First Weeks in the UK: Bank Account, GP and NI Number

In your first weeks in the UK as a student, do four things: register with a GP (free, and the NHS says you do not need ID or proof of address), open a UK bank account, apply online for a National Insurance number if you plan to work, and claim your council tax student exemption. Your immigration health surcharge already lets you use the NHS free from the date your visa starts, apart from charges such as prescriptions and dental treatment.

Last checked: 19 October 2026.

First weeks in the UK: the checklist

Before any of this, make sure you can get a share code from your eVisa, because landlords, employers and some banks will ask for it. See our UK eVisa and UKVI account guide.

The NHS and your health surcharge

When you applied, you paid the immigration health surcharge (IHS): £776 for each year of your visa for students, about Rs 1.58 lakh at the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026. GOV.UK’s healthcare surcharge guide says you can start using the NHS free of charge from the date your visa starts, if you have paid any surcharge you need to.

Some things still cost money, as they do for people who live in England. GOV.UK names prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests, plus assisted conception. The NHS also says A&E services are free to everyone, and NHS 111 (phone or online) is for urgent help that is not life-threatening.

One point the NHS makes clearly: being registered with a GP does not by itself decide whether hospital treatment is free. That depends on your visa and surcharge. For broader health cover questions, see our health insurance for international students guide.

How to register with a GP

A GP (general practitioner) is your local family doctor and your first stop for anything that is not an emergency. Register early, before you fall ill. The NHS “Register with a GP surgery” page (reviewed 28 July 2025) says:

• It is free. Everyone in England can register with a GP surgery for free.
• No documents required. “You do not need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status.” You give basic details like name, date of birth and address. A surgery may occasionally ask for something extra for a specific reason.
• How: search for surgeries near you on the NHS website and register online where the surgery offers it (about 15 minutes per person), or use a paper form in person, or the surgery’s own website.
• NHS App: you can only use it to change surgery once you are already registered.
• Refusals: a surgery can refuse if it is not taking new patients, you live outside its area, or you were removed from its list before. It must write to you within 14 days explaining why.

Your university’s welcome information may point you to nearby practices. The NHS visitors page also advises using exactly the same details on a paper registration form as you used on your visa application.

These NHS rules are for England. If you study in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, check that nation’s health service website for its registration process.

How to get a National Insurance number

A National Insurance (NI) number is your UK tax and contributions reference. You need one if you work, for example a part-time job during term. According to GOV.UK:

• Check first. You may already have a number. Look in your UKVI account under your eVisa (older BRPs had it on the back).
• Who can apply: people who live in the UK, have the right to work, and are working, looking for work, or have a job offer. You can only apply while you are in the UK.
• How: apply online. You prove your identity by uploading a photo of yourself holding your passport and photos of your ID. If you cannot upload photos, it takes longer and you may need an appointment or to post copies.
• How long: up to 4 weeks after you have proved your identity. You get an email with a reference number when you apply.
• Starting work before it arrives: you can start work before your number arrives if you can prove your right to work (your share code).

GOV.UK does not list a fee. Ignore websites that charge to “process” an NI application; use only the GOV.UK service. For how the NI number compares with tax IDs in other countries, see SIN, TFN, NI and SSN explained, and check your hours limit in part-time work rules for international students.

Opening a UK bank account as an international student

Every bank sets its own rules, so read the bank’s own page before you go. Here is what some banks’ official pages said on 19 October 2026 (general summary only; we do not recommend any bank):

• You usually have to be living in the UK. Lloyds says you can apply for its international student account once you are living in the UK, aged 18 or over, with a valid passport. NatWest says non-residents cannot open an account with it.
• Proof of status. HSBC says non-EU nationals may need to provide a visa or residence permit. NatWest asks for a passport supported by a valid visa or an eVisa share code, and says the share code must be provided in branch. Santander’s international student page asks for your share code or visa.
• Proof of address. HSBC says that if you are new to the UK, a letter from your university or employer may be accepted. Santander lists a university banking letter as proof of ID and address. Ask your university’s student services how to request one.
• How to apply. Several banks now steer applicants to their mobile app; Santander and Lloyds both describe app applications, with branch options too.

Bring cash or a card from home for the first week or two, because opening an account can take time. If family will send money from Nepal, compare legal channels in our sending money guide.

Council tax: the student exemption

Council tax is a local charge on homes. The GOV.UK full-time students page says households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay. If you still get a bill, you can apply for an exemption. If someone in the household is not a full-time student, there will be a bill, but the household might still qualify for a discount.

To count as a full-time student, your course must last at least 1 year and involve at least 21 hours of study a week. Councils commonly ask for a student certificate from your university as proof, so request one from student services and send it to your local council soon after you move in.

If a spouse who is not a student lives with you, check with your local council how that affects the bill; GOV.UK does not cover that case on this page.

Tips for Nepali students

• Bring printed and digital copies of your passport, CAS and university offer, plus access to your UKVI account.
• Keep the name spelling identical across your passport, eVisa, bank and GP forms.
• Keep your Nepali bank account and phone working until your UK account is set up, especially if OTPs go to your Nepali number.
• Prescriptions cost money in England. If you take regular medicine, bring a supply allowed by UK rules and register with a GP early.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until you are sick to register with a GP.
• Thinking a GP registration requires a bank statement or tenancy agreement. The NHS says it does not.
• Paying a website for an NI number application.
• Ignoring a council tax bill instead of applying for the exemption.
• Starting work without being able to prove your right to work.

What to do next

1. Day 1 to 3: check your eVisa, get a share code, and find your nearest GP.
2. Week 1: register with the GP and request a university banking letter.
3. Week 1 to 2: open your bank account.
4. Once you have a job offer or start looking: apply for your NI number.
5. When you get a tenancy: send your student certificate to the council.

Still planning? Start with our study in the UK from Nepal guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do international students need proof of address to register with a GP in the UK?
Not in England. The NHS says you do not need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status to register.

Is NHS treatment free for international students?
If you have paid the immigration health surcharge, you can use the NHS free from the date your visa starts. You still pay for things like prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests.

How long does it take to get a National Insurance number?
Up to 4 weeks after you prove your identity, according to GOV.UK. You can start work before it arrives if you can prove your right to work.

Can I open a UK bank account before I arrive?
Generally no. The bank pages we checked say you must be living in the UK. Check your chosen bank’s own page.

Do students pay council tax in the UK?
Households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay. A full-time course lasts at least 1 year with at least 21 hours of study a week.

Related guides

• UK January vs September Intake: What Nepali Students Should Know
• UK eVisa and UKVI Account for Students: Nepal Guide
• How to Apply for a UK Student Visa from Nepal (Step by Step)
• UK CAS and Credibility Interview: Guide for Nepali Students
• UK TB Test for Nepali Students: Clinics, Fees, Validity

Sources

• Register with a GP surgery – NHS
• How to access NHS services if you are visiting from abroad – NHS
• Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application – GOV.UK
• Immigration health surcharge: how much to pay – GOV.UK
• Apply for a National Insurance number – GOV.UK
• National Insurance number: how to apply – GOV.UK
• Council Tax: discounts for full-time students – GOV.UK
• What you need to open a bank account – HSBC UK
• International student account – Lloyds Bank
• What do you need to open a bank account – NatWest
• International students – Santander UK

Last checked: 19 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Bank requirements change; check the bank’s own page before you go.