Your money

Support and loans to help you with moving and immigration costs. Information about opening a bank account in the UK, getting a National Insurance number, pensions, tax, and other finance and legal matters.

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Financial support with relocating to Bristol

Relocation expenses

We can help you with the costs of moving to Bristol. Find our policy on relocation expenses. 

Immigration expenses

If you are a new or current international employee who needs permission from the UK Government to allow you to live in the UK and work at the University of Bristol, we can assist with the costs associated with your permission to work application.

Read our Immigration Costs Reimbursement Policy (PDF, 239kB) to find out who is eligible and how to apply.

Interest free loan for your dependant’s costs

We can support you and your immediate dependant family members if you are a new or existing member of staff with immigration related costs during your employment at the University.

This is in the form of an interest-free loan and is available to staff across all job groups.

Opening a bank account

There are a number of banks with good reputations in Bristol. All have a slightly different account opening procedure.

The University will require you to provide your bank account details as soon as possible and no later than 2 months from your start date of employment. 

You will need to make an appointment with the branch where you wish to open an account. This can be done online, or we have provided contact information for some banks below. At busy times there can be an up to 4 week wait for an appointment so we strongly advise you to book an appointment in plenty of time.

You will need to attend your appointment with your passport and your Biometric Residence Permit if relevant. You will also need to take a reference letter from the University which can be provided on request to your Employee Services Hub Team or the Staff Immigration Team. The requirements of this letter differ depending which bank you are opening a branch with so please confirm which bank you are applying for an account with and the following information with your request:

  • full name
  • job title
  • department
  • start date
  • end date if relevant
  • UK address (department can be used as a correspondence address)
  • salary.

HSBC Bank plc

  • Your reference letter will need to include your overseas address so please provide proof of this address with your letter request.
  • If possible attend the appointment with a bank statement from your overseas bank account.
  • If you are an existing HSBC customer you can start the process from your home country as long as it is at least 6 weeks before your arrival.
  • If you are an HSBC Premier customer you will be able to become a Premier customer in the UK as soon as your account is open. 

Contact

Natwest

Account opening telephone: +44 (0)121 695 9238

Barclays

  • You can speed up your application by starting your application online 
  • Your reference letter will need to include your overseas address so please provide proof of this address with your letter request.

Transferring money to the UK

It is important to make sure you have sufficient funds when you arrive in the UK.

Opening a bank account is not straightforward if you move from overseas. It may take up to two weeks before you receive a debit card which can be used to withdraw money from local cash machines. In addition, you may need to pay a deposit or rent in advance before you can move into rented accommodation.

Your bank in your home country may be able to advise you on how to transfer funds to the UK if you have not yet opened a UK bank account. There are also many specialist companies that provide money transfer services, such as Western Union or Transferwise.

Traveller’s cheques are another option, as they can be purchased in your home country and then exchanged for local currency when abroad, often free of charge. Traveller’s cheques are available in Pounds Sterling and can be used in banks, Post Offices, bureaux de change, and some shops, hotels and restaurants.

Most shops in the UK accept credit cards from other countries. You should check the terms and conditions outlined in your credit card agreement, as you may incur fees for using your card abroad.

National Insurance Number

All working individuals in the UK aged 16 and over and below the state pension age, and earning above a certain threshold amount (set by the government) need to pay National Insurance Contributions (NICs). These are collected by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) through the University’s Payroll system and go towards state benefits, such as the National Health Service (NHS) and the state pension.

An employee from overseas, coming to work in the UK will have to obtain a National Insurance (NI) number and immediately start paying NICs in the UK on the same basis as people who normally live and work here. A NI number is a unique identifier (issued by the HMRC) that enables the HMRC to track the payments made for NICs for all individuals. All employees of the University must obtain a NI number and notify their department as soon as they have it, so that Payroll and Pensions can be informed.

If you have had to apply for a visa you may have a National Insurance (NI) number printed on the back of your biometric residence permit (BRP). You don’t need to apply for a National Insurance number if you already have one, or one is printed on your BRP.

If you don’t have a National Insurance number, you must apply. You can only apply for it once you’re in the UK and you must apply by phone.

National Insurance number application line

Telephone: +44 (0)800 141 2075
Textphone: +44 (0)800 141 2438
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm

Welsh language: +44 (0)800 141 2349
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm
Find out about call charges.

You must have the right to work or study in the UK to get a National Insurance number.

Income Tax

Income Tax is a tax you pay on your income. You don’t have to pay tax on all types of income. Check GOV.UK information on Income Tax. 

You pay tax on things like: 

You don’t pay tax on things like:

Council tax

Council tax is your way of helping to pay for many local services like emergency services, rubbish collection, libraries, schools, street lights and much more.

Council tax is charged on the household. It's based on the value of the property and not on what the household earns.

The amount of council tax you have to pay depends on which property band your home is in.

Your final bill will be changed if you qualify for any of the council tax discounts or exemptions: check Bristol City Council information about Council tax discounts and exemptions.

Payroll

You'll be paid your salary on the 26th of each month. If the 26th is on a weekend or a bank holiday, you'll be paid on the last working day before this date. For example, payday for October 2024 is on Friday 25th.

Your salary is paid into your nominated bank or building society account.

To make sure your salary is paid into your bank account you will need to return your Staff Record Form as soon as possible.

Pension

The University runs two pension schemes:

You may also have a pension with:

Find more information about pensions at the University. 

Wills in the UK

It is important to make a Will as it outlines exactly what you want to happen to your assets when you die.

Without a valid Will in place, your hard-earned assets may find themselves distributed under the rules of intestacy. More often than not, this results in your assets being distributed in a way that you would not want and your loved ones loosing out.

Different countries have different rules around inheritance, property and tax. You need a Will that protects your assets as much as possible and ensures that your wishes are carried out in regards to your estate.

It is vitally important that any Will meets the requirements of the country in which you live and is legally valid. If you do not have the right type of Will in place then:

  • Your assets may not end up where you want them to go.
  • It can take time to deal with the administration across different jurisdictions.
  • It may result in you paying more tax than is necessary.

On relocation to the UK you may need to re-do your foreign Will so that it does explicitly state that it's to be valid world wide and it is also dependent on whether you have significant UK assets. In some circumstances, you may need to have a new Will drawn up.

Not all UK law firms have the expertise to deal with Wills from those relocating from overseas. Existing international staff have used a Bristol-based law practice:

Burroughs-Day LLP, est 1829 (recently taken over by Metcalfes)
Queen Square House
18-21 Queen Street
Bristol BS1 4NH
Telephone: +44 (0)117 3211762

Tax implications are different for each country. If you need advice you should speak to an appropriate legal representative within the native country that your Will was written.

Last updated: 29/4/2025