Do you want to open a personal or a business bank account in the UK, but neither you live in the UK nor you are a UK citizen? This in-depth guide will help you with opening a bank account in the UK as a foreigner.
If you are a non-UK resident who is planning to move to the UK soon, or if you have recently arrived in the country (for university, work, or anything else), the very first thing you need is a local bank account.
To open a bank account in the UK for non-residents, the biggest challenge for foreigners is the proof of UK address.
In this guide on how to open a bank account in the UK, we will explain about opening a bank account in the UK for non-residents (without a proof of UK address).
This guide will also explain about opening a bank account for UK resident or if you are planning to relocate to the UK soon.
Plus, alternatives such as the Wise multi-currency account could be a better fit, especially if you are a non-UK resident.
Who is Eligible to Open a Bank Account in the UK?
Theoretically speaking, yes! Anyone can have a bank account in the UK – regardless if you are a UK citizen, you’re planning to move to the UK or you are a non-UK resident who doesn’t even live in the UK.
And there is no such law that stops you from opening a bank account in the UK for non-residents, as long as it is genuinely for your personal or business use.
However, it’s not that simple to open a bank account in the UK as a foreigner because most banks need proof of address in the UK as one of the main documents to open an account.
Even though there is no such law that stops you from opening a bank account in the UK as a foreigner, banks have the right to decline your application or decided who they want to accept as a client.
Can a foreigner open a bank account in the UK online?
Yes, opening a bank account in UK as a foreigner and non-resident is easy with the Wise multi-currency account – ONLINE at ZERO monthly fees!
You can hold up to 50+ different currencies, all in one account. Wise GBP account comes with a local UK bank details in your own name, account number, and UK sort code – And a linked Visa debit card.
How to Open a Bank Account in the UK?
There are 2 main ways of opening a bank account in the UK – but a few of the options may not be suitable for non-residents or foreigners.
- High-street UK banks – Requires proof of UK address (suitable for UK residents)
- Multi-currency accounts – Proof of UK address is not needed (Suitable for non-residents, foreigners, and international students)
High-Street UK Banks (for UK Residents)
If you want to open a bank account in the UK in one of the high-street UK banks, you would need proof of UK residence. Therefore, it is only suitable for UK residents or someone who would be relocating to the UK.
The top high-street banks in the UK are Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, and Santander. There are some other popular UK banks like NatWest, Standard Chartered, Metro bank, etc. These are the banks that have branches all over the UK and are not only “online” banks.
The high street generally asks for proof of UK residence, unless you are a wealthy investor or someone who would be moving to the UK soon (which means you can present proof of address after relocating to the UK.
Deposits in high street UK banks are protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to 85,000 GBP. This means that in a case of bankruptcy, the amount will be safely returned to the customer by the government of the UK.
What documents do I need to open a bank account in the UK?
To open a bank account in the UK, you typically need 2 main things.
Proof of identity: Providing proof of identity is quite simple and straightforward. You would just need your passports, UK driving licences, or any national identity cards that are accepted. EU ID Card may also get accepted. But as a foreigner (non-EU), only your passport would be accepted in most cases.
Proof of UK address: Every bank has its own list of documents that can work as proof of UK address that includes
- Rental agreement
- recent utility bill (electricity or gas bill of less than 3 months old)
- Recent bank statement or credit card statement (stamped from the bank, printed ones are not accepted)
- council tax bill
How to open a bank account in the UK without proof of address?
If you are planning to move to the UK, but have not yet relocated. Or you are new to the UK and may not have all the documents needed to open a bank account in the UK.
In many cases, the proof of UK address is the issue because finding a place to live in the UK that suits your need is a whole new challenge.
If you just relocated to the UK, it can take some time to find the right place with the right location and budget. It may also take some time to finish up the rental agreement.
But you may need a bank account from day one! Especially if you want to save loads of money on currency exchange, and international ATM fees.
Luckily, high-street UK banks are quite flexible these days with documents that can be a “temporary replacement” to the proof of address.
For example, if you are an international student who just moved to the UK, high-street UK banks may ask you to present your university acceptance letter (from a UK-based University).
Another example, If you newly moved to the UK for work, banks may accept a letter from your employer confirming your new job role (in the UK) or a letter that confirms your National Insurance number.
However, you may have to present proof of address at some point later because these documents are just a temporary solution to prove your residency in the UK.
If you don’t have proof of address in the UK, as an alternative, the Wise multi-currency account might be the right choice for you.
You can simply provide an ID and proof of address of your local country and open a bank account in the UK along with 9 other countries (including local EUR and USD bank accounts)
Wise Multi-Currency Accounts (For Non-Residents and Foreigners)
Generally, If you are a UK resident or a UK citizen, you will have no problems opening a bank account in the UK. However, this blog is mainly for those who don’t fit these criteria.
Wise multi-currency account is the perfect solution to opening a bank account in the UK for non-residents or foreigners who live abroad. It comes with a GBP account with your own name, UK account number and branch code (sort code).
This is an option where you don’t need proof of address to open a bank account in the UK. And it is perfect for people who want to open a bank in the UK online (even from abroad).
It is also perfectly suited for international students who are planning to move to the UK or just moved to the UK and don’t have proof of UK residency yet.
Multi-currency accounts like Wise (ex TransferWise) aren’t full banks in the UK, but they offer all the services of a traditional bank. And they are much cheaper than the bank – low transparent fees, mid-market exchange rate, and offer one of the cheapest ways to send money internationally.
A multi-currency account allows you to hold and manage many currencies (from one single place), and you can make payments in local currency using a linked debit card.
The Wise multi-currency account – For international people.
Traditional bank accounts only work in one currency and one country. And you need to prove your local residency to open a bank account in any local currency.
And it gets very expensive to convert your money and make international payments because banks charges high fixed fees that may go up to 40 GBP + 4% to 6% markup on the “actual” exchange rate.
Wise multi-currency account can solve all of this. Now you can send, receive and manage your money in 50+ currencies – At ZERO monthly fees.
Wise offer low transparent fees on international money transfer at the mid-market rate (the “real” exchange rates that you see on Google)
Wise allows you to open a bank account in the UK as a non-resident (with your own name, UK account number and sort code).
You can also open a euro IBAN account, USD account with a routing number and many more – All as a non-resident, online from abroad!
It is also the perfect solution for international travellers and allows you to pay in 140+ countries with your currency balance. Or automatically convert your holding currency to the local currency with your Wise debit card.
Can I Open a Bank Account Before I Arrive in the UK (or Online)?
Yes, you can open a bank account online before you arrive in the UK
There are 2 ways to open a UK bank account online:
- UK banks international account: If you want to relocate to the UK soon
- Wise GBP account: If you want to open a UK account as a foreigner (non-resident)
Many top UK banks such as Barclays, Lloyds, and HSBC offer “international” bank accounts that are designed especially for expats and students without proof of address.
If you were relocating to the UK soon due to work or study-related reasons, high-street UK banks would open a UK bank account based on other documents.
In such cases, you don’t have to prove your UK residency (or proof of address). You can open a bank in the UK by providing a letter from your UK employer, or the university acceptance letter.
You can even apply for an international bank account online in any of these top UK banks such as HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, etc.
Things to know before opening a UK account in a high-street UK bank
Opening a bank account in the UK from abroad with traditional UK banks may not be the right choice for you.
- You may have to maintain a minimum balance each month that can be quite high.
- Some UK banks may also offer monthly fees to open an international account
- Top UK banks charge high fixed fees on international money transfers (if you want to send money home or anywhere)
- UK Banks also offer poor exchange rates on international transfers (by adding a markup on the mid-market exchange rate)
- You may have to maintain an account for a certain period of time, therefore it’s difficult to close if you want to switch banks for a better deal.
This is why we recommend the Wise multi-currency account because you don’t have to worry about any of the above problems. With a Wise GBP account, you don’t have to maintain any minimum balance.
Opening a bank account in the UK for non-residents is possible in 5 minutes with ZERO monthly fees.
Which UK Bank to Choose that Suits Your Needs?
There is no direct answer to this question.
The banking industry in the UK is very competitive with a range of offers designed to serve specific types of customers.
Some baking offers might be suitable for students, while some might be perfect for investors, and some services may serve better for “international needs”
But on the positive side, no matter if you are a professional, student, or business person, you would find a solution that perfectly fits your personal or business needs.
Things to Consider When Opening a Bank Account in the UK
When you are new to the UK, your credit score and lack of proper documents may cause some difficulties when opening a bank in the UK – especially as a newcomer.
What is the easiest bank account to open in the UK?
If you choose one of the big 4 UK banks, it’s much easier to open a bank account because they are more flexible with documents for international students and expats.
The top 4 UK banks are Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC and NatWest. These banks have great experience dealing with foreigners and expats.
How easy it is to open a UK bank account depends on your nationality. It’s much easier to open a bank account if you are an EU national compared to non-EU nationals. It’s better to get in touch with customer support to get all the information you need before opening a bank account in UK as a foreigner.
Lloyds has a special new to the UK account which you can normally open with just your passport or identity card (if you’re an EU citizen).
As an alternative, Wise GBP account allows you to hold and manage pounds that come a local UK account details and a contactless debit card. It takes only 5 minutes to open a GBP account with Wise.
The Big Four UK Banks – Which One to Choose?
Top UK banks require proof of address, which is one of the main documents needed when opening a bank account in the UK. Therefore, You can open a bank account in one of the high-street banks only if you would be moving to the UK soon, or newly moved to the country.
If you are a foreigner who wants to open a bank account for non-residents (from abroad), Wise multi-currency is the only way to open a GBP bank account.
Here are the top 4 UK banks that you may choose depending on your needs.
Barclays
With more than 1500 branches all over the UK, Barclays is one of the largest and oldest banks in the country.
It is very easy to open a bank account in the UK for non-residents. It is also quite easy to open a bank account before moving to the UK because you can pre-apply for a UK bank account online.
However, If you are applying from abroad (before moving to the UK), you won’t be able to use the bank account before arriving in the UK.
In order to make your account up and running, you may have to visit the local Barclays branch and submit your ID and proof of address in person.
Barclays bank account also comes with a debit card (contactless Visa card) for the standard account.
Barclays also offers bank accounts that are suitable for international students, as well as a business accounts.
Barclays international student account is totally free. There are no monthly fees and offers a range of cashback from selected retailers. It also offers a contactless debit card and a free overdraft of up to 3,000 GBP for 3 years. You also get some extra perks such as a yearly subscription to Perlego for free.
Barclays offers various types of business accounts, based on your yearly turnover. To get more details, you can also get in touch with the Barclays live chat for more information.
Lloyds
Lloyd is one of the largest banks in the UK in terms of the number of current accounts, with over 1100 branches across the UK.
If you are new to the UK, you can easily open a UK bank account with Lloyds new to the UK account with just your passport or a national ID card (only available for EU nationals). The account comes with a contactless debit card and is totally free (zero monthly fees)
Lloyds also offer a special account for international students that offers a free overdraft of up to 1,5000 GBP for 3 years.
Lloyds also offer business accounts depending on the size and turnover of the business. If you have an annual turnover of 3 million GBP or below, the business account is totally free for the first 12 months. The Lloyds business account also comes with a range of accounting tools and software, as well as legal assistance at a discounted price.
HSBC
HSBC is another top UK bank with over 1000 branches in England and Wales. The biggest advantage of opening a bank in HSBC is that it operates in 60+ countries around the world.
You won’t have any problem when opening a bank account in the UK for non residents, if you already have an existing account in HSBC. You can just open a GBP account before you come to the UK easily from your home country.
The basic HSBC current account is best for personal banking that is suitable for day to day banking needs. It comes with zero monthly fees and a contactless debit card. The basic HSBC current account allows you to withdraw up to 300 GBP per day. HSBC basic current account doesn’t offer bank overdrafts.
The HSBC student account offers the same features as the basic current account, but offers a free overdraft of 1000 GBP for the first year. HSBC also offers a range of guides for student to manage their finances efficiently.
If you want to open a business account in the UK, you can choose a range of HSBC business accounts. Most of the business accounts offered by HSBC come with zero monthly fees (for the first year up to 18 months). There are some extra benefits of opening a business account in the UK with HSBC because you get a dedicated account manager that can help you to manage your finances and build your business.
NatWest Group
NatWest Select current account comes with zero monthly fees and a contactless Visa card as the standard debit card. In case of an emergency, the NatWest account also allows you to access your money and withdraw cash using a security code (for example if you lose your debit card or if you don’t have access to it).
NatWest offers a student account that comes with a free bank overdraft of up to 2000 GBP for the first 3 years along with some extra benefits such as a free Amazon Prime subscription and a National Express CoachCard.
If you want to open a bank account in the UK for business purposes, you can also choose NatWest’s Startup account which comes with free financial services for the first 18 months. NatWest financial services allow you to access their learning platform to grow your business as well as access to various business growth events.
Open a UK Account with Wise (TransferWise)
Get your own UK account details (UK account number and branch code) and a debit card. Wise GBP account, let you hold and manage GBP.
Wise GBP account is a part of Wise multi-currency account that let you hold 50+ different currencies (including GBP). With Wise card, you can spend in 140+ countries in local currency.
You can either pay with the currency you are holding, or automatically convert your holding currency to the local currency at the mid-market rate (the real rate that you see on Google)
Send and receive money in British pounds and spend it in the UK.
Wise multi-currency account allows you to receive money in British pounds and spend it in the UK. You can also convert your money at the mid-market rate with low transparent fees and hold money in more than 50+ currencies.
- Use can your GBP account details to receive and make payemnts in the UK
- You can send money overseas from GBP to 70+ counties
- Use multi-currency balances and hold your money in pounds and 50+ other currencies – all in one single account linked to a single Wise debit card
Get your own UK account details.
A Wise GBP account is perfect to manage British pounds with a local UK account – with a UK account number, and branch code (sort code).
If you work in multiple currencies. You can send and receive money in 9+ currencies with local account details.
With Wise multi-currency account, you can also get:
- Euro IBAN Account
- US account number, branch number (routing number), bank code (SWIFT/BIC)
- UK account number, branch code (sort code), IBAN
- Australian account number and BSB code (Australian branch code)
- New Zealand account number
- Canadian account number and transit number
- Singapore account number, bank code
- Turkish IBAN
- Hungarian account number, bank code
- Romanian account number, bank code
FAQ About Opening a Bank Account Online in the UK
💼 Can a foreigner open a bank account in the UK?
Opening a bank account in UK as a foreigner is possible only if you have proof of the address, which hard to get if you don’t live in the UK.
Digital payment companies like Revolut and Wise offer UK bank accounts without proof of the address. You can get a Wise GBP account in 5 minutes, even from abroad as a non-resident. Learn more about opening a bank account in the UK from non residents in our blog post.
🇬🇧 What is the best UK bank account for non-residents?
If you are planning to move to the UK, it would be difficult to open an account in a traditional UK bank because you need proof of address in the UK. Proof of address is hard to find if you don’t live in the UK or newly moved to the UK. But companies like Wise (ex TransferWise) offer UK bank account without proof of address. Get your own UK account details (account number and sort code) and debit card that allows you to hold and manage GBP. Read more in our blog.
🏦 Can I open a bank account in the UK without proof of address?
Yes, as you can open a UK bank account without a proof of address in the UK. You can open a bank account in the UK for non-residents in just few clicks with Wise (ex TransferWise). You also get your own GBP account and sort code with a debit card that allows you to manage and hold GBP along with 50+ other currencies. Furthermore, you also can open a UK account as a foreigner (online from abroad). Read more on our in-depth guide opening a bank account in UK as a foreigner.
📁 What documents do I need to open a UK bank account?
To open a bank account in the UK, you mainly need 2 main things – Proof of identity and Proof of UK address.
Providing proof of identity is quite simple with your passports, UK driving licences, or any national identity cards that are accepted. Proof of UK address includes rental agreement, recent utility bill (electricity or gas bill), recent bank statement (stamped from the bank, printed ones are not accepted), or council tax bill. Read our blog to learn how to open a bank account without a proof of address.
🏡 How do I get proof of residence in the UK?
High-street UK banks as for a proof of residence in the UK when you open a bank account. Every bank has its own list of documents that can work as proof of UK address that includes:
- Rental agreement
- recent utility bill (electricity or gas bill of less than 3 months old)
- Recent bank statement or credit card statement (stamped from the bank, printed ones are not accepted)
- council tax bill
💶 Is it possible to have a Euro bank account?
Yes, with Wise EURO account is a part of Wise multi-currency account let you hold 50+ different currencies (including EURO). You get your IBAN account number and a Wise debit card to spend in Euro and 140+ countries in local currency.
