| National Insurance number | Apply online, from inside the UK only; up to 4 weeks, and you may start work before it arrives |
| GP registration | Free, no ID or proof of address needed; usually confirmed within 5 days |
| Basic bank account | Requires you to be legally resident in the UK |
| Council tax | Usually payable from 18; 25% off if you live alone |
| TV licence | £180 a year since 1 April 2026 |
| As of | November 2026 |
Why the order matters
In the UK one step leads to the next. The bank wants a UK address and a UK mobile number, the landlord your immigration status, the employer your right to work. And the National Insurance number can only be applied for once you are in the country. Know the order and you finish in three months what takes others half a year of queues.
This checklist splits your first 90 days into phases: before you fly, week one, the first weeks and up to day 90. Your visa comes first; what the move costs is in cost of living and moving. Everything else about your new start is in moving to the UK.
Before you fly: what only works at home
Some things can only be done while you are still registered at home. The weeks before the move are the weeks for paperwork.
- 1
Deregister at home
Check your home country's rules before you leave: whether you must deregister from a population register, and whether your consulate in London offers a registration for residents abroad.
- 2
Pack your passport
To enter you will normally need a valid passport. A national identity card is accepted only in certain cases, for example with status or a pending application under the EU Settlement Scheme.
- 3
Licence and pets
Take your driving licence; what applies to it in the UK is set out below. If your dog or cat is coming, start preparing months before the flight.
- 4
Household goods
Furniture and personal belongings usually come in free of duty and import VAT if you claim Transfer of Residence relief. One condition: you have lived outside the UK for at least 12 consecutive months.
Week one: number, status, address
Three things almost everyone in the UK will ask you for.
- 1
A UK mobile number
Get a UK SIM or eSIM straight away. Banks such as Barclays require a UK mobile number to apply in their app, and the surgery, the landlord and the employer will reach you on it.
- 2
Prove your status digitally
With an eVisa you prove your immigration status online. A landlord needs a share code from you, and your employer must see your right to work before you start.
- 3
An address that counts
No settled address, no bank account and no school place. Start with a short let and then search calmly; tenancy, deposit and right to rent are explained in renting in England.
The first weeks: NI number, bank, GP
Tackle these three in parallel.
- 1
National Insurance number
HMRC uses your NI number to record your tax and contributions against your name, and it stays the same for life. With an eVisa you may already have one: check your UKVI account. Otherwise apply online, from inside the UK only, with a passport or an EU or Swiss identity card. It can take up to four weeks; you may start work before it arrives if you can prove your right to work.
- 2
Bank account
A UK basic bank account requires you to be legally resident in the UK. Banks ask for ID and proof of address, such as a utility bill or bank statement, and apps often for a UK mobile number. If you need an account before the move, the routes are in opening a UK bank account.
- 3
GP registration
Register with a GP surgery near you, usually online. It is free, you need no ID, no proof of address and no proof of immigration status, and the surgery usually confirms within five days. If you paid the health surcharge with your visa, you use the NHS from the day your visa starts: the NHS and healthcare.
Moving in: council tax, energy, TV licence
Once you have a home, council tax follows, the local tax every household pays. It is usually payable by anyone 18 or over; the amount depends on the property's band and the council's rate. Living alone gets you 25% off, but you have to apply. Whether you pay it as a tenant is set by your tenancy agreement.
You contract gas and electricity directly with a supplier; for standard tariffs the regulator Ofgem sets a price cap every three months. Watching television needs a TV licence, £180 a year since 1 April 2026.
By day 90: driving licence, school, tax
With an EU licence you can keep driving until you are 70 if you were under 67 when you became resident. Exchanging it is optional, needs no new test and costs £43. A Swiss licence covers you for 12 months after you become resident; after that you exchange it. More in driving in the UK.
You apply for a school place through the local council, even if you have only just moved to England. From abroad, contact the council where you are going to live and expect to be asked for proof of address. Deadlines and school types are in schools in England.
And tax: the HMRC app and your personal tax account show your tax and National Insurance details and let you report a new address. Whether you are UK resident for tax is decided by the statutory residence test, year by year; in the year you arrive, split year treatment can divide that year in two.
Your first 90 days at a glance
What is due when, and what it depends on.
| When | What | Depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Before you fly | Deregister at home, passport, driving licence, papers for pets and household goods | Your home country's rules |
| Week one | UK mobile number, eVisa and share code, temporary address | Passport and visa |
| Weeks two to four | National Insurance number, bank account, GP | Being in the UK, an address |
| Moving in | Council tax, gas and electricity, TV licence | Tenancy agreement |
| By day 90 | School place, check your licence, HMRC app and tax status | Address, NI number |
GOV.UK, NHS, retrieved 3 November 2026; compiled by St Matthew
Your questions about the first 90 days
Can I apply for a National Insurance number before I move?
No. You can only apply once you are in the UK. If you have an eVisa, the number may already be in your UKVI account.
Can I start work without an NI number?
Yes, if you can prove your right to work to your employer. Hand in the number once it arrives; that can take up to four weeks.
Do I need proof of address to register with a GP?
No. You need no ID, no proof of address and no proof of immigration status. Without a permanent address you can register with a temporary address or the surgery's address.
Who pays council tax?
Usually anyone 18 or over living in the property. Whether you pay it as a tenant depends on your tenancy agreement. If you live alone, apply for the 25% discount.
Sources
- Checked against GOV.UK: Apply for a National Insurance number; Council Tax; Private renting; Prove your right to work; Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen; Download the HMRC app; Personal tax account; School admissions; Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application; Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence; Exchange a non-GB driving licence; TV licence fee 2026/27. NHS: How to register with a GP surgery. Payment Accounts Regulations 2015, reg. 23. Barclays and HSBC UK account pages
- GOV.UK: Apply for a National Insurance number
- NHS: How to register with a GP surgery
- GOV.UK: Council Tax
- GOV.UK: Private renting (right to rent, share code)
- GOV.UK: Prove your right to work to an employer
- GOV.UK: Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
- legislation.gov.uk: Payment Accounts Regulations 2015, reg. 23
- GOV.UK: Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application
- GOV.UK: Driving in Great Britain on an EU licence
- GOV.UK: School admissions
- GOV.UK: Download the HMRC app
- GOV.UK: Cost of TV licence fee set for 2026/27