Moving to the UK Checklist: The Practical Guides We’d Actually Use

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Moving to the UK sounds straightforward until you start the list: documents, immigration, housing, healthcare, banking, driving, work, schools — and a surprising number of things nobody mentions until you need them. And occasionally a phone call where someone speaks very quickly, in an accent you weren’t quite ready for.

If you’re looking for a moving to the UK checklist, you’ve probably noticed the problem: there’s no shortage of information, but most of it is aimed at nobody in particular. So we made practical guides organised around where you’re actually moving from — because the route into the UK isn’t identical for everyone — in English, Spanish and French.

First: Which Moving to the UK Guide Is For You?

Choose the starting point that matches yours. All the Moving to the UK guides are here, in English, Spanish and French — so if a friend, partner or colleague is moving from somewhere else, you’ll find theirs too.

🇺🇸 USA · 🇪🇺 Europe · 🌍 Other country · 📄 Guide only · 🇪🇸 Spain · 🌎 Latin America · 🇫🇷 France

Guides in English

Guides in Spanish and French

Written in the language of the person moving, so the paperwork makes sense before the phone calls start.

Complete Guide or Guide Only?

• Guide Only — €12.99: the full 22-page practical guide, without the telephone interpretation bundle. Built for people who already have the language covered.
• Complete Guides — €19.99: a 22-page practical guide plus the first month of Expat Basic free — 15 minutes of live telephone interpretation.

If English is your first language, the Guide Only may be all you need. If you’re moving from somewhere English isn’t spoken — or you know a phone call is coming that you’d rather not do alone — the month of interpretation included with the Complete Guides can make all the difference.

Why Does Where You’re Moving From Matter?

Because moving to the UK doesn’t mean following the same route for everyone. Arriving at the same destination from different starting points can change the documents you need, the registrations to check and the order to do things in.

The factors that can matter include your nationality, your current country of residence, whether you’re working, studying, retiring or self-employed, moving with family, taking a vehicle, and your healthcare and financial arrangements. It’s worth separating nationality (the passport you hold) from current country of residence (where you live today): they aren’t the same thing, and either can change what you need to check.

We don’t pretend to give a universal immigration answer — we organise the route around your starting point, which is why the guides are separate. To confirm current requirements, always check official sources such as GOV.UK (the UK government’s official website) and the NHS website for healthcare.

What You’ll Need to Think About Before Moving

📄 Documents & immigration — identity documents, residency and immigration requirements, and the paperwork you’ll need to organise.

🏠 Housing — where you’ll live, what to organise before arrival, and the practical realities of renting or buying.

💷 Money & banking — banking, payments, financial organisation and what’s worth sorting before the move.

🏥 Healthcare — understanding how healthcare works and making sure you’re properly covered.

🚗 Driving — driving licences, vehicles, and the relevant steps for your situation.

💼 Work & income — employment, self-employment, remote working and earning a living in the UK.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family, children & pets — things that get considerably more complicated when you’re moving more than just yourself.

📱 Phone calls & everyday life — because eventually, you’ll need to speak to somebody.

What Happens When You Need to Make a Phone Call?

If English isn’t your first language, you can have every document neatly organised and still hit the same problem: someone on the other end of the phone speaks quickly, and you need to be sure you’ve understood exactly what they said.

telmyfriends is a live telephone interpretation service. You make the call, add the interpreter, and the interpreter conveys what each side says — without giving advice, taking sides or changing the message. That’s particularly useful for calls involving government offices, healthcare, banks, landlords, utilities, insurance, schools, appointments, deliveries and other everyday administration.

Need help making a call in the UK? Discover telmyfriends.

Know Someone Moving to the UK Who Doesn’t Speak English?

If English is your first language, you may not need any of this for yourself — but someone close to you might. Choose the guide that matches their starting point and language. The month of Expat Basic included with the Complete Guides can also be given to someone else, if you’d rather pass it on.

Moving to the UK Doesn’t Have to Mean Figuring It Out From Scratch

You don’t need to know everything before you start. You need to know what to do, when to do it, where your particular circumstances change the route, and where to get help when you hit something you can’t easily handle yourself.

Browse all the Moving to the UK guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best moving to the UK checklist?

The right one depends on where you’re moving from — our guides are organised by starting country because the route into the UK differs by nationality and circumstances.

What documents do I need to move to the UK?

It depends on your nationality and situation, but broadly: identity and immigration or residency documents, proof of address, healthcare and insurance paperwork, banking and driving documents. Each guide covers this for its starting country, and you should always confirm current requirements on official sources such as GOV.UK.

Is there a moving to the UK checklist for Americans?

Yes — our USA edition covers the considerations specific to moving from the United States.

Are there guides for Spanish, Latin American or French speakers moving to the UK?

Yes. There are Complete Guides written in Spanish for people moving from Spain and Latin America, and one written in French for people moving from France.

What’s the difference between the Guide Only and the Complete Guide?

The Guide Only (€12.99) is the 22-page practical guide without telephone interpretation. The Complete Guides (€19.99) add the first month of Expat Basic free, which includes 15 minutes of live telephone interpretation.

How can I deal with phone calls in the UK if I don’t speak English well?

telmyfriends offers live telephone interpretation — you make the call, add the interpreter, and they convey what each side says, without giving advice or taking sides.

Can I give the included interpretation month to someone else?

Yes — the first month of Expat Basic included with the Complete Guides can be given to another person.

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Written with AI assistance, edited and fact-checked by our team.

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