Who Do You Need to Notify When You Move Abroad?

When you move abroad from the UK, you’ll need to notify HMRC, the DWP, your local council, your bank, the utility providers and several others before you leave. It’s not just the common ones either. From doctors to HMRC and from the council to the student loan company, missing just one can cause plenty of headaches further down the line.

Before moving abroad, tell the following organisations/people of your intentions:

This should all get completed promptly. Leaving anything to the last minute could delay your plans for moving abroad.

Telling HMRC that you are moving abroad is perhaps one of the most important steps. It settles any outstanding tax and refunds you anything you are owed. If you don’t complete a Self-Assessment, you will instead need to complete a P85 before you leave. If you do complete a Self-Assessment, you will need to report your planned departure on the residence pages of your return instead.

HMRC need to know if you are leaving for at least a full UK tax year; a short business trip or a holiday does not need to be included.

In some cases, you’ll be owed a refund as tax is calculated on an annual basis and spread evenly across the 12 months. If you leave halfway through, you may have paid too much tax. Completing the P85 or the SA109 section of the Self-Assessment will start the refund process.

If you claim benefits, you’ll need to let the DWP know before you move abroad. In many cases, benefits cannot be paid once you leave the country, and unreported changes could mean you are overpaid. You’ll then have to repay these.

If you receive or are close to receiving the State Pension, contact the International Pension Centre. Your pension can still be paid if you live abroad, but it will only rise if you are living in certain countries. The International Pension Centre can help with this.

If you are moving abroad and still have a student loan, The Student Loans Company must be told if you will be living outside of the UK for more than three months. For each year you are abroad, you’ll need to complete an Overseas Income Assessment Form. This will help formulate how much you pay each month. If you choose to skip this, you will likely be stuck on fixed repayments that can be high.

The final government department to inform of your plans to move away is the DVLA. A GB licence needs UK residency to be valid, and once abroad, you may have to change it for a local one. Rules and timeframes for this vary by country, so always check with the driving authority for the country you are moving to before you leave.

You will need to let your bank, building society and mortgage lender know that you are moving. Some accounts in the UK, when linked to a UK address, can become restricted or closed if the provider doesn’t know you’ve become non-resident.

Non-residents also have different rules, so you should speak to your bank in advance to learn what you can keep open and what needs to be closed.

If you own your home but plan to let it out while abroad, you may find you breach your current mortgage agreement. Speak to your lender as soon as possible, as you may require consent or need to switch mortgage products.

Let your insurers know you are moving abroad and remember you may have a broad range of policies. Home, car, pet and life insurance policies all need to be cancelled or changed. In many contracts, policies are tied to a UK address and residency, so moving abroad without informing your provider could see coverage cancelled. Source international health insurance, suitable car insurance, expat life insurance and other policies that align with your relocation before you leave so there are no coverage gaps.

In the UK, you cannot stay registered with an NHS practice once you are no longer ordinarily resident. Notify your GP and dentist about two weeks before you go, and then make sure you are prepared to organise healthcare in the country you are moving to. We’ve compiled a selection of expat country guides to help you navigate the system in your new country.

Contact your local council at least a month before you leave. This enables your council tax account to be closed and your name removed from the electoral register.

At the same time, speak to your utility providers (gas, electricity, water) and inform them of your moving date. They will handle closing your account and, on the day you move out, supply them with a meter reading for a final bill; otherwise, charges in your name will keep building up.

It’s also worth remembering any subscriptions you may have. Netflix, Sky TV, magazines, gym memberships. Each comes with a cost, and some may have exit fees. Check the contracts to see what notice period is required and whether you’ll have to pay any fees for leaving. Remember, forgetting to cancel one small subscription could see you paying for months on end when you can’t even use the service.

It can also be worthwhile setting up a Royal Mail redirection. This ensures post can be forwarded on to your overseas address and you won’t miss anything important. You can do this about a week or two before you go.

If you have children, their school, nursery or childminder may require notice that you are moving abroad. In some settings, a term’s notice is common, and leaving it late can result in extra fees. When you do inform the school, nursery or childminder, ask for any records and references as this will help with enrolment abroad.

Earlier is always safest. That way you have room to tie up any loose ends if something doesn’t go to plan. As a rough rule, you should notify people as follows:

As we touched upon earlier, insurance can be invalidated if you move abroad without informing your provider, so sourcing appropriate cover is essential. Whether it’s for the home, your health, your pets or your car, having suitable coverage can save you a fortune. At Expatriate Healthcare, we provide tailored health, life and travel insurance policies for expats that may align with your new life abroad. Contact our team today to see what coverage we provide and whether it matches your needs.