Moving to Manchester as an Immigrant: Complete Guide

Why Manchester?

Manchester is a large English city with a long history of migration and a growing technology and media sector. Your visa conditions do not change when you move within the UK — the Home Office sets those for the whole country. What does change is the machinery around you: renting checks, NHS charges, school applications and voter registration are all set in England rather than by the Home Office, and they differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

For a comparison with other UK cities, see our best cities for immigrants guide and our London vs other cities comparison.

Cost of Living

This guide gives no rent figures for the city. No official publication puts a reliable current number on what a flat costs here, and a figure invented for a guide is worse than none. Look at what is advertised today in the areas you are considering. Council tax is charged on top of rent, and the band and the rate are set by the borough, so check the council for the specific address.

For a detailed breakdown of UK living costs by category, see our cost of living guide for immigrants. If you are budgeting for your move, factor in visa fees, initial accommodation deposits, and transport costs alongside ongoing living expenses.

Job Market

Large employers include the NHS, the two universities, and technology and media companies with offices in the city, among them Amazon, Booking.com and Auto Trader. Financial and professional services also employ heavily.

A large employer is not the same as a sponsoring employer. To sponsor you on a Skilled Worker visa a company needs a licence, and since 22 July 2025 the job must normally be at degree level (RQF 6) and pay at least £41,700 a year or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. New applications also need English at level B2 from 8 January 2026.

If you are looking for sponsored employment, check our Skilled Worker visa guide and our list of eligible jobs. For advice on preparing your CV for UK employers, see our UK CV guide.

Transport

Metrolink tram network, extensive bus services, and multiple train stations. Manchester Piccadilly connects to London in just over 2 hours. The Bee Network is integrating buses, trams, and cycling into a single system.

For general transport advice, see our UK transport guide. If you hold a foreign driving licence, check our guide on exchanging your licence.

Neighbourhoods

Here are some areas popular with immigrants in Manchester:

• Rusholme and Longsight. Large South Asian community. The famous Curry Mile on Wilmslow Road. Affordable housing and good bus links to the city centre.
• Cheetham Hill. Diverse community with Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Eastern European residents. Affordable rents and specialist food shops.
• Moss Side and Hulme. Caribbean and African communities. Close to the city centre and universities. Rapidly regenerating with new housing.
• Salford and MediaCityUK. Growing area around the BBC and ITV studios. Modern apartments and good tram links. Popular with young professionals.

Before a landlord in England grants a tenancy, they must check that you have the right to rent. The scheme applies in England only — there is no equivalent check in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. You prove your status with a share code from your UKVI account, which is valid for 90 days. See our renting guide for visa holders for how right to rent checks and deposits work.

Schools and Education

Your children can go to a state school whatever visa you hold, for as long as you have permission to stay. In England you apply through the local council, even for a school in another council area. The council publishes the closing date; later applications are dealt with once the on-time ones have been. Trafford, just south of the city, still runs selective grammar schools with their own entrance tests. From the 2026 to 2027 school year a child in England qualifies for free school meals if you get Universal Credit, whatever your household income. If your visa says no recourse to public funds you cannot claim Universal Credit, but your child may still qualify — ask the school or the council.

For more information, see our guide to school places for visa holders and the UK education system.

Healthcare

Manchester is served by several large NHS hospitals, including Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe Hospital and Salford Royal. Register with a GP as soon as you have an address.

Paying the immigration health surcharge with your visa application lets you use the NHS on the same basis as someone who lives here. It does not make everything free. In England you pay the charges a resident pays: £9.90 for each prescribed item and NHS dental charges of £27.90, £76.60 or £332.10 depending on the treatment, including the check-up. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so this is one of the costs that changes if you move nation.

See our guides on registering with a GP and NHS access for visa holders.

Community and Support

Manchester has a strong tradition of welcoming immigrants. Community organisations include the Refugee and Asylum Participatory Action Research group, the Caribbean and African Health Network, and numerous cultural centres.

See our guides to community groups for immigrants and making friends in the UK.

Getting Started

If you are planning your move to Manchester, start with our first week in the UK checklist. Key first steps include opening a bank account, getting a National Insurance number, and registering with a GP.

You may also be able to register to vote. In England you can register if you are a British or Irish citizen, a Commonwealth citizen with permission to enter or stay, or a citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain with permission to stay. Some other EU citizens who held permission on or before 31 December 2020 can register too. Scotland and Wales are wider: anyone with permission to enter or stay can register there. Check the rules on GOV.UK register to vote.

For official information about settling in the UK, see the GOV.UK settle in the UK page and the find your local council page.

Questions and answers