Life in the UK

Generally, if you have a driving licence from another country, you can drive in the UK for up to 12 months after moving here. After 12 months, you’ll need to get a UK driving licence. But, there are exceptions to this rule, for example, if you’re from the EEA or EU.

Got an EEA or EU driving licence?

You can keep driving in the UK using your EEA or EU license until you’re 70 years old and no driving test is required. When you turn 70, you’ll need to exchange your licence for a UK driving licence like all UK residents. You still don’t need to take a driving test.

Got a driving licence from a country outside of the EU? 

If your licence is from certain designated countries, you can exchange it for a UK one without taking a driving test. Use this Government tool to see if you are eligible.

In the UK you and all members of your family living here should register with a local doctor called a General Practitioner (GP) at a nearby medical office called a surgery. You must be registered before you can see a doctor. 

Anyone in England can register with a GP surgery or dentist. It’s free to register.  

Register with a GP Register with a dentist

Registration with a surgery and NHS treatment is free of charge but you may have to pay for medical prescriptions. You will need evidence of your address to be able to register. 

If you need to see a doctor at night or at weekends, telephone the surgery. There will be a recorded message telling you how to contact a doctor. If the situation is life threatening, call 999.

The NHS Housing Hub is a specialist service designed to help internationally recruited colleagues and those in acute housing need to find an affordable home.

The Housing Hub officers provide advice on accommodation and renting in the UK, support colleagues with finding and securing a home, and can also provide advocacy in liaising with agents and landlords if required.

After your initial registration, you will receive useful documents to guide you through the renting process in the UK, and you will also have the option to be part of a WhatsApp group on which properties that might be of interest to you will be posted. A dedicated Housing Hub officer will manage your case and be available for any questions you may have.

Please note that in most cases, you will need to be in the UK to attend viewings.

Email the Housing Hub

Step by Step rental guide

NHS England in the South West created a short document which provides practical and easy to understand advice on finding and renting a property in England. It includes an overview of your rights as a tenant and what you should expect from your landlord when you rent a property, as well as some useful links. It is available to all healthcare staff.

All births in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days and are usually registered in the Local Authority & district where the birth took place. If you cannot register the birth in the district where your baby was born, you can attend another office where the registrar will then send your details to the appropriate district office. This is known as a declaration. 

If the birth took place within Hampshire, (for registration purposes Hampshire is a single district, excluding Southampton and Portsmouth) you can book an appointment online or get further information by telephoning 0300 555 1392 or going online. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm. 

Registering a birth is free and usually takes no more than 20 minutes. Certificates are available for a fee.

Children aged between 5 and 16 years must attend school. Children must now be in some form of education until they are 18. This includes apprenticeships and schemes where they work some of the week in a paid job and attend college part-time. Education at state schools in the UK is free however parents must pay for school uniforms and sportswear.

Hampshire County Council operates the comprehensive education system in Basingstoke and Winchester. If you have a child of school age, visit your local primary school (ages five to 10) or secondary school (ages 11 to 16). 

To find out which are your nearest schools, pre-schools (e.g. nurseries, pre¬schools, childminders, etc) or Adult and Family Learning courses contact Hampshire Children’s Services on 0300 555 1384. 

Find a school in Hampshire

Parents need to apply online for a place for each child at school.

School staff will help you to apply by completing an admission form. You will be asked for a copy of your child’s passport, their visa if applicable and proof of your address.