Arrival in the UK

Travel to the UK

Travel date

Once you have received your visa and are ready to start planning your travel to the UK, please remember that you shouldn't travel before the start date of your visa.  If you do travel before the start of your visa, the immigration officer will record you as entering the UK as a visitor without permission to work and ask you to leave and return after your visa is valid in order to be able to start work.

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At border control

You will be asked to show your identity document, such as your passport.

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If you're from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland of Liechtenstein

You can use the UK/EEA channel to get your passport, Irish passport card or national identity card checked - this is usually faster than other channels. 

Your passport or national identity card should be registered on your UK Visas and Immigration account if either of the following are true: 

• you have pre-settled status
• you used the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app to scan your identity document when applying for a visa

You may be delayed at the border if your passport or national identity card is not registered on your UK Visas and Immigration account.

You can use automatic ePassport gates at some airports if your passport has a 'chip' on it.

If you're from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Your passport (and visa if you have one) will be checked at border control and you will usually be asked why you're coming to the UK.

You can use the UK/EEA immigration lanes and the automatic ePassport gates if you're from: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the United States.

There is further information about entering the UK on the UKVI web pages.

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First day of work - document checks

On or before your first date of work the University is required to undertake a right to work check.  If you have collected your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or have an Evisa this will be a Home Office online right to work check.  If you were issued with a vignette in your passport and start work before you have collected your BRP this will be an in-person right to work check. A follow up Home Office online right to work check is required once you have your BRP.

Click on the type of work check below to see what you will need to provide to your department.

Online right to work check

If you have a BRP, an Evisa or status under the EU Settlement Scheme the University is required to do an online right to work check before you start work.  This will be undertaken by your department.

Step 1: you should obtain a share code from the 'prove your right to work to an employer' Home Office web pages.

Step 2: you should give your share code and date of birth to the person in your department who is undertaking your right to work check.  

Step 3: they will then arrange to meet with you (in person or via video link) to undertake the check.

In-person right to work check

If you were issued with a vignette in your passport and will start work before you have collected your BRP the University is required to do an in person right to work check before you start work.  This will be undertaken by your department.

Step 1: meet with the person undertaking the check in person.  They will ask to see your passport with the vignette.

Step 2: they will then take a scan of the personal details page of your passport and the vignette.

Step 3: once you have collected your BRP the University is required to do a Home Office online right to work check

Money matters

You should ensure that you bring enough money to cover your initial costs when you arrive in the UK.  Before you receive your first salary payment from the University you will need to have enough money to pay for your expenses such as transport, short-term accommodation, food etc.

You can exchange money in advance or use ATMs or exchange foreign currency at the airport when you arrive.  Exchange rates can vary so it's good to check the rates at different locations to find the best rate.  You can also set up contactless payment with some bank cards or on your mobile phone.

Some banks provide global services which may enable you to set up a UK bank account before arriving in the UK, for example, linked to your account in your home country or an international account.  Requirements can vary from country to county so please check with your bank to see if this is possible.  

Your bank in your home country may be able to advise you on how to transfer funds to the UK if you haven't yet opened a UK bank account.  There are also many specialist companies that provide money transfer services.

There are different options for opening a UK bank account.  Consider whether you need a traditional bank or whether a digital bank is suitable.  When opening an account you will be asked to provide proof of your identity and address.  It can take a couple of weeks before you receive a debit card which can be used to withdraw money from a cash machine.

If you want to use your cash or credit card in shops or to withdraw pounds from a cash machine in the UK, make sure you know how much your bank will charge you for this service.