Moving abroad sounds romantic until you start trying to do it. Visas, tax residency, healthcare, banking, schools, removals, pets and pensions all interact in awkward ways, and a small misstep in the first six months can cost thousands. This article is a practical checklist for UK residents planning a relocation in 2026, whether to the EU, the Gulf, North America, Australasia or further afield.
Since Brexit, UK passport holders no longer have automatic rights to live and work in EU countries. Most popular destinations now require a specific visa: digital nomad visas in Spain and Portugal, lifestyle and retirement visas in Italy and Greece, work permits in Germany and France, and skilled worker routes in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
The Gulf states use a sponsor system tied to employment or property ownership in some emirates. Always apply through the official government portal of the destination country, not a third-party agency. Allow 3 to 9 months for processing and have all UK documents apostilled and translated where required.
Whether you remain UK tax resident after leaving depends on the Statutory Residence Test and your specific circumstances. Counting days in the UK, ties such as accommodation, family and work, and the date of your departure all matter. Most people who genuinely move abroad become non-resident in the tax year of departure, but split-year treatment must be claimed correctly.
Becoming tax resident in your new country usually happens after 183 days, although treaty rules can apply earlier. Take advice from a cross-border accountant before you move, especially if you have rental property, dividends, share options or a UK business. Double tax treaties are your friend but they only help if you actually invoke them.
Once you become non-resident, you lose entitlement to ongoing free NHS care apart from immediately necessary treatment. Most destinations require proof of private health insurance as part of the visa process. EU countries with state systems often require contributions or a transition period using the Global Health Insurance Card.
Pre-existing conditions are the area where international cover is weakest. Check exclusions carefully and consider top-up plans for chronic conditions. If you split your time between the UK and your new country, the rules become more complex and worth taking specific advice on.
Open a local bank account as soon as you have a residence permit. Keep one UK current account open for ongoing UK income and to receive pension or dividend payments. International transfer services such as Wise, Revolut and Currencies Direct are usually far cheaper than high-street bank wires.
UK pensions can usually be drawn while abroad. State Pension can be paid into an overseas account but may not be uprated each year depending on the country. Final salary schemes generally pay out in sterling. Be very wary of QROPS and overseas pension transfer pitches, which often carry high fees and tax risks.
Get at least three quotes from BAR-Overseas members for international removals and read the contract carefully — sea freight is cheaper but slower, air is faster but expensive. Pets need rabies vaccinations, microchips and increasingly export health certificates. Build in a long lead time.
Schools should be researched well before arrival. International schools usually have waiting lists and entry exams. Local public schools in many countries are excellent but require language support in the first year. Set up local mobile, utilities and address registration in your first week — without them, banking and admin grind to a halt.
It depends on the Statutory Residence Test ties — typically up to 90 days a year before triggering UK tax residence, though as few as 16 days can be problematic in some scenarios.
Most UK banks allow expat customers to keep current accounts, but some close them on overseas address notification. Specialist international banks can help.
Routine NHS access stops once you become non-resident, although emergency treatment is still provided and certain reciprocal arrangements apply in some countries.
How the UK cost of living compares to Spain, Portugal, France, Dubai, Australia, Canada and the US in 2026 — housing, food, healthcare, schools and lifestyle.
Read guideHow the UK Statutory Residence Test works when you move abroad in 2026: day counts, ties, split-year treatment and double taxation agreements.
Read guideWhat international removals from the UK cost in 2026, how shipping containers and groupage work, customs paperwork, insurance and how to choose a mover.
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