Every year, thousands of people pack their lives into suitcases and head for the United Kingdom. The promise of new career opportunities, world‑class universities, and a vibrant city life is very exciting, but this doesn’t prevent many expats and international students from feeling homesick.
A new survey from Proton VPN shows just how deep this feeling runs, and how using a VPN to access your favourite shows and sports events from back home plays a powerful role in coming to terms with living abroad. Although our survey is focused on expats living the UK (especially London), feelings of homesickness are universal. So these findings are probably relatable for anybody living away from home, wherever they may be.
Homesickness: The forgotten side of living abroad
The survey shows that despite most people (64%) adapting well to life in the UK, a striking 79% still grapple with homesickness. Foreign students in the UK are particularly affected, with 82% reporting emotional turmoil from being disconnected from friends, family, and the sense of belonging that can only be found at home (UK weather was also cited as a factor!).
So how do expats counter these feelings of cultural dislocation and separation from the lives they’ve always known? When homesickness hits, expats turn to familiar rituals and find comfort in familiarity.
Cultural content is a cornerstone of emotional relief
Our findings reveal a powerful truth. Staying connected to home through familiar content such as TV shows, movies, news, sports events, and social media isn’t just entertainment, it’s emotional support. Indeed, 88% of UK-based expats told us that accessing content from back home helps reduce their feelings of homesickness. For students, this number is even higher, with 90% saying these connections significantly alleviate their longing.
One in four (26%, rising to 28% among students) of those surveyed also noted that watching content from home reduced homesickness “a lot” or “completely”.
VPNs play a vital role
The majority (73%) of respondents said that its important to stay connected to their home country’s news, events, and culture, so it’s unsurprising that almost half (43%) found comfort in accessing their home streaming services from the UK.
For many, these activities are not a nostalgia hit, but an essential way to preserve a sense of self while navigating life abroad. And virtual private networks (VPNs) play a vital yet under-recognized role in enabling these connections. Of those who knew what a VPN is, the survey revealed that 47% (55% for students) use a VPN at least weekly.
Proton VPN: an emotional lifeline when living abroad
Homesickness is universal, but with Proton VPN, home is only a click away. With any paid Proton VPN plan, you can connect to almost 100 popular streaming services in 120+ countries worldwide that would otherwise be blocked based on your geographic location.
And with apps for Android TV, Amazon Fire TV (“Firestick”) and Apple TV, you can enjoy your favourite own-language TV shows, movies, and sports events as they should be watched — on a big screen.
Methodology: Proton VPN conducted this survey in partnership with Toluna from November 6 to 16, 2025, among 2,000 expat adults living in the UK. Respondents included those residing there for more than five years (65%), three to five years (14%), one to three years (14%), and less than a year (7%) and representing over 135 nationalities.
