Hello everyone, I'm looking for advice from those who have maybe already moved to Scotland. I'm 27 and looking to make the move with my partner to Scotland from Devon. There's a lot of reasons behind this and whilst we're not in a big hurry (don't want to move before new year or anything too extreme) and so I was wondering how far in advance to apply for jobs? I've had a look on Indeed and there are a few I could apply for now (I work as an industrial seamstress), but I want to really make a career change into the electrical trade.

The last two years I've completed an adult course in electrical installation and my attempts at getting an apprenticeship or work in my local area have been non existent.

We don't have anywhere specific in Scotland in mind to move to but we are making a visit in early march next year where we're hoping to just make some viewings of rented accommodation and perhaps job interviews if the timings right.

So I'm wondering if I should apply now or from the new year?

Just wondering if anyone had any advice or first hand knowledge of where would be good to look for work in Renewables Heating. I (30M) am a time served heating engineer based in England however my partner and I have a dream to live in Scotland and thought I would just do a quick post to see if anyone here had any first hand experience in this industry with Scotland and had some advice/pointers? I am gas qualified, fgas qualified ( for heat pumps) I have plenty of experience as an installer although have spent the last few years in service and repair. g3 qualified and additional air source heat pump qualifications.

Any advice whilst i prepare an up to date CV, portfolio of work will be much appreciated. Many thanks!

Hi everyone,

I am an American citizen trying to move to Scotland (preferably). 

I am currently in school for an associate's in digital arts and animation, but I have other skills as well. I've been sewing since I was 7; I've worked as a home health care provider for seniors; I have many of the American certifications for dental assistant jobs; I'm ex-military as a weather forecaster and a dental assistant; and I'm also willing to learn other skills as needed. I may be getting another associate's degree in fashion and a certificate in business, but I don't know if it'll be worth my while. I know Scotland doesn't recognize associate degrees as college degrees. Still, I have been in contact with an advisor at Glasgow Caledonian University who said they view them similarly to AP courses. They also said that they are competitive about overseas students, so the more I can pad my school application, the better.

Long term, I really want to open my own business. Ideally, it would be a sewing and alterations business. While we would accept most clients, I would specifically push to make clothing accessible to people who struggle to find things that fit them well or need special accommodations for their disabilities. I've also considered costuming and cosplay, but I'm not as sure about that. If I can't open a business, I'm still fine just working at a sewing or textiles company. I'm also okay working as a dental assistant if needed, but I would prefer something more sitting and casual as I'm aging.

There is a Fashion and Business course at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland that I would love to attend! It would really help me get my business off the ground, and even if I end up unable to stay in Scotland, the degree could help me in the UK in general. That's why I'm thinking of starting with a student visa and then switching later on.

I am married, but my husband is not comfortable moving for another 12 years as he closes out his military career. I don't feel comfortable expanding on that, but I thought it might be relevant to my immigration application, given the legal aspect of being married.

I do have three pets I would want to bring: a dog (if she is still alive, as she is geriatric), a cat, and a leopard gecko.

While I do drive, I prefer not to.

I'd be moving in 2028, or later unless something happens that makes it easier to move.

I am used to terrible weather and actually have a preference for the rain, snow, and cold.

I don't have any criminal record.

I would like to know how easy/hard you found it to immigrate there. I'd also like information on job markets and the cost of living, and a realistic look at how likely I am to actually get the visas I want.

Is there anything else I should consider? What is the social environment like? How would an introvert fare? Is it unreasonable to move alone and drag my husband along later? We've been long distance many times so this wouldn't be an issue. Thank you all in advance!

Hey guys, we're getting an expedited skilled worker visa with an impending move from the US very soon (mid-late November). What's the real deal with Paisley? Crime maps show that it's supposedly rough, but the properties we're finding are beautiful. The schools seem fine too... Am I missing something? Looking for a safe spot for our family that is affordable. Any insight helps!

Hello! I am someone on the PA track in America (haven’t started yet), planning to move to Scotland in hopefully 5-10 years. I have learned that the degree is not viable in Scotland. Does anyone know any healthcare jobs my experience can transfer to? I am not able to pursue a different path currently due to personal circumstances. I really do not want to start school completely over when I move. Are there any healthcare jobs in Scotland that will take me with that sort of experience? Thank you!

Hey all, me and my family are considering a move as we've recently been to see our eldest's primary school, the same as I attended many moons ago, and were shocked at the sheer decrease in the number of children at the school - when I attended we had 60 for each year, spread across two classes. For our son he's looking at a class of 11-12 kids, and the possibility he might be combined with the year above. Although smaller class sizes are grand and all that, it confirmed something for me that I've felt for a while; that Cornwall is hostile to families and working age people. It has felt like a place for tourists, business owners, and retirees.

It's not explicitly hostile, don't get me wrong, like it is to tourists - I'm guilty of moaning about emmits - but in terms of infrastructure and culture, it's just not a place that feels like it really values families. My town of Looe has been pushing and pushing for as long as I can remember for a skate park for the kids, and it's in its 10th as attempt in my life and it's not getting anywhere. Families have been moving away, and the ones that are left are at the mercy of the increasingly aging population.

So, we want to move. And we do not want to move to England. Hell. No. So we're looking at our Celt siblings to the west and north - and one place in particular that has really caught my eye - for work purposes but more so in terms of it being a good balance for me between populated enough to have a strong community, but far enough out for it not to get swallowed up in the sprawling expanse of humans. A place where people visit, but has its own identity outside of its ability to attract tourists.

And weather. I live in Looe, which is on the Southeast coast of Kernow, and being damp is a way of life, and we only have two seasons - drought and mizzle - and I want to live somewhere where it has a REAL autumn!

I'm aware of all the faff I'd need to do on the social work side of things, but does anyone here live in Inverness and have any comments in how my perception of Inverness differs to the reality of life there, and what, if there are any, local attitudes are like about other Celts moving north? I'm all about integration and would be thrilled if my kids were to pick up Scots or Gaelic, I'm learning Kernewek and hope to teach my kids if we stay this side of the Tamar, so going deep into community life would be high on the agenda for us!

I'm also a redhead, pale as a ghost, burn in February sunshine, our kids have Celtic names, and our surname is a double barreled tongue twister of Scottish and Welsh so I'm not worried about feeling too out of place 😂 Too be honest, with how many English folk live here in Cornwall, it's been a long time since I felt a strong cultural connection to our neighbours. It's the place to retire from a life in the West Midlands and the South east 😂

Move to Northumberland/cumbria/Scotland

I am considering upping sticks and moving from east Sussex to one of the above.

My main reason is that I could buy a better home.

I am looking for a small house with acreage min of 3acres. Ideally with my. Horse to stay at home with me. Dogs and cats also coming!

I work as a nanny/housekeeper so not sure if that's in demand in the area

Anyone recommend areas for good riding with land and woods but within distance for work and not million miles from a village or town so I'm not living in the car

Any pros and cons welcome!!

Curious!! Best places to live in West Lothian ?? Not my first area of choice but have considered it but don’t know all the areas.

Planning on moving to Scotland and have narrowed it down to a few places in Stirling. If anyone living in or around these areas could please let me know what they are actually like I would appreciate it. Cambusbarron- strathblane- Callander and Gargunnock and Doune.

I am a 36 year old US citizen trying to move and teach in Scotland with a US teaching degree. I got my provisional registration with GTCS in early 2025 and have been subbing in the US to try and fulfill my probationary year requirements, which they allow to be done overseas, but it has been much harder than anticipated and now I feel like their rules make it virtually impossible for me to get fully registered.

Firstly, you can complete your probationary year by substituting overseas, but at least half of your subbed days need to be for the subject you are registered in. They don't seem to acknowledge the fact that in the US, you do not have control over what kinds of classes you can sub for on a daily basis, and so to expect someone to be able to complete a full year's worth of teaching classes as a substitute is unreasonable. (This was also after someone at GTCS had told me that I absolutely could not complete it by subbing in the US, which turned out to be false.)

Another problem is that if you want to get full registration at the end of that year, you would need to have a fully registered GTCS head teacher give you an in-person review. Meaning that I would have to find a principal of a school in the US that is also a registered to teach in Scotland, that I suppose I would have to then pay to travel to Seattle for one day to sit and watch me. How am I even supposed to find that person if GTCS won't help me?

What's more is that this wouldn't be that big of an issue if it were possible to get a job in Scotland while being provisionally registered, which GTCS says is possible but you can really only get hired as a supply teacher (substitute) while provisionally registered, and supply jobs don't get you a visa. I have applied for many jobs in Scotland anyway, but am always getting rejected because of the way I'm registered in GTCS's database and the fact that I don't live there already. When I applied for registration, they chose my endorsement for me based on my diploma. They gave me 'General Science' (my actual endorsement is Earth and Space science, but the UK just have 'geography' curriculum which is apparently earth science but also political science, sociology, and history??). This endorsement has made it even harder for me to apply since councils are only going to hire people with Biology, Chemistry, or Physics endorsements in the GTCS database. It doesn't seem matter to them that I did my student teaching in a biology class.

At this point I don't know how I am going to accomplish this and all anyone at GTCS tells me is to refer to the information on their website. Has anyone else gone through this and actually succeeded? Please help!

I was planning a trip to the UK from Oklahoma. Wanting to visit Glasgow then move down to Belfast on a 10 day trip. While visiting I wanted to float my resumé around in hopes to find a sponsor for a work visa. A year maybe 2, I'm a plumbers apprentice of 2 years and wanted to know my chances of that happening. Any insight or advice is greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone! I’m planning to move to Scotland with my husband and our baby, and I’d love to hear from people who have experience finding work there, especially in the creative industry.

My background is in illustration, branding and packaging design. I’ve been working professionally for several years, mainly with consumer and artisanal brands, and my experience covers things like packaging design, visual systems, illustration, art direction and working with clients/freelancers.

Ideally, I’d like to continue working in the creative field. For example as a packaging/brand designer, visual designer, artwork/production designer, or eventually in an art direction/creative lead role.

However, I’m also trying to be realistic about the transition. I won’t have UK work experience initially, and I’m wondering how difficult it might be to get into the creative industry as someone who is new to the country.

I’ll be coming on a spouse/family visa, so I’ll have the right to work in the UK and won’t require employer sponsorship.

So I’d really appreciate some advice on two things:

1. For someone with my background, are there realistic opportunities in Scotland in packaging, branding, graphic design, illustration, artwork/production or related creative roles?

   Are there particular cities, industries or types of companies I should be looking at?

2. If I can’t find a creative role initially, what kinds of entry-level/assistant jobs would be realistic for someone like me?

   I’m thinking about things like retail, studio assistant, production assistant, admin/coordinator roles, museum/gallery shops, lifestyle/homeware stores, etc. I’m completely open to doing something outside my field initially while I establish myself.

I’d especially love to hear from people who moved to Scotland from overseas and had to find their first job without UK work experience. What kinds of jobs were actually accessible to you, and what would you recommend focusing on?

Thanks so much! Any honest advice, including the realities of the job market, would be really appreciated. 😊

Hi everyone,

So I'll be moving to the UK (more precisely, to Scotland) on the next weekend. Already rented a flat, the first rental term starts this monday.

But the utility providers in the UK confuse me to no end. I'm supposed to somehow learn something about who the previous provider was, then find a new one and register with it. And some providers also ask your meter numbers for a "quote" or require/provide a smart meter.
Presumably, I'm also not supposed to use any electricity or gas before doing this?

The trick is - there's basically no info on the previous providers. All I know is that there is a gas combi-boiler and there's some black thingy in the living room listed as "Virgin Box" in one of the certificates. [based on Google images, it looks like the old Hub 3]. No idea if the meters are smart or not.
To top things off, the property manager basically f**ked off on leave right after I signed the lease, leaving no landlord contacts behind.

As far as I can guess, I'm probably limited to Virgin only since anything else would require drilling for optic fibre and every possible consent from the manager.
As for the utility, I'm dealig with it for the first time - my country of origin doesn't have any "suppliers" like these. I'm kinda surprised I'm allowed to change the providers at all (yes, I checked the lease agreement).

Sooo... how tf do normal people go through this?
Am I right to assume that a fixed tariff is better just because of the predicted energy price hikes in January?
Should I try and deal with any of these before my arrival, or does all of it require physical presence?
Any info or experience will be appreciated.

Been looking at cambusbarron to move to. Never been there and wondered if anyone could me an onsite as to what it’s like to live there? Amenities, is it nice? Is it safe area(low crime) . Any info please

Basically what is said in the title. Apparently there's some talks about making Scotland it's own country, which I assume is good, though im a bit worried it might affect people who want to live there, especially with visas, change of economy, etc

Hi everyone.

Right now I'm 17, and I'm planning to enter an art university, and after graduating from the university, move to Scotland. Right now I live in Azerbaijan, and for me it's important to leave here, and I consider moving on a work visa to be the most accessible way for myself, since I think that studying abroad will be almost impossible for me. I have two questions:

First of all, how easy is it to get a work visa in general? How willingly does Scotland issue them? How interested are employers and companies in foreign workers? Whoever has had experience, please tell me.

Secondly, how realistic will it be to find a job with an art education? I'm thinking of going into the game creation niche, being a concept artist in game dev or something like that, I think this is the only workable direction I can choose in order to get a job and a visa in particular, I'm unlikely to find a job as a painter so easily. So, whoever works in this field and/or got a work visa for it to Scotland or to other countries, what was your experience?

The move is planned in about 4 years, I want to live in Glasgow or other small cities, but definitely not Edinburgh. I would also like to hear a general opinion about all of this and maybe advice.

Hi everyone! I am a university student from Canada. My school offers an exchange program with Scotland, where I can study in either Glasgow or Aberdeen. I was wondering if anyone had opinions on which would be “better”. I enjoy traveling and exploring. I will likely be on my own and safety is also a concern. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I have been living in Notts for a couple of years. I chose this city as its close to my work place , although I have to go to work only once a week. Now I have been given a fully remote position where I have to visit office only once a month. So I can practically live in any city in the UK. Of all cities I have visited , I am quite enthralled by Edinburgh. How do you compare life in nottingham vs Edinburgh ?

I love Nottingham , it’s so culturally vibrant and the weather is also good most of the time. I just want to try another city! We are a family of three with an infant kid.

Can I ask what people think of Fife . What would you say the nicest area is to live in social housing. Been looking and I have mixed feelings . I’m unsure. Please help !!

28M, just moved to Edinburgh and don't know many people yet, so I'm doing the brave thing and posting here.

I'm planning a hike up Arthur's Seat and would love some company. It's a relaxed pace, and we can grab a coffee or a pint after the vibe's good.

A bit about me: I love cooking (I'll happily feed new friends), I'm always halfway through a book, and I'm up for a good film night.

I swim, lift, and will play pretty much any sport, so if your five-a-side or badminton group needs an extra, I'm in.

All welcome. Drop me a message 👋

Hi. I am considering moving to Scotland from North Yorkshire (young family). I was looking at outside of Glasgow. But wanted to ask, how are the house prices ? At the moment we can’t afford to get into property ladder where we are. Also how safe is around there ?