Updated in 2026: Some immigration, IR35, energy price, and travel-related details in this post reflect the situation in early 2022. Rules, costs, and settlement processes may have changed since then, so always verify official UK government guidance before relocating or working in the UK.
Part I. Why We Left the UK — and Why We Came Back
“Never say never. In your life you never know what’s going to happen next.” — Gwen Stefani
I decided to share my experience of returning to England after leaving a few years ago. Maybe you also left the UK before Brexit and are now thinking about coming back? If so, this post is for you.
About me: when I am not blogging or traveling, I work as a freelance IT software engineer. My clients are mostly large international organizations in the financial sector. In the end, my profession brought us back to England.
I remember the 23rd–24th of June 2016 very well, when the referendum about leaving the European Union took place. We were exercising in our local gym in Northwich, Cheshire, when we heard on the radio that 51.89% voted to leave the EU.
It was shocking news to process, and uncertainty immediately took over our minds. At the time, we had a mortgage, two cars, two businesses, and what felt like a solid life foundation. Suddenly, that foundation no longer felt stable.
We stayed in the UK for another two years after the referendum, but during that time we slowly started planning our exit before Brexit officially happened. We did not want to wait and see whether house prices would fall, mortgage interest rates would rise, or our freedom of movement across Europe would become restricted in a worst-case scenario.
Deep inside, we were emotionally hurt by the Leave vote as well. We no longer felt fully welcomed. I felt like a little boy who had just been told he was no longer wanted on the playground.
Finally, at the end of 2019, we sold our house and moved our belongings abroad. Until the end of 2021, I was convinced we had made the right decision and might never return.
Well… never say never. I am writing this post from Kent.
IR35 and Why I Did Not Want to Return
One of the main reasons I did not want to come back was the new IR35 tax legislation. I was certain that I no longer wanted to work as a freelancer in the UK.
Part of me agrees with HMRC. If contractors and permanent employees work under almost identical conditions — same managers, same office, same trainings, same company rules — why should one group pay dramatically less tax?
At the same time, freelance life comes with constant uncertainty. Contracts often last only 6–12 months, meaning continuous job hunting becomes part of your lifestyle forever. It is stressful.
Contractors often receive no pension, no benefits, and are treated as “external resources,” even while working within the same teams. We can be excluded from meetings, social events, or long-term planning.
Because of this, I never felt guilty about previously paying less tax and earning more. That difference compensated for the instability and allowed me to pay for private pensions, insurances, and financial security myself.
Today, many contractors work “inside IR35,” meaning they are effectively taxed similarly to permanent employees. Umbrella companies handle payroll, taxes, and National Insurance deductions.
Oddly enough, one advantage is simplicity. I no longer have to deal with accountancy or tax returns myself.
So Why Did We Return?
The answer is simple: opportunity and quality.
Even inside IR35, contractor salaries can still significantly exceed permanent employment salaries for the same role. Yes, paying 40–45% tax hurts, but when your net income is still substantially higher than permanent employment, it becomes a trade-off worth considering.
The second reason was customer service and professionalism.
After dealing with recruiters from several large multinational outsourcing companies, working with a British recruitment agency felt like a breath of fresh air. I received regular follow-up calls, updates about every stage, patient communication, and smooth onboarding — even from abroad.
With some international recruiters, I struggled even to schedule interviews. Sometimes nobody showed up. Sometimes interviews were rescheduled without notice. In one case, after being hired, they simply “forgot” to inform me that the client had changed their mind.
Too often, the conversation immediately started with negotiating my daily rate downward before anyone had even looked at my CV properly. Personally, I think many companies make the mistake of prioritizing cheap labor over experienced professionals.
If I can choose, I would avoid working with companies operating like that again.
Settled Status & Returning to the UK
One important thing worth knowing: if you lived in the UK for at least 5 years before December 2020, you may still be eligible for status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
I originally believed we had completely missed our chance after the 2021 deadline. Surprisingly, applications were still possible under certain circumstances.
You can check the official government information here:
https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/applying-for-settled-status
Approval times vary massively. My wife received full Settled Status within two days. My own application remained pending much longer despite nearly identical circumstances.
Sometimes immigration systems feel impossible to predict.
Luckily, I had kept my UK bank accounts open, which helped temporarily with proof of address requirements.
For most employment in the UK, you generally need to be UK-based and tax resident. I personally could not find a legal option to work remotely abroad while remaining inside IR35.
Once my contract was signed, we were ready for our road trip back to England.
For details about driving across Europe to the UK during that period, read my previous post here.
Why England Still Feels Special to Us
After spending years across Central Europe, Eastern Europe, South America, and Central America, we realized something surprising: nowhere else felt as easy and comfortable to live as England.
We missed the quality roads and motorways, the clear road signs, the endless roundabouts, the variety of shops, Amazon and eBay deliveries, Sunday car boot sales, old pubs, historic buildings, green landscapes, and relaxed driving culture.
We missed the politeness, the tea culture, the coffee culture, antiques, cottages, and the feeling that services simply work.
Returning after several years abroad gave us a completely different perspective. We appreciate the UK far more now than we did before leaving.
We are incredibly grateful that returning was still possible and that we could continue life almost where we left off.
In Part II, I share our first impressions after being back in England for several weeks and months.
