This is so good! I discovered other issues on moving to the UK - even though I was marrying a UK citizen it was challenging. Getting a bank account - holy smoke, you'd have thought I was a criminal who had been convicted of corporate espionage. Even just to get a "baby bank account" that would only let me deposit money and take out cash - no debit card, and forget a credit card!!! It took ages for me - and TONS of paperwork and repeated trips to the bank and seeing several people but I still couldn't get past that point. Even though my husband had an excellent credit record, mortgage, good job etc - plus I'd brought a letter from my Canadian bank outlining my history (totally irrelevant, apparently) - they didn't want to give me a proper chequing account and the ability to use a debit card that would work for purchases.

Finally tried a different bank and managed to get a "nice lady" who gave me a proper account and she even gave me a credit card. And a business account! We were stunned.

So I'd be adding about checking into banks and what they need in order to give you an account.

And driving license requirements. As a Canadian, if you pass your driving test it doesn't matter if you were driving manual or automatic. In the UK, if you don't pass with a manual, you are only allowed to drive an automatic. Because my Canadian license didn't differentiate, on exchanging it for a UK one I'm only allowed to drive automatic (which suits me, I never bothered with manual).

Also requirements for renting a place - you will likely be required to pay at least six months (maybe more) up front, plus deposit, as your credit history will be inaccessible and they want at least two years of UK tax returns to prove your income and job security.

And if you're planning to purchase a house, check into that, too - oh, my, it is a NIGHTMARE process in England!!!!!! Barbaric and backward and utterly ridiculous.

We take so many things for granted in our own countries, but there is a LOT involved moving somewhere new, things you would never consider. Thanks for a great article.