Bas(34)

I worked for six years as a financial analyst at a bank in Amsterdam. The job was good, but I wanted to be at Europe's largest financial hub. Before Brexit it was simple — just move. Now, in 2024, it's a completely different story.

It started with finding an employer with a sponsor licence. Without that, as a Dutch citizen, you can no longer just work in the UK. I specifically applied to companies listed on the official sponsor register. After two months I had an offer from an asset manager in Canary Wharf. They arranged my Certificate of Sponsorship, and with that I could apply for the Skilled Worker visa.

The visa application cost approximately £1,500 in fees, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year — that's mandatory and gives you access to the NHS. The whole process took six weeks. You need to have your biometrics taken at a VAC (Visa Application Centre), and your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) is sent to your UK address.

Once in London I had to quickly apply for a National Insurance number. You need that for tax and pension. It was done via a phone application to HMRC, followed by a letter with my NI number. Council tax was a new experience — in Amsterdam I paid it through the municipality, here you need to register yourself with your local council. I now pay about £150 per month in Zone 2.

NHS registration was surprisingly straightforward. I registered with a GP in my area. With my BRP and proof of address it was sorted within a week. Care is different from the Netherlands — you can't go directly to a specialist, everything goes through the GP. Waiting times are longer, but acute care is excellent.

London is expensive, that's no surprise. But my salary is also considerably higher than in Amsterdam. After eight months I feel at home. The city is incredibly diverse, career opportunities are endless and the post-work pub culture is actually quite nice. My tip: start your visa application early and make sure your employer has experience with sponsorship.