Free newcomer hub

New to the UK: guides, tools, checklists and trusted support.

A practical support desk for immigrants, refugees, students, workers, families and future citizens. Start with Life in the UK practice, then use plain-English guides for status, NHS, housing, work, money, schools, public funds, safety and local services.

Verified links to GOV.UK, NHS, Citizens Advice, Advicenow, Turn2us and established services.
Warning boxes for immigration risk, public funds, visa expiry, work restrictions and housing problems.
Printable and copyable checklists for documents, GP, school, moving, ILR, citizenship and first-month setup.
Must-have tools

Everything a newcomer or citizenship candidate expects

Some tools are already part of the exam platform, while the newcomer planners live directly on this page.

Jump to interactive tools

Exam prep

Citizenship

Tools

Status

Checklists

Local services

Healthcare

Education

Practical tools

New-arrival checkers and planners

These tools give plain-English prompts, not legal advice. Use them to organise questions, documents, and reminders before checking GOV.UK, NHS, Citizens Advice, Advicenow, Turn2us, or a regulated adviser.

Personalised checklist

Choose a status and get starter actions for your situation.

  • Save your Certificate of Sponsorship, job title, salary, sponsor licence details, and visa expiry date.
  • Check before changing employer, job code, salary, hours, or work location.
  • Keep payslips, P60/P45, contract, and absence records for extension, ILR, or citizenship.
  • Use the visa reminder planner at least 6 months before expiry.

Visa expiry reminder

Enter an expiry date and generate planning dates.

Do not wait until expiry week

Add a date to see renewal, ILR, citizenship, and advice-planning reminders.

Absence calculator

Add trips outside the UK. This counts calendar days inclusively as a planning aid.

Total days

0

Document checklist generator

Pick a task and copy a practical checklist.

  • Secure safe accommodation and save the full address and postcode.
  • Set up a UK SIM or reliable phone number and email access.
  • Register with a GP and nearby pharmacy.
  • Open or apply for a bank/basic bank account.
  • Apply for National Insurance number if you need one and do not already have one.
  • Find your local council, library, ESOL, food bank, and advice services.
  • Save emergency numbers: 999, NHS 111, and police 101.

Budget calculator

Estimate monthly income, essential costs, and remaining money.

Income

£2,200

Costs

£1,830

Remaining

£370

Public funds, NHS and English requirement explainers

Fast warnings for common high-risk areas. Always check the official route before applying.

Public funds warning

Many people on this status have No Recourse to Public Funds. Treat this as a warning and check your visa/eVisa condition before applying. Get advice if you are homeless, destitute, disabled, pregnant, caring for children, or fleeing abuse.

NHS eligibility explainer

In England, anyone can apply to register with a GP and GP appointments are generally free. If refused because of ID or address documents, ask the practice to check NHS guidance.

Read the NHS guide
English requirement checker

Most adult naturalisation applicants need Life in the UK and English evidence unless exempt. Check age, medical, nationality, degree, and approved-test options before applying.

Open citizenship roadmap

Council finder and local-service starter

Your council is the starting point for bins, council tax, school admissions, homelessness, local welfare, libraries, and some ESOL routes.

GOV.UK will ask for your postcode. This site does not store it.

Open council finder
Guide library

Free resources for immigrants new to the UK

The library covers the full list: immigration status, citizenship, NHS, housing, jobs, money, public funds, schools, English, rights, transport, daily life, community, refugees and regional differences.

Immigration status

Citizenship and settlement

NHS and healthcare

Housing and renting

Work and employment

Money, banking and tax

Benefits and support

Education and children

English and communication

Laws, rights and safety

Transport and driving

Daily life

Community and integration

Refugees and vulnerable migrants

Regional guides

Search-friendly guides

SEO pages that answer simple questions

Each page has its own metadata, canonical URL, checklist, trusted links, and related guide links.

How to Register with a GP as a Migrant in the UK

Step-by-step GP registration guide, including documents, interpreter needs, children, pregnancy, refused registration, and what to do next.

Can Immigrants Use the NHS for Free?

Understand which NHS services are free to everyone, how ordinary residence and IHS affect access, and where charging rules may apply.

What Is No Recourse to Public Funds?

Plain-English explanation of NRPF, what public funds usually include, what support may still exist, and when to seek advice.

How to Prove Your Right to Work in the UK

How right to work checks and share codes work, what employers should check, and when to get advice before changing jobs.

How to Prove Your Right to Rent in the UK

How right to rent checks and share codes work, what renters should prepare, and how to avoid housing scams.

British Citizenship Application Checklist

Checklist for naturalisation evidence, Life in the UK Test, English, absences, referees, good character, documents, ceremony, and passport next steps.

Life in the UK Test Study Plan

A practical revision plan using handbook chapters, topic tests, mock exams, mistake review, flashcards, dates, and timed practice.

What Happens After Passing the Life in the UK Test?

What to do after passing: keep evidence, check ILR or citizenship requirements, English, absences, documents, application timing, ceremony, and passport.

ILR vs British Citizenship

Understand the difference between Indefinite Leave to Remain, settled status, naturalisation, citizenship ceremony, and British passport.

How to Apply for a School Place in the UK

Step-by-step school application guide for parents and carers, including local council admissions, in-year applications, documents, EAL, SEND, school meals and uniforms.

How to Open a Bank Account in the UK as a New Immigrant

Practical guide to standard current accounts, basic bank accounts, digital banks, ID, address evidence, safe banking, scams, and alternatives.

UK Tax and National Insurance Explained

Beginner guide to National Insurance numbers, PAYE, payslips, P45, P60, Self Assessment, tax codes, council tax, and record keeping.

How to Find Free Immigration Advice in the UK

Where to start with Citizens Advice, Advicenow, law centres, regulated immigration advisers, refugee charities, and specialist support services.

Regional guides

Separate guides by nation, city and area type

NHS, education, housing, transport, benefits support and local services can differ by nation or council area, so each region has its own starting page.

England

England-specific services include NHS England guidance, English local council school admissions, right to rent checks, council tax, local welfare schemes, and Citizens Advice England pages.

Scotland

Scotland has devolved health, education, housing, transport concessions, and advice services. Check Scottish Government, NHS inform, local councils, and Citizens Advice Scotland.

Wales

Wales has devolved NHS, education, housing, language, transport, and local authority services. Welsh-language rights and bilingual services may be relevant.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has distinct health and social care, education, housing, transport, and benefits administration. Check nidirect and local advice services.

London

London offers many services but has high rents, borough-by-borough council services, TfL travel rules, diverse ESOL provision, and strong advice networks.

Manchester

Manchester newcomers should check Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester transport, local colleges for ESOL, and regional immigration and refugee advice services.

Birmingham

Birmingham newcomers should start with Birmingham City Council, NHS services, West Midlands transport, schools, ESOL, and local migrant support charities.

Glasgow

Glasgow services sit within Scotland's devolved systems. Use Glasgow City Council, NHS inform, local advice services, colleges, and community networks.

Liverpool

Liverpool newcomers should check city council services, Merseytravel, schools, housing, local advice, ESOL, and community charities.

Leeds

Leeds newcomers should use Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire transport, local schools, libraries, ESOL, and migrant or refugee advice services.

Bristol

Bristol newcomers should check Bristol City Council, local NHS services, transport, ESOL, refugee support, housing advice, and community hubs.

Cardiff

Cardiff newcomers should use Welsh services plus Cardiff Council for schools, housing, council tax, bins, local advice, ESOL, and community support.

Belfast

Belfast newcomers should use Northern Ireland public services, Belfast City Council, Health and Social Care services, schools, housing, transport, and local advice routes.

University towns

University towns often have seasonal housing pressure, student-focused healthcare, international student support, part-time work rules, and strong library or college networks.

Rural areas

Rural areas can offer lower density and community support, but transport, GP access, schools, broadband, ESOL, and job options may need more planning.

Downloadable ideas

Printable checklist library

Each card opens the most relevant guide; the tools section also lets users copy or print generated checklist items.

New to the UK checklist

A quick document and setup list for the first stage of settlement.

First 7 days in the UK checklist

Urgent tasks: address, phone, money, GP, food, transport, and documents.

First 30 days in the UK checklist

Council, school, work, bank, ESOL, bills, community, and advice links.

First year in the UK checklist

Residence evidence, tax records, GP, school, credit, English, and long-term planning.

Citizenship application checklist

Life in the UK, English, absences, referees, good character, documents, and ceremony.

ILR checklist

Settlement timing, route requirements, evidence, absences, English, and test planning.

Life in the UK revision planner

Chapter study, topic drills, flashcards, mistake review, and timed mocks.

NHS guide for migrants

GP, NHS 111, A&E, IHS, charging, prescriptions, dental, optical, and mental health.

Renting guide

Right to rent, tenancy, deposit, scams, council tax, utilities, and moving house.

UK work rights guide

Right to work, jobs, CVs, interviews, contracts, pay, exploitation, and unions.

Public funds / NRPF guide

Public funds, benefits, housing, hardship routes, grants, and warning checks.

UK emergency contacts sheet

999, 111, 101, GP, council, landlord, school, advice, and safety services.

UK document folder checklist

Passport, status, tax, tenancy, bank, school, health, work, and travel documents.

English phrases for appointments

GP, school, landlord, employer, bank, council, and phone scripts.

Parent's guide to UK schools

Admissions, EAL, SEND, meals, uniforms, childcare, and parent communication.

UK money and tax beginner guide

Bank accounts, NINO, PAYE, Self Assessment, credit, scams, and budgeting.

Plain English support

Helpful for lower English confidence

The hub avoids dense government wording where possible and points users to interpreters, ESOL, copyable scripts, trusted advice and official sources.

Plain-English mode

Short summaries, practical bullets, warning boxes and checklists make complex rules easier to scan.

Translation-aware support

The English guide explains interpreter requests, formal emails, phone scripts and everyday appointment phrases.

Risk warnings

Public funds, visa expiry, work restrictions, housing problems and good-character risks are flagged clearly.

Verified external links

Trusted resources directory

Official and established organisations for deeper advice. Check current eligibility rules before relying on any third-party page.

Official UK Government Guides & Settlement Packs

Essential starting points for newcomers learning about rights, services, and settlement support.

Free Healthcare & GP Registration

Practical NHS resources for registering with a GP and understanding healthcare access.

Housing Advice & Tenancy Support

Free advice routes for tenancy rights, homelessness prevention, and housing problems.

Free English Language Classes (ESOL)

English practice helps with integration, work, daily life, and Life in the UK study confidence.

Employment, Volunteering & Career Support

Free services for job search, skills planning, CVs, volunteering, and UK work experience.

Banking & Personal Finance

Free guidance on basic bank accounts, budgeting, benefits, and money management.

Education & Study Resources

Free learning tools for Life in the UK study, English, IT, parenting, and wider education.

Community, Social Support & Integration Networks

Local groups, libraries, hubs, and projects can reduce isolation and help people build networks.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Free routes for urgent emotional support, talking therapies, and specialist refugee wellbeing services.

This hub is general information, not legal, immigration, medical or financial advice. Rules change and personal facts matter.