1.6 Million Britons Go Expat In A Decade

expat network

1.6 Million Britons Go Expat In A Decade

Since 2006, emigration from Britain is estimated to have reached 1.65 million. But the number of Britons moving abroad has slowed down over the past decade.

Between 2006 and 2011, the number of Britons leaving the country averaged 162,667 a year, according to latest research from Lloyds Private Banking. Since 2012, this average has dropped by nearly a fifth to 134,400 per year. The annual level of emigration has fallen by over a third from 207,000 in 2006 to 134,000 in 2016 – the second lowest annual total in the past decade.

The most recent estimates suggest there are 4.92 million British citizens living abroad – equivalent to 7.5% of the current national population.

Australia, Spain, USA, France and New Zealand are the top five most popular destinations attracting a combined 900,000 since 2005.

Australia has consistently been the most popular destination for the British with 385,000 heading Down Under for a new life. The next most popular are Spain (144,000), the USA (132,000), France (129,000) and New Zealand (94,000).

New Country of Residence	British Citizens Moving 2005 to 2015
Australia	385,000
Spain	144,000
USA	132,000
France	129,000
New Zealand	94,000
Canada	70,000
United Arab Emirates	61,000
Germany	49,000
Republic of Ireland	20,000
Switzerland	19,000

Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) – ONS

Over half of British citizens who emigrated from the UK in the past decade have done so mainly for work-related reasons. Three-quarters of these had a definite job offer while a quarter were still looking for a job.

In 2015, the USA, Australia, France, Italy, India and Spain were the leading destinations for British citizens emigrating for a ‘definite job’, accounting for 43% of total jobs.

Around two-thirds of British citizens emigrating since 2006 have indicated they intend to live abroad for more than four years. One in five intend to be away for up to two years and 8% for between two and four years. The remaining 7% were unsure about their intended length of stay.

Perhaps unsurprisingly interest in moving abroad is greater in the summer. Internet searches and posts about moving abroad peak in the summer months (June – July) followed by the New Year (January). Most searches and posts relate to the cultural change of moving abroad – what’s it like to live and work there – followed by questions about finances.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.