UK Arrival Guide for International Students

🛂

Border Control

Show your passport. eVisa is fully digital since late 2024 — no physical card needed. The border officer scans your passport electronically.

Very first step

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Set Up Your eVisa

1. Go to gov.uk/evisa
2. Create a UKVI account
3. Download UK Immigration: ID Check app
4. Scan passport + selfie verification
5. eVisa links to your passport digitally

🔑

Get Your Share Code

3 separate codes for right to work, rent, study. Each lasts 90 days. Generate at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status

9-character code

📡

Get a UK SIM Card

Lebara and Lyca — free calls to 40+ countries from £5/mo. Available at airport. Buy before leaving arrivals hall.

Do this at the airport

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Apply for NI Number

Apply at gov.uk. Takes 4–8 weeks by post. Needed to work legally and pay the right tax.

⚠ Don't delay

🏦

Open a Bank Account

Monzo — open in 10 mins, passport only, no NI needed. Get £5 free here →

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Register at University

Bring: passport, Share Code (right to study), offer letter, CAS number. Collect student ID — unlocks all services.

🩺

Register with NHS GP

Find at nhs.uk. All GP visits and hospital treatment are FREE — you paid the Health Surcharge.

📮

Council Tax Exemption

Full-time students are exempt. Get letter from your university registrar, send to local council. Saves up to £1,500/year.

Save £1,500+/yr

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16–25 Railcard

£30/year at railcard.co.uk. Saves 1/3 off every UK train. Pays for itself on one trip.

Saves £100s/yr

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Tenancy Agreement

Always sign before moving in. Max deposit = 5 weeks rent, must be in a government protection scheme (TDS, DPS).

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Set Up Utilities

Gas, electricity, broadband — compare at uSwitch.com. University halls usually include bills.

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Send Money Home

Wise — real mid-market rate, fees from 0.5%. Aspora for India (zero markup). Remitly for speed.

See all referrals →

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Best UK Banks

• Monzo — open same day
• Starling — zero foreign fees
• Lloyds — £175 bonus
• Barclays — student overdraft

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Budgeting Tips

• Shop Aldi, Lidl, Tesco
• UNIDAYS & Student Beans
• Cook at home — saves £200+/mo
• Too Good To Go app

🧾

Tax & Working Rights

Max 20 hrs/week term time. Pay income tax above £12,570/year. Keep all payslips. Generate Right to Work Share Code before any job.

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NHS — Free Access

Full NHS access at no cost. Paid via the Immigration Health Surcharge on your visa. Register with a GP within your first week.

🆘

Emergency Numbers

📞 999 — Police / Fire / Ambulance
📞 111 — NHS non-emergency
📞 116 123 — Samaritans
📞 0800 876 6921 — UKVI Helpline

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Mental Health

Free counselling at your university. NHS Talking Therapies (self-referral). Samaritans: 116 123. You are not alone — reach out early.

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Prescriptions

£9.90/item in England. FREE in Scotland & Wales. Get a Prepayment Certificate (PPC) if you need more than 2 items — saves money.

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Student Discounts

• UNIDAYS — 100s of brands
• Student Beans — food & tech
• NUS Extra / TOTUM card
• 16–25 Railcard (£30/yr)

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What to Pack

• Passport + visa documents
• University offer letter + CAS
• 3–6 months bank statements
• Prescription medicines (2–3 mo)

☔

UK Weather Survival

Buy a waterproof jacket on day one. UK weather changes several times daily. Always carry layers. It rains in summer too.

📱

Essential Apps

• Citymapper — transport
• NHS App — GP & health
• Monzo — banking
• Too Good To Go — cheap food
• UNIDAYS — discounts