First 90 Days in the UK: What to Do After Moving

Arriving in the UK is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming.

Whether you’ve moved on a Skilled Worker Visa, Student Visa, or another route, your first three months are critical. This period sets the foundation for your finances, housing stability, healthcare access, and long-term integration.

The good news? Settling in doesn’t have to be chaotic.

If you approach your first 90 days in a structured way, you can avoid the most common delays and build a stable base for life in the UK.

This guide walks you through exactly what to prioritise, week by week.

Quick Overview: First 90 Days in the UK

Your first 90 days in the UK are about building a stable base. You do not need to organise everything immediately, but the order you do things matters.

In the first few weeks, most new arrivals need to confirm their immigration status, get a UK phone number, open a bank account, register with a GP, and begin sorting long-term accommodation. Once those basics are in place, it becomes much easier to deal with work, study, family life, transport, and monthly budgeting.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: The biggest mistake I see people make is trying to solve everything at once. Focus on the absolute essentials first such as your phone, bank, healthcare, housing, and documentation, then build from there. Taking it step-by-step stops you from feeling overwhelmed.

Who This Guide Is For

This guide is useful if you have recently moved to the UK on routes such as:

• Skilled Worker Visa
• Health and Care Worker Visa
• Student Visa
• Graduate Visa
• Youth Mobility Scheme
• Family Visa
• UK Ancestry Visa

Some steps will apply to almost everyone, while others depend on your visa type, job, family situation, or where you live in the UK.

Before You Arrive: Prepare the Basics

A smooth arrival usually starts before you travel. Even if your visa has already been approved, it helps to organise your documents, accommodation, and first-week plans before you land in the UK.

Try to have temporary accommodation arranged for at least your first few weeks. This gives you time to understand the area, view properties properly, and avoid rushing into a rental agreement. You should also save digital and printed copies of your passport, visa decision, eVisa or UKVI account details, employment contract, university offer, and any family documents you may need.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: I would not recommend arriving with no accommodation plan. Even a short-term stay gives you breathing space while you open accounts, get a UK number, and search for longer-term housing.

Week 1: Immediate Essentials

Your first week should be focused on getting connected and proving your status where needed. This is not the time to solve every long-term issue, but it is the time to set up the basics that make everything else easier.

Start by checking that you can access your eVisa or digital immigration status. You may need this to prove your right to work, rent, or study in the UK. Once that is sorted, your next priority should usually be getting a UK phone number, because landlords, employers, banks and delivery services often expect you to have one.

1️⃣ Check Your eVisa / Immigration Status

One of your first tasks after arriving in the UK is to make sure you can access your digital immigration status.

Most people now prove their immigration status using an eVisa through their UKVI account rather than a physical BRP card.

Check that your details are correct, and make sure you know how to generate a share code if you need to prove your right to work, rent, or study.

2️⃣ Get UK Phone Number

A UK phone number is one of the most useful things to organise early. It helps with job applications, rental viewings, bank verification, GP registration, delivery apps, and everyday communication.

For most new arrivals, a pay-as-you-go SIM or eSIM is the simplest first step. You can always move to a longer-term contract later once you have a UK address, bank account, and more stability.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: I would sort this in the first few days. A UK number makes you look more reachable to employers, landlords and services, and it removes a lot of small delays.

One of the first things many new arrivals organise is a UK phone number so they can communicate with employers, landlords and banks.
👉 See our guide on how to get a UK phone number.

3️⃣ Open a UK Bank Account

Opening a UK bank account can take longer if you do not yet have a permanent address, so it is worth starting early. Traditional banks may ask for proof of address, visa documents, and identification, while some digital banks may be easier to set up in the beginning.

A bank account is important for receiving salary, paying rent, setting up bills, and building a financial footprint in the UK. Even if you start with a basic or digital account, you can review your options later once you are more settled.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: Keep copies of any documents showing your UK address. Tenancy agreements, employer letters, university letters and official correspondence can all become useful when setting up services.

4️⃣ Register with a GP

Healthcare in the UK usually starts with registering at a local GP surgery. You do not need to wait until you are ill to do this.

Once you have an address, search for GP practices in your area and check how to register. This is especially important if you take regular medication, have children, or may need ongoing medical support.

Registering early can save stress later. It is much easier to sort this when you are well than when you urgently need an appointment.

Weeks 2–4: Administrative Stability

Once your first-week essentials are underway, the next stage is building administrative stability. This is when you should focus on longer-term accommodation, National Insurance if needed, council tax, and local services.

The first month can feel expensive because many costs arrive close together. You may need money for a deposit, first month’s rent, transport, food, basic household items, and setup costs. This is why it helps to budget more than you expect for the first few weeks.

5️⃣ Apply for a National Insurance Number (If Needed)

Some visa holders already have one. If not, you’ll need it for employment and tax purposes.

Your employer may guide you through this.

6️⃣ Start Looking for Long-Term Accommodation

If you arrived in temporary accommodation, start looking for longer-term housing as soon as you understand your area and commute.

Renting in the UK can move quickly, especially in large cities or areas with strong demand. Landlords and letting agents may ask for proof of income, references, identification, and a deposit. If you do not yet have UK credit history, they may ask for extra rent upfront or a guarantor.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: Do not only compare rent. Check transport costs, council tax, commute time and whether bills are included. A cheaper room can become expensive if it is far from work or poorly connected.

See our detailed guide on Renting in the UK as a New Arrival before signing any tenancy agreement.

One of the first tasks for new arrivals is finding accommodation. Our guide to renting a home in the UK explains how the rental process works, typical costs, and where to find properties.

7️⃣ Understand Council Tax

Council tax is one of the costs many new arrivals do not expect. It is charged by local councils and usually depends on the property, location, and household circumstances.

Sometimes council tax is included in rent, especially in some shared accommodation, but often it is separate. Before signing a tenancy, always check whether council tax and bills are included or whether you will need to pay them yourself.

Common mistake is looking only at monthly rent and forgetting council tax, utilities and transport. These can change your real monthly budget significantly.

Month 2: Financial & Housing Security

By your second month, your goal should be to move from temporary setup to stable routine. This usually means finalising accommodation, setting up utilities, reviewing your spending, and understanding how your income or student budget works in practice.

Your first full month in the UK is often the best reality check. You will start to see what you actually spend on rent, food, transport, mobile data, household items and social life. Use this to adjust your budget before problems build up.

8️⃣ Finalise Tenancy & Utilities

Ensure:

• Deposit is protected in an approved scheme
• Utility accounts (gas, electricity, water) are in your name
• You understand payment cycles

Avoid informal rental agreements without documentation.

9️⃣ Review Monthly Budget

The UK can feel expensive at first because several one-off and regular costs arrive together. Rent, deposit, council tax, groceries, transport, mobile costs, and household basics can quickly add up.

After your first month, review what you actually spent rather than relying only on estimates. This will help you decide whether your current accommodation, commute, and lifestyle are sustainable.

I would build a “first month buffer” into your move. Even organised people usually spend more than expected at the start.

For a breakdown of realistic costs, see:
👉 Cost of Living in the UK

🔟 Understand Employment Structure

If you’re working:

• Review payslips carefully
• Understand tax deductions
• Learn about pension contributions

The UK PAYE system deducts tax automatically, but errors can happen.

Month 3: Long-Term Foundations

By month three, you should hopefully feel less like you are just arriving and more like you are beginning to build a routine.

This is a good time to look beyond immediate admin. Think about your local community, transport habits, longer-term housing, career or study plans, and whether your current visa route supports your future goals.

1️⃣1️⃣ Explore Local Community

Settling isn’t just administrative.

Familiarise yourself with:

• Local transport routes
• Nearby supermarkets
• Community centres
• Schools (if relevant)

This improves comfort and routine.

1️⃣2️⃣ If Moving With Family

Focus on:

• School applications
• Nursery registration
• Healthcare registration for dependants
• Understanding catchment areas

Early planning prevents last-minute stress.

See:
👉 Schools & Family Life in the UK

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Delaying bank account setup
• Underestimating upfront rental costs
• Ignoring council tax
• Failing to keep copies of documents
• Signing tenancy agreements without understanding terms

Preparation prevents 90% of early issues.

Quick First 90 Days Checklist

✔ Secure temporary accommodation
✔ Collect BRP
✔ Get UK SIM
✔ Open bank account
✔ Register with GP
✔ Apply for NI number (if required)
✔ Secure long-term housing
✔ Set up utilities
✔ Understand council tax
✔ Review monthly budget

Ready for the Next Step?

Your first 90 days lay the groundwork for everything that follows.

Once you’ve stabilised housing, finances, and administration, settling into everyday life becomes much easier.

You may also want to explore:

👉 Settling in the UK
👉 Renting in the UK as a New Arrival
👉 Work Visas
👉 Student Visas

With structure and preparation, your move to the UK can feel controlled, not chaotic.

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