Arriving in the UK on a partner visa brings a surprising amount of small administration. None of it is difficult, but it comes from several different organisations, each with its own website and vocabulary. This guide lists the tasks that most newcomers meet in the first weeks, with a link to the official page for each. It does not give legal or tax advice, and it describes England, because several arrangements differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
1. Your eVisa and your UKVI account
An eVisa is a digital record of your identity and immigration status and of its conditions, such as whether you are allowed to work or study. gov.uk says eVisas have replaced physical immigration documents. You need a UK Visas and Immigration account to see yours, and the account is free to set up. Access is usually immediate once the eVisa is linked to the account, though it can take up to 24 hours.
Keep the sign-in details somewhere safe. You will use your eVisa to prove your right to work, rent or use healthcare, often through a short-lived share code. Treat it like a passport: it is something you need to keep working.
2. Register with a GP
The NHS website says everyone in England can register with a GP surgery, or change surgery, for free. You can register online with most surgeries.
The steps it describes are:
- Enter a postcode to look for surgeries in the area. Most people register near where they live, although some surgeries accept patients from further away.
- Choose a surgery that offers online registration.
- Fill in the registration form. The NHS says this takes about 15 minutes for each person.
- Wait to be told you are registered. This is usually within five days of the surgery receiving your details, but it may take longer.
You can also register by visiting the surgery and filling in a paper form. Children under 16 are usually registered by a parent or guardian, with a separate form for each child. For a child, the surgery may ask for proof of identity and address, such as a birth certificate, and the NHS suggests bringing the child’s personal health record if you have one.
After you are registered
The NHS page adds a few useful details. If you move house, tell your GP surgery directly so your records stay in the right place. If you later want to change surgery, you do not need to tell the old one, because it is told automatically once you register with the new one. Once you are registered with a surgery you can also use the NHS App, which the page says is available only to people already registered. Keep a note of your NHS number once you receive it, because it makes later paperwork quicker.
If something about your registration is unclear, ask the surgery’s reception first. They are used to newcomers and can explain what they need in practice.
What the healthcare surcharge covers
Most people applying for a family visa pay the immigration health surcharge as part of the application. gov.uk says you can start using the NHS free of charge from the date your visa starts, provided you have already paid the surcharge if you needed to. You will still pay for certain services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and assisted conception. If the Home Office has not yet made a decision on your visa, you may need to pay for NHS treatment.
When you use healthcare in the UK you may be asked to prove your status online with a share code from your eVisa.
3. National Insurance number
You can apply for a National Insurance number if you live in the UK, have the right to work and are working, looking for work or have an offer to start work. You can start work before the number arrives if you can prove your right to work. If you already have a National Insurance number, you do not need a new one, because it stays the same for life.
Your employer will usually ask for the number when you start a job, and the voting registration form asks for it too, though you can register without one.
4. English: tests, classes and what counts
The English requirement does not end when the first visa is granted. The official page on the knowledge of English for family visas explains that a first application needs at least level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference scale, and that a higher level may be required when you extend after two and a half years. If you passed A1 you will need at least A2 in speaking and listening at that point.
For settlement or citizenship, the rules are separate. The English-language page says that you might need to prove your knowledge of English if you are 18 or over and applying for citizenship or to settle. You can prove it with an English qualification at B1, B2, C1 or C2, or with a degree taught or researched in English. The page warns that your application will be refused if you send the wrong qualifications. If you take a test early, a pass at B1 or higher can be reused for settlement provided the test is still on the approved list.
A sensible plan
Take the first test at a level you can comfortably pass, then book your next test early enough that a failure does not threaten a deadline. Keep every certificate in the same folder as your visa papers. If you are not sure which test is approved, check the list on gov.uk and not an advertisement.
5. Life in the UK Test
Many partners eventually take the Life in the UK Test as part of a settlement or citizenship application. gov.uk says the official service is the only government site for booking it, that you must book at least three days in advance, and that it costs £50. There are over 30 test centres. The test lasts 45 minutes and has 24 questions about British traditions and customs, based only on the official Guide for New Residents.
To book you need an email address, a debit or credit card and an accepted form of ID. If you have an eVisa, you use a share code. The name on your booking must match your ID exactly.
6. Housing costs: Council Tax and the TV licence
Two household bills surprise many newcomers. Council Tax is a local tax on homes. To work out the bill you need the valuation band of your home, the amount your council charges for that band and whether you qualify for a discount or exemption. People on a low income or receiving benefits may be able to get Council Tax Reduction.
A TV Licence is needed to watch or record programmes on a TV, computer or other device as they are broadcast, and to watch BBC programmes on demand on iPlayer. gov.uk says it costs £180. You do not need one to watch streaming services such as Netflix, on-demand services such as Amazon Prime Video, or videos on YouTube, provided you are not watching live TV.
7. Register to vote
You normally register to vote once, online, and it takes about five minutes. You will be asked for your National Insurance number but can register without one. Whether you are entitled to vote depends on your nationality and the kind of election, so check the eligibility information on the page before you assume you can.
8. Children and schools
If you are moving with children, the school system has its own timetable. The restored archive page on children and schools in England gives the age bands from gov.uk’s national curriculum page, and explains that you apply for a state school place through your local council.
Keeping your documents in order
The first months generate a surprising amount of paper and email. A single folder, on paper and digitally, makes every later step easier. Keep:
- Your passport, visa decision email and the details for your UKVI account.
- Your English test certificates, with the date and level.
- Marriage or relationship evidence, with certified translations.
- Your National Insurance number, GP registration confirmation and tenancy agreement.
- Proof of addresses and bills from each place you have lived, because several applications later ask for them.
Only use official government websites for applications and bookings. Government services are clearly labelled, and a site that charges extra for forwarding your application to the official one is a commercial intermediary, not the government.
A first-weeks checklist
| Task | Where to start | When |
|---|---|---|
| Set up your UKVI account and eVisa | gov.uk eVisa page | Immediately |
| Register with a GP | NHS website | First week |
| Apply for a National Insurance number | gov.uk | Before or when you start work |
| Register for Council Tax | Your local council | When you move in |
| Check whether you need a TV Licence | gov.uk and TV Licensing | When you start watching live TV |
| Plan your next English test | gov.uk English language pages | Well before extension or settlement |
| Register to vote if eligible | gov.uk | When your address is settled |
Beyond the checklist
Administration is the easy part. For the human side of the first year, see the guide to cultural adjustment in Britain. If you are still at the visa stage, start with the UK partner and spouse visa guide.
If you are not sure which page applies to your case, use the contact form to tell us what is unclear. We cannot give personal advice, but we can correct our own pages and add the official link that was missing.