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The short answer
In your first 90 days, put things in this order: a UK bank account so you can be paid, your National Insurance number (check your eVisa first, as you may already have one; GOV.UK says a new one can take up to 4 weeks), your tax code on your first payslip, GP registration, then the bills that start with your tenancy: Council Tax, energy and broadband. Note the date you became resident, because it starts the 12-month clock on a Nigerian driving licence.
Week 1: get paid and stay reachable
- UK bank account. Your employer needs one to pay you, and most bills are paid by Direct Debit. If a bank asks for documents you do not have yet, ask which alternatives it accepts; some banks list other documents for new arrivals.
- UK phone number. Banks, employers and the NHS will text you. Pay-as-you-go or SIM-only plans are a common first step; a handset contract may involve a credit check you could fail with no UK history.
- Your eVisa. Make sure you can sign in to your UKVI account; employers, landlords and banks may ask for a share code.
Weeks 1 to 4: tax and National Insurance
GOV.UK says that if you have a biometric residence permit or eVisa, you might already have a National Insurance number: on the back of the BRP or in your UKVI account. If not, and you plan to work, you must apply online, and you can only apply once you are in the UK. It can take up to 4 weeks. You can start work before it arrives if you can prove your right to work.
Check your first payslip. If your employer does not know your previous income, GOV.UK says you may be put on an emergency tax code, shown with W1, M1 or X, and GOV.UK says you stay on it until the end of the tax year unless HMRC updates it; in the new tax year you move to a non-emergency code. Use HMRC's Check your Income Tax service to see why a code changed.
Weeks 1 to 4: health
Register with a GP as soon as you have an address. The NHS says you do not need ID, proof of address or immigration status in England. See how to register. Prescriptions in England cost £9.90 per item as at October 2026, unless you are exempt.
First month of your tenancy: household bills
| Bill | What to do | Source of the rule |
|---|---|---|
| Council Tax | Register with your council; apply for the 25% discount if you live alone | GOV.UK Council Tax |
| Gas and electricity | Find the supplier, give move-in readings, choose how to pay | Ofgem |
| Rent | Pay into the account named in your tenancy; keep receipts | Your tenancy agreement |
| Broadband and phone | Compare deals; check contract length | Provider's own terms |
Energy prices are limited by Ofgem's price cap, £1,723 a year for a typical Direct Debit household for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Take meter readings on the day you move in.
Know your visa conditions
Most work, student and family visas carry 'no recourse to public funds': no Universal Credit, Child Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. Statutory Sick Pay and Statutory Maternity Pay still apply. Read what NRPF means before you assume any help is available, and build savings accordingly.
Days 30 to 90: credit and a budget
- Start a UK credit history. Your Nigerian history generally does not carry over. Pay every bill on time from your UK account. See building a UK credit score.
- Write a monthly budget from your actual first two payslips, not your offer letter: rent, Council Tax, energy, transport, food, phone, money home.
- Decide what you send home and when. Fix a monthly amount for family rather than reacting to each request.
- Build a buffer. With no benefits safety net, savings are your cushion.
A worked budget
Example only, for a single person outside London on £2,200 a month after tax: rent £850, Council Tax £120, energy £110, phone and broadband £45, transport £90, food £280, money to family £300. Total £1,795, leaving £405 a month towards savings and the unexpected. Replace every figure with your own.
Sending money home without overpaying
Most new arrivals start sending money to family within weeks. Every transfer has up to two costs: a transfer fee, and an FX margin, the gap between the rate you get and the mid-market rate. A provider with no fee can still cost more if its rate is further from mid-market. Compare the naira amount your family will actually receive for the same pounds, at the same moment, and check the payout method (bank account or cash pickup) and how long it takes. See FX margins explained.
The licence clock
If you drive, write down the date you became resident. GOV.UK says a full Nigerian licence covers residents for 12 months from then, and a Nigerian licence cannot be exchanged. See the 12-month rule.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal Account can be opened from any country and holds GBP and NGN with local account details for each. Money stays in the currency it arrived in, and Swap converts only when you choose, with the rate and fee shown before you approve. To pay family at home, send from the same app. If you also earn in one currency and spend in another, see budgeting across currencies.
Questions people ask
What should I do first when I arrive in the UK?
Open a UK bank account, check your eVisa for a National Insurance number (or apply), register with a GP and set up household bills.
How long does a National Insurance number take?
GOV.UK says up to 4 weeks. You can start work before it arrives if you can prove your right to work.
Why is so much tax taken from my first UK salary?
You may be on an emergency tax code (W1, M1 or X). HMRC adjusts it once it has your details.
Can I use my Nigerian credit history in the UK?
Generally no. Start building UK history from your first bills and account.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Apply for a National Insurance number · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Tax codes · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Council Tax · accessed Oct 2026
- NHS: Register with a GP surgery (reviewed 28 July 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ofgem: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges, 1 October to 31 December 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Public funds (updated 9 April 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.