Planning a move: your first steps in the UK

Break relocation into tasks before travel, during the first week and during the first month. Not every item applies to everyone: your status, family, work and destination within the UK matter. This page gives an order of work and links to detailed articles. Check jurisdiction carefully for renting, healthcare and schools; arrangements in England do not automatically apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

1. 01

   Organise documents and status questions

   Start with the basis for your move and the official conditions of your particular route. Record document dates and details that must match bookings. If you have an eVisa, check account access and information before travelling; use the official correction process for an error rather than a middleman’s promise. Separately identify which check an employer or landlord requests. Store copies securely and share them only with an identified recipient for a specific purpose, without posting them in group chats.

   Documents · Across the UKVisa or ETA: checking UK entry requirements →Questions: Documents and immigration · Across the UKHow to set up a UKVI account and access your eVisa →Questions: Documents and immigration · Across the UKHow to get a share code for right-to-work or right-to-rent checks →
2. 02

   Budget for arrival, a normal month and a contingency

   Separate one-off and recurring costs. The first group includes travel, temporary accommodation, moving belongings and move-in expenses; the second includes rent, bills, transport, food and family commitments. Mark unknown amounts for confirmation instead of borrowing somebody else’s average. Compare a minimum, realistic and delayed-work-or-housing scenario. Keep your contingency separate from the amount you are comfortable spending on initial purchases.

   Moving · Across the UKA relocation budget with three scenarios →Moving · Across the UKYour first weeks after moving: a personal checklist →
3. 03

   Use a temporary base to check neighbourhoods

   Judge an area against your ordinary day: work, school, shops and the evening journey home. Where possible, try the route with the luggage, pushchair or changes you will actually have. Check temporary accommodation by exact address, check-in arrangements, extension options and cancellation terms. For a longer-term home, record household size, total budget including bills, start date, pets and accessibility. This makes listings easier to compare and helps an agent understand your priorities.

   Housing · Across the UKChoosing a neighbourhood and housemates →Questions: Housing and home · LondonRenting without a UK salary or as a self-employed newcomer →
4. 04

   Understand the agreement and payments before transferring money

   Ask for a written breakdown of each amount: what the payment is for, who receives it, when it is due and its refund conditions. Distinguish a holding payment, tenancy deposit and rent in advance. Read the agreement and attachments, confirm inclusions, bill responsibility and repair reporting. Inspect the property and record its condition and meter readings. If someone demands an urgent transfer without a clear agreement or verified recipient, pause to investigate the situation and possible scam indicators.

   Housing · Across the UKRenting in England: from viewing to collecting the keys →Questions: Housing and home · LondonHolding deposits, tenancy deposits and rent in advance explained →Practical advice · Across the UKChecking listings and introductions online →
5. 05

   Set up banking, connectivity and household accounts

   Keep a table of provider, application reference, start date, support contact and next action. Work through account eligibility, connectivity, utilities and local charges. Another household’s bill is not a reliable estimate for your home: address, household, contract and usage matter. If considering Monzo or Revolut, compare useful features and full costs, with referral conditions checked separately. Retain setup confirmations privately rather than posting account details in discussions.

   Questions: Money and shopping · Across the UKHow to open a UK bank account after moving to the country →Questions: Housing and home · LondonSetting up utility accounts and Council Tax after moving →Everyday services · Across the UKClassPass, Monzo and Revolut in the UK: a detailed guide and personal invitations →
6. 06

   Organise healthcare, school and work

   Create separate lists for medical records and contacts, school and the journey there, and work and employer documents. Start with the official process for where you live. GP registration and dental access are separate tasks, as is a school application. Tailor a CV to the vacancy and check the employer. Order actions by dependency: what is needed for the next step, what can happen in parallel and what awaits confirmation of an address or documents.

   Healthcare · Across the UKFinding and registering with a GP in England →Questions: Children and family · Across the UKHow can a child enter an English state school after moving during the school year? →Work · Across the UKFinding work in the UK: CV and vacancy preparation →