If you’re a digital nomad in a position to travel and experience the world whilst still working, and you want to make the most of it by living in the UK for a while, you’re in the right place! We’re here to cover a few of the must-know components about moving to the UK as a digital nomad, from visa implications to living options and everything in between. We’ll also cover a few elements of what to expect when living in the UK in terms of costs, meeting people and options for you to work from some exciting co-working spaces rather than sit in a bedroom! Get ready to experience everything the UK has to offer. 

Visas and Immigration

Before you can consider moving to the UK, you need to get your visa sorted. Many countries across the world offer digital nomad visas, including Italy, Malaysia, Spain, Argentina, the UAE, Panama, Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka, Barbados, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and many more, however currently, this isn’t something that’s available in the UK. However, you can enter the UK for 6 months on a standard visitor visa and complete work digitally for either your own business or other businesses based in other countries. 

If you were completing work for businesses based in the UK, you would need a specific working visa, or if you wanted to stay in the UK longer than 6 months. Or, if you’re travelling with a partner and need to consider things like a spouse visa, then you’d likely need to contact immigration solicitors in London to help get this right. However, if you want to spend a shorter amount of time, the standard visitor visa can be a great option. 

Taxes

In terms of tax, if you’re staying for less than half the tax year, which you would be with the 6 month standard visitor visa, then you will likely have a non-resident tax status, so you don’t need to worry about any tax implications. Again, this is only the case if you aren’t conducting work for anyone or any businesses based in the UK, and you haven’t set a business up within the UK. 

Accommodation

Something else to consider when you’re moving to the UK is the accommodation. Many people want to spend time in the major cities when they move to the UK, like London and Manchester, however it’s worth noting that the rental markets in these cities are not only expensive, but also very competitive, so it’s not guaranteed you’ll be able to find a place quickly or easily. You could look at doing something like a long term AirBnb let, however this will be much more expensive than actually being able to rent somewhere on a more permanent basis for up to 6 months. 

If you’re wanting to live somewhere more remote and appreciate the countryside or smaller cities and towns then you shouldn’t have as much of a problem, but getting in touch with estate agents before you move over to see what’s available would definitely be advised. You may have better luck choosing something like SpareRoom, where you can find plenty of more temporary lets sharing with people who already live in the accommodation, of course having your own bedroom and you can also choose somewhere with your own bathroom. This is a good way to save money so you can make the most of your time in the UK, and you could also make some friends out of it! 

Cost of Living

Outside of accommodation, you also need to consider the average cost of living. Including accommodation, the average cost of living per month in the UK for a single person is around £1,700, which is significantly higher in London, and cheaper in more remote areas. You need to calculate whether or not you’ll be able to make the most of the UK based on your budget and the average cost of living. 

There are plenty of free things to do and it’s such a beautiful place, so if you like the countryside, you’ll have a lot of fun just exploring nature. However if you like to do activities, go out for food and drinks, travel around either by car or public transport and also book experiences, you’ll need to think this through. For example, a train from Manchester to London can cost £60 return, a meal out with drinks can easily be £50 or more per head, and a round of drinks at a local pub for 4 people can get up to £30 with a mixture of beers and spirits. 

Everyone is different and so are their spending habits, so you just need to think about what kind of lifestyle you want to live in the UK, what your monthly budget would be, then this could help you to decide where you want to live. 

Meeting People

If you’re wanting to meet people and make connections whilst you’re in the UK, it’s a great place to go. There are so many incredible social clubs all over the country to help you meet like minded people, so you certainly won’t be alone. If you’re into sports, there are such great fitness based groups, from hiking to trail running, city-centre run clubs to racquet sports, then literally every sports club you can imagine, especially in larger cities. 

For those of you who are more creative, why not join a book club, painting class, pottery club, floristry, cooking or baking. There are also dedicated groups on Facebook and Instagram for people who are travelling and they’ll put on events, like pub crawls or countryside walks, so you have so many options to put yourself out there! Some of these will require payments and tickets whilst others are free, so find something to suit your interests and budgets. 

Co-Working Spaces

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the world of working has changed forever, including in the UK. Less people are in the office everyday and hybrid working is consistently seen, as well as more people taking the opportunity to go independent and begin their solo careers. As a result, co-working spaces are more popular, and so you can hire spaces there to work from, and then also meet people who are doing the same thing. If you’d prefer to create a great home work space and you want to meet people, of course do that, but you have great options in the UK. 

Many of these spaces will put on networking events and things, so you can meet likeminded people this way too. Of course, you can’t start any work for anyone you meet in these spaces on a visitors visa, however it can be great to meet people like you and potentially make some new friends during your time in the UK!