Find somewhere to stay
Some travellers get off the plane in London, catch the tube into town and hope for the best, calling hostels or turning up unannounced on the doorstep of a long-lost friend. But the more organised and/or sensible traveller makes plans a little further in advance.
Once you've booked your flights, there's no harm in also finding somewhere to lay your head, at least for the first few days you'll be in the UK. For one thing, hostels tend to get booked up well in advance, especially during summer. And if you're planning on dossing (staying with a friend), it's best to get in quick: after all, you don't want to turn up and find that the newly arrived pal of your friend's housemate has already snagged the couch.
Check your work status
The vast majority of travellers arriving with a work visa won't need any other documentation before they can start work. However, workers in a select few industries (medical professionals, for example) will have to register with regulatory bodies in the UK. You may be able to submit your application from your home country; this can be very useful, as applications for registration in some areas can take up to four months to process.
Set up a UK bank account
Don't wait till you get here to set up a UK bank account, else you're in for a long and tedious process. If you're able to open a bank account before you leave home - do it!
Tidy your tax
The precise rules on tax returns for Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans are far too detailed to describe here. However, one piece of advice holds firm for citizens of all three countries: if you're moving abroad, you need to contact your tax office and let them know. You may need to file an early tax return if you're leaving midway through the financial year.
Leave plenty of time to arrange your financial affairs in the way that the law demands. You may not be able or required to complete a tax return until you finish work in your home country, but you should at least find out exactly what needs to be done well in advance of your departure, just in case the process takes a while.
Your precise tax status depends on how long you'll be absent, whether you'll be setting up a permanent residence elsewhere, whether you'll be earning income at home while you're away, and whether you'll be maintaining a home of some description in your home country. Australians should see www.ato.gov.au for information; New Zealanders can find out more from www.ird.govt.nz; and South Africans should check www.sars.gov.za.
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