Before you start

Proof of identity — passport (and your visa/eVisa or, if you still hold one, a BRP)
A UK mobile number and a smartphone for the app-based route (ID is verified in-app by photo and a video selfie)
For a high-street account: usually proof of a UK address (tenancy agreement, employer letter, or a bill) — the main hurdle

Step-by-step

1
Open a digital bank account first (the catch-22 shortcut)
Download Monzo, Starling, Revolut or Wise and apply in-app. You photograph your passport and record a short video selfie; most do not require UK proof of address to open. You typically get a UK sort code and account number within minutes to a couple of days, and a card by post.
Mobile appWho: YouMinutes to a few daysFree (standard accounts)
2
Use the account to generate proof of address
Once salary lands and you set up a couple of direct debits, your digital bank — and incoming bills, council tax or a tenancy in your name — become accepted proof of address. This unlocks the high-street banks if you later want one.
Mobile appWho: YouA few weeks of activityFree
3
Optional: open a high-street current account
Apply with Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds or NatWest online or in a branch. Bring your passport plus visa/eVisa evidence and proof of a UK address. HSBC runs accounts aimed at international arrivals. Banks must verify your identity and address under FCA/money-laundering rules, so the address step is non-negotiable here.
In personWho: YouSame day to ~1 weekFree (standard current accounts)
4
Have your immigration status ready as a share code
Since BRPs were phased out, status is digital. Generate a share code from your UKVI account (on GOV.UK) to prove your status if a bank asks. Not every branch is fluent in eVisas yet, so having the code and your passport ready avoids a wasted trip.
OnlineWho: YouMinutesFree

Documents you’ll need

Passport
Visa/eVisa share code (or a BRP if you still hold one)
UK mobile number (for app verification and security codes)
Proof of UK address — tenancy agreement, employer letter, or a bill (high-street banks only)

Things most newcomers don’t know

A digital bank is the fastest way around the proof-of-address catch-22.

High-street banks need proof of a UK address; you cannot get an address-bearing bill without an account. Monzo, Starling, Revolut and Wise open from your phone without that proof — start there on day one and add a high-street account later if you want.

Source: Monito — open a UK bank account without proof of residency

You can often open before you even land.

Providers like Wise and Revolut let you set up a UK sort code and account number from abroad using your existing identity, so your salary and rent have somewhere to go the moment you arrive.

Source: Monito / provider guidance

Have a share code ready — not every branch knows eVisas yet.

BRP cards are gone and status is now a digital eVisa, but high-street staff are not all up to speed. Generating a share code from your UKVI account in advance (with your passport) saves an argument at the counter.

Source: Wise — proof of address & UK bank accounts

Mobile-phone bills are usually not accepted as proof of address.

Banks tend to reject mobile bills; they want a tenancy agreement, council tax, a utility bill or a bank statement. Knowing which documents count saves a rejected application.

Source: Wise — how to get proof of address in the UK

Common mistakes to avoid

Trying the high-street banks first and getting blocked on proof of address — start with a digital bank
Bringing a mobile-phone bill as proof of address (usually rejected)
Assuming branch staff understand eVisas — bring a share code and your passport
Forgetting that high-street identity/address checks are a legal (FCA) requirement, not a formality you can talk your way past

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.