The investment platform question is one of the first practical problems that arises when a UK investor moves abroad — and it is often underestimated until the account closure notice arrives. Most UK investment platforms are designed for UK residents and have restrictions that prevent them from serving non-resident investors. Navigating this landscape efficiently requires understanding which platforms can serve you, what they offer, and how they compare to international alternatives.
The UK platform problem
The leading UK investment platforms — Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell, Vanguard UK, Fidelity UK, and most others — restrict services when clients move abroad. The restrictions vary in severity:
- Some platforms will allow existing accounts to remain open but prohibit new contributions or new investment purchases.
- Some will close accounts entirely once they become aware of non-UK residency, typically requiring the investor to sell all holdings and withdraw the proceeds.
- Most have specific restrictions for certain high-risk jurisdictions — US persons, for example, are typically excluded entirely due to FATCA compliance requirements.
The specific policy of each platform is not always easy to determine from their public documentation — terms and conditions often refer to "UK residents only" without specifying what happens if you move. When moving abroad, it is important to contact your platform provider directly and in writing to understand your status.
Leaving an account open at a UK platform while living abroad without notifying them may breach their terms of service and can create compliance issues. It is not advisable.
International-friendly platforms
Several platforms do serve internationally mobile investors effectively:
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the most widely accessible brokerage for internationally mobile investors globally. It operates under multiple regulatory licences (FCA in the UK, CIRO in Canada, MAS in Singapore, and others), can open accounts for clients in most countries, and offers access to a very broad range of assets: global equities, ETFs, bonds, options, forex, and more.
Account minimum requirements are modest (accounts can be opened with no minimum balance in most cases), the cost structure is competitive, and the platform is available in multiple languages. The interface is functional rather than elegant — IBKR is a platform for investors who know what they want, not for those seeking hand-holding.
IBKR does not offer ISAs or SIPPs — it is a general investment account (GIA) platform. For UK expats, this means investment growth will typically be subject to CGT and income tax on the underlying investment (though the tax treatment depends on your country of residence and relevant tax treaties).
Saxo Bank
Saxo Bank is a Danish-regulated bank with a strong presence across Europe and Asia. It offers investment accounts for residents of most European countries and many Asian markets. The product range is wide: stocks, ETFs, bonds, forex, options, futures. The platform quality is high — Saxo is known for its trading tools and research.
For UK expats in EU member states or Switzerland, Saxo is often the most accessible regulated option. Minimum investments tend to be higher than IBKR (platform tiers start from around $10,000 in most markets).
Degiro
Degiro is an EU-regulated low-cost brokerage available to residents of most EU/EEA countries. It offers access to global stocks and ETFs at very low cost. Not available to non-EU/EEA residents. Appropriate for straightforward buy-and-hold equity investment.
Novia Global
Novia Global is a UK-founded international platform specifically designed for UK expats and internationally mobile individuals. It holds FCA regulation and works with international financial advisers to provide investment accounts for clients living outside the UK. The product range includes a broad fund selection, offshore bond wrappers, and model portfolio services. Minimum investment levels are higher than retail platforms (typically £50,000+). Novia Global is primarily accessed through an IFA relationship rather than directly.
Offshore bond wrappers on international life company platforms
For many internationally mobile investors — particularly those with larger portfolios and longer time horizons — the most practical and tax-efficient solution is not a standard investment platform but an offshore bond wrapper provided by an international life company.
Offshore investment bonds are products offered by life insurance companies based in tax-neutral jurisdictions (Isle of Man, Dublin, Guernsey, Cayman Islands). They wrap an investment portfolio inside a life insurance policy, providing:
- Tax deferral: no UK income tax or CGT is payable while money remains inside the bond; tax is only assessed when proceeds are withdrawn
- Portability: offshore bonds issued by international life companies are designed to function regardless of where the holder is resident; they are not UK-resident-only products
- Investment flexibility: most international bond platforms offer access to thousands of funds, discretionary portfolio management services, and some offer direct securities
- Currency flexibility: bonds can typically be denominated in GBP, USD, or EUR, with the ability to hold multi-currency assets within
Leading international life companies in this space include RL360 (Royal London 360), Zurich International Life, Prudential International, and Utmost International (which has absorbed former providers including Quilter International and Clerical Medical International). These providers are accessed through regulated international financial advisers rather than directly.
The offshore bond is not appropriate for all investors — it involves product charges on top of underlying fund costs, it works best when held for longer periods (10+ years), and the tax benefit is greatest for those who expect to be in a lower-tax position when they eventually draw down. But for a UK expat building wealth over a career working internationally, an offshore bond on an international life company platform is often the most practical vehicle.
What to look for when choosing
When assessing any platform or wrapper, consider:
Regulatory protection in your relevant jurisdiction. The regulatory framework matters when things go wrong. An FCA-regulated platform provides access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for UK residents; but for non-UK residents, FSCS protection may not apply in any case. Look for regulation by a reputable jurisdiction (FCA, MAS, CSSF, CBI — the Isle of Man FSA for life companies) rather than obscure offshore regulators.
Currency support. Can you hold assets in the currency you need? Can you take income in the currency you spend? For a British retiree in Europe, a GBP-only platform creates currency conversion costs and exchange rate exposure on all income.
Product range. Does the platform offer the assets and funds you need? For most diversified investors, access to global ETFs is sufficient. For more complex needs (direct bond holdings, alternative funds, structured products), verify availability.
Cost structure. Platforms charge in different ways — per transaction, as a flat annual fee, or as a percentage of assets. Calculate your likely total platform cost for your specific portfolio size and turnover; what appears cheap for a small account may be expensive for a larger one, or vice versa.
Service quality. When you move countries, change your address, or need documentation for a local tax authority, how does the platform handle it? For international investors, the platform's ability to deal with cross-border administrative complexity matters.
The typical solution for mobile professionals
For most UK nationals who are internationally mobile, the practical solution involves two elements:
- A general investment account on an accessible international platform (IBKR being the most universally available) for liquid, actively traded assets.
- An offshore investment bond through an international life company, accessed via an independent financial adviser, for the longer-term, tax-efficient accumulation portion of the portfolio.
This combination provides liquidity, regulatory protection, tax efficiency, and portability — the four essentials for an investor who may live and work in multiple countries over a career.
Platform suitability depends on your country of residence, investment objectives, and individual circumstances. Tax treatment varies by jurisdiction and is subject to change. This article does not constitute personal financial advice. Always seek independent professional advice before making investment decisions.
How Global Investments can help
Our advisers work with internationally mobile clients to identify the most appropriate platforms and structures for their situation. We have established relationships with the leading international life companies and platform providers and can guide you through the selection process. Contact us for an initial conversation.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, prices and regulations change; verify current requirements with a qualified adviser before acting.