Register with a GP
Find a local NHS surgery and ask to register. You do not normally need proof of address, immigration status, ID or an NHS number to register.
Find a GPNew to Cheshire East?
Welcome, Kabayan!
Practical information to help you settle into life in the UK with confidence.
Start here
Your first-week checklist
This page is a friendly starting point. Official rules and charges can change, so follow the linked government, NHS and council services when making an application or payment.
Find a dentist
Search for an NHS dentist accepting patients. Dental registration is separate from your GP.
Find an NHS dentistTell the council
Check Council Tax, bins and recycling, schools, parking and other local services with Cheshire East Council.
Visit Cheshire East CouncilSet up your home
Take meter readings, identify your energy supplier, contact the water company and arrange broadband where needed.
Immigration & UKVI
Your immigration status
Understanding how to access and prove your UK immigration status can make everyday tasks such as starting work and renting a home much easier. Your own visa conditions always apply, so use the official GOV.UK services below to check your status.
Your eVisa
An eVisa is the digital record of your identity, immigration status and the conditions attached to it. Use your UKVI account to view your eVisa and, where available, generate a share code to prove your status.
View your eVisaProve your right to work
If you need to prove your right to work, you may be able to generate a share code for your employer. The online check shows the types of work you are permitted to do and, where relevant, how long you can work in the UK.
Prove your right to workProve your right to rent
Before renting a home in England you may need to prove your right to rent. Depending on your nationality and immigration status, this can often be done with a share code or eligible immigration documents.
Prove your right to rentNational Insurance number
If you live in the UK, have the right to work and are working, looking for work or have a job offer, you can apply if you do not already have a National Insurance number. You can start work before receiving it if you can prove your right to work.
National Insurance guidanceKeep your UKVI account updated
Keep your passport or travel document, address, email and phone details up to date in your UKVI account. Out-of-date information can cause problems when proving your status or travelling.
Update your UKVI detailsVisas & immigration guidance
Visa rules and individual conditions vary. GOV.UK provides the official starting point for visas, immigration applications, eVisas, share codes and changes in circumstances.
Visit visas & immigrationNeed immigration advice?
CEFC can help you find official information and community support, but we do not provide individual immigration or legal advice. Immigration conditions vary from person to person. Always check your own status through GOV.UK or seek advice from an appropriately regulated immigration adviser when you need advice about your individual circumstances.
Healthcare
Doctors, dentists and urgent help
Register with a GP
Choose a nearby NHS GP surgery and complete its registration form. Keep your medication details and any medical records available.
How to registerFind an NHS dentist
Search for local practices, then contact them directly to ask whether they are accepting new NHS patients.
Find dentist guidanceUrgent medical help
111Urgent advice when it is not life-threatening
999Serious or life-threatening emergencies
Your home
Council Tax, utilities and TV
Council Tax
Most households pay Council Tax to Cheshire East Council. Tell the council when you move in and check whether any discount or reduction applies.
Water
Your water company depends on the property area. The bill or your landlord should identify the supplier. Record your meter reading if there is a meter.
Gas and electricity
Take dated meter readings when you move in. Ask the landlord, previous occupier information or the national supplier-finding services who currently supplies the property.
TV Licence
You generally need a TV Licence to watch or record live television on any channel or use BBC iPlayer. Check the official TV Licensing rules before buying.
Check TV LicensingRenting
Keep your tenancy agreement, deposit information, inventory and photographs. Make sure you understand rent dates, bills, repairs and notice rules.
Housing adviceWaste and recycling
Use Cheshire East Council’s collection calendar to check your bin days and what goes into each bin.
Work in the UK
Know your basic employment rights
Written terms
Keep your contract or written statement, payslips and records of hours worked.
Pay and deductions
Check your hourly rate, tax code, National Insurance, pension and any lawful deductions on each payslip.
Holiday and rest
Most workers are entitled to paid annual leave and legal rest breaks, subject to their working arrangements.
Fair treatment
UK law protects workers against unlawful discrimination and certain unfair workplace practices.
Problems at work
If you have a workplace problem or need impartial information about employment rights, Acas provides free guidance for workers and employers.
Get help from AcasMoney and banking
Getting financially established
A UK bank account can make it easier to receive wages, pay bills and build a financial record.
Banks may ask for identification and proof of address. Requirements vary, so ask what alternative documents are accepted. Keep HMRC letters, your National Insurance details and payslips safe.
Professional help
Legal & financial services
At times you may need professional advice about immigration, housing, family matters, mortgages, insurance or other legal and financial issues. Our community business directory includes local and UK-wide professional services that may be useful when looking for help.
⚖️ Finding professional legal advice
If you need legal advice, you can browse professional services in our CEFC community directory or use The Law Society’s official Find a Solicitor service to search independently for solicitors in England and Wales by location and area of law.
Find a Solicitor — The Law Society View CEFC Legal & Financial Services →CEFC directory listings are provided for information and signposting only and are not recommendations. Always make your own enquiries and check professional qualifications or regulatory status where appropriate.
Driving and transport
Getting around safely and legally
Driving licence
Check how long you may drive in Great Britain with a licence issued overseas and when you need a GB licence.
Check your licenceUsing a car
Before driving on public roads, make sure the vehicle and driver meet the legal requirements.
InsuranceValid cover
Vehicle taxUp to date
MOTWhere required
LicenceCorrect category
Public transport
Use current journey planners for bus and train times, fares, delays and connections from Crewe and nearby towns.
Plan a bus journeyPlan a rail journeyFamily and schools
Support for children and families
Cheshire East Council coordinates school admissions and local family services. Applications, eligibility and deadlines depend on your child’s age and circumstances. Ask the council about school places, early years support and children’s services.
Cheshire East school admissions🗳️ Register to vote
Some residents who are not British citizens may still be eligible to register to vote in the UK, depending on their citizenship and immigration status. Check the official eligibility rules before registering.
Check eligibility & registerFaith & community
Find a church or place of Christian worship
Finding a faith community can help make a new place feel more like home. The links and information below are provided as neutral signposting to help newcomers find Christian churches and faith communities in Cheshire East and across the UK.
Catholic churches
Search Catholic churches, parishes, addresses, contacts and Mass information through the Diocese of Shrewsbury directory.
Find a Catholic churchChurch of England
Use A Church Near You to find Anglican parish churches, services and contact details close to where you live.
Find a Church of England churchFilipino Christian churches & faith communities
There are Filipino-led and Filipino-connected Christian churches and faith communities across the UK, including Jesus Is Lord Church (JIL), Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), El Shaddai and other Filipino Christian congregations. Availability varies by area, so check each organisation’s official information or local congregation for current details.
Looking for another church or faith community?
Cheshire East and surrounding areas are home to many Christian denominations and independent faith communities. If you are new to the area and are unsure where to look, CEFC can help signpost you to publicly available local information and community contacts.
Contact CEFC for helpCEFC welcomes everyone. These links are provided for signposting purposes only. CEFC is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, any particular church, denomination or faith organisation.
Your local authority
Cheshire East Council
Cheshire East Council is responsible for many local services, including Council Tax, waste and recycling, school admissions, housing support, roads, parking, libraries and social care. The community address in Crewe is within Cheshire East.
Visit the council websiteExplore your new home
What to see and do around Cheshire
Settling into a new place is also about getting out, exploring and making new memories. Cheshire and the surrounding area have plenty to enjoy with family and friends.
Queens Park, Crewe
Enjoy a relaxing walk, the lake, gardens and family-friendly open spaces in one of Crewe’s best-known parks.
Chester
Explore the historic city walls, the famous Rows, Chester Cathedral and the beautiful riverside.
Chester Zoo
One of the UK’s most popular family attractions and a fantastic full day out for adults and children.
Tatton Park
Discover the mansion, gardens, deer park, farm and seasonal events at this popular Cheshire attraction.
Little Moreton Hall
Visit one of Cheshire’s most distinctive historic buildings, famous for its striking black-and-white Tudor architecture.
Delamere Forest
Enjoy woodland walks, cycling, family adventures and peaceful countryside in the heart of Cheshire.
Local towns and markets
Explore Nantwich, Knutsford, Macclesfield and other Cheshire towns for independent shops, cafés, markets and local events.
Local events and culture
Look out for festivals, community celebrations, theatre, live music and seasonal events taking place across Cheshire throughout the year.
A little taste of home
Filipino TV & entertainment
Settling into a new country doesn’t mean leaving familiar entertainment behind. Filipino films, teleseryes, news and programmes are available online in the UK through services such as iWant.
📺 Watch Filipino programmes online
iWant is ABS-CBN’s global streaming service, with Filipino movies, teleseryes, original programmes, news and live channels available online.
Visit iWant📡 Watch TFC on your TV
The Filipino Channel (TFC) is also available in the UK through Channelbox. On a compatible internet-connected television, open Channelbox on Freeview channel 271 or Freely channel 561, then select TFC. Internet access is required.
Visit ChannelboxPhilippine consular services
Philippine Embassy in London
For Philippine passports, civil registration, notarial services, consular information and Embassy announcements, use the official Philippine Embassy in London website. Requirements, appointments and fees can change, so check the Embassy’s current guidance before travelling or submitting documents.
Visit the Philippine EmbassyImportant numbers
Keep these contacts handy
999
Police, ambulance or fire service in a serious or life-threatening emergency.
NHS 111
Urgent medical advice when it is not an emergency.
Police 101
Non-emergency police matters.
Trusted sources
Official useful links
These links lead to official public-service websites. Services, rules, charges and eligibility can change, so always check the latest information before applying, paying or travelling.
Philippine Embassy in London
Official Philippine government information for Filipinos in the UK, including passports, civil registration, consular services, notarial services and Embassy announcements.
Visit the Philippine Embassy🏛️ Cheshire East Council
Council Tax, bins, schools, housing, parking and local services.
Visit the council⚖️ Citizens Advice
Independent guidance on work, housing, money, benefits and consumer issues.
Visit Citizens Advice🚘 Driving in Great Britain
Check whether and how long you may drive using a non-GB licence.
Check your licenceSupport Filipino enterprise
Discover Filipino-owned businesses
Looking for Filipino food, services, property, finance, beauty, entertainment or other businesses? Explore our directory and support Filipino entrepreneurs and businesses serving our community.
You are not alone
Connect with our community
Join our Facebook group, attend an event or contact CEFC for a warm welcome and local friendship.