It’s your first week in the UK. There’s so much to see and do… and enough life admin to make your head spin.
Don’t worry – we’re here to walk you through all the essential week one errands and form filling. And you’ll still have enough time to get out for a chippy tea (better than it sounds) and some sightseeing.
1. Get a National Insurance number
National Insurance is the UK’s social security system. You need a National Insurance number to make your contributions and pay tax.
Before you resign yourself to filling in yet another long form, check your BRP. You might find you’ve already got a National Insurance number printed on the back.
If not, sorry – there’s a form to fill in.
2. Explore your new home
Time for a break from all that admin. It’s probably raining, but you’ll have to get used to that.
Make time to take a walk round your new neighbourhood and work out where your nearest shops, banks and other services are. You should also investigate your local public transport options. If you’re based in a larger city, the CityMapper app can be useful for this.
Try not to get too lost!
3. Register with a doctor
Did you see a doctor’s surgery while you were out and about? We hope you don’t get sick in your first week, but it’s a good idea to make sure you know where to get treatment, just in case.
Everyone living in the UK can use the National Health Service (NHS) for free. The first step in accessing treatment is to register with a General Practitioner (GP) at your local practice.
Use your postcode to find doctor’s surgeries near you and check they’re accepting new patients.
4. Open a bank account
You’ll probably need a UK bank account to have wages paid into and to get all your important bill payments set up.
You can apply to open a UK bank account online or by going into a branch. You’ll need your passport or other proof of ID, as well as proof of your address.
Once it’s all set up, you’ll receive a debit card through the post. That means no more transaction and exchange rate fees when you withdraw cash or pay for things with a card.
5. Set up your bills
Now you’ve got a bank account you can get gas, electricity and water accounts set up in your name. You’ll also need to contact your local council to register for Council Tax. The cost of this depends on the area you live in.
Then there’s the real essentials – broadband and TV.
It can take a few weeks to get broadband up and running so make it a priority to get that sorted in week one.
In the UK you also need a TV licence to watch any broadcast programmes or to stream BBC iPlayer.
6. Get a UK SIM card for your phone
Your mobile will probably work when you arrive, but you’ll be paying roaming fees with every call. The cost of mobile data can stack up even faster.
You might need to build up a bit of a UK credit score before you can get a mobile phone contract. In the meantime you can buy a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) sim and top it up as you need it.
It’ll still save you a fortune on roaming charges, which means more money for sightseeing.
7. Find your tribe
Hopefully you’ve now got internet access either on your phone or at home. A big move like this can be lonely as well as exciting, so it’s time to make some connections.
Have a search on social media for local groups and events. Toddler groups, cycling clubs, the real ale society at the local pub – see what takes your fancy.
8. Buy car insurance
Public transport can be a bit patchy outside the large cities. If you’re ready to explore beyond your new neighbourhood, you might need your own car. That means getting some car insurance — which is often pricey for UK newcomers.
It’s hard enough starting over in a new country, without getting treated (and priced) like a new driver. That’s why we take all your driving experience into account, wherever you earned it. Get a quote to see if you can save.
.jpg)
