5 LAWS IN THE UK THAT EXPATS MUST KNOW

Going to the UK is no less than a feast. It is just like a dream come true for those from developing countries to travel to the UK for education or employment, earn a living, and send money online to support their families financially.

A robust economy and a strong education base in the UK attract millions of people from the outside. Based on these two particular distinctions of offering the best-quality education and accommodating the job-seekers, expatriates in the UK rose from about 5.3 million in 2004 to over 9.5 million in 2021.

But, going to the UK and staying there is not without a cost. You are bound to be aware of many laws and rules in the UK as an expatriate and follow them strictly. You will be liable to penalties and punishments if you ignore those laws.

This guide provides sufficient information about some of the laws you must be aware of while in the UK as an expatriate.

A brief background about why following the law is important

Simply because you cannot afford to ignore them!

You have two options to live in another country. Either live discreetly, ignore the laws, and spend every moment in extreme fear of being apprehended at any time. Or, you can lead a normal life that simply requires you to adhere to the laws.

While taking up the second option can lead to growth, excellence, and prosperity, the first option is a sure recipe for disaster and the ruination of a life.

Therefore, it is important to abide by the laws of the country you travel to, including the UK, for any purpose.

Before taking a detailed look at the laws in the UK, you should know a look at the UK’s economy is imperative.

The Economy of the UK for a better understanding of its appeal to the people outside

• The UK is a highly developed social market economy ranking 6th worldwide with a nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $3.198 trillion.

• It is the 9th largest economy worldwide with a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) of $3.752 trillion.

• Its nominal GDP per capita income is $49,761, which is 24th worldwide.

• It has a PPP per capita income of $55,301, which is 28th worldwide.

• Major sectors of the UK’s economy are agriculture, industry, and services.

These figures show the strength of the UK’s economy, which inspires people from outside to come to the UK in search of better employment opportunities to earn better than they can in their native countries.

And keeping up its tradition of welcoming and accommodating job-seekers, the UK offers jobs to expatriates, who earn a living and support their families back home through online money transfer(s).

Which laws of the UK must I be aware of as an expatriate?

Every country has rules and laws unique to its identity. While some of these are similar to the laws practised in other countries, some might appear odd, but remember that these are deeply rooted in a country’s history and traditions. The UK, in this regard, is no exception.

A few of the UK's laws, which you must be aware of, are listed below.

Drunk in a pub? You are breaking the law.

The Metropolitan Police Act of 1839 makes it illegal to get drunk on a public house's premises and prohibits the house's keeper from allowing this. Besides, exhibiting disorderly conduct in a public house is an offense under section 140 of the Licensing Act of 2003. Furthermore, section 141 of the same act makes selling alcohol to an intoxicated person an offense.

Conscious of cleanliness? Do not beat rugs on the streets

The law of 1839 does not permit you to dust off your doormat on the streets. Although this law may appear archaic on the face of it, it is not without reason. It becomes an offense to clean and dust off your doormats on the streets, which can pose health hazards to others by polluting the environment.

Affixed a postage stamp with the Queen’s/King’s head down? Beware, it is an offense.

Affixing a postage stamp with the Queen’s/King’s head down is considered disrespectful and treason in some people’s opinion. The Treason Felony Act of 1848 considers the upside-down image in the postage stamp on the Queen or King an offense punishable by law.

Want to fly a kite? You will break the law.

Flying a kite on the streets or in public places is prohibited lest it obstructs, annoys, or poses a danger to the passengers or residents. This law has been in effect since 1847 and makes kite flying on the streets an offense making the offender liable to punishment.

Want to travel with a disease? Notify your sickness first

Sections 33 and 34 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act, which came into effect around 1984, prohibit you from traveling in public transport with a sickness such as leprosy, food poisoning, or other serious and notifiable diseases. If traveling is inevitable, you better notify the driver and seek their permission otherwise; you will stand liable to punishment by law.

Some of these laws do not appear to have been updated with modern times but are still in practice in the UK. So, beware of them and follow them during your stay there.

What is the need for money transfers?

The one basic purpose expatriates largely share while living abroad is to support their families back home financially. And here is where the dire need to transfer funds across borders arises.

ACE Money Transfer – facilitating remittances globally

ACE Money Transfer charges a low fee and offers speed, safety, competitive and live currency exchange rates, 24/7 service access, and over 350,000 pickup locations in over 100 countries in your global money transfer(s) with it from one window.

• UK’s economy

(Economy of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia)

• Migrants in the UK

(Migrants in the UK: An Overview - Migration Observatory - The Migration Observatory (ox.ac.uk)