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The short answer
A handset contract is a credit agreement, so UK networks usually run a credit check, and a newcomer with no history is often refused or asked for a deposit. The easier routes are a pay-as-you-go SIM, which needs no credit check, or a monthly SIM-only plan, which is still checked but is shorter and cheaper and so more likely to be accepted. Buying the handset outright and registering on the electoral roll improve your chances later.
Your phone number is one of the first things you need in the UK, for your bank, your employer and your GP. It is also one of the first places newcomers from Nigeria meet the credit system, because a contract that bundles an expensive handset is, in effect, a loan for the phone. Equifax says an application can be accepted outright, accepted with a condition such as a deposit, or turned down.
Why a newcomer gets refused
Equifax lists the factors that can lead to a refusal, several of which apply to almost every new arrival:
- Not on the electoral register, or not at one address long enough, so the network cannot verify identity and address.
- No UK bank account or card, which suggests you may not be able to make the payments.
- Adverse history such as missed payments, defaults or county court judgments, which a newcomer usually will not have.
- No history at all, which leaves the lender with nothing to score.
Equifax adds that you may not be told why you were refused. Experian's guidance notes that your credit score can affect mobile contracts as well as cards and loans.
Your options, from easiest to hardest
| Option | Credit check? | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-as-you-go SIM in a phone you own | No, you pay in advance | No credit record built; top up as you go |
| Monthly SIM-only plan | Usually yes | Equifax says your chances are better than for a handset contract because the term is shorter and the payment lower |
| Handset contract with a deposit | Yes | Some applications are accepted on condition of a deposit |
| Full handset contract | Yes | Hardest with no history; the handset cost is effectively credit |
Bring your unlocked phone from Nigeria if it works on UK networks, or buy a handset outright, and you remove the credit element from the decision. A SIM-only plan then becomes a small, regular payment that can help build your record once accepted.
How to improve your chances
- Open a UK current account and pay from it by direct debit.
- Register on the electoral roll at your current address if you are eligible; Nigerians with permission to stay usually are. See electoral registration for Nigerians.
- Apply using exactly the same address that appears on the electoral roll and your bank account, as Equifax suggests.
- Do not reapply repeatedly. Equifax says applications show up as searches and too many could suggest you are desperate for credit.
- Start with SIM-only, then apply for a handset contract after several months of on-time payments.
After a refusal: check your file
A refused application is worth a quick check before you try again. Order your free statutory credit reports and confirm three things: your name matches your passport, your current address appears, and there are no searches or accounts you do not recognise. The ICO says you can ask a lender that refused you to explain the main reason and review its decision, and Equifax points out that each further application adds a search to your file. If the file is simply empty, waiting a few months on pay-as-you-go or SIM-only will do more good than a second handset application this week. See checking your credit report free.
A worked example
Illustrative prices only. Suppose a handset costs £600 and a SIM-only plan costs £10 a month. Over 24 months, buying the phone outright and paying SIM-only costs £600 plus £240, or £840. A contract bundling the same phone at £35 a month for 24 months costs £840 too, but it requires a credit decision because £600 of that is, in effect, borrowed. If you can afford to buy outright, the SIM-only route costs the same here and avoids a refusal. Real prices vary, so compare the total over the full term.
Pay-as-you-go while you wait
Pay-as-you-go does not build credit history, but it keeps you connected with no risk of a refusal. Many newcomers use it for their first months while they open a bank account and register to vote. When you move to a monthly plan, ask your network how to keep the same number when you switch, so your bank and GP keep reaching you.
Where this fits in your first year
A phone contract is often the second credit account a newcomer opens, after a current account and before a credit card. The order matters less than the habits: one application at a time, everything on direct debit, nothing missed. For the full plan, see building a UK credit score from zero, getting a first credit card and the first 90 days money checklist.
If family in Nigeria need airtime or data while you sort out your own phone, that is a separate task; our guide to sending airtime and data from the UK explains the options.
Questions people ask
Can I get a phone contract in the UK with no credit history?
Sometimes, but it is often refused or offered with a deposit. A SIM-only plan is easier to get, and pay-as-you-go needs no credit check at all.
Does SIM-only need a credit check in the UK?
Monthly SIM-only plans usually do, but Equifax says the chances of acceptance are better than for a handset contract because the term is shorter and the payment lower.
Why was I refused a phone contract after moving to the UK?
Common reasons are not being on the electoral register, having no UK bank account and having no UK credit history. Networks may not tell you the reason.
Does a phone contract help build my UK credit score?
A monthly contract paid on time can add positive history to your file. Pay-as-you-go does not, because no credit is involved.
Sources
- Equifax UK: Getting a mobile phone contract with bad credit · accessed Oct 2026
- Equifax UK: Hard vs soft credit searches · accessed Oct 2026
- Experian: How to improve your credit score · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Register to vote · accessed Oct 2026
- ICO: Credit · 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.