Before you start

Passport and eVisa share code
A UK address, for traditional banks
Proof of address, for traditional banks — a tenancy agreement, council tax bill or employer letter
A UK mobile number

Step-by-step

1
Open a digital bank account before or immediately on arrival
Monzo, Starling, Revolut and others open accounts from a passport and a video selfie, without requiring proof of address. This is how most newcomers get a UK account and sort code on day one, which unlocks everything else.
Mobile appWho: YouDay 1
2
Ask your employer for a letter if you need a traditional bank
Many banks accept an employer letter confirming your address as proof. HR departments used to international hires produce these routinely — ask rather than assuming you need a utility bill you cannot yet have.
Via employerWho: You
3
Register for Council Tax when you move in
The occupier pays it, not the landlord, and it is billed separately from rent. Glasgow's bands are lower than Edinburgh's for comparable property but it is still a real monthly cost. A 25% discount applies to single occupants and a full exemption to all-student households — both must be claimed.
OnlineWho: YouWeek 1
4
Set up Direct Debits for the essentials
Rent, Council Tax, utilities and your phone all run on Direct Debit here, and paying by Direct Debit is often cheaper than the alternative. The Direct Debit Guarantee gives you a strong right to reclaim an incorrect payment.
Mobile appWho: You
5
Start building a credit file
UK credit scoring is separate from anywhere else and you arrive with nothing. Registering on the electoral roll where eligible, a mobile contract and an account in good standing all help. It matters mainly if you intend to get a mortgage.
OnlineWho: You
6
Know that Scottish banknotes are not legal tender
Bank of Scotland, RBS and Clydesdale issue their own notes, which circulate normally here. They are not legal tender anywhere in the UK — a technicality that means English retailers may refuse them. Keep Bank of England notes for trips south.
In personWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport
eVisa share code
Proof of UK address, for traditional banks
Employer letter, widely accepted as address proof
UK mobile number

Things most newcomers don’t know

Council Tax is your bill, not your landlord's, and nobody warns you.

In most countries the local property tax falls on the owner. In the UK the occupier pays it and it is billed separately from rent. A single occupant gets a 25% discount and an all-student household is fully exempt — but you must apply for both. People budget rent and are then surprised by a second housing bill.

Source: Glasgow City Council

Digital banks solved the address circularity, and everyone uses them.

Traditional UK banks want proof of address, which a new arrival cannot produce, while landlords want a UK bank account. Monzo, Starling and Revolut open accounts on a passport and a selfie without an address, breaking the loop on day one. This is now the standard newcomer path rather than a workaround.

Source: community-reported

Scottish banknotes are legal currency but not legal tender.

The three Scottish issuing banks print their own notes, which everyone here accepts. They are not legal tender anywhere in the UK — including Scotland, where technically no banknote is. Practically it means an English shop can refuse them and occasionally does. Keep some Bank of England notes if you travel.

Source: Bank of England

UK current accounts are free, which is genuinely unusual.

Arriving from Germany, France or much of Asia, the absence of a monthly account maintenance fee is a pleasant surprise. Banks make their money elsewhere. There is no reason to pay for a basic current account in the UK.

Source: community-reported