This guide is for internationals who have just moved to the United Kingdom and want to know which official tasks come first. After reading it, you will be able to work through immigration status, a National Insurance number, GP registration, renting and Council Tax in order, and know what each step asks for.
- 1. Check and prove your immigration status
- 2. Get a National Insurance number
- 3. Register with a GP surgery
- 4. Find a home and prove your Right to Rent
- 5. Understand Council Tax
- FAQ
1. Check and prove your immigration status
Most later steps depend on your immigration status, so it comes first. GOV.UK says your eVisa shows your identity and immigration status. That includes the rights you have in the UK, such as the right to work, rent or claim benefits.
To view it, you sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. You can sign in with your passport, national identity card, biometric residence card (valid or expired), expired biometric residence permit (BRP) or UKVI customer number. You also need access to the mobile number or email address linked to the account.
The same account generates share codes. Employers and landlords use a share code together with your date of birth to check your status, so they do not need to see the eVisa itself.
- A share code lasts for 90 days and can be used as many times as needed before it expires.
- You can get a new share code whenever you need one.
- If the eVisa shows the wrong details, or you can view it but cannot get a share code from it, GOV.UK says to report an error.
- If you have changed your name or nationality, or your current photo no longer looks like you, GOV.UK says to update the UKVI account before getting a share code.
If the eVisa cannot be viewed, GOV.UK says to check that the UKVI account setup is finished. There are also separate services for proving the right to work or rent without an eVisa. Questions about an individual visa or status are for an immigration adviser regulated by the OISC or a solicitor regulated by the SRA.
2. Get a National Insurance number
You can apply for a National Insurance number if you live in the UK, have the right to work here, and are working, looking for work or have a job offer. You can only apply from inside the UK.
People with a BRP or eVisa might already have a number. It is printed on the back of the BRP or shown in the UKVI account. The number stays the same for life. If you do not have one, GOV.UK says you must apply if you plan to work.
- It can take up to 4 weeks to receive the number.
- You can start work before it arrives if you can prove your right to work.
- You can call the helpline if you applied more than 4 weeks ago, or if you have moved house or changed personal details since applying.
- You do not need a number to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, or to start an application for benefits or a student loan.
To pay you, a new employer needs your National Insurance number, bank details and proof of identity. They also need a P45 or, if you do not have one, a completed starter checklist.
3. Register with a GP surgery
The NHS says everyone in England can register with a GP surgery for free. That page covers England only and does not describe the process in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
You are asked for basic information such as your name, date of birth and address, plus an emergency contact. You do not need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status. An NHS number helps but is not required. A surgery may ask for extra documents for other reasons, such as finding your medical records.
- Most surgeries let you register online, and the form takes about 15 minutes per person.
- You are usually told within 5 days of the surgery getting your details, though it can take longer.
- If you do not have a permanent address, you can use a temporary address or the surgery’s address.
- You can register as a temporary patient for up to 3 months.
A surgery may refuse you if it is not taking new patients, you live outside its area, or it has removed you from its list before. It must write to you within 14 days to explain why. Your local integrated care board, Citizens Advice or local Healthwatch can help with problems.
4. Find a home and prove your Right to Rent
Right to Rent checks apply in England. GOV.UK states that you do not need to prove your right to rent in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
In England, if you are not a British or Irish citizen, you can prove your right to rent with a share code or your original immigration documents. The choice is yours. A landlord cannot reject your application because you gave an eligible immigration document instead of a share code.
British and Irish citizens can show a British passport, an Irish passport or passport card (current or expired), or a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen.
If you cannot prove your right to rent and you are not a British or Irish citizen, your landlord can ask for a Home Office right to rent check. Commonwealth citizens may be able to get documents through the Windrush Scheme.
5. Understand Council Tax
Once you have a home, Council Tax comes next. GOV.UK says the bill depends on three things. The first is your home’s valuation band, which works one way in England and Wales and another in Scotland. The second is what your local council charges for that band. The third is whether a discount or exemption applies.
The official page gives no amounts and no deadline for registering. Your local council sets the charge and decides on discounts and exemptions. People on a low income or benefits may be able to get Council Tax Reduction, and you can challenge a band that seems wrong. The page does not cover Northern Ireland.
FAQ
Can I start work before my National Insurance number arrives?
Yes, if you can prove your right to work in the UK, according to GOV.UK. The number can take up to 4 weeks to arrive, and your employer needs it to pay you.
Does a GP surgery in England need proof of my immigration status?
No. The NHS says you do not need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status to register. A surgery that refuses to register you must write to you within 14 days to explain why.
How long does a share code last?
A share code lasts for 90 days. You can use it as many times as needed before it expires, and you can get a new one through your UKVI account whenever you need one.
Do Right to Rent checks apply in Scotland?
No. Right to Rent checks apply in England only. GOV.UK states that you do not need to prove your right to rent in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Official sources: gov.uk · gov.uk · nhs.uk · gov.uk · gov.uk
Last verified: 26 September 2026 against the official pages linked above. Rules and fees change; the official page always wins.
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Immigration advice in the UK may only be given by advisers regulated by the OISC or by solicitors regulated by the SRA.
Sources
- gov.uk: eVisas: access and use your online immigration status, accessed 26 September 2026
- gov.uk: Apply for a National Insurance number, accessed 26 September 2026 (archived copy)
- nhs.uk: Register with a GP surgery, accessed 26 September 2026 (archived copy)
- gov.uk: Prove your right to rent in England, accessed 26 September 2026 (archived copy)
- gov.uk: How Council Tax works, accessed 26 September 2026 (archived copy)
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