First weeks in the United Kingdom: registrations after landing

Moving to the United Kingdom on a visa used to mean collecting a plastic card after landing. That step is gone. The UK now runs immigration status online, and most of your first-month paperwork flows from one place: your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. This guide sets out the order that works for a US citizen arriving with a visa, based on what GOV.UK and the NHS say today.

Step 1: get your UKVI account and eVisa working

GOV.UK describes an eVisa as a digital record of your identity and immigration status, including the conditions of your status, such as whether you can work or study. You receive one when a visa application succeeds, and GOV.UK states plainly that eVisas have replaced physical immigration documents.

To see it, you need a UKVI account. GOV.UK says setting up the account and accessing your eVisa is free. Once your eVisa is linked to the account you can usually see it straight away, though GOV.UK says it can take up to 24 hours.

Do this before you fly if you can, and confirm two things:

• Your passport details are added to the account. GOV.UK says you can travel with your eVisa after you add your passport or travel document details.
• The personal details and conditions shown are correct. GOV.UK has a route to report an error with your eVisa, and it is far easier to fix before a landlord or employer sees it.

Keep the phone number or email you use for UKVI sign-in active. GOV.UK lists access to that number or email as a requirement to view your eVisa.

### If you hold an old BRP

Biometric residence permits were issued to people granted permission on or before 31 October 2024. GOV.UK now says all BRPs have expired and have been replaced by eVisas. An expired BRP can still be used for limited tasks (signing in, creating a UKVI account, applying to extend) for 24 months after the printed expiry or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. If you are returning to the UK with an old card, create the UKVI account now rather than later.

Step 2: learn the share code, because everyone will ask for it

The eVisa is not something you hand over. Instead, you generate a share code from your UKVI account and give it to the person checking, along with your date of birth. GOV.UK says the checker sees some of your personal details, and you are told what they will see when you generate the code.

GOV.UK sets these rules for share codes:

• A share code lasts 90 days.
• You can use it as many times as you need before it expires.
• You can get a new one whenever you need one.

Employers, landlords and, in some cases, healthcare providers use share codes. GOV.UK's immigration health surcharge guidance says that when you access healthcare you may need to prove your status online using a share code if you have a digital immigration status.

Step 3: housing and the Right to Rent check

If you rent privately in England, the landlord must check that you have the right to rent. GOV.UK says landlords must check all tenants aged 18 and over before a new tenancy starts, and must check everyone, not only people they think are not British. If your permission to stay is time-limited, GOV.UK says the check must be done in the 28 days before the tenancy starts.

In practice, this means your eVisa share code is part of your rental application. Generate a fresh one when you are ready to sign, so it does not lapse during the process.

GOV.UK also flags that rules about private renting in England changed on 1 May 2026, so read the current landlord guidance if a letting agent quotes old terms. Right to Rent applies to England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own housing rules.

Some housing types are exempt from the check, including student accommodation, accommodation provided as part of your job, and leases of 7 years or longer, according to GOV.UK.

Step 4: National Insurance number if you will work

The National Insurance number is your identifier for tax and contributions. Before applying, check whether you already have one. GOV.UK says that if you have a BRP or eVisa you might already have a National Insurance number, and you can find it by logging in to your UKVI account to view your eVisa.

If you do not have one, GOV.UK sets out the conditions. You can apply if you:

• live in the UK
• have the right to work in the UK
• are working, looking for work, or have an offer to start work

GOV.UK adds that you can only apply when you are in the UK, and that it can take up to 4 weeks to receive the number. You do not have to wait for it to start a job: GOV.UK says you can start work before you receive your National Insurance number if you can prove you have the right to work, which again means a share code.

The number stays the same for life, even if your personal details change.

Step 5: register with a GP

Your NHS access begins with your visa. The GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page says you can start using the NHS free of charge from the date your visa starts, provided you have paid the immigration health surcharge if your route requires it. GOV.UK also notes you still pay for certain services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests.

The NHS website says everyone in England can register with a GP surgery for free, and most surgeries accept online registration. The process the NHS describes:

1. Enter a postcode to find surgeries near where you live.
2. Pick one that offers online registration.
3. Fill in the form, which the NHS says takes about 15 minutes per person.
4. Wait for confirmation, usually within 5 days of the surgery getting your details.

You can also register on paper at the surgery. Register soon after you have an address, before you need an appointment.

Step 6: bank account

Each UK bank sets its own list of documents for opening a current account. Your passport covers identity; your eVisa share code can show status. The common sticking point is address, which is why the order in this guide puts housing before banking. Ask the bank which address documents it accepts before you visit.

Step 7: the US side

Two US tasks belong in your first weeks. First, enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which the US Embassy London promotes on its services page so the embassy can reach you in an emergency. Second, note that the Embassy's U.S. Citizen Services in London covers passports, citizenship and federal benefits; the embassy says it is closed to the public on both US and British public holidays.

Your US tax obligations continue while you live in the UK. Keep records from your first UK payslips for your next IRS return.

A suggested order

1. Before flying: UKVI account, passport linked, eVisa details checked.
2. Week 1: generate a share code for housing; sign a lease after the Right to Rent check.
3. Week 1 to 2: check your eVisa for an existing National Insurance number; apply if you need one and will work.
4. Week 2: register with a GP near your new address.
5. Week 2 to 3: open a bank account with your passport and proof of address.
6. Any time: STEP enrollment with the US Embassy.

For the visa side of this process, see the other posts in our United Kingdom series.

Common questions

Do I still get a biometric residence permit when I arrive in the UK? No. GOV.UK says eVisas have replaced physical immigration documents and that all BRPs have now expired. You access your status through a free UKVI account.

How long does a UK share code last? GOV.UK says a share code lasts 90 days, can be used as many times as needed before it expires, and you can generate a new one whenever you need it.

Can I start a UK job before my National Insurance number arrives? Yes. GOV.UK says you can start work before receiving your National Insurance number if you can prove your right to work. The number itself can take up to 4 weeks.

Is GP registration free in England? Yes. The NHS says everyone in England can register with a GP surgery for free, and most surgeries let you register online.