Opening a UK current account: proof of address, ID and first steps

The basic bank account, a right for legal residents

A UK current account comes with a debit card, sort code and mobile banking, and it is a sterling account that in practice you open after settling in the United Kingdom with a verifiable address. Major banks must also offer a fee-free basic account without overdraft to anyone legally resident, newcomers included, so that a salary can be received and card payments made.

Major British banks must offer a fee-free basic account without overdraft to anyone legally resident in the United Kingdom, including newcomers. It lets you receive a salary and pay by card while waiting for a fuller package.

Proving your address when you have just arrived

An employer letter, a registered tenancy, HMRC correspondence or a council tax bill is accepted by many banks. British digital banks often verify identity by selfie and passport, then check the address through a credit reference agency.

Immigration status and identity documents

Non-British nationals show a passport and, where relevant, their digital status or EU Settlement Scheme status. The bank may also ask for the UK social security number, the National Insurance number, once it has been issued.

Salary, PAYE and the first months

On a UK current account, employers pay salaries through Bacs, usually monthly, after deducting tax and contributions through the PAYE system. Without a British account the first salary can be delayed, which is why opening one on arrival helps.

Opening a personal account with a long-established bank

At NatWest, part of NatWest Group, a newcomer can apply for a current account online or in branch with a passport and UK proof of address. The bank may offer a basic account if the credit history is too thin.

Cards, Apple Pay and contactless payments

British debit cards work with mobile wallets, and contactless is the norm on London transport. Sterling withdrawals are free at Link network cash machines, but euro payments often carry currency conversion fees.

ISAs and savings products reserved for residents

The Individual Savings Account lets UK residents save a capped amount each year free of UK tax on interest and gains. A non-resident generally cannot open one, and a French resident remains taxable in France.

Sending euros to France from a sterling account

Every transfer to France involves a pound to euro conversion, with rates and margins that vary widely between banks. Specialist currency providers authorised by the FCA are often cheaper for regular monthly amounts.

FSCS protection and choosing between brands

Since December 2025 the FSCS has covered 120,000 pounds per person and per banking licence. A saver who splits funds between two brands of the same group should check they do not share the same authorisation.

UK income and French obligations

A French tax resident keeping a personal bank account in the UK reports it on form 3916 and declares the interest in France, with the France-UK tax treaty preventing double taxation. Conversely, an expat who becomes UK resident falls under HMRC.

Steps to open a UK current account

You choose a bank or a digital bank, complete the application online or in branch, then prove your identity and address. The adviser or the app checks the documents, sometimes queries a credit reference agency and approves the file. Depending on the institution, the account is active the same day or after a few days, but no bank guarantees opening in advance.

Once the application is accepted, the bank gives you the sort code and account number, posts the debit card and activates mobile banking. Take the time to install the app, which is also used to approve payments and manage the card. Note the account details as soon as it opens: your employer and landlord will need them before the first pay day or rent payment.

The bank first observes how the account works. Ask what conditions apply to a newcomer rather than assuming they match those of a long-standing resident, and keep the answers in writing so that you can find them again. This is common practice and does not mean your application for a British current account is weak.

Documents and proof for a British current account

Prepare your passport or identity document, UK proof of address and evidence of your situation in the country: an employer letter, an employment contract, a university certificate or immigration status. The bank may also ask for the National Insurance number once it has been issued. If you do not have it yet, ask what it accepts in the meantime and which services will be limited.

Documents written in another language may need translation. Check that your name and address are written the same way on every document: a missing accent, a swapped first name and surname or an old postcode is enough to block a file until it is clarified. If your address is recent, keep the letter or mail that proves it. Settling these details early avoids repeated visits or calls to the bank.

Keep digital copies of everything you hand over. They are useful when closing the account, for tax filings in your home country and to answer a request to update the file, which the bank can make at any time, even several years after opening, for example after a change of address or of professional situation.

Long-established bank, digital bank or basic account: how to choose

A long-established bank offers a branch network, advisers you can reach and a full range of products. A digital bank offers quick opening from your phone and often lower fees, but customer service is mostly online. A basic account, without an overdraft, is fine to get started. The best choice depends on your situation, your comfort with remote procedures and your future needs.

Compare the real conditions: monthly fees, the cost of payments in foreign currency, support in your language, card replacement times and closure terms. A UK current account that looks very cheap can cost a lot if you regularly send euros to France or often withdraw abroad. Read the full tariff before signing. Doing this for two or three offers of a personal bank account in the UK usually reveals the real differences.

You do not have to choose a single account. Many expats keep their home account for euro spending and use the sterling account for everyday life. If you leave the country one day, close the British account only after changing your payment arrangements and waiting for the last direct debits, otherwise unpaid items can appear. A regular standing order set up once keeps this simple.

Common mistakes and questions to ask the bank

The most common mistakes are comparing only monthly fees, giving out the account details before the checks are finished and failing to declare the account in the country of residence. Another is believing that an account opened with a foreign bank is the same as a local one: only a bank authorised in the United Kingdom gives you a British sort code and account number.

Before signing, ask precise questions: what maintenance fees, what fees on foreign-currency payments, what support, what conditions for the card and overdraft, and how closure works. Also check that it is authorised, for example through the FCA register.

Keep your annual statements with your other tax papers.