Moving abroad is demanding enough without discovering, two years later, that your UK life insurance lapsed the day you changed your address, or that HMRC has been assessing you as a UK resident, or that your pension is still paying employer contributions you are no longer eligible for. The financial complications of leaving the UK are predictable and avoidable — but only if you deal with them before you go.
This checklist is designed to be comprehensive. Work through each section systematically. Items marked with a star require action for almost everyone; others apply depending on your circumstances.
Section 1: Tax
★ Notify HMRC of your departure
File Form P85 (Leaving the UK — Getting Your Tax Right) with HMRC. This notifies HMRC that you are leaving the UK, establishes your departure date, and triggers any refund due for overpaid PAYE tax in the year of departure.
- P85 submitted to HMRC (do this once you have your departure date confirmed)
★ Confirm your UK residency status under the Statutory Residence Test
The Statutory Residence Test (SRT) determines whether you are UK tax resident in any given year. The test is based on the number of days spent in the UK, your connections to the UK (work, family, accommodation), and whether you meet automatic overseas or automatic UK residency tests.
- Understand your SRT position for the year of departure (split-year treatment may apply — you may be UK resident for part of the year and non-resident for the rest)
- Seek professional advice if your situation is borderline or complex
★ Complete a UK Self Assessment tax return for the year of departure
If you are within Self Assessment (most people with investment income, rental income, or self-employment income are), file your return for the departure year.
- Register for Self Assessment if not already registered
- File return for the year including your departure (deadline is 31 January following the end of the tax year)
Check whether you need to file UK tax returns as a non-resident
Non-UK residents with UK income (rental income, dividends from UK companies, UK pension income, UK employment income) may need to continue filing UK Self Assessment returns. Non-residents can also reclaim UK withholding tax overpaid under a double tax treaty.
- Identify all sources of ongoing UK income
- Confirm filing obligation with a tax adviser or HMRC Non-Resident Landlord guidance
Check your liability for UK tax on gains made in the year of departure
If you dispose of UK residential property, there is a separate CGT reporting and payment requirement for non-residents. Gains on UK-listed shares are generally not subject to UK CGT for non-residents.
- Identify any planned disposals before or after departure and understand the tax implications
Section 2: Banking
★ Check whether your UK bank account can be maintained as a non-resident
Banks vary. Many UK high street banks will allow accounts to continue when you move abroad; some will close them. The key is to notify the bank of your address change and ask explicitly about their policy.
- Contact your UK bank(s) and confirm their non-resident policy
- Update your address with all banks to your new overseas address (or a UK correspondence address if you have one)
★ Open an international or local bank account before you leave
Trying to open a bank account in a new country while you are already there, without a local address established, is difficult. If possible, open an account — or at minimum, arrange an introductory meeting with a bank in your destination country — before departure.
- International bank account opened (e.g. HSBC Expat, Barclays International, or a local bank in your destination country)
Consider a multi-currency account or service
For managing money across currencies (paying rent in EUR while receiving income in GBP, for example), services such as Wise (formerly TransferWise), Revolut, or a dedicated international current account reduce conversion costs.
- Multi-currency capability assessed and in place
Section 3: Pensions
★ Notify all pension providers of your new address and residency status
This includes old employer pensions you may have left decades ago. Finding them if you have lost track: check the government's Pension Tracing Service.
- All pension providers notified of address change
- Old/lost pensions traced and notified
★ Confirm whether you wish to continue making UK pension contributions
As a non-UK resident, you can continue contributing to a UK pension (SIPP) for up to five years after leaving the UK, capped at £3,600 gross per year regardless of earnings. After five years of non-residency, contributions are no longer permitted if you have no UK-relevant earnings.
- Decision made on continued SIPP contributions
- If employer is making contributions: confirm these cease or are reviewed
Consider whether a QROPS transfer is appropriate
A QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme) allows transfer of UK pension to an overseas equivalent in certain circumstances. Not appropriate for everyone — requires careful advice.
- Discussed with a pension transfer specialist if overseas retirement is planned
★ Check your UK State Pension entitlement
Log in to your State Pension forecast via Check your State Pension. If you have gaps in your National Insurance record, you can usually pay voluntary Class 3 NI contributions to fill them.
- State Pension forecast checked
- NI gaps identified and decision made on whether to fill them (Class 3 voluntary contributions)
Section 4: Investments
Check your ISA can be maintained as a non-resident
You cannot make new contributions to an ISA once you are non-UK resident — but you do not have to close it. However, some ISA providers may restrict or close accounts for non-residents. Confirm the position before you leave.
- ISA provider(s) contacted regarding non-resident policy
- If provider will not maintain account: arrange transfer to a provider that will
Check your investment platform's policy for non-residents
Most UK investment platforms (Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell, Vanguard UK, Fidelity UK) restrict services for non-residents. Some may close your account.
- Platform policy confirmed for each account held
- International platform or offshore bond considered for ongoing investment (see: choosing-international-financial-platform.md)
Consider the offshore investment bond
For those with significant savings to continue investing during their time abroad, an offshore bond from an international life company (Isle of Man or Dublin) is typically the most tax-efficient and portable ongoing investment vehicle.
- Offshore bond suitability discussed with an international financial adviser
Section 5: Insurance
★ Check life insurance and income protection residency conditions
UK life insurance policies typically cover you wherever in the world you live. But some income protection policies restrict coverage to UK residents. Check the policy terms or contact your insurer.
- Life insurance: residency conditions confirmed (most continue globally — verify)
- Income protection / critical illness: residency conditions confirmed
★ Arrange International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI)
The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) — which replaced the EHIC for British nationals after Brexit — provides only limited access to state healthcare in some EU countries on a temporary basis. It is not a substitute for health insurance when living abroad long-term. State healthcare in your destination country may require separate registration, contributions, or access conditions.
- IPMI policy in place before departure date
Review home insurance if letting UK property
If you are renting out your UK home, standard home insurance may not be appropriate. You need specialist landlord insurance.
- Landlord insurance in place if letting UK property
Section 6: Property
If renting out your UK home: register for the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme
HMRC's Non-Resident Landlord (NRL) Scheme ensures that UK tax is deducted at source by the letting agent or tenant — unless you register to receive gross rents and file a tax return.
- NRL Scheme registration submitted to HMRC (do this as a priority — you can apply before you leave)
If renting out your UK home: appoint a UK letting agent
A competent letting agent will manage the property, collect rents, and handle day-to-day issues. The NRL Scheme requires the letting agent to withhold UK income tax from rent unless you are registered.
- UK letting agent appointed
If you have a mortgage on the UK property: check your mortgage conditions
Some mortgages have conditions about letting the property or moving abroad. Contact your lender before departure.
- Mortgage lender notified (if applicable); buy-to-let mortgage confirmed or arranged if letting the property
Section 7: Legal Documents
★ Update your UK will or create one if you don't have one
Ensure your UK will is up to date and covers your UK assets. Consider whether you need separate wills for assets in other countries.
- UK will up to date
- Overseas will(s) arranged if significant assets in other jurisdictions
★ Create a Lasting Power of Attorney if you don't have one
A UK LPA can only be created while you have mental capacity. Do not leave without one. Takes several weeks to register.
- UK LPA (Property and Financial Affairs) created and registered with OPG
- UK LPA (Health and Welfare) created and registered with OPG
Consider a local power of attorney in your destination country
A UK LPA may not be recognised in another jurisdiction.
- Local power of attorney discussed with local lawyer in destination country
Section 8: Estate Planning
★ Update pension Expression of Wishes
Nominate who you want your pension death benefits paid to. This should reflect your current circumstances — update after any major life change.
- Expression of Wishes updated for each pension scheme
★ Update life insurance beneficiary nominations
If your life insurance policy is written under trust, confirm the trustees and beneficiaries are correct.
- Life insurance nominations confirmed and updated
Prepare a "when I'm gone" document
A document listing all accounts, pensions, insurance policies, legal documents, and contact details for your executor. Not a legal document — an information resource.
- "When I'm gone" document prepared and location known to executor/trusted person
Timing guidance
Most of these tasks should be completed before departure or in the month immediately following. Some — such as the HMRC P85 and NRL Scheme registration — must be done promptly to avoid incorrect tax deductions or assessments. Others — such as the overseas will and local power of attorney — can be completed in the first few months in your new country but should not be left indefinitely.
Tax rules, benefit entitlements, and financial regulations are subject to change. This checklist reflects the general position for UK nationals as of mid-2026 and is intended as a practical starting point, not as legal or financial advice for any individual's specific circumstances. Always seek independent professional advice appropriate to your situation.
How Global Investments can help
We offer a structured pre-departure financial review for UK nationals planning to move abroad — covering all the elements in this checklist and providing specific advice on investment structures, pensions, and tax planning for your destination country. Contact us to arrange a pre-departure consultation.
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.