Quick Moving Abroad Checklist – Before You Leave the UK

Moving abroad is an exciting time, which means it’s all too easy to miss or overlook a fine detail that will cause you headaches later on. To make sure you get everything in order, let’s take a look at the key details you need to know and the important arrangements you need to get in order. 

Visas are more complicated with Brexit

If you’re moving to an EU country, you’ll need to apply for an entry visa, right to remain and right to work in your new country. The exact arrangement and process will vary from country to country and it’ll be the most time-consuming step in this list. Starting it early will enable you to avoid the stress, and to do so you’ll need: 

• A valid UK passport and copies of recent passport photos 
• Proof of your ability to financially support yourself and your dependents 
• To be willing to provide additional materials to support your application 

Where should you base yourself?

As well as the location, you also need to decide whether to rent or buy. Renting for at least the first 6 months would be a prudent solution that lets you get to grips with your new way of life. Depending on the country you’re moving to, there may also be restrictions on who can buy property and how long you have to remain there if you want to keep it. 

What do you do with your UK property?

If you sell it then you’ll have to pay capital gains tax, but if you continue to own it and rent it out, you can get some passive income. Make sure you have a trusted agent to manage it for you while you’re abroad and get a contract in place. You’ll also need to report your rental income to HMRC and the tax body of your new country. They will be able to advise under whose jurisdiction this new source of income falls, and where it’s taxable as a result. 

How do you deal with tax when moving out of the UK?

This will depend on where you base your assets, how large they are and which country you’re moving to. To get things started, you’ll need to complete a P85 with HMRC to inform them of your intention to leave the country. If you have savings and assets that will remain in the UK, you’ll need to notify HMRC with an R105 form. They will then be able to advise you on the level of tax you will have to pay in the UK. 

You will then have to contact the local tax agency in your new country. Many employers who employ ex-pats will be familiar with the confusion this can cause and will have a process in place that can guide you. 

How do you manage your old and new homes?

Contacting all of your UK service and utility providers with the date you will leave will allow them to bill you one final time. You then want to pass on the date of your arrival to providers in your new country. Many countries will offer a 14-day grace period for those moving from abroad that will allow you to find your feet. 

How do you move your pets abroad?

The days of 6-month quarantines are now a thing of the past thanks to pet passports. Apply for one and get them immunised for rabies at least 21 days in advance and everything should be okay. You can also contact the shipping company or airline you’re using to discuss how to transport them so they remain relaxed and comfortable throughout the duration of the journey.

How do you store anything you want to leave behind?

Leaving some of your possessions in a secure lockup in the UK is something many people do. Look for a site with 24-hour monitoring that will allow you to nominate a friend or relative to access your items on your behalf. You’ll then want to spend plenty of time packing and labeling everything so it’s easy to have bits and pieces set onwards in small batches if need be. A specialist moving company will be able to help make sure everything is stored the right way without delay. 

What are the most common things people forget?

Little things like updating a driving licence, getting a new health insurance or registering a child at a new school can take much longer in a new country because you’re not used to the way things are done.

The best approach is to take original copies of all supporting documentation with you: birth certificates, paper driving licences, spare passport photos, marriage certificates, etc will all help you get things done that little bit faster. If in doubt, start each step as early as possible and you’ll have plenty of time to put things right.