Thread: Fewer Brits moving abroad

The Office for National Statistic (UK) has just released the latest edition of it's 'International Passenger Survey'.
They conduct the survey on a random sample of passengers who are entering and leaving the UK by air, sea or the Channel Tunnel. Data from the survey is used to, among other things, estimate the numbers and characteristics of migrants into and out of the UK.

Over a quarter of million face-to-face interviews are carried out each year with passengers entering and leaving the UK, and the latest detailed figures from the survey show that 310,000 people left Britain to live abroad in the 12 months to September 2010, which is 50,000 down on the previous year and well down from the peak of recent migration which was seen in 2008 when 409,000 left to live abroad, mainly in Australia and Spain.

I know some will disagree obviously but I really put this down to people finally realising that the grass isnt actually greener.

But how would they be able to form that opinion without having tried it?
I'd have thought that given the fact that the article lists Australia & Spain as the main destinations and the fact that the GBP is significantly lower against the EURO & the AUD than it was 12 months ago, that would more likely explain the drop? Could also factor in the high unemployment and continually falling house prices and suddenly, it becomes a tad more difficult to fund that move abroad.

It seems to be fairly common knowledge that Australia for example is a much more expensive place to live than it was a couple of years ago which would make it less attractive for some. The exchange rate would no doubt influence people as well. I dont know if a couple of % points in the unemployment rate really affects the overwhelming majority of people and most people thinking of migration are skilled and more likely to be in decent employment. There would be any number of factors I would guess.

I think another factor in slowing migration to Oz was the tightening of the visa rules. Lots of people now (compared to 2 years ago) just can't qualify for a visa for one reason or another. This along with the exchange rate i think are probably the 2 major factors with migration from the UK to Oz.

Cal x

Originally Posted by Cal

I think another factor in slowing migration to Oz was the tightening of the visa rules. Lots of people now (compared to 2 years ago) just can't qualify for a visa for one reason or another. This along with the exchange rate i think are probably the 2 major factors with migration from the UK to Oz.

Cal x

Very true Cal, we wouldn't get one if we had to apply now.

Also the other most popular place was Spain - easy to buy a place, cheaper to live there than UK, lots of sunshine!! But there have been loads of reports on UK TV about people losing so much money in Spain because of houses being built and sold illegally and the standard of living has changed with prices rising over there.

Reports of problems like that will put people off and the depressed housing market in UK will make it even harder for people to have money behind them to move. I think the unemployment problems have less to do with going to Spain as a lot of people in UK are retired when they move.

Becky x

I also think that for some its a long protracted process applying for a Visa to Aus so why put your life on hold for such a long time. When children are involved they are getting older and education comes into it. Plus the children probably will not want to move. In the mean time mum and dad are getting older and it just all becomes too hard in the end.

That's true about Spain and the media reporting of the possible demolition of illegally built property. There's also many reports in the press of lots of retirees heading back the the UK as the exchange rate has badly affected their UK pensions which many retired expats depend on.

Originally Posted by Tiffyrove

I also think that for some its a long protracted process applying for a Visa to Aus so why put your life on hold for such a long time. When children are involved they are getting older and education comes into it. Plus the children probably will not want to move. In the mean time mum and dad are getting older and it just all becomes too hard in the end.

So true, it took us 2 years and we thought that was a lifetime.