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Edinburgh

Scotland, United Kingdom

Arriving, settling in and working in Edinburgh: what official sources say, in the order you’ll need it. Every point links to the page it came from.

Plan my move to EdinburghRead the guide ↓
Photo: Adam Wilson / Unsplash
Guide sections12
Sourced facts66
Last verified1 Nov 2026
Areas with rent6

Decide

Is this the right city for us?

Edinburgh at a glance

The basics about Edinburgh: rents, council tax and the time zone. Scotland has its own NHS, schools and some laws.

  • Private rents in Lothian, the rental market area that includes Edinburgh, averaged £1,411 a month in September 2026, up 1.0% on a year earlier.
    ons.gov.uk ↗
  • In Lothian the average was £1,036 a month for one bedroom and £1,324 for two bedrooms (September 2026).
    ons.gov.uk ↗
  • A Band D home in Edinburgh pays £2,278.37 in 2026/27: £1,626.05 Council Tax plus £301.95 water and £350.37 sewerage charges.
    edinburgh.gov.uk ↗
  • Councillors agreed a 4% Council Tax rise across all bands for 2026/27. Water and sewerage charges rose 8.67%.
    edinburgh.gov.uk ↗
Show 1 more
  • The UK uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and British Summer Time (BST) in summer. Clocks go forward 1 hour on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October (29 March and 25 October in 2026).
    gov.uk ↗
External links
Edinburgh Council Tax bands ↗Moving to Edinburgh ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Laws and customs

Scottish and UK rules that often surprise newcomers.

  • Alcohol cannot be sold below a minimum price of 65p per unit in Scotland. Minimum unit pricing began in 2018 at 50p.
    gov.scot ↗
  • Since 1 June 2025, shops in Great Britain cannot sell or supply single-use (disposable) vapes.
    gov.uk ↗
  • You need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV on any channel, or to use BBC iPlayer. It costs £180 a year, and watching without one can bring a fine of up to £1,000.
    gov.uk ↗
  • Call 999 if someone is in danger or a serious incident is happening. For non-emergencies, call Police Scotland on 101.
    scotland.police.uk ↗
Show 1 more
External links
Minimum unit pricing (gov.scot) ↗Contact Police Scotland ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Arrive

The first 72 hours

Arriving in Edinburgh

Getting from the airport, and your first admin steps.

  • The Airlink bus to Edinburgh Airport costs £6.00 for an adult single and £8.50 for an open return, according to Lothian Buses.
    lothianbuses.com ↗
  • When you move in, register your change of address for Council Tax with the council's online form.
    edinburgh.gov.uk ↗
  • Your immigration status is now an eVisa, a digital record you view in a free UKVI account. Set up the account before you need to prove your status to an employer or landlord.
    gov.uk ↗
  • All biometric residence permits (BRPs) have expired and been replaced by eVisas. An expired BRP cannot be used to travel or to prove your status; use your eVisa instead.
    gov.uk ↗
Show 1 more
  • Apply online for a National Insurance number once you are living in the UK with the right to work. It can take up to 4 weeks after you prove your identity.
    gov.uk ↗
External links
Lothian Buses tickets ↗Moving to Edinburgh ↗Using your eVisa ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Getting around

Lothian Buses fares and contactless capping.

  • A Lothian Buses adult single costs £2.40 for one journey on a day service.
    lothianbuses.com ↗
  • A City DAY ticket costs £6.00 on paper or in the app. With TapTapCap contactless, your day is capped at £5.70.
    lothianbuses.com ↗
  • TapTapCap also caps contactless bus travel at £26.50 a week.
    lothianbuses.com ↗
  • An adult Airlink single between Maybury and the city centre or the airport costs £3.50 (children £1.75).
    lothianbuses.com ↗
External links
Lothian Buses tickets ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Settle

Home, school, doctor, bank

Neighbourhoods and housing

Rents, Scottish tenancy rules and Council Tax.

  • West Lothian, outside the Lothian rental market area, averaged £911 a month in August 2026.
    ons.gov.uk ↗
  • Across the Firth of Forth, Fife averaged £847 a month in September 2026.
    ons.gov.uk ↗
  • Since 1 December 2017 most new private tenancies in Scotland must be private residential tenancies.
    mygov.scot ↗
  • Under a private residential tenancy your landlord can raise the rent only once in 12 months, with at least 3 months' written notice on the prescribed form. There is no cap on the size of the rise.
    mygov.scot ↗
Show 3 more
  • If you disagree with a rise, apply to Rent Service Scotland within 21 days of the notice. A rent officer will set the rent, which may be higher or lower.
    mygov.scot ↗
  • You usually pay Council Tax for your home if you are 18 or over. You can apply for a discount if you are the only adult living there.
    mygov.scot ↗
  • The City of Edinburgh Council says advice and assistance is available to anyone who declares themselves homeless.
    edinburgh.gov.uk ↗
External links
Rent increases (mygov.scot) ↗Council Tax (mygov.scot) ↗Rightmove — homes to rent and buy ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Schools and childcare

Scottish schools work differently from England's: catchment places, P1 start dates and funded nursery hours.

  • In Scotland your council allocates your child a place at a local school, usually the catchment school for your address.
    mygov.scot ↗
  • You can ask for a council school outside your catchment area (a placing request). If there is space, the request must be granted; if refused, you can appeal.
    mygov.scot ↗
  • Primary 1 start dates depend on birth date: children born 1 March 2022 to 28 February 2023 start in August 2027.
    mygov.scot ↗
  • In Edinburgh, for in-year places apply directly to the school with the request form. If refused, your child joins a waiting list ordered by date of request.
    edinburgh.gov.uk ↗
Show 2 more
  • For 2026/27 Edinburgh offers up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare. Funding starts the term after a child's third birthday.
    edinburgh.gov.uk ↗
  • To apply for a nursery place, bring the application form, your child's birth certificate (or passport if asked) and proof of address such as a Council Tax letter.
    edinburgh.gov.uk ↗
External links
Choosing a school (mygov.scot) ↗Apply for a school place (Edinburgh) ↗Nursery places for 3 and 4 year olds ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Healthcare

NHS Scotland: registering with a GP and getting urgent help.

  • To register with a GP in Scotland, ask a local practice if it will accept you, then complete the registration form. Bring proof of identity and evidence of your new address.
    nhsinform.scot ↗
  • A practice may refuse you if you live outside its area or it is not taking new patients. You can register only if you are staying in the area for more than three months; otherwise you may be seen as a temporary resident.
    nhsinform.scot ↗
  • No internet? NHS inform can help you find a GP on 0800 22 44 88.
    nhsinform.scot ↗
  • Phone NHS 24 on 111, free, if you think you need A&E but it's not life or limb threatening, or when your GP, pharmacy or dentist is closed.
    nhs24.scot ↗
Show 2 more
  • The City of Edinburgh Council points new residents to NHS Lothian Dental Services to find a dentist.
    edinburgh.gov.uk ↗
  • Most visa applicants pay the immigration health surcharge: £1,035 a year, or £776 a year for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme visas and under-18s.
    gov.uk ↗
External links
Register with a GP (NHS inform) ↗NHS 24 ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Banking and ID

National Insurance number, eVisa share codes and a bank account.

  • Apply online for a National Insurance number if you live in the UK, have the right to work and are working or looking for work. Have your passport or EU/EEA/Swiss ID card ready.
    gov.uk ↗
  • You can start work before your National Insurance number arrives, as long as you can prove your right to work.
    gov.uk ↗
  • Get a share code from your UKVI account to prove your immigration status to employers or landlords. A share code lasts 90 days and you can get a new one at any time.
    gov.uk ↗
  • Basic bank accounts are free to open and run, with a debit card but no overdraft. You must be legally resident in the UK and at least 16 (18 at some banks).
    moneyhelper.org.uk ↗
Show 2 more
  • Banks usually ask for a passport or driving licence. If you lack the usual documents, some accept recent official letters such as a tenancy agreement, employer letter or HMRC letter.
    moneyhelper.org.uk ↗
  • The FSCS protects up to £120,000 per person at each bank, building society or credit union, across current, savings and fixed-term accounts.
    fscs.org.uk ↗
External links
Basic bank accounts (MoneyHelper) ↗Get a share code ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Driving and cars

Using a foreign licence, exchanging it, and Scotland's Low Emission Zones.

  • If you hold a licence from outside the EU and become resident, you can drive on it for up to 12 months from the date you became resident.
    gov.uk ↗
  • After 12 months, either exchange your licence (if it is from a designated country) or get a provisional GB licence and pass the tests. Use GOV.UK's tool to check if you can exchange.
    gov.uk ↗
  • DVLA driving licence enquiries: 0300 790 6801, Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm.
    gov.uk ↗
  • Scotland's Low Emission Zones, including Edinburgh's, operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
    mygov.scot ↗
Show 2 more
  • To drive in a Scottish LEZ, petrol cars and vans must meet Euro 4 and diesel cars and vans Euro 6, unless exempt.
    mygov.scot ↗
  • The first LEZ penalty is £60, halved to £30 if paid within 14 days. It doubles for each repeat in the same zone within 90 days, up to £480 for cars.
    mygov.scot ↗
External links
Low Emission Zones (mygov.scot) ↗Exchange a non-GB licence ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Where people live in Edinburgh

Average rent a month from official or market surveys, as of 30 Sept 2026. Asking rents for new listings are often higher.

City of Edinburgh

The city
1 bedroom£1,036
2 bedroom£1,324
SinglesCouplesStudentsGood transit
Source: Housing prices in City of Edinburgh (Lothian BRMA) — ONS ↗

Midlothian

South of the city
1 bedroom£1,036
2 bedroom£1,324
FamiliesQuiet
Source: Housing prices in Midlothian (Lothian BRMA) — ONS ↗

East Lothian

East of the city
1 bedroom£1,036
2 bedroom£1,324
FamiliesQuiet
Source: Housing prices in East Lothian (Lothian BRMA) — ONS ↗

West Lothian

West of the city
1 bedroom£618
2 bedroom£836
FamiliesLower rent
Source: Housing prices in West Lothian — ONS ↗

Falkirk

West, towards Stirling
1 bedroom£596
2 bedroom£811
FamiliesLower rent
Source: Housing prices in Falkirk (Forth Valley BRMA) — ONS ↗

Fife

North, across the Firth of Forth
1 bedroom£568
2 bedroom£751
FamiliesLower rent
Source: Housing prices in Fife — ONS ↗

Average monthly private rent by number of bedrooms from the ONS Price Index of Private Rents. In Scotland ONS publishes rents by broad rental market area (BRMA), not by council: City of Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian all show the Lothian BRMA figure (September 2026), and Falkirk shows the Forth Valley figure.

Thrive

Work, study, belong

Jobs and work

Finding work, proving your right to work and minimum pay.

  • Search and apply for jobs in England, Scotland and Wales on the government's free Find a job service.
    gov.uk ↗
  • From April 2026 the National Living Wage for workers 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. It is £10.85 for ages 18–20 and £8 for under-18s and apprentices.
    gov.uk ↗
  • If you are not a British or Irish citizen, prove your right to work to an employer with an online share code or an eligible immigration document.
    gov.uk ↗
  • You can start a job before your National Insurance number arrives if you can prove your right to work.
    gov.uk ↗
Show 2 more
  • Find your nearest Jobcentre Plus office with GOV.UK's local office search.
    gov.uk ↗
  • GOV.UK links to the Safer Jobs service for advice on avoiding job scams.
    gov.uk ↗
External links
Find a job ↗Minimum wage rates ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Universities

Applying, studying and staying on after graduation.

  • Undergraduate applications go through UCAS, with up to five choices. For 2027 entry, most courses have an equal consideration date of 13 January (18:00 UK time).
    ucas.com ↗
  • Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses have an earlier 15 October deadline. Applications after 30 June go into Clearing.
    ucas.com ↗
  • The University of Edinburgh describes itself as "influencing the world since 1583".
    ed.ac.uk ↗
  • To get a Student visa you need an offer from a licensed student sponsor. You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts.
    gov.uk ↗
Show 2 more
  • For a course outside London you must show £1,171 a month for living costs, for up to 9 months.
    gov.uk ↗
  • The Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, but 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027 (3 years for PhD graduates).
    gov.uk ↗
External links
UCAS dates and deadlines ↗Student visa ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Communities and support

Settling in: the council's moving checklist and where to get help.

  • The council's Moving to Edinburgh page lists first steps: Council Tax, voter registration, bins and garden waste, schools, GP and parking permits.
    edinburgh.gov.uk ↗
  • Families can check the council's information on free school meals and clothing grants.
    edinburgh.gov.uk ↗
  • British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens (and some EU citizens) can register to vote online. It usually takes about 5 minutes.
    gov.uk ↗
  • The City of Edinburgh Council says people granted leave to remain have legal rights to housing and other public services, and go through the same process as other applicants.
    edinburgh.gov.uk ↗
External links
Moving to Edinburgh ↗Register to vote ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Make Edinburgh your plan.

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