How to use this: copy the tasks into your family project, assign one owner and attach the confirmation—not just “done.” Rules differ by destination, so run this UK list alongside the official living-in-country and travel-advice pages for your chosen country.
Six to three months before: preserve your options
- Immigration: confirm the correct route for every adult and child; check passport validity, relationship evidence and certified-document requirements.
- Tax map: sketch expected departure date, UK days, workdays, homes and family ties for the Statutory Residence Test. Read the tax and HMRC guide.
- Home decision: value the property, obtain realistic rent and sales-cost estimates, and speak to lender and insurer. Use the rent-versus-sell framework.
- Schools: secure destination places before fixing housing where commute dominates family life; obtain UK reports, references, SEN records and exam information.
- Healthcare: compare suitable long-term insurance before a new diagnosis changes underwriting; map essential local providers.
- Pensions and investments: check NI record, State Pension forecast, account serviceability and destination-tax questions—without making a rushed transfer.
- Pets and shipping: work backwards from import permits, vaccinations, tests, airline limits and destination quarantine rules.
Three months to four weeks before: build continuity
Money
- Tell banks, brokers and providers your planned residence.
- Keep two independent ways to access money.
- Save emergency funds in useful currencies.
- Record cost bases and account contacts.
Health
- Arrange record summaries and medication plan.
- Check controlled-drug permissions.
- Complete sensible vaccinations.
- Put insurance start date in writing.
Legal
- Review wills and guardianship with cross-border advice.
- Consider suitable UK powers of attorney.
- Secure birth, marriage and education records.
- Confirm consent for a child travelling with one parent.
Four weeks to departure: notify with confirmed facts
| Organisation | What to do | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC | Use P85 or the Self Assessment/SA109 route that applies. | Submission receipt, calculation and correspondence. |
| Council | Report moving date, occupants and forwarding address for council tax and electoral records. | Final bill and account closure/update. |
| Benefits offices | Report the move separately for each benefit; Child Benefit generally needs notice for 8+ weeks abroad. | Decision notices and overpayment calculation. |
| Student Loans Company | Update employment and income if leaving for more than three months. | Overseas repayment schedule and uploads. |
| GP and providers | Tell the practice about a permanent move; settle care, records and prescriptions. | Health summary and medication letters. |
| Banks and investments | Update address and tax residence honestly; confirm continued services. | Written account restrictions and fee terms. |
| Insurers and lenders | Disclose vacancy, letting or overseas residence. | Endorsement, consent to let or closure confirmation. |
The final week and travel day
Photograph the evidence
Meter readings, property condition, luggage contents and high-value item serial numbers. Keep copies outside the device travelling with you.
Separate the essentials
Passports, entry approvals, certificates, medication, insurer details, payment cards and two-factor-authentication access stay in hand luggage.
Protect the empty property
Meet insurer conditions for inspection, heating, water and security. Give a trusted local person written emergency authority.
Fix the UK contact trail
Redirect important post, retain a secure digital mailbox process and update only organisations that genuinely need the new address.
Save the first 72 hours
Offline copies of accommodation, local transport, school, clinic, insurer and embassy details reduce stress when a phone or bank card fails.
First 90 days abroad: finish the move
- Complete local residence, address, tax number and driving requirements by their deadlines.
- Register with local healthcare and schools; give them the records you prepared.
- Confirm the correct overseas repayment schedule with the Student Loans Company.
- Check HMRC acknowledgement, PAYE refund or Self Assessment plan rather than assuming the notification landed correctly.
- Set an ongoing UK-day and workday log from day one.
- Review insurance once actual hospitals, activities and travel patterns are clear.
- Schedule UK property, pension, investment and estate-planning reviews instead of leaving them indefinitely “back home.”
Records worth keeping for at least the long term
Retention periods depend on the tax or legal issue. Create a secure permanent move file rather than deleting evidence after the first return.
Identity and family
Passports, visas, birth and marriage certificates, parental consent, school and medical records.
Tax and residence
Travel calendar, employment contracts, payslips, P85/SA109, residence analysis, treaty claims and foreign tax receipts.
Property and finance
Purchase and improvement costs, valuations, mortgage and letting documents, account cost bases and pension benefits.
Proof of notifications
Dated messages, submission receipts and decisions from every UK body and provider.