Arriving and living in the UK

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

• Most migrants staying in the UK for over 6 months must pay the IHS.
• Current cost: £776 per year for each student and dependant.
• IHS gives access to free NHS services, but some (like prescriptions and dental care) may still cost extra.
• Private insurance does not exempt you from paying the IHS.

If staying less than 6 months

• You should buy private health insurance before arriving in the UK.
• Without it, you’ll be charged for any healthcare you need.

Health insurance recommendation

• Regardless of stay length, it’s advised to get additional health insurance.
• Should cover:
  • Medical costs
  • Course interruption (for example lost fees)
  • Return travel for treatment
  • Make sure it covers pre-existing conditions, which may not be covered by the NHS.

Prescription costs

• Standard charge: £9.90 per item
• For ongoing treatment, consider a Prescription Payment Certificate:
  • £32.05 for 3 months
  • £114.50 for 12 months
  • Covers all prescriptions during that time.

Healthcare services available

GP (Doctor)

• First point of contact for most health issues.
• You need to register with a GP.

Pharmacies

• Offer advice and over-the-counter medicines.
• No appointment needed.
• Often open evenings and weekends.
• Find out more about how pharmacists can help you and how to locate your nearest pharmacist.

Walk-in centres

• For minor injuries/illnesses (for example rashes, cuts, stomach issues).
• Open 8am–8pm, 7 days a week in Liverpool.
• Book via 111.nhs.uk or call 111, or just walk in.
• Visit one of your local walk in centres.

Call 111

• For urgent medical advice when you're unsure what to do.

Accident and emergency (A&E)

• Only for serious emergencies.
• Can be very busy with long wait times.

More information

• EEA and Non-EEA nationals have different healthcare guidance (see relevant leaflets).
  • EEA National Healthcare Leaflet (PDF, 252KB)
  • Non-EEA National Healthcare Leaflet (PDF, 213KB)
• In a medical emergency, call 999.
• For local info, read the Healthwatch Liverpool leaflet (PDF, 65.6KB).
• For general info, visit the UKCISA website.

You are advised to register with a GP (doctor) as soon as it is possible after you arrive in Liverpool. Please don’t wait until you are ill. By registering with a GP you can get an appointment and urgent treatment when you need it.

Once you are in Liverpool, you can find a GP in your local neighbourhood by visiting the NHS website and searching using your post code. Once you find the GP you want to register with, please contact them (by phone) to see how they register their patients.

Under the NHS, appointments with doctors are free (except for certain things such as vaccinations for travel or getting a sickness certificate).

If your doctor prescribes you medicine, you will usually have to pay a prescription charge (£9.90 as of 1 May 2024. If you are receiving ongoing treatment it may be worth your while getting a Prescription Payment Certificate, which costs £32.05 for three months and £114.50 for 12 months.

What documents will I need to register with a GP?

You will usually require the following documents, however, please ensure that you ask the GP surgery that you are registering with for the documents they require to register you.

• Confirmation of your UK address
• Your passport/BRP

Registering with a dentist

You can also search for a dentist via the NHS website. You must pay for the cost of any dental treatment you receive in the UK. The cost varies depending on whether you are registered with an NHS or a private dentist. Dental treatment can be very expensive, so you should check the cost before embarking on any course of treatment.

Please see information about registering with a doctor or dentist in Liverpool city centre.

Which bank should I choose?

There are a number of factors you should consider when choosing, and opening, a bank account as an international student in the UK. Many banks offer online-only accounts, and there are also accounts available from building societies.

For more information about bank accounts, please visit Save the Student website for Top UK bank accounts for international students 2026.

Usual branch opening hours are from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, although bigger branches may open outside these hours. Many banks also offer customer services phone numbers outside these times as well. The main high street banks - NatWest, Barclays, Lloyds TSB, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC and Halifax - all have branches in Liverpool city centre.

There are UK-based consumer websites you can use to get comparisons, such as Money Saving Expert, MoneySupermarket and GoCompare.

Types of bank account

Most banks will offer a ‘basic bank account’. This is usually different to a standard ‘current account’ and offers limited facilities, is usually fee-free, and allows you to receive money and pay bills but does not allow you to have an ‘overdraft’ facility.

Many banks will also offer an account specifically designed for international students. This may be similar to, a basic bank account, but may also offer limited overdraft facilities.

Some banks offer accounts and services that meet Sharia principles, also known as Sharia-compliant accounts. There are also a few specialist banks that operate in accordance with Sharia principles. See information from MoneyHelper on Sharia-compliant savings.

Changing personal details

You should let your bank or building society know as soon as possible if you change your address or any other personal details.

If you are leaving the UK for a long break, you should let your bank know, in case they treat your account as 'dormant' and close it.

It is a good idea to keep copies of any correspondence you have with your bank / building society where possible.

Proving your identity and immigration status

Banks and building societies must make a status check on all new applicants for a current account. They must not open a current account for a person who requires immigration permission to be in the UK but who does not have it (that means, someone who is in the UK as an overstayer).

You may need to provide documentation, such as:

• Identification (ID) in the form of a passport and eVisa
• Verification of your UK address such as a signed Tenancy agreement
• Evidence of your student status: you can get this letter by going to MyLJMU and clicking on My Services and then Letter Request (You can do this a maximum of three times. A letter will be generated instantly for you.)

Please note:
Check with your bank what documentation they will need to open your account.

Council tax is set by local authorities in the UK to help pay for services such as the police, fire brigade and bin collections. To be eligible for council tax exemption, you must be on a full-time course for a period of more than 24 weeks.

Your eligibility will also depend on whom you live with. Council tax exemption forms can be requested through My Services.

You can find more information on the UKCISA website about council tax.

Before driving any vehicle (car, motorbike, van, etcetera) in the UK, you should check that you meet all the legal requirements which apply to the driver and to the vehicle.

It is a criminal offence to drive using a licence that is not valid in the UK. In addition, if you do so, your car insurance will be invalidated and you will be committing a further criminal offence of 'driving without motor insurance'.

If you hold a driving licence issued outside of Great Britain (that is England, Scotland and Wales) then you can use the tool on the Government website to check whether you can use it to drive in the UK. You may be allowed to do so for a limited period of time only.

For further information on driving in the UK, including learning to drive, insurance, road tax and buying a vehicle please see UK Council for International Student Affairs.

Many of our international students like to travel to Europe during their stay in the UK. If you are not a European Economic Area national, you may be required to apply for a Schengen visa before you travel.

The Schengen visa allows those wishing to visit certain countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) (and Switzerland) to travel between these countries using only one visa. The Schengen space is made up of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

Visit the European Commission website to read about what you need to apply for a Schengen visa and visa durations.

If you are asked to provide a “student status letter” or a “no objection letter” you can request this via the letter request function under My Services on My LJMU.

If you are travelling to countries outside of the Schengen space, you should contact that country’s embassy in the UK for information about their visa processes. You can find list of foreign embassies in the UK on GOV.UK.

If you hold a valid UK visa you will not need to apply for a visa for travel to Northern Ireland as it is part of the UK.

If you wish to travel to the Republic of Ireland, you may need to apply for a visa to do so. You can read more about applying for a visa for Ireland.

Chinese and Indian nationals holding a UK Standard Visitor visa can travel to the Republic of Ireland under the British-Irish Visa Scheme.

Before you travel

• Ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance, which covers your belongings as well as your health care. You should make a copy of your passport before you travel and keep this with you, but separate from the actual documents (for example in a different bag). You can also keep an electronic copy.
• Note down details like your insurance policy number and important phone numbers such as those of your credit card.
• Tell friends and family where you will be going and where you will be staying. Put contact details inside your luggage in case it goes missing and needs returning to you.

During your travels

• Split your money and cards and put in different bags – never carry all your personal belongings in one place.
• Never leave luggage unattended or locked.
• Keep passport safe at the hotel and carry photocopies.
• If you are carrying your passport with you keep it safe (not in a backpack).
• Be vigilant!.

If your passport is lost or stolen while abroad

• Report the loss or theft of your passport to the police as soon as possible and ask them for a reference number.
• Apply for a replacement passport at your national embassy.
• Do not attempt to travel until you have your new passport.

Recently we have had reports of international students in Liverpool being targeted by fake calls claiming to be from the National Crime Agency and demanding action or threatening huge fines. In some cases, the scammers have known personal details such as a student’s name and National Insurance number.

A legitimate organisation (such as the National Crime Agency or the Home Office) will never call to request payments or ask for personal details. If you receive such a call, do not give information about yourself and do not make any payments. You should hang up the phone.

You will need to contact your bank straight away if you're worried someone might have access to your account.

If you think you've been targeted or are a victim of fraud please speak to the International Student Advice Team as soon as possible. We will support you in reporting the crime to Action Fraud.

For further guidance please see:

• UK Council For International Student
• Citizens Advice