Your first 90 days in United Kingdom: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The eVisa transition is the live trap: the physical card is gone, and travel or a tenancy check with no working UKVI account has stranded people at borders. Log in, confirm the account shows the right status and passport, and re-check it after every passport renewal.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Create a UKVI account and access your eVisa — the digital proof of immigration status that replaced the biometric residence permit
Before you travel and before you rent or start work; physical BRP cards expired at the end of 2024 and status is now digital only
There is no card to carry any more. You prove your status by generating a share code from the View and Prove service, which is what landlords, employers and banks now ask for — set the account up before you need it, because recovering access takes days.
Get your National Insurance number (NINo)
It is how PAYE tax and National Insurance are recorded against you; you can legally start work before it arrives, but payroll gets messy without it.
Apply online through GOV.UK once you are in the UK with the right to work; many visa holders have one assigned already and printed on their original decision letter. Self-assessment additionally requires a UTR from HMRC.
Open a bank account
UK banks require proof of address, which new arrivals rarely have — the standard workaround is a digital bank (Monzo, Starling, Revolut) that accepts a share code and a permit, then a high-street account later. Most visa categories also carry an NHS surcharge paid at application, not on arrival.
Enrol in healthcare
Access to the NHS comes from the Immigration Health Surcharge you paid with the visa, not from a separate enrolment — but you still must register with a GP practice near your address to use it, and that registration is the step people skip. GP lists, not hospitals, are the front door to the whole system.
Sort your driver's license
Most foreign licences can be used for 12 months from becoming resident. EU/EEA and 'designated country' licences (including several Commonwealth countries and Japan) exchange for a UK licence without testing; licences from other countries, including US state licences, require the UK theory and practical tests within that year.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in United Kingdom: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in United Kingdom?
Create a UKVI account and access your eVisa — the digital proof of immigration status that replaced the biometric residence permit — Before you travel and before you rent or start work; physical BRP cards expired at the end of 2024 and status is now digital only. There is no card to carry any more. You prove your status by generating a share code from the View and Prove service, which is what landlords, employers and banks now ask for — set the account up before you need it, because recovering access takes days. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the National Insurance number and do I need one?
National Insurance number (NINo) is United Kingdom's personal tax/ID number. It is how PAYE tax and National Insurance are recorded against you; you can legally start work before it arrives, but payroll gets messy without it. Apply online through GOV.UK once you are in the UK with the right to work; many visa holders have one assigned already and printed on their original decision letter. Self-assessment additionally requires a UTR from HMRC.
Can I drive in United Kingdom on a US license?
Most foreign licences can be used for 12 months from becoming resident. EU/EEA and 'designated country' licences (including several Commonwealth countries and Japan) exchange for a UK licence without testing; licences from other countries, including US state licences, require the UK theory and practical tests within that year. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to United Kingdom?
Access to the NHS comes from the Immigration Health Surcharge you paid with the visa, not from a separate enrolment — but you still must register with a GP practice near your address to use it, and that registration is the step people skip. GP lists, not hospitals, are the front door to the whole system. See our healthcare-systems guide for how United Kingdom's system treats foreign residents.