How to open a bank account after moving to a new country
Opening a local account is often one of the first practical jobs after a move. The difficult part is rarely finding bank names—it is working out which account fits your residence stage, which documents the bank currently accepts, and what the account will really cost.
Start with the account’s purpose
Decide what the account must do before comparing providers. A salary account, a basic payment account, a student account, and a multi-currency account can have very different eligibility rules and fees.
List the essentials: receiving salary or scholarship payments, direct debits, local transfers, cash access, card payments, international transfers, and whether you need an account before you obtain a permanent address. This turns a broad search into a useful shortlist.
Prepare the likely documents—but verify each list
Banks must complete identity and anti-money-laundering checks. The exact evidence varies by country, provider, account type, and whether the application is online or in a branch. Never send identity documents to a comparison or research service; submit them only through the bank’s official channel.
- Passport or another accepted identity document
- Residence permit, visa, or evidence of lawful stay where required
- Local address evidence or an accepted temporary-address alternative
- Local tax number, social-security number, or equivalent where required
- Student enrolment or employment evidence for specialist accounts
Compare the whole cost, not only the monthly fee
A zero-fee account can still charge for card delivery, cash withdrawals, international transfers, foreign-currency conversion, replacement cards, or paper statements. Check the provider’s current fee schedule and note which fees depend on account usage.
If you are moving within the EU, banks should provide a fee information document for payment accounts. EU rules also give legally resident consumers a right to a basic payment account, although this does not remove identity checks and does not apply to every type of account.
Confirm the opening route
Online opening may still require a local mobile number, video identification, a supported identity document, or an address inside the country. Branch opening may require an appointment and may provide different language support by location.
Use the provider’s official website to confirm the current application link, appointment number, and document list. Avoid sending documents through links received from unverified messages or advertisements.
Use a simple final checklist
Before choosing, compare the same fields across every shortlisted account.
- Is your residence stage explicitly accepted?
- Can you apply with your current address and documents?
- What are the monthly, card, ATM, transfer, and currency fees?
- Is service available in a language you can use confidently?
- Is the provider listed with the relevant financial regulator or deposit-protection scheme?
- When was each requirement last verified?
Official references
External sources were checked when this guide was updated. Product rules and official guidance can change.
Your Europe — Bank accounts in the EU ↗European Commission — Access to bank accounts ↗