictable weather, you must carry parachute material jackets. These types of warm clothes can protect you from the cold wind, unpredictable drizzling as well as snow. As we already said the weather here is unpredictable, you can also get one umbrella with you.
· Medicines: Carry all your medicines with you, that will be good. Make sure to carry proper prescriptions with the stamp and signature of a doctor. Otherwise, you will be stopped at the airport itself.
· Kitchen essentials: When we talk about kitchen essentials, make sure you carry a few things with you like a plate, glass, a frying pan, etc. We Indians love to cook and there are some things that can be done only in a cooker. Make sure you carry one with you. Also, do not forget to get your mixer grinder as they are too costly here. You must get induction-based cookware as most houses here have induction or electric hob/ oven.
· Adapters: One of the most important things that you must carry, otherwise you won’t be able to charge or use any of your gadgets that you got from India. You can easily get them online, just search India to UK adapter, and you will get a lot of options.
2. Visa
A visa is a must for you to travel out of the country. You can book your appointment online. There will be some medical tests which include Tuberculosis tests and normal health check-ups. Once the tests are done and you get a clearance, you will have to go to the nearest visa office in the town. You can also do the visa process online without going to the nearest visa office. You can go through various guides or our blogs to understand the process of getting a visa in detail. You will get an idea of how to apply for a visa, when to apply and so on. Once you get your visa, you should print out the Electronic Travel Authorization form. It will give you information about the country’s current situation. The first thing you need to do when planning your move is complete visa formalities. Without a visa, you will not be able to travel anywhere, so make sure you get all the arrangements done.
You need a valid visa and must meet the latest entry requirements before applying. You must also submit the required documents, such as an official vaccination certificate and Covid-19 test results (Although it is not mandatory now). Moreover, you will need to fill out a self-declaration form as well. You can check all the necessary requirements for a visa on the website and fill out all the necessary forms. Once you get the visa, you are one step closer to your dream of travelling to another country.
3. Temporary SIM or International Roaming
When flying out of India, you’ll want to make sure you’ve activated your temporary SIM or international roaming before you leave. Many airports have kiosks where you can get a local sim card upon arrival. Some of the most used networks in the UK are Lebara and Vodafone, you can get these sim cards at the airports too. This way, you can continue using your mobile number during your stay. If you’re using a post-paid phone, you can also switch to a prepaid plan before you leave.
Keep in mind that the process of activating international roaming can take several days, so you might not want to postpone this task to the last moment. It’s also important to note that if you buy a SIM card while you’re away, you won’t be charged for it until you get home. If you need to stay in a country for a longer period, you’ll need to activate the international roaming service before flying out of India.
What if you can get a SIM well in advance without even stepping out of India? I can understand what you need and how much it means for you to stay connected with your loved ones. Remigos understands this too and therefore, you can get a SIM card from us even before flying and stepping on the grounds of the UK. Sounds amazing, isn’t it?
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4. Currency / Travel Card
Before you fly out of India, consider purchasing a currency/travel card. This can help you avoid hassles when you are abroad, such as exchanging foreign currency or paying a transaction fee every time you make a card payment. Currency exchange counters and airport kiosks can provide you with low exchange rates. However, you must remember to surrender your unspent foreign currency within 180 days after your return.
A multi-currency travel card from a bank is a convenient way to carry money abroad. These cards are accepted at more than two million ATMs in over 190 countries and can be reloaded with different currencies. While buying a card, however, you should note that a foreign currency travel card may not be accepted in India, Nepal, or Bhutan.
You can also purchase foreign currency at an airport and at ATMs. Make sure you have plenty of cash to cover all eventualities. If you plan to stay in an unfamiliar country, you can use your travel card to exchange money with local currency. But also make sure you have some cash with you at all times, just in case you need it.
These are all general things that you can do. However, if you are looking out for a one-stop solution, then you can choose Remigos. The company helps people who are willing to move to the U.K in every possible way. Remigos will help you to open a bank account in the UK, even before you arrive. You will get a debit card as well and do not have to carry a travel card. This way you can plan your trip to the UK in a hassle-free way.
5. Get Loan Scholarship Or Other Funding Options
If you’re planning to go abroad to study, you’ll probably need to take out a loan scholarship or other funding options before flying out to your chosen college. These funds come from different sources and can be difficult to get, but they can help you cover your expenses during your studies.
One of the most common ways to finance your studies in the UK is to apply for a loan scholarship. If you have a good credit score, you can get a loan scholarship at good rates. However, it is important to remember that these types of funding do not cover tuition fees. You can also apply for a work-study program that pays for your studies part-time. This type of program is offered by various universities in the UK.
6. Moving Money
If you are planning to relocate from India to another country, you will need to arrange for moving money before you leave the country. In fact, you will need some cash as well as plastic money in the form of a forex card or international debit/credit card to meet your basic expenses in the new country. How much you need to arrange for moving depends on the costs of living in the new place. Before liquidating your assets, you should consider your financial and personal needs. Again, if you wish to keep calm and have hassle-free planning, then plan your money transfer with Remigos. The company offers services at the cheapest prices that you can imagine. I know how hard it is for students to save every penny and Remigos understands that pain too. You will get the best exchange rates and the lowest charges here.
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7. Health Insurance vs NHS
When flying out of India, you should consider having medical insurance once you reach there. One can choose between getting private health insurance or the NHS. You can access NHS services as a foreigner, although you’ll still have to pay a surcharge. The NHS only offers primary care for foreigners, and a foreigner without a permanent residency visa will not qualify for secondary care.
The UK’s National Healthcare System, or NHS, is a universal healthcare system with public hospitals, doctors, and pharmacies. However, once you get a student visa or a work visa, you can register yourself with the NHS and all your treatments can be done for free. This is really important! However, when it comes to health, no one likes to compromise on it. Although the services at NHS are free, typically getting an appointment via the NHS might take 18 weeks (non-urgent) and almost 2 weeks ( urgent cases). Remigos can help you get the insurance that can provide premium services within a day and for all that you have to shell out just a few bucks.
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8. Accommodation
Accommodation is a basic thing that we are always scared of when we move to any place. You can look for accommodation beforehand on apps like Rightmove, Booking.com, Zoopla, OpenRent, etc. Finding suitable accommodation can be a challenge sometimes so you can also contact some relocation services. However, these services are a bit costly which you must keep in mind. One thing that I did was that I booked a temporary stay for 20 days in the locality where I wanted to rent a house. This gave me enough time to personally explore and see the houses that I saved through an online search.
Renting before buying is a good idea if you are not certain about the area. Renting will allow you to explore a new city without committing to a long-term lease. You can also enquire about the minimum duration of lease required to commit to before deciding on a property to rent out. Furthermore, renting won’t cost you a lot of money upfront, which means you can save it for a bigger purchase.
9. Changing Address and Mobile No for OTPs
If you are going to leave India for a long time, you will want to change your mobile number and address to ensure that you’re able to use your bank cards and ATMs in your new country. OTP (One-Time Password) is sent to your registered phone and is required for every login or transaction. To receive OTPs, you need to change your mobile number. Most places these days allow you to update your address and mobile number online as well. You can get a sim easily here and when you get a rental agreement, you can easily set that address as your permanent one (till the time the rental duration is valid).
10. Carry Necessary Documents
When travelling to a foreign country, it is essential to carry all the necessary documents. These are usually required at the time of entry and upon departure. Your passport is the most important document for travelling out of the country, so make sure to carry it with you everywhere you go.
You also need other important documents like an international driving license, transcripts, and medical records. An international driving license allows you to drive a car in many countries. Applicants can obtain this license from India’s regional transport office once they have their VISA in hand. The process is hassle-free and generally takes two to seven days. You will need to submit two passport-sized photographs and a letter mentioning your country of residence, where you are travelling, and why you need to drive to that country.
Conclusion:
You need to apply for a visa, book tickets, get insurance, look for accommodation, get a SIM card, and do many other things. I have jotted down a few points based on my personal experience and shared the necessary guidelines with you. I hope this helps you plan your trip to the UK in the best way.
