What should I do in the first week of arriving in the UK?

In priority order: (1) Collect your BRP from the Post Office within 10 days of arrival. (2) Open a Monzo or Starling Bank account — you can do this before you have a permanent address. (3) Register with a local GP surgery. (4) Apply for your NI number online. (5) If you have a rental property, complete the Right to Rent check with your landlord and move in. (6) Buy an Oyster card or set up contactless banking for transport.

How do I transfer my foreign driving licence to a UK one?

If your country is on the UK's 'designated country' list (includes USA, Australia, Canada, EU/EEA, South Africa, Japan, and many others), you can exchange your licence by post without retaking the test — apply at gov.uk with your current licence, passport, and a fee of £43. You must do this within 12 months of becoming UK-resident. If your country is not on the list, you must take a UK theory test and practical driving test (together costing approximately £100–£200 in test fees plus driving lessons).

Can I import my household goods to the UK duty-free?

Yes, under Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief. You must apply for relief online before your goods arrive, prove you have been living outside the UK for at least 12 months, and show the items are for personal use, have been owned for at least 6 months, and are not being sold. The relief covers furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing, and personal effects — not cars (which are subject to separate vehicle import rules) or commercial goods.

How long does it take to feel settled in the UK?

Most expats report that it takes 3–6 months to feel genuinely settled — once banking, healthcare, housing, and social connections are established. The English language advantage accelerates this significantly compared to non-English-speaking countries. The first month involves the most administrative work; month two onwards is about building a social life and routines. Joining expat communities (InterNations, Meetup, work colleagues) early dramatically speeds up the adjustment.

What is the best bank to open when I first arrive in the UK?

Monzo or Starling Bank are overwhelmingly recommended for new arrivals. Both open accounts in under 20 minutes using just a passport and a selfie — no UK credit history, no proof of address, no branch visit needed. They provide a full UK current account with sort code and account number, enabling your employer to pay your salary from day one. They also have good app interfaces, spending categorisation, and fee-free spending abroad. Open one before you open anything else.

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🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Moving Guide

Moving to the UK involves securing your visa, setting up banking, registering for healthcare and tax, and handling several administrative tasks in your first few weeks. This step-by-step guide covers everything from pre-departure to settling in..

3 weeks

Skilled Worker Visa Processing

Standard; priority available

4–8 weeks

NI Number Application

To receive by post after applying online

Same day

GP Registration

Can register immediately on arrival

10 days

Biometric Residence Permit

After arrival, collected from Post Office

£1,500–£4,000

International Removals

Full container service, Europe; higher from Asia

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🏙️London 🏰Edinburgh 🐝Manchester

🛂Visa 🏥Healthcare 💰Finance 🏠Housing 💼Working 🌆Daily Life ✈️Moving 📚Education 🌅Lifestyle 📈Investing

Overview

Key Takeaways

Apply for your Skilled Worker visa as soon as your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is issued — begin the process 3–4 months before your intended start date
Collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from the Post Office location specified in your visa vignette — do this within 10 days of arrival
Confirm your PAYE tax code with your employer — new arrivals are sometimes placed on emergency tax code (1257L W1/M1); contact HMRC if deductions seem too high
Transfer of Residence (ToR1) relief: apply at gov.uk before goods arrive to import personal effects and household goods free of customs duty and VAT — must have owned items for 6+ months
State schools are free; apply to your local authority (LA) — find yours at gov.uk/find-local-council — and submit a school application immediately on arrival

Before You Leave — Pre-Departure Checklist

A well-prepared departure saves weeks of stress on arrival. Start visa and banking preparation as early as possible — some steps take 4–8 weeks.

Apply for your Skilled Worker visa as soon as your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is issued — begin the process 3–4 months before your intended start date
Gather all supporting documents: valid passport (6+ months remaining), CoS reference number, English language test results, TB test certificate (if from a listed country), bank statements
Arrange travel insurance with medical cover for the period before you are registered with an NHS GP
Notify your home country tax authority of your departure; obtain tax clearance certificates where relevant; close or downgrade bank accounts you won't use
Sort out international driving permit if your licence country is not on the UK direct exchange list — valid for 1 year
Book short-term accommodation for arrival (Airbnb, serviced apartment, or hotel) — you'll need a UK address to start most registrations
Research school catchment areas if bringing children — UK school admissions are residence-based and popular schools have limited places

First Week in the UK

Your first week is about securing your immediate administrative foundations: housing, banking, and healthcare access.

Collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from the Post Office location specified in your visa vignette — do this within 10 days of arrival
Open a digital bank account (Monzo or Starling) immediately using your passport and BRP — you'll have a working UK bank account within hours
Register with a local GP surgery — bring your passport, BRP, and proof of address (even a hotel booking letter is usually accepted initially)
Apply for your National Insurance number online at gov.uk — have your BRP and passport ready; NI number arrives in 4–8 weeks
If renting: complete Right to Rent check with landlord (share your BRP or digital share code), sign tenancy agreement, pay deposit and first month's rent
Register for council tax with your local council — most councils have an online registration form; you'll need your address and move-in date
Buy an Oyster card (London) or local transport pass — contactless bank card works too; the Oyster card requires £5 deposit

First Month — Building Your Admin Foundation

In your first month, focus on building the administrative infrastructure that makes UK life work smoothly: tax setup, NHS registration completion, utilities, and initial social integration.

Confirm your PAYE tax code with your employer — new arrivals are sometimes placed on emergency tax code (1257L W1/M1); contact HMRC if deductions seem too high
Set up your HMRC Personal Tax Account at gov.uk/personal-tax-account — manage your tax code and NI contributions online
Register for council tax direct debit — avoid the penalty surcharge for non-payment
TV Licence: register at tvlicensing.co.uk if you watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer — £169.50/year, payable monthly
Exchange your foreign driving licence within 12 months at gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence — book DVLA appointment early in areas with waiting times
Transfer your prescriptions to your new UK GP if you have ongoing medication needs — your GP can issue repeat prescriptions
Explore your neighbourhood: find the nearest Tesco, Post Office, GP, pharmacy, gym, and transport links — building familiarity dramatically reduces stress

Shipping and International Removals

Bringing household goods, furniture, or vehicles to the UK requires planning around customs clearance and the UK's Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief, which allows new residents to import personal effects duty-free.

Transfer of Residence (ToR1) relief: apply at gov.uk before goods arrive to import personal effects and household goods free of customs duty and VAT — must have owned items for 6+ months
International removal companies: Crown Relocations, Bournes, John Mason, Santa Fe Relocation — get 3 quotes; full container from Europe £1,500–£4,000; from India/South Asia £5,000–£10,000
Air freight for smaller shipments: DHL, FedEx, UPS — expensive but fast; best for laptops, documents, valuables
Importing a car: Vehicle Registration Certificate, MOT equivalent, insurance, and DVLA re-registration required; RHD vehicles only (or convert LHD at significant cost)
Electronics: UK uses 230V/50Hz with type G (3-pin) plugs — EU and US devices need adaptors; high-wattage appliances may need transformers
Most expats ship minimal items and buy furniture/appliances in the UK — IKEA, Argos, Wayfair, Facebook Marketplace all well-stocked

Schools and Children's Registration

If you are moving with children of school age, education registration should be a priority. UK school places are allocated by the local authority based on residence address.

State schools are free; apply to your local authority (LA) — find yours at gov.uk/find-local-council — and submit a school application immediately on arrival
UK school years: Reception (age 4–5) through to Year 13 (age 17–18); school is compulsory ages 5–16
School admissions criteria: usually distance from home (nearest school gets priority), siblings at school, and in some cases faith criteria
Oversubscribed popular schools may not have places — your LA must offer a school place within the borough even if not your preference
International and independent schools: no residence catchment; fees £15,000–£30,000/year; prestigious names include Dulwich, Charterhouse, Harrow, and Eton
Ofsted ratings (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate): check at reports.ofsted.gov.uk before choosing an area to live

FAQs