Every foreign national (including European Union nationals), resident in the UK for more than 3 months will need to obtain a card. Once the scheme starts, we will set a date after which new arrivals who intend to stay for more than three months will have to register. They will be able to do this at any point during the first three months of their stay - and they should find that having a card at the beginning of their stay will make it easier to carry out such transactions as opening a bank account.
When the scheme becomes compulsory it will apply to all legally resident foreign nationals (as it will to all British citizens too) who are not already registered.
