Moving from Vietnam to the United Kingdom (2026): Relocation Guide
Key takeaways
- Pets need a rabies blood test, both for the EU and for Great Britain. Vietnam is unlisted under GB’s own regime, so a dog or cat needs a microchip, rabies vaccination, and a rabies antibody titration test (blood taken at least 30 days after vaccination, result at or above 0.5 IU/ml), followed by a three-month wait from the blood-draw date before entry to Great Britain. Plan pets first — about four to five months.
- Household goods can enter free of UK customs duty and import VAT under Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief; you apply for a ToR1 approval and get a Unique Reference Number (URN) before your goods arrive.
- Close out Vietnam: settle your temporary residence card or visa with the Immigration Department, clear used effects through Vietnam Customs, and get a Department of Animal Health export certificate for any pet.
- Sea freight from Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City) or Hai Phong to Felixstowe takes several weeks; air freight suits a small, urgent shipment.
- After arrival: register with a GP, sort a National Insurance number, set up council tax, and exchange your driving licence within the allowed window.
1. Leaving Vietnam: what to close out
Tie off your Vietnamese affairs before the container sails. If you hold a temporary residence card (TRC) or long-term visa from the Immigration Department (Cục Quản lý Xuất nhập cảnh) under the Ministry of Public Security, you exit on that document; a valid TRC lets you leave and re-enter without a separate visa while it is live. If your stay was linked to a work permit, arrange its cancellation with your employer and settle outstanding personal income tax before you go. Keep copies of your passport pages, entry stamps, TRC and work permit — UK customs (for ToR) and future landlords or employers may ask you to evidence how long you lived outside the UK.
For your goods, an international removal is handled as a standard export. Your mover lodges an export declaration through Vietnam’s VNACCS/VCIS system with a detailed English packing list, transport document and your passport identification pages. Used household and personal effects are the normal content of such a shipment; keep the inventory honest and avoid new, boxed items that resemble commercial cargo. Port-side physical inspection is common, so pack clearly and label every box.
If a pet is coming, Vietnam’s Department of Animal Health (Cục Thú y, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) must issue or endorse the export veterinary health certificate that permits the animal to leave. That sits on top of — and after — the GB-facing preparations in section 5. Because the rabies titre test and its three-month wait are the longest-lead item in the entire move, begin the pet process before you book anything else.
2. How your household goods ship to the United Kingdom
Most Vietnam-to-UK household moves go by sea in a 20ft or 40ft container, or as shared (groupage) freight for smaller loads. Containers load at Cat Lai in Ho Chi Minh City or at Hai Phong and sail to a UK gateway — most commonly Felixstowe, sometimes via a Northern European hub such as Rotterdam or Antwerp before a feeder to the UK. Both direct and transhipped services run; transhipment through Singapore adds days. As a planning figure, expect several weeks port to port, plus packing and export clearance in Vietnam and import clearance and delivery in the UK. Any quoted transit is indicative — weather, congestion and customs affect the date.
Air freight is the alternative for a small, urgent volume — a few boxes of essentials or work equipment — at a higher cost per kilo. Many movers combine the two: air for immediate needs, sea for the bulk. Either way, the ToR relief in section 3 relies on a clean itemised inventory, so agree the packing-list format with your mover in advance and keep a signed copy.
3. UK customs & transfer-of-residence relief
The UK lets you import your used belongings free of customs duty and import VAT when you transfer your normal home to the UK, through Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief. You must apply to HMRC using the ToR1 process before your goods arrive, and HMRC issues a Unique Reference Number (URN) that your shipping agent quotes at import to clear the goods without charges. The core conditions: you must have been living outside the UK for at least 12 consecutive months, the goods must have been owned and used for at least six months, and they must be for your personal use — not for sale, and generally not disposed of within 12 months of import.
Apply for ToR1 online through GOV.UK; you will describe the goods, provide evidence of your move (such as your visa or job offer and proof of your overseas residence) and a packing inventory. Straightforward applications are commonly processed within one to two weeks, but do not leave it to the last minute — without the URN, your agent cannot clear the shipment under relief and you risk storage charges at the port. Vehicles can be included, though a private car has separate DVLA registration and technical requirements once it lands. Restricted and prohibited goods, and anything intended for resale, fall outside the relief.
4. Arriving: registration, residence, driving, healthcare
There is no single “town hall” registration in the UK like continental Europe’s. Instead you complete a short checklist. Register with a local GP (family doctor) — anyone staying three months or more can register, and you will need proof of address; this also gives you access to NHS care. Apply for a National Insurance (NI) number if you plan to work; it is done online through GOV.UK and lets HMRC track your tax and contributions. Set up council tax with your local council once you have an address, and arrange utilities and a UK phone number.
Residence and visa. As Vietnamese nationals you are subject to UK immigration control, so you need the correct visa for your purpose — a Skilled Worker visa, Student visa, family visa or similar — arranged before travel. Most routes require paying the Immigration Health Surcharge, which gives you access to the NHS on broadly the same basis as residents. Keep your biometric documents or eVisa details and your visa evidence to hand for the GP, employer and bank.
Healthcare. With a valid visa and the health surcharge paid, you can use the NHS; registering with a GP is your gateway to routine care. Consider additional cover only if you want private options.
Driving licence. A Vietnamese licence generally lets you drive in Great Britain for up to 12 months from becoming resident. Vietnam is not among the countries whose licences can simply be exchanged, so to keep driving beyond 12 months you will normally need to apply for a provisional GB licence and pass the theory and practical tests. Start early and carry your licence (with an official translation or International Driving Permit) in the meantime.
5. Pets
Pets are the critical-path item, and the UK adds its own layer. Great Britain runs its own pet-travel regime separate from the EU, and Vietnam is unlisted under it — so, exactly as for the EU, a blood test is required. The GB steps for a dog, cat or ferret from an unlisted country are: (1) an ISO microchip; (2) a rabies vaccination (wait at least 21 days after the primary vaccination); (3) a rabies antibody blood test on a sample taken at least 30 days after vaccination, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml; and (4) a three-month wait counted from the date the blood was drawn before the animal may enter Great Britain. The animal also needs a Great Britain pet health certificate, dogs need tapeworm treatment before travel, and you must use an approved route and carrier. Getting the rules wrong can mean up to four months’ quarantine or refused entry, so confirm every detail on GOV.UK.
Because the EU and GB requirements mirror each other, the timeline is the same order of magnitude — roughly four to five months once you stack microchip, vaccination, the 30-day gap, the lab result and the three-month wait. On the Vietnam side, the Department of Animal Health must issue or endorse the export health certificate. Use an accredited laboratory for the titre test, keep every dated document, and do not book the animal’s travel until the three-month clock has a firm end date. Start the pet process first.
6. Money, banking & tax basics
Opening a UK bank account usually needs proof of identity and a UK address, so it can be easier once you have a tenancy and some post in your name; several digital banks accept newcomers before you have a full address history, which helps in the first weeks. You will want a UK account for salary, rent, utilities and council tax. Move funds through your bank rather than cash — bringing GBP 10,000 or more in cash into Great Britain from outside the UK must be declared to customs.
On tax, the UK taxes residents on their income, with residence determined by the Statutory Residence Test based largely on days spent in the UK. The year you move can straddle residence positions in both Vietnam and the UK, and the UK–Vietnam double taxation agreement exists to prevent the same income being taxed twice. Because relocation tax turns on timing, the nature of your income and any continuing Vietnamese earnings, take individual advice for the transition year.
How Flyto handles your Vietnam to the UK move
Flyto Relocation runs the whole Vietnam-to-UK corridor as one coordinated project. We arrange export packing and clearance in Ho Chi Minh City or Hai Phong, ocean or air freight to Felixstowe, and UK import clearance under Transfer of Residence relief — including help preparing your ToR1 application so the URN is ready before your container lands. Just as importantly, we sequence the move around the longest-lead item: your pet’s rabies titre test and three-month wait, so the animal, your goods and your visa arrive in the right order. With our own hubs across Northern, Central and Southern Europe, we manage the UK delivery leg directly. Want dates and a price? Get a quote and we will build the plan around the pet clock first.
Frequently asked questions
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to enter Great Britain from Vietnam?
Yes. Great Britain runs its own regime and Vietnam is unlisted, so a blood test is required: taken at least 30 days after vaccination, result at least 0.5 IU/ml, then a three-month wait from the blood-draw date before entry. See GOV.UK — bringing your pet to Great Britain.
How long does the pet process take?
Around four to five months once you add microchipping, vaccination, the 30-day gap before the blood draw, the lab turnaround and the compulsory three-month wait. Start it before booking anything else. See GOV.UK — rabies vaccination and blood test.
Can I bring my used furniture without paying UK duty and VAT?
Generally yes, under Transfer of Residence relief. Apply with ToR1 before your goods arrive and get a URN, provided you lived outside the UK for at least 12 months and owned and used the goods for at least six months. See GOV.UK — application for Transfer of Residence relief (ToR1).
Do I register with a town hall when I arrive?
No. The UK has no single registration; instead register with a GP, apply for a National Insurance number to work, and set up council tax with your local council. See GOV.UK — apply for a National Insurance number.
Do Vietnamese citizens need a visa to live in the UK?
Yes. You need the appropriate UK visa (for work, study or family) arranged before travel, and most routes require paying the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access. See GOV.UK — visas and immigration.
Can I drive on my Vietnamese licence in the UK?
For up to 12 months from becoming resident. Vietnam’s licence cannot simply be exchanged, so to continue you must apply for a provisional GB licence and pass the tests. See GOV.UK — exchange a foreign driving licence.
Related moves
Sources
- GOV.UK — Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain
- GOV.UK — Rabies vaccination, boosters and blood test
- GOV.UK — Application for Transfer of Residence relief (ToR1)
- GOV.UK — Transfer of residence to Great Britain
- GOV.UK — Apply for a National Insurance number
- NHS — How to register with a GP surgery
- GOV.UK — Exchange a foreign driving licence
- Vietnam Immigration Department — Temporary residence cards for foreigners
- General Department of Vietnam Customs
Hiring an international mover? See our full International removals to Vietnam service — Flyto’s own European hubs, vetted local partners and one English-speaking coordinator, door to door.