Moving to London

Start with schools and the visa, both of which run on fixed calendars. Then time your arrival against the UK tax year, which starts on 6 April.

Rent first. The leasehold system and stamp duty make a rushed purchase costly.

The UK replaced non-dom status in April 2025 with a four-year foreign income and gains regime for new arrivals: for your first four tax years of residence, foreign income and gains are generally not taxed in the UK. After that, worldwide income is.

UK income tax tops out at 45%. Inheritance tax now follows long-term residence rather than domicile.

Common routes are the Skilled Worker visa, the Global Talent visa for leaders in their field, and the Innovator Founder visa. Irish citizens move freely, and EU citizens who arrived after 2020 need a visa.

Most flats and some houses are leasehold. Check the lease length, ground rent and service charges as carefully as the property itself.

Stamp Duty Land Tax is steep at the top end, with a 5% surcharge on additional homes and a further 2% for non-resident buyers.

Independent schools, including St Paul's, Westminster, Godolphin and Latymer, and the city's international schools, admit through tests a year or more ahead. The American School in London, the Lycée Français and the German School serve international families.

Ofsted and the ISI publish inspection reports for every school.

The NHS covers residents once the immigration health surcharge is paid with the visa. Most relocating families add private medical insurance for speed of access.

A UK bank account needs proof of address, which needs a lease, which needs a bank account. Open one through your employer's bank or a private bank before arriving to break the loop.