Moving and Living in
Scotland
Since 1969, OSS have provided complete global door to door moving services. That’s 50 years of specialist international moving, and over 200,000 moves.
Famous for its stunning scenery, vibrant culture and cutting edge innovation, Scotland has a renowned reputation for providing visitors with a warm, friendly and open welcome.
Moving and Living in Scotland
Scotland is the most northern part of the United Kingdom and is divided into three topographic areas: the Highlands in the north, Midland Valley and the Southern Uplands. The Grampian Mountains contain Britain’s highest mountains and provide many cliffs and pinnacles challenging mountaineers and serious hikers. Many tourists come from overseas to explore Scotland’s rural parklands around Greater Glasgow and the Clyde Valley.
Most of Scotland consists of hilly land, with hill sheep farming still popular within the Southern Uplands and in the Highlands. The seafood industry is vital to the economy, with about two-thirds of Britain’s fish and shellfish caught and handled by Scottish ports.
Scotland has a strong culture, with many customs and traditions stemming from the country’s diverse background. Bagpipes are one of the most recognisable symbols of Scottish culture, with the form of the kilt as the national costume seen at social occasions, major occasions and festivals.
Food and drink are a major part of the Scottish culture and heritage, with famous meals such as haggis, Angus beef, shortbreads and whiskey offered on the menu. Scottish whiskey is one of Scotland’s leading exports.
Edinburgh and Glasgow are considered the cultural capital cities of Scotland, home to institutions such as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera. Other attractions include the National Galleries of Scotland (of which there are seven), the annual Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh War Museum.
The Scottish Highland Games have been part of Scotland’s culture for hundreds of years, celebrating community, heritage and individual achievements. The season for these games begins in May, peaking in July and August with 30 events each month and ending in September. Showcasing traditional Highland sports such as the caber toss, tug o’ war and hammer throw, the events showcase Highland dancing and music, focusing on family fun with food and craft stalls.
Moving to Scotland from Australia with OSS
At OSS World Wide Movers, our network of FIDI / FAIM accredited partners cover the whole of Scotland.
Our partners in Scotland are well versed in all aspects of the requirements for importation of personal and household goods.
This guarantees you a seamless, tailor made move to Scotland, right through to your new home not only your personal effects and vehicles, but also for your much loved pets as well.
Scotland has a strong culture, with many customs and traditions stemming from the country’s diverse background.
Moving your household goods to Scotland
Can I pack my own goods when I move to Scotland?
If you are sending items that have been packed by yourself “owner packed” then they will attract more stringent inspection by Customs on arrival in Scotland. Providing a detailed carton-by-carton inventory will assist Customs in inspecting your effects and may avoid unnecessary delays.
It is advisable to have your goods packed by OSS if you are looking at sending larger consignments, to ensure the clearance process can be conducted with a minimum of fuss.
Can I move to Scotland with Pets?
How do I move my car to Scotland?
Moving motor vehicles and motor bikes to Scotland is possible provided Customs criteria are met.
This service is usually depot to depot, meaning the motor vehicle will be collected by you from our partners depot in Scotland following customs clearance.
Customs may require evidence that the owner of the vehicle has lived abroad for 12 months or longer, so a copy of your passport with date stamp showing arrival in Scotland, or copy of lease or rental agreement on in Scotland would be sufficient.
Tax implications when moving to Scotland
If you are considering a move to Scotland then it’s very important that you understand the tax differences between the two nations.
It is vital that you understand and obtain specific accounting and taxation advice suitable to your individual circumstances prior to your arrival.
How long will my move to Scotland take?
When moving your household goods to Scotland by sea freight, this will typically take 5 – 7 working days for an FCL service. For services such as LCL and shared container services (i.e. groupage), these will take longer to reach your destination as your goods will need to be consolidated with other consignments heading to the same destination. Please discuss these options & shipping times with your removal consultant, as shipping times will vary greatly for each destination when using this type of service over an FCL service.
What insurance should I have when moving to Scotland?
Although your shipment to Scotland will be packed to export standards (designed to withstand the longest journey), the small cost of insurance gives you complete peace of mind with regard to the exposure and rigours inherent in moving from one side of the world to the other.
Ask us about Movecover, our Marine Transit Insurance product.
Restricted and Prohibited items when moving to Scotland
When looking to relocate to Scotland you will need to consider the extensive list of restricted and prohibited items. The following is a sample of the extensive list you can see via this PDF: Moving to Scotland – FIDI Guide
Can I move my boat to Scotland?
Moving a boat to Scotland has similar requirements to moving a car to Scotland when it comes to registration requirements and process.
Customs and Quarantine in Scotland will have a special interest in the boat due to its exposure to marine life, however as Australia has a fairly clean marine environment, your boat should pass customs and quarantine without any problem.
Electrical Goods and Compliance when moving to Scotland
In Scotland the power plugs and sockets are of type G. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Type G: this type is of British origin. This socket only works with plug G.
Visa and Immigration Information
The following information and links will inform you about UK Government services in Australia.
British High Commission, Canberra, Australia
Contact the British High Commission by visiting Commonwealth Avenue, Yarramumla, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia. Phone +612 6270 6666 Fax +612 6273 3236 Email australia.enquiries@fco.gov.uk
There are consulates-general in Sydney and Melbourne and consulates in Brisbane and Perth. With over one million Britons living in Australia and over 590,000 visiting every year, the consulates support British nationals if they need assistance: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-high-commission-canberra
UK Visa Information
General visa information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
UK Passport Information
General passport information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports
UK Immigration Information
General immigration information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
UK Citizenship Information
A guide to citizenship: https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/citizenship
Social Media Links
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ukinaustralia
Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/ukinaustralia
UK Trade & Investment
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy.
We also help overseas companies bring their high-quality investment to the UK’s dynamic economy: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/uk-trade-investment-australia
British Council, Australia
Connects people with learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK. Whether you want to learn or teach English, take an exam, study in the UK or find out about our forthcoming events, this is the place to start: https://www.britishcouncil.org.au/
Visit Britain, Australia
Places to visit, things to do, travel advice and accommodation throughout Britain: http://www.visitbritain.com/en/AU/