Last updated: 4 November 2026. General information for the UK, not regulated financial advice.
You’ve moved to the UK, found a home, maybe started a new job, and then you try to get a phone contract or a credit card and you’re turned down. It’s not because you’ve done anything wrong. In the UK, your credit history usually doesn’t follow you from another country, so on paper you look like someone who’s never borrowed a penny.
I moved to the UK in 2008, so I’ve been the new arrival with an empty UK credit file myself. The good news is that you can build credit after moving to the UK fairly quickly if you do a few simple things in the right order. Here’s a practical first-year plan.
This guide also works if you’ve lived here all your life but have no credit history because you’ve never borrowed. It’s part of my debt and credit UK guide.
Why you have no credit score when you arrive
UK lenders check your credit file with the credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion are the main ones). These files are built from UK data: your UK address history, UK bank and credit accounts, and the electoral roll.
When you first arrive, there’s almost nothing on file. That’s called a thin credit file. It isn’t a bad credit history, it’s just an empty one, and the steps below fill it in.
Your first 3 months: the foundations
1. Open a UK bank account
A UK current account is the starting point for almost everything. If you’re struggling because you don’t have a credit history or proof of address yet, ask for a basic bank account. These have no overdraft, but you can pay bills by Direct Debit and get paid into them, and the big banks have to offer them to eligible people.
Bring your passport or ID, your visa or status documents if you have them, and proof of address (a tenancy agreement or a letter from your employer can help).
2. Register to vote, if you can
Being on the electoral roll at your address is one of the simplest ways to confirm who you are and where you live. MoneyHelper says registering could improve your score within abouteight weeks.
Who can register depends on your nationality and where you live. GOV.UK says:
- England and Northern Ireland: British and Irish citizens, qualifying Commonwealth citizens, citizens of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain, and some other EU citizens who had permission to stay on or before 31 December 2020.
- Scotland and Wales: British and Irish citizens, and anyone else who has permission to enter or stay in the UK (or doesn’t need it).
Check on GOV.UK: register to vote. If you can’t register, it’s not the end of the world. You’ll rely more on the steps below. You can also contact the credit reference agencies to ask how they can confirm your address.
3. Keep your address stable and consistent
Use exactly the same address format everywhere: bank, employer, GP, phone. If you move, update everything and register to vote again at the new address.
4. Put a bill in your name
A SIM-only mobile contract (usually easier to get than a contract with a phone), broadband, or energy account in your name, paid by Direct Debit, can start to show on your credit file. Pay every bill on time.
Months 3 to 12: start a credit history (carefully)
5. Check your credit file
After a few months, check your report with each agency. It’s free and doesn’t affect your score. Make sure your name, date of birth and address are right. Here’s how to check your credit score for free.
6. Consider a first credit card, used in a very simple way
A credit card is one of the clearest ways to show lenders you can handle credit, but only if you use it like this:
- Use eligibility checkers first. Most lenders offer one. They use a soft search, which doesn’t affect your score.
- Apply for one card only. Several applications in a short time can look like you’re desperate for credit.
- Spend a small amount you’d spend anyway, like your weekly fuel or one regular bill.
- Set a Direct Debit to pay the full balance every month. That way you never pay interest.
- Keep your balance low compared with your limit.
Cards aimed at people with thin files often have high interest rates and low limits. That’s fine if you clear the balance in full every month, but costly if you don’t. My guide to credit cards for beginners explains how they work, including APR and minimum payments.
7. Consider rent reporting
If you rent, some services can add your rent payments to your credit file. Check the cost and which agencies they report to first. See does renting affect your credit score?
8. Be patient
It usually takes several months of on-time payments before you see a difference, and lenders often like to see at least six months to a year of history. Keep going.
What to avoid when you’re new to UK credit
- Payday loans and high-cost credit. They’re expensive, and some lenders view them negatively. See payday loan alternatives.
- Lots of applications. Each full application leaves a hard search on your file.
- Buy Now, Pay Later as a way to “build credit”. New rules mean more BNPL plans now show on credit files, which can help or hurt. Read Buy Now, Pay Later and your credit score first.
- Joint accounts with someone who has a poor credit history. Joint credit links your files.
- Paying anyone to “build your credit”. Most of what they offer is free.
- Missing a payment. A missed payment stays on your file for six years. Set up Direct Debits for everything.
Planning to buy a home in the UK?
If you’re hoping to buy, mortgage lenders often want to see a longer UK credit history, a settled address, and sometimes a minimum time living in the UK or a particular visa status. Rules vary a lot between lenders, so a whole-of-market mortgage broker can help you find lenders that fit your situation.
Start early with my first-time buyer mortgage checklist and hidden costs of buying a house.
Your first-year credit-building checklist
- Open a UK bank account (basic account if needed).
- Register to vote, if you’re eligible.
- Use one consistent address everywhere.
- Put a mobile, broadband or energy bill in your name.
- Check your credit file after 3 months.
- Use an eligibility checker, then apply for one starter credit card if it suits you.
- Spend a little, pay it off in full by Direct Debit, every month.
- Avoid high-cost credit and lots of applications.
- Check your file again at 6 and 12 months.
Building credit in the UK: people also ask
Does my credit history from another country count in the UK?
Usually not. UK lenders mainly use UK credit reference agency data, so most people start with a thin file when they arrive. A few lenders and services may consider overseas history, but don’t count on it.
How long does it take to build credit after moving to the UK?
You can start to see a credit history within a few months of opening accounts and registering to vote. Many lenders like to see at least six months to a year of history, and mortgage lenders may want longer.
Can I get a credit card with no UK credit history?
Often, yes, but usually a card with a low limit and a higher interest rate. Use an eligibility checker first so you don’t get a hard search for a card you won’t be accepted for. Pay the full balance every month.
Can I build credit if I can’t register to vote?
Yes. Keep a UK bank account, put bills in your name, pay them on time and use credit carefully. You can also ask the credit reference agencies how to confirm your address.
Does a mobile phone contract build credit?
Yes. Most mobile contracts show on your credit file, and paying on time helps. A SIM-only contract is often easier to get than one that includes a handset.
Should I take out a loan to build my credit?
Not just to build credit. A small credit card used carefully and paid in full does the same job without paying interest. Borrow only for things you need and can afford.
Summary
- When you move to the UK, you usually start with a thin credit file, not a bad one.
- First 3 months: bank account, electoral roll, stable address, a bill in your name.
- Months 3 to 12: check your file, one starter card used lightly and paid in full, maybe rent reporting.
- Avoid high-cost credit, lots of applications and missed payments.
- Most people can build a solid history within the first year.
Next step: register to vote if you can, then read how to improve your credit score for 15 more steps.
General information only. I’m not a financial adviser. If you’re struggling with debt, please contact a free, confidential debt advice service such as MoneyHelper, StepChange or National Debtline.
Sources (checked 4 November 2026): GOV.UK: register to vote · MoneyHelper: how to improve your credit score · MoneyHelper: basic bank accounts