Before you gather paperwork, pick the route that fits your situation. Which option you choose changes the documents you’ll need and how long it takes.

Visitor / short stay: If you’re here a few weeks or months and just need to spend GBP or pay deposits, a fintech multi‑currency or GBP e‑wallet is usually best. They give you a sort code and account number quickly and have low FX fees. Best first try: open a Wise account for instant GBP details.

International student: Students often qualify for standard student current accounts if you can show your university paperwork or term‑time address. If you don’t yet have UK bills, start with a fintech while you get a university letter arranged. Best first try: ask your university for a bank introduction and try Monzo/Starling (or Monese if you lack UK bills).

Newly arrived employee: If your employer needs to pay salary into a UK account, choose a high‑street current account where payroll departments are familiar with sort code formats. Best first try: check HR for preferred banks (Barclays, NatWest or HSBC are common) and open the suggested branch account.

Settled expat: With a UK address and more permanent ties, a mainstream bank gives branch access, cheques and full features. If you need multi‑currency services, consider HSBC Expat or other international offerings. Best first try: open a high‑street account, or HSBC Expat if you have international income or savings.

Remote worker / digital nomad: If you live abroad but need a UK GBP account for invoices or local subscriptions, a fintech or specialist international account is quicker and cheaper. Best first try: Wise or Revolut for GBP details and low conversion costs.

Tip: ExpatsUK’s printable checklist and upcoming local group threads can save time—search threads for “which branch accepted student letter in [city]” before booking an appointment.

What banks actually ask for — identity, address and acceptable substitutes

Almost every UK bank will ask for two things: proof of identity and proof of address. How rigid they are depends on whether you apply in branch or online, and whether you’re opening a mainstream UK current account or a fintech e‑wallet.

Primary identity: passport is the go‑to. UK/EU driving licences or national ID cards are also accepted. If you hold a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or a visa, bring it — banks will request immigration evidence for non‑EEA nationals.

Proof of UK address: the usual items are a utility bill under three months old, a council tax bill, a UK bank or credit card statement, or a tenancy agreement. New arrivals often don’t have these; banks commonly accept alternatives when combined with a passport.

Recommended substitute combos that work in most branches: passport + tenancy agreement; passport + university confirmation + eVisa share code; passport + employer letter confirming address. Always bring originals and a clean scanned copy — the name and address must match exactly.

Bank‑friendly letter templates (short)

• Employer letter: “To whom it may concern—This confirms that [Full name], passport [number], is employed by [Company] as [job title], starting [date]. Their UK address is [full address]. Contact: [manager name, phone/email].”
• Landlord/tenancy confirmation: “To whom it may concern—[Tenant name] will occupy [full address] from [date]. Tenancy length: [term]. Contact: [landlord name, phone/email].”
• University confirmation: “To whom it may concern—[Student name] is registered at [University], course [name]. Term‑time address: [address]. Contact: [university office contact].”

Note on the eVisa share code: generate this via the Home Office online portal and give it to the bank. Some banks accept it in lieu of a BRP, but acceptance varies; call the branch first.

Best banks and fintechs for internationals — who accepts non‑residents and what to expect

Two broad options work for internationals: traditional high‑street banks (branch support but stricter) and fintech/mobile providers (fast, flexible, but with limits).

High‑street banks (Barclays, NatWest, Lloyds, HSBC, RBS): These offer full‑feature current accounts, payroll readiness and branch help. Expect stricter UK address requirements and longer onboarding; some accounts require an in‑branch appointment. Pros: cash/cheque handling, branch escalation. Cons: slower onboarding and tighter address rules.

Expat/international offerings (HSBC Expat and similar): Designed for people living abroad with multi‑currency needs. Useful if you have cross‑border income or sizeable savings, but they can require minimum balances or income thresholds and operate from offshore centres rather than local branches.

Fintech & mobile banks (Wise, Revolut, Monese, Monzo, Starling): Wise provides GBP sort code and account number to many non‑UK residents and is the fastest way to get local details. Monese opens accounts without a UK address; Monzo and Starling are student‑friendly if you can supply university documentation. Expect limits on cash deposits, ATM caps and tiered foreign‑exchange allowances. Fintechs are fastest (minutes–same day) and cheapest for transfers; they lack full branch services.

Quick picks:

• Best UK Expat Bank Accounts 2026 — Compare & Apply: Best quick GBP details: Wise.

• Best student option (with uni paperwork): Monzo or Starling.

• Best branch support for payroll: Barclays or NatWest.

Step‑by‑step application checklist — from pick to first paycheck

1. Decide which account type you need. If you need payroll and cash handling, choose a high‑street current account; if you need fast GBP details and low FX costs, choose a fintech.

1. Gather documents. Originals: passport, BRP/eVisa details (if applicable), tenancy agreement or a recent utility/council tax bill. Alternatives: university letter, employer confirmation. Make clear scanned PDFs or high‑quality photos.

1. Generate eVisa share code and ready any BRP paperwork. Bring these to the branch or upload them during online onboarding if requested.

1. Apply. Use the app for fintechsor book a branch appointment for high‑street banks. Bring originals to your appointment and the templates above for letters.

1. Verification. Fintechs: minutes–hours if ID checks pass. High‑street banks: expect days to weeks; some require a follow‑up visit. If asked for extra documents, provide them promptly.

1. Initial top‑up and card activation. Some fintechs ask for a small test deposit (Wise often suggests a small transfer); standard banks may want a nominal deposit. Card arrival: fintechs within days; some high‑street cards take 5–10 working days.

1. Set up online banking, 2FA and payroll. For payroll, give HR your sort code and account number and a short instruction: “Please credit my salary to [sort code] / [account number] from [date]. Employee ref: [ID].”

Common roadblocks and practical fixes — why you get rejected and what to do next

Rejections usually boil down to mismatched documents, missing UK address verification, AML/KYC flags, or branch policy differences. Here’s how to respond so you can move on.

No UK address accepted — ask for the international/expat product or switch to a fintech. Script: “I don’t yet have a utility bill. Do you offer an international or expat current account, or can this be escalated to your international team?”

Address documents not accepted — present a tenancy agreement plus a landlord letter (use the short template above) or a university confirmation. If applying online, upload every supporting document as PDFs and label files clearly with your name.

Application stalled for KYC — request a written reason and offer further ID. Say: “Please advise what specific document would satisfy your KYC check today and the name of the team handling escalation.” If unresolved, follow the bank’s formal complaints route and consider the Financial Ombudsman for unfair refusals.

Fallbacks: open a reputable fintech GBP account for short‑term needs, or consider HSBC Expat and other multi‑currency options while you resolve local documentation.

Final checklist and next steps — manage your account and where ExpatsUK helps

• Choose the account type that fits your situation.

• Gather originals and digital scans of passport, address proof and any university/employer letters.

• Apply online or in‑branch and complete verification.

• Top up, activate your card and set payroll details.

• Enable alerts, 2FA and set up direct debits/standing orders.

• Save PDF copies of all paperwork and the bank’s T&Cs.

After opening, update your address with HMRC and your employer, and review your international transfer options if you move money across currencies.

Need the printable checklist, sample letters, or to see which branches accepted which documents in your city? Download the ExpatsUK checklist and drop into your local group thread to compare notes — our community soon includes message boards for exactly this kind of real‑world intelligence. If you get stuck, bring the templates above to your branch appointment and ask politely for escalation: most problems are paperwork problems, not permanent roadblocks.

Practical clarity beats frustration. Gather the right documents, choose the right provider for your needs, and you’ll have GBP banking sorted in days — sometimes minutes.