UK Arrival Checklist

Your employer must issue a CoS before you can apply for a Skilled Worker visa. Check that the salary meets the minimum threshold (currently £38,700 for most roles).

Apply online via gov.uk. You'll need your CoS reference number, passport, English language evidence, and bank statements. Pay the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) upfront.

Monzo, Starling, or Revolut can be set up with just your passport — no UK address needed yet. This gives you a UK account number before you arrive, so your employer can pay you from day one.

Serviced apartments, Airbnb, or short-let rooms give you a base while you search for permanent housing. Avoid signing a long-term tenancy before you've seen the area.

Use Rightmove/Zoopla to browse rental prices. Check Transport for London or local council transport maps. Factor in commute cost and time — these affect your real income significantly.

If bringing furniture or large items, book at least 6–8 weeks ahead for sea freight. For essentials only, a couple of airline bags + a small air freight box is often cheaper and faster.

Buy a pay-as-you-go SIM from a supermarket or newsagent (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Argos). giffgaff, Smarty, and Lebara are cheap options. A UK number is essential for bank verification and flat viewings.

Apply online at gov.uk. It's free and takes about 15 minutes. Your employer can still pay you without one initially, but apply immediately — it takes 2–8 weeks to arrive and affects your tax records.

Share your UK account number and sort code as soon as possible. If you haven't got your digital bank set up yet, do it now — Monzo and Starling take minutes.

Find your nearest NHS GP practice on nhs.uk and check they're accepting new patients. You don't need proof of citizenship — just your address. Registration is free if you've paid the IHS.

Use Rightmove, Zoopla, and SpareRoom. Be ready to move fast — good properties go within days. Have your references (employer letter, previous landlord), passport, and 3 months of bank statements ready.

You're liable for council tax from the day you move in. Contact your local council (find it at gov.uk) to register your address and set up a direct debit. Single adults get a 25% discount.

Contact the existing supplier (your landlord should tell you who it is) to register in your name, or switch to a better deal. For broadband, allow 2–4 weeks for installation. BT, Sky, and Virgin are common; check Ofcom's comparison tool.

Your landlord's buildings insurance doesn't cover your possessions. A basic policy costs £80–£200/year. Compare on Compare the Market, GoCompare, or MoneySuperMarket.

Verify your tax code (should be 1257L for most people on a standard code), NI deductions, and gross vs net figures match what you expected. If your tax code looks wrong, contact HMRC.

With a UK address you can now apply to Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, or Santander. A high street account helps build your credit history faster and may be required for some direct debits.

EU and Commonwealth citizens living in the UK can vote in local elections. All residents can register. It also helps establish your address on the electoral roll, which improves your credit score.

UK employers must auto-enrol you into a pension after 3 months. The minimum employer contribution is 3%. Consider increasing your own contribution — pension contributions reduce your taxable income.

Apply for a credit-builder card (Vanquis, Aqua, or Capital One are common starting points). Use it for small purchases and pay it off in full each month. Good credit unlocks better deals on phones, broadband, mortgages, and car insurance.

If your country is on the DVLA's exchange list, you can swap your licence for a UK one without retaking the test. Do this within 12 months of becoming resident. After that you'll need to take UK theory and practical tests.

ISAs let you save or invest up to £20,000 per tax year completely tax-free. A Cash ISA is the lowest-risk option. The UK tax year runs April–April — open one before April to use your current year's allowance.

Log in to your personal tax account on gov.uk to check your NI record is correct, your tax code is right, and you've been given the correct personal allowance. If anything looks wrong, contact HMRC directly.

Some professions (nursing, medicine, law, engineering) require overseas qualifications to be formally assessed or converted. Check with the relevant UK professional body — this can take months, so start early.