Arrival Checklist for the UK: eVisa, GP, Bank Account and Council Tax

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

The first weeks in the United Kingdom involve less paperwork than in many countries: there is no town hall registration and, since 2022, no police registration. What remains is a short list of things that are cheap or free to do early. This checklist follows GOV.UK, the NHS and UKCISA, the UK Council for International Student Affairs. The visa itself is in the UK student visa guide.

1. Set up your eVisa access

If your Student visa was approved, your permission to stay is a digital record called an eVisa. GOV.UK says you need a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to see it, that setting it up is free, and that access is usually immediate once the eVisa is linked, though it can take up to 24 hours.

When a landlord or employer must check your status, you generate a share code in that account:

it lasts 90 days and can be reused until it expires;
the person checking needs your date of birth, and you do not have to show them the eVisa itself;
to sign in you need your passport or another listed document.

GOV.UK says you can travel with your eVisa after adding your passport details to the account, so do it before you fly.

2. Forget police registration

Older guides still tell students to register with the police. The Home Office repealed that requirement with immediate effect in August 2022, as universities such as Nottingham told their students at the time. If a letter or old website mentions it, ask your university's international office.

3. Register with a GP

A GP surgery is your route to the NHS for anything that is not an emergency. The NHS says registering is free for anyone in England, and you do not need proof of identity, address or immigration status. Name, date of birth and address are enough.

A surgery can refuse if it is not accepting new patients or you live outside its area. It must then write to you within 14 days with the reason.
Online registration takes about 15 minutes per person, and you should hear back within about 5 days.

4. Open a bank account

UKCISA says you must prove your identity to open any account, and banks must run an immigration status check on new current account applicants. A bank cannot open a current account for someone who needs UK immigration permission and does not have it.

Many universities issue a letter of introduction confirming your student status.
The usual choices are a basic bank account, normally fee-free with no overdraft, and an international student account, which may include a limited overdraft.
Tell the bank if you will be away for long, such as a summer break, so it does not treat the account as dormant and close it.

Each bank sets its own document list, and UKCISA recommends none.

5. Check council tax and the TV licence

GOV.UK says households where everyone is a full-time student do not pay council tax, and if you still get a bill you can apply for an exemption. A course counts as full time if it lasts at least one year and involves at least 21 hours of study a week. If anyone in the household is not a full-time student you receive a bill, although the household may qualify for a discount. This matters mostly for a shared house; see student housing in the UK.

A TV licence is needed to watch or record live TV on any channel, or to use BBC iPlayer. GOV.UK gives the price as £180 (about €214) and a fine of up to £1,000 for watching live TV without one. Netflix, YouTube and other catch-up services do not need one. In halls you need a licence for TV in your own room, while shared areas may already be covered.

6. Think about a railcard

The 16-25 Railcard costs £35 (about €42) for a year or £80 (about €95) for three years and gives one third off most rail fares, with a £12 minimum fare before 10 am on weekdays. Mature students aged 26 or over can qualify if they study full time on campus in Great Britain. Check current terms on the Railcard website.

A sensible order

Before you travel: add your passport to your UKVI account and ask your university for a bank letter.
First week: register with a GP and enrol.
First weeks: open a bank account, then check council tax and the TV licence for your home.
When asked: generate a share code for a landlord or employer.

Not yet applied? Start with how to get into a UK university. Our catalogue lists 17,679 bachelor's programmes at 322 institutions: browse them.

Official sources

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.