How to Build a Credit Score When You Move to the UK [2026 Guide]

When you move to the UK, you usually start with no UK credit history at all, even if you had a perfect record at home. Your overseas history does not transfer automatically. That can make it harder to get a phone contract, a credit card or a rental, and later a mortgage.

The good news: a thin file is not a bad file. With a few simple steps in your first months, you can build a solid UK credit record without paying for anything or borrowing money you do not need.

How UK credit scores work

There is no single UK credit score. The three main credit reference agencies are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each keeps its own credit report on you, and each shows its own score. Lenders can check one or more of them, and they also use their own criteria, so a “good” score on an app is a guide rather than a guarantee.

Your reports show things like:

• Whether you are on the electoral register at your address
• Credit cards, loans, phone contracts and some utility accounts in your name, and whether you pay them on time
• How much of your available credit you are using
• Recent credit applications (hard searches)
• People you share credit with, such as a joint account holder

Check your credit reports for free

You never need to pay to see your credit report. The UK data watchdog, the ICO, says you can ask any of the three agencies for your statutory credit report free of charge. Paid monthly subscriptions are optional.

The easiest way to keep an eye on all three is with free apps:

Checking your own report is a soft search. It does not affect your score, so check as often as you like. When you first arrive, look for your current address and correct spelling of your name. A mistake can cause a rejection.

Step 1: Register to vote (or add a note if you can’t)

Lenders use the electoral register to confirm that you live where you say you do. Experian puts it first in its tips: register at your current address. It is free and takes a few minutes on GOV.UK.

Who can register in England? GOV.UK lists:

• British and Irish citizens
• Commonwealth citizens (including citizens of Cyprus and Malta) who have, or do not need, permission to be in the UK. This includes many people from countries such as India, Australia, Canada, Nigeria and South Africa.
• Citizens of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain who have, or do not need, permission to be in the UK
• Citizens of other EU countries only if they had permission to be in the UK (or did not need it) on or before 31 December 2020, and this has continued without a break

If you can’t register: add a note to your credit reports

If you are not eligible to vote, Experian says you can add a note to your report explaining why you can’t register, and that you have documents showing where you live and how long you have lived there. The ICO calls this a Notice of Correction. Lenders who look at your file will see it.

Experian warns that without the electoral register, applications may take longer or be rejected. The note helps a lender check you manually, but the bills and payments in the next steps matter even more.

Step 2: Open a UK bank account

A current account does not build your score by itself, but HSBC notes that it helps create a UK financial footprint. You also need one for Direct Debits, rent, salary and almost every credit application.

App-based banks are often the quickest to open with a passport or residence permit and a UK address. See our Monzo new customer bonus guide, or compare the current bank switching offers once you are settled.

Step 3: Put bills in your name and pay them on time

This is the part people forget. Regular, on-time payments are what a credit history is made of.

A pay-monthly phone contract

A pay-monthly mobile contract usually involves a credit check and then appears on your credit report as an account. Paying it on time helps show lenders you are reliable. A SIM-only contract is a low-cost way to start, as there is no expensive phone to pay off. Note that some networks sell SIM plans with no credit check, which also means they may not help your report. Not every provider reports to all three agencies.

Utilities and council tax

Put energy, broadband and council tax in your name if you can. Some utility accounts appear on credit reports. Experian Boost is a free feature that, with your permission, reads your bank account through Open Banking and can count regular payments for council tax, subscriptions such as Netflix, Spotify and Amazon Prime, and regular savings. Experian says Boost will never lower your score. It only affects your Experian score and the lenders that use it.

Rent

Rent is usually your biggest bill, but it does not appear on your credit report by default. Rent reporting services can add it:

• CreditLadder: connects to your bank through Open Banking and reports your rent. The free plan reports to one agency of your choice; the paid plan (£60 a year) reports to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Payments appear after 6 to 8 weeks, and only payments made after you join count.
• Your landlord: some larger landlords, agencies and social housing providers report rent to Experian’s Rental Exchange. Ask yours.

New to renting in London? Read our London renting guide first.

Step 4: Your first UK credit card

A credit card used sensibly is one of the fastest ways to build a UK credit record. Use it for a small regular expense, such as your phone bill or a weekly shop, and set up a Direct Debit to pay the full balance every month. You build history without ever paying interest.

Some options for newcomers:

• Your bank: if your bank account is going well, check whether your own bank offers you a card.
• Using your overseas credit history: HSBC UK says online applicants for its credit card may be able to share credit history from selected countries, through a partnership with Nova Credit. Representative 27.9% APR (variable).
• Credit builder cards: cards for people with little or no history usually start with low credit limits and high interest rates, so they only make sense if you always pay in full.

Before applying for any card, use the lender’s eligibility checker. It is a soft search, so it does not affect your score, and it tells you your chances before a full application.

Already have an American Express card abroad?

American Express has a shortcut for people moving countries. If you already hold an Amex card issued by American Express in another country, Amex’s UK moving abroad page says the easiest way to keep your Cardmembership status is to apply for a new UK card online and include your existing card number in the application.

The conditions listed by Amex:

• Your card must be issued by American Express (not by a partner bank)
• You must be the main (Basic) Cardmember and have held the card for at least 3 months
• Your account must be open and in good standing, or cancelled by you within the last 3 months
• You need a UK home address and UK phone number

Amex says the process can take 7 to 10 days and may ask for ID. Membership Rewards points can usually be moved to a UK card that earns them, with a currency conversion.

Once you have built some UK history, Amex cards can also be very rewarding. Our Amex referral offers guide lists the current welcome bonuses, eligibility and minimum income for each card. Only apply if the card and its annual fee suit you.

Habits that keep your score healthy

• Pay everything on time, every time. Direct Debits make this automatic. Late or missed payments are the biggest negative.
• Use under 30% of your credit limit. Experian suggests keeping your credit utilisation below 30%. On a £500 limit, that means a balance under £150 when the statement is produced.
• Space out applications. Experian’s rule of thumb is no more than one credit application every three months.
• Stay put if you can. Experian notes that moving home often makes your details harder to verify. When you do move, update your address everywhere and re-register to vote.
• Keep your oldest accounts open. A longer history helps, so think twice before closing your first card.
• Watch financial links. A joint account links your credit file to the other person’s. If you split up with a partner or stop sharing finances with a flatmate, ask the agencies to remove the link.

Mistakes to avoid

• Applying for lots of cards at once after a rejection. Each full application leaves a hard search that lenders can see.
• Paying for “credit repair” or a score subscription you do not need. Your statutory report and the free apps are enough.
• Missing a phone or utility payment. A missed payment can stay on your file for six years.
• Only paying the minimum. It protects your record but costs interest. Pay in full.
• Withdrawing cash on a credit card. It is usually charged interest straight away.

A simple first-year plan

Credit score questions for newcomers

Sources and checks

• GOV.UK: Register to vote
• ICO: Credit reference agencies and your credit file
• Experian: How to improve your credit score
• Experian: The electoral roll and your credit score
• Experian Boost
• CreditLadder for tenants
• HSBC UK: Building your credit rating when you are new to the UK
• American Express: Moving to the United Kingdom

Checked on 24 October 2026. This guide gives general information, not personal financial advice. Credit is subject to status, and each lender sets its own criteria.