First 90 Days in the UK Checklist: eVisa, NI Number, GP, Bank, Council Tax and ILR

In your first 90 days in the UK, the most important tasks are checking that your eVisa works in your UKVI account, getting or finding your National Insurance (NI) number, registering with a GP, and opening a bank account. After that, set up council tax, pass the right to rent check if you live in England, plan your driving licence, and start a travel log so your route to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) stays on track. This checklist covers each step with links to official pages.

Key points

• Week 1: sign in to your UKVI account, check your eVisa details, and learn how to create a share code.
• Weeks 1–2: register with a GP. You do not need ID or proof of address.
• Weeks 1–4: find or apply for your NI number and open a bank account.
• When you move in: register for council tax with your local council.
• From day one: record every trip abroad. Most work routes allow no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period for ILR.

Some rules differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Check your own nation’s guidance where noted.

The checklist at a glance

When	Task	Where
Days 1–7	Check your eVisa and UKVI account	GOV.UK
Days 1–7	Get a UK mobile number	Any network
Days 1–14	Register with a GP	NHS website or local surgery
Days 1–30	Find or apply for your NI number	UKVI account or GOV.UK
Days 1–30	Open a bank account	Bank or building society
Before your tenancy starts	Prove your right to rent (England)	Share code from GOV.UK
When you move in	Register for council tax	Local council
Within 12 months	Exchange or replace your driving licence	DVLA
Always	Keep a log of trips abroad	Your own records

1. Set up your UKVI account and eVisa

The UK has moved to digital immigration status. Your eVisa is an online record of who you are and your rights to work, rent and use public services. Physical biometric residence permits (BRPs) have been replaced. Our eVisa and BRP guide explains the switch in detail.

According to GOV.UK:

• You sign in to your UKVI account with your passport, national identity card, biometric residence card or BRP (even an expired one), or your UKVI customer number.
• You need access to the phone number or email linked to the account. Keep them current.
• To prove your status, you create a share code. The employer or landlord enters the code and your date of birth.
• A share code lasts for 90 days, and you can create a new one at any time.

Update your account if your passport, name or contact details change. If your eVisa shows wrong information, report the error straight away. Link your current passport so travel works smoothly.

2. Find or apply for your National Insurance number

Your NI number makes sure your tax and National Insurance contributions are recorded correctly. It also counts towards your State Pension.

According to GOV.UK:

• You may already have one. Check your eVisa in your UKVI account, or the back of an old BRP.
• If you do not have one and plan to work, apply online. You must be in the UK to apply.
• It can take up to 4 weeks.
• You can start work before you receive it, as long as you can prove your right to work.

GOV.UK does not list a fee. Be wary of websites that charge to “help” you apply.

3. Register with a GP and use the NHS

A GP (general practitioner) is your family doctor and your route to most NHS care. Most visa holders pay the Immigration Health Surcharge with their application, which gives access to the NHS on broadly the same basis as residents. See our UK visa fees and IHS guide for current amounts.

The NHS says:

• Everyone in England can register with a GP surgery for free.
• You do not need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status.
• You can register online through the NHS website. It takes about 15 minutes per person.

Register before you get ill. Waiting until you need an appointment adds stress and delay. For emergencies call 999; for urgent but non-emergency advice, use NHS 111. Prescriptions in England usually carry a charge unless you are exempt. Dental care is separate, so look for an NHS dentist accepting new patients.

4. Open a bank account

You will need a UK bank account to be paid, pay rent and set up direct debits for bills.

• Banks usually ask for proof of identity (your passport) and often proof of UK address. Your eVisa share code may be asked for to confirm status.
• Proof of address can be hard in your first weeks. Ask banks what they accept, such as an employment contract, a tenancy agreement or a letter from your university.
• Many app-based banks let you open an account with a passport and a selfie. Some people use one first and open a high street account later.
• Ask about fees for sending money abroad.

Your credit history from another country does not move to the UK. Registering on the electoral roll (if your nationality allows it), paying bills on time and using a credit card carefully all help build a UK credit file.

5. Rent a home and pass the right to rent check

In England only, landlords must check that tenants can legally rent (GOV.UK). You do not need to prove your right to rent in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

• If you are not a British or Irish citizen, you usually give the landlord a share code from your UKVI account.
• If you have time-limited permission, the check is done in the 28 days before your tenancy starts, and the landlord may check again later.
• A landlord cannot refuse you because you use an eligible document instead of a share code.

Read your tenancy agreement carefully. In England, your deposit should be protected in a government-approved scheme. Never pay money for a property you have not seen or a landlord you cannot verify.

6. Register for council tax

Council tax is a local tax on homes, paid to your local council. According to GOV.UK:

• You will usually pay if you are 18 or over. Partners who live together are jointly responsible.
• You get 25% off if you live alone, or if everyone else in the home is “disregarded”.
• Full-time students are disregarded, but you must still apply for the discount or exemption.

The amount depends on your home’s valuation band and your council. Contact your council when you move in, even if your landlord says bills are included, so you know who is liable. Northern Ireland uses a different system (domestic rates).

7. Exchange or replace your driving licence

The Highway Code says holders of non-EU licences who become resident can drive for up to 12 months from the date they become resident. Before that ends, you must either:

• exchange your licence, if it was issued by a country designated for exchange, or
• get a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical tests.

Check your own licence with the GOV.UK exchange tool. Rules for EU and EEA licences are different. Northern Ireland has its own process. Book tests early, because waiting times can be long.

8. Understand UK tax basics

The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. Most employees pay Income Tax and National Insurance through PAYE, deducted from wages.

• For 2026/27, the standard Personal Allowance is £12,570, with a 20% basic rate up to £50,270 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (GOV.UK). Scotland has its own bands.
• Under the statutory residence test, spending 183 days or more in the UK in a tax year usually makes you UK resident (GOV.UK). Residents normally pay UK tax on worldwide income.
• In your arrival year, split-year treatment may apply, which you claim through Self Assessment.
• If you were non-resident for the previous 10 tax years, you may be able to claim the 4-year foreign income and gains regime, which replaced the remittance basis on 6 April 2025.

Check your first payslip. If you are on an emergency tax code, give your employer your details or contact HMRC. If you have foreign income, take advice from a qualified tax adviser.

9. Keep your route to ILR on track

Your first 90 days are when good habits start. For most work routes, Appendix Continuous Residence says you must not be outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during your qualifying period (GOV.UK). It is a rolling window, not a calendar year.

• Keep a spreadsheet of every trip, with exact dates out and back.
• Keep boarding passes and booking emails as evidence.
• Keep your permission valid. Gaps without permission can break continuous residence.
• Stay with your sponsor’s conditions if you are on a sponsored route.

As of October 2026, ILR is still available after 5 years on most work routes, but the government has consulted on a longer “earned settlement” model. Read our 180-day absences guide and ILR guide to plan ahead.

What to do next

1. Sign in to your UKVI account and create a test share code this week.
2. Register with a GP online.
3. Find your NI number or apply for one, and open a bank account.
4. Contact your council about council tax when you move in.
5. Check your driving licence options and start your travel log today.

For more UK guides, visit the UK country hub. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. For your own situation, talk to an OISC/IAA-regulated adviser, a solicitor or a qualified tax adviser.