bola14

Hi everyone. will be relocating to the UK as a citizen shortly. any advice and what to look out for? what r my privileges? what to do to get settled in. school, work,housing, nhs, NI etc.

thanks, no help will too small to give

BritInParis

To be sure, are you a British citizen? Were you born in the UK or will this be your first time living there?

Pulaski

You'll need an NI number for your taxes to be logged against.

Once you arrive in the UK as a resident, you're covered by the NHS. You register with the nearest GP (doctor), and you're good to go.

bola14

Thanks.
Any other thing I need to do to settle down

bola14

Thanks for the prompt response.
Yea,am British by descent.I v my passport but I v always only visit and vacations. This is my first time of planning to live there.
Anytin u want to put me through with.
Thks

Pulaski

You'll need something like a copy of your lease and a utility bill (to prove your address) to open a bank account.

bola14

Ohhh,OK
Thanks

BritInParis

When you arrive you'll need to apply for a NI number.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

You'll also need a NHS number although you'll be given one of these automatically if you don't have one when you register with a GP.

Find GP services - NHS Choices

You should also register to vote.

https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Will you have anyone you can stay with it? As Pulaski points out you'll need proof of address in order to open a bank account but you'll need a bank account to be able to rent a property.

If you passed your driving test in any EU country or a designated country (Andorra, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe) then you can exchange your driving licence for a GB driving licence.

https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence

If not then you can drive on your foreign licence for up to twelve months before having to pass a driving test in the UK and obtain a GB licence in order to continue driving. If you plan to buy a car then you shouldn't leave this late as the UK's driving tests are comparatively difficult and you may need several hours of lessons and several attempts at the test to pass.

scot47

The Bank Account can be the most difficult part of it. When you register with a doctor, take your passport to prove your right to stay here. They may not ask for it but........................After years of dealing with hostile bureaucrats in the Middle East ,the Third World and in Eastern Europe, it was amazingly easy for me when I resettled in Britain after many years away.

teejaydee

Will he not also have to prove he is resident in the UK, by producing a tenancy agreement or utility bill?

BritInParis

Normally you need to provide recent proof of address to demonstrate that you are in the GP's catchment area. It can vary widely between surgeries however.

bola14

Thanks very much
But if I am putting up with a friend for a start I won't v a lease agreement yet.
What if I start building a utility bill prior to my arrival,like gas or electricity. Will that be categorized as illegal?
Just thinking of how I can bridge d no lease agreement stuff for d main time.
Thanks

bola14

Thanks so very much for the info,
And yes I v someone to stay with for d time bin

bola14

Assuming I want to proceed on a postgraduate degree.will I be treated as a home student or Intl?

Thanks

Pulaski

You'll be an international student until you have lived in the UK for three years even though you are a British citizen. If you live in Scotland the rules might be different.