I moved to the UK from a foreign country (from the EU though) and found it quite easy to start my company and open my accounts. It really depends on the bank a

I moved to the UK from a foreign country (from the EU though) and found it quite easy to start my company and open my accounts. It really depends on the bank and branch you're walking into. My advice: Avoid doing what I did and don't apply for your first current account online. It might seem more efficient and time-saving but it's actually not - because of your non-existent credit history in the UK - they will have to ask you for endless documents. Once you're in the UK, walk into a high-street bank that is actively seeking customers. Lloyds Bank or Barclays comes to mind. Ask for a basic bank account, which they will open for you without proof of address. Make an appointment with the same bank for a startup current account - sometimes they will send you to a different branch - if they don't do business banking themselves. They will ask you about your business and estimated turnover. Make sure you bring your incorporation documents. It's worth noting that I'm the only director of my limited company and the companies registered office was my home address - so no further proofs of address were required. Waiting for your cards to arrive in the mail is what takes the most time, but I was able to use my online banking account even before I had my card.