Brits clamour to emigrate as January blues hit hard

A new survey has revealed visa applications from Britons looking to leave the UK were up 121 per cent in the first week of January from last year.

According to previous statistics from visa application help website IXPVisas.com, January is historically the most popular month for people looking to leave the country, but 2014 has so far seen a bumper number of enquiries with 'relationship breakdown', being 'fed up of the weather' and 'January blues' making Brits want to pack up and move abroad.

The survey of 1,025 visa applicants asked, 'Why have you opted for January to look at moving abroad?' to which the main reason, at 43 per cent, was that it was a 'new year and a new start' so therefore a good time to look at moving away.

29 per cent of respondents said that they wanted to celebrate Christmas with family before emigrating and a further 24 per cent said that it was because there was 'less competition with graduates' at this time of year when looking for jobs abroad.

When asked about the reasons for moving abroad, it emerged that 31 per cent claimed a 'relationship breakdown' had led them to look at moving away, 24 per cent said they were just fed up of 'poor weather' and wanted to enjoy a fairer climate and 18 per cent said it was simply 'January blues' leading to them want a fresh start.

And when questioned about if they saw the move as permanent or more of a short term option, 38 per cent claimed that their intended move abroad was permanent, while the majority, 50 per cent, said that their move was a 'short term option'.

Have the 'January Blues' led you to consider moving to sunnier climes? Where would you emigrate? Tell us in the comments box below.

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