Moving to Scotland
When you move to Scotland, one thing you will be guaranteed is a friendly welcome. You can help make that move go as smoothly as possible by taking the time to research beforehand what matters to you most.
Priorities are likely to include: finding a home, starting work, opening a bank account, registering with a doctor and researching schools. You can find advice on all of these matters and more on the TalentScotland website.
TalentScotland also provides a handy ‘Moving to Scotland’ checklist, with tips on such things as organising a visa, arranging removals and storage, and making travel plans for any pets.
Here is some key information on aspects of life in Scotland.
Healthcare
Comprehensive healthcare is available to people living in Scotland. The majority of NHS (National Health Service) provision is free, paid for through personal taxation. Private care is paid for, usually, through a private healthcare insurance scheme.
Education
Scotland has a comprehensive state education system and all children attend school from age 5-16 years, with the option of continuing until the age of 18. All children are provided with free nursery education for two years prior to beginning school. Scotland also offers further and higher education through a network of world-class universities and colleges.
Finding a house
Depending on how long you’re going to be here, you can either buy or rent a home. Whichever you decide to do, you can look forward to a huge range of housing possibilities, in town, in the country or on the coast. You can choose everything from waterfront apartments to large Victorian villas to more modern houses to highland farm houses.
Emigration
Emigrating to Scotland can be a painless process if you take the time to research and prepare for your application. There are many ways you can go about emigrating to Scotland and it's important that you choose the correct one for your situation.