How you can start working in UK?

1. Checklist for before and after you arrive in a country

Before You Arrive:

-Ensure your passport and/or national identity card is valid.
-If you are a national from the EEA or Switzerland bring a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access free or reduced cost health treatment in the UK.
-Consider buying insurance before you leave your home country to cover any medical costs and your belongings in case of theft, and bring those documents with you.
-If you are looking for work bring your CV, copies of qualifications and references. If you have a job arranged, make sure you have any documents related to it in your hand luggage plus any UK accommodation details.
-If you are from the EEA, you may need to claim unemployment benefit in the UK at some point. You should bring the E301 form with you, which shows the amount of social security contributions you have paid in your home country.
-If you are already claiming unemployment benefit in your home country and wish to transfer your claim to the UK, you will need to bring form E303 with you.
-If you are a full-time student, remember to bring your ISIC card with you to give you discounts on transport, travel and admission charges in the UK.
-Check with your home bank how money can best be transferred to the UK to save carrying large amounts of money with you. Consider taking a mixture of cash and travellers cheques and see if your bank can help you to open an account in the UK.
-Plan your finances to ensure that you will have enough money to travel within the UK to cover accommodation costs, food, and the Worker Registration Scheme cost if applicable.
-Check which goods you can bring into the UK through customs control with the UK Customs and Excise.
-Consider improving your English with a course in your home country as having a good level of English will help you in finding work and in meeting people.

After You Arrive:

-To access The National Health Service, you should register with a local doctor, known as a GP (General Practitioner). Their office is called a surgery.
-Most dentists in the UK are now private, but you may find some that can provide treatment on the NHS.
-If working in the UK you will need to open a bank account to access your wages. Banks will ask you to provide numerous documents and you will need to complete one of their application forms.
-You will need to apply for a National Insurance Number in the UK
-If you own a television you will need to pay a television licence fee
-Consider taking out home contents insurance, to cover your possessions
-If you have a car you will need car tax and insurance.

2. Finding accommodation

When looking for housing in the UK you have many options, but some of these can be expensive. You must remember to look carefully at what you can realistically afford.

Guest Houses/Bed and Breakfast accommodation is often expensive and would ideally suit short-term stays.

To find listings of available properties try looking at:

    * Local newspapers
    * Notice boards in community centres
    * Local shops
    * Post Offices
    * Letting Agents

Private landlords may require references, a deposit and one month’s rent in advance.

Some employers may provide you with accommodation, but it is important to check the terms of your future rental agreement. If you do not stick to the terms of this agreement you could lose your home.

If you cannot afford to rent or buy a house on the open market, you may be eligible for social housing, provided by Registered Social Landlords. Before you apply for this you must check your immigration status, as you may not qualify.

It is a good idea to discuss your plans to buy a property with your bank or building society. They will be able to give you an indication of the amount they are prepared to lend you (a mortgage), and the way in which you will pay this money back. You may have to be resident in the UK for several years before a bank is prepared to lend you money.

Homelessness
If you are having housing problems it is important that you make your local council aware as soon as possible. They are committed to preventing you from becoming homeless, and will do what they can to assist you. The earlier you discuss the problem, the easier and quicker it can be resolved because in most cases, homelessness is preventable. Do not wait until you are homeless before you seek help.

The housing services unit at your local council office can provide you with advice and assistance regarding your housing problems.

Source: EURES