Wales is home to some of the most scenic landscapes in the Britain, and is a popular destination for people all over the UK, because it is fairly easy to get to regardless of where you live. If you are planning to relocate to Wales permanently, then there are a few things to bear in mind that can help make your relocation a bit less stressful, as you can avoid any hidden surprises that could cause problems.
Firstly, one of the advantages of moving to Wales from anywhere else in the UK is that you won’t need to worry about visas or work permits. Wales is part of the UK so you will have access to the same working privileges and social security that you have in any other UK country.
One important thing to note, is that there is a cultural difference, especially between the West and East of Wales. The Eastern part of Wales lies at the borders of England, so if you plan on moving to one of these areas, you can expect a fairly familiar culture, as these areas are more anglicised than those that lie further away from England. While the Welsh do take pride in their language, you will not be required to speak it to live and work in the eastern areas. This changes the further West you go. While English is spoken by almost everyone, Wales is bilingual, so it can be helpful to try and pick up Welsh. In some cases, and the further West you travel, Welsh will be required by employers in many cases. Preparing yourself by trying to pick up a few key phrases can be really useful, especially when it comes to getting to know people in your new community, as often local people will appreciate that you have made the effort to speak their native language. This will be especially relevant if you plan on moving somewhere secluded and out in the country.
If you have children, you should also be aware that as Welsh is taught in schools, many subjects will be taught in Welsh. Bearing this in mind, you will want to choose an area that will suit your children’s educational needs. This may not be such a problem if children are still young, as they are generally able to pick up another language very quickly if taught from a young age.
Finding moving services should be fairly easy, although depending on where you are moving from, the move could take a few days. If this is the case, be sure to not only get a number of quotes from various removal companies, but have a look at alternatives such as hiring your own van, container movers and whether you will need to use storage, to make sure you get the maximum value for money without spending unnecessarily on services you can do without.
Lastly, before you make the relocation, be sure to pass on your forwarding address to your bank and insurance companies. You will also need to notify the local council once you have moved into your new home, and register on the electoral roll so you are eligible to vote. Generally speaking, you can expect a slower pace of life if you are moving from a city, and currently house prices in Wales are comparatively low (as of 2012), and although there is a large amount of fluctuation depending on the areas you are looking at, now is a good time to research potential properties.
