Complete Guide to Moving to the UK

Moving to the UK involves three key steps: understanding your immigration options, applying for a visa, and settling in once you arrive. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know to make your move as smooth as possible.

1. Understand Your Immigration Options

To move to the UK, you have to find an immigration pathway you are eligible for. The most common option is through employment, but the UK also attracts a high number of international students (many of whom find a job after their studies and continue to stay in the UK).

Moving to the UK for Work

You can live and work in the UK if you receive a job offer. The most common work visas for the UK are the Skilled Worker Visa and the Health and Care Worker Visa.

Skilled Worker Visa

This visa encompasses more than 300 eligible occupations, from doctors, engineers, and IT specialists to chefs, fitness instructors, and animal care workers. To get a visa, you need a work offer that meets these requirements:

• You will for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office.
• You will be paid at least the minimum salary rate for the type of work you’ll be doing (but at least £38,700).

You can check whether your profession qualifies here.

Health and Care Worker Visa

You can apply for this visa if you are a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional, or adult social care professional, and you have a job offer in a health and care sector approved by the UK government. Your job title and code must be included in the CASCOT occupation coding tool.

Moving to the UK to Study

The UK is one of the most popular destinations for students seeking to study abroad—39% of master’s students in the UK are international. You can move to the UK to study if:

• • • You have been admitted to a British educational institution.
    • You can support yourself financially:
      • £1,483 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
      • £1,136 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London
    • You are proficient in English.

2. Apply for a Visa

The application process for a UK visa is fairly straightforward—you apply online, through the GOV.UK website. Here’s how to apply for the visa.

• • • Check what type of visa you need. Once you answer the questions, you will be redirected to the online application for your visa, along with instructions and a document checklist.
    • Create a Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. You will use this account through your entire relocation process and residence in the UK
    • On the application portal, submit electronic copies of the required documents.
    • Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
    • Schedule an appointment with a visa center to submit your biometric information. Find a visa center depending on your residence.

If you did not submit the documents online, you have to bring physical copies of the documents to the visa center, along with:

• • • Printout of the Appointment Confirmation letter confirming the details of your appointment
    • Valid passport or travel document
    • Printout of your document checklist

Required documents

The required documents depend on the type of visa you are applying for. See for example:

For most work visas:

• • • Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The CoS must include the reference number (provided by the employer), the employer’s name, and the sponsor license number.
    • Work offer stating your job title and annual salary.
    • Job occupation code
    • Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate, if the job involves sensitive research at PhD level or higher.
    • UK PhD certificate or Ecctis reference number, if qualification is from outside the UK.
    • Certified translation, for non-English/Welsh documents.
    • Criminal Record Certificate. This is needed if you will work in certain fields (education, healthcare, therapy, social services) or occupations (biochemists and biomedical scientists, physical scientists, laboratory technicians, ambulance staff).

For student visas:

• • • Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your university/school.
    • Proof of financial means to support yourself in the UK
    • If you are under 18:
      • Proof of parental or other legal guardian consent
      • Proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian
    • Written consent for your application from your financial sponsor (if you’ve received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months)

General documentation:

Some documents you need to submit, regardless of your visa type include:

• • • Valid passport or other travel document
    • Proof of personal savings (e.g., bank statements)
    • Proof of relationship, if you’re applying with your partner and/or children
    • Tuberculosis test results (if from a listed country)
    • Proof of English knowledge

3. Settle in the UK

Once you arrive in the UK, you have to start settling in, which includes:

• • • Accessing your online immigration status (eVisa)
    • Finding long-term accommodation
    • Opening a bank account
    • Getting a National Insurance Number (NIN)
    • Registering with the National Health Service (NHS)

Access your online immigration status (eVisa)

As of 2025, the UK’s BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) is being replaced by a digital immigration system known as the eVisa. This means there won’t be any physical documents or residence cards, but all your immigration records will be saved online. The online record begins the moment you apply for a visa.

You can access your immigration status online using your UKVI account details (you created a UKVI account when you first applied for a visa). On your account, it will what immigration status you have and your rights within the UK.

Find accommodation

If you haven’t already, you can find apartments to rent in the UK through online websites, such as:

• • • Zoopla
    • RightMove
    • OnTheMarket
    • SpareRoom

Before you can sign a lease or rental agreement, you have to prove your right to rent. You can do this by providing a share code for your eVisa account to the real estate agent or landlord.

Open a bank account

If you’re going to live in the UK, you’re going to need a local bank account to receive your salary (if you are working), pay your rent, manage bills and expenses, etc. To set up a bank account in the UK, you need:

• • • Proof of immigration status (passport, eVisa share code)
    • Proof of address (rental agreement or utility bills)

Some of the more popular banks in the UK are: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, and Halifax.

Get a National Insurance Number (NIN)

If you are going to work in the UK, you need a National Insurance Number (NIN). You can get the NIN online — here’s what you need to do:

• • 1. Start the application here.
    2. Attach a photo of yourself holding your passport.
    3. Attach pictures of other required identification documents.
    4. Submit your online application.

During the online application process, it will let you know what pictures to take and how to take them. You can take the pictures using your phone, a digital camera, or a tablet.

After you apply you will receive an email with your application reference number. It can take up to four weeks to get your National Insurance number once they’ve proven your identity.

Register with the NHS

When you applied for your visa, you paid an Immigration Health Surcharge, which means you already paid for the NHS. Now what you have to do is register with a GP (general practitioner) and get an NHS number.

You can find a GP here.

When you register with a GP, you get the NHS number automatically. This number is unique to you and helps healthcare providers find your medical records quickly and ensures smooth access to services.

Next, you can set up an NHS account, which you can use to:

• • • Order repeat prescriptions
    • Book appointments
    • Get health information and advice
    • View your health record securely

You can create an NHS account here.

Moving to the UK as an EU Citizen

As an EU citizen, if you were not living in the UK before December 31, 2020, and do not have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, then you have to follow the same immigration rules as non-EU citizens if you want to move to the UK.

This means that you have to apply for a visa before you can work, study, or otherwise live in the UK long-term. Unlike before Brexit, EU citizens do not get preferential treatment when applying for UK visas and must meet the same criteria as non-EU nationals.

Irish citizens retain their rights to live and work in the UK due to the Common Travel Area (CTA), unlike other EU nationals.

Frequently Asked Questions