Finance guides for expats and new UK residents covering mortgages, banking, tax and credit history. Built from GOV.UK, HMRC and FCA primary sources.
Data under Open Government Licence v3.0.
Moving to Japan from UK in 2026: UK nationals must apply under the general visa framework (HSP points-based, Working Holiday for under-31s, or employer-sponsored). Japanese income tax runs 5-45%; residents taxed on worldwide income after 1 year.
16 Jun 2026 · 8 min read
Singapore cost of living for UK expats 2026: a 2-bed CBD condo costs approx SGD 5,000-8,000/month (approx £2,950-£4,720). Car ownership via COE runs approx SGD 80,000-100,000 for a Category A certificate. British-curriculum school fees: SGD 30,000-50,000/year per child.
16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read
Moving to Thailand from UK in 2026: Retirement Visa (O-A, age 50+, 800,000 THB deposit) or LTR Visa (10 years, USD 80K income, 17% flat tax). Thailand changed its foreign income remittance rule in 2024: foreign income remitted by Thai tax residents is now taxable.
16 Jun 2026 · 10 min read
Australia cost of living for UK expats 2026: Sydney 2-bed apartment approx AUD 3,200-4,500/month (approx £1,630-£2,300); Brisbane is 30-40% cheaper. Australian food CPI inflation approx 3-4% (ABS). Permanent residents enrol in Medicare. AUD 1 is approximately £0.51 at April 2026.
16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read
Non-dom abolition 2025 impact: Finance Act 2025 (Schedule 9) abolished the UK non-dom remittance basis from 6 April 2025, replaced by the 4-year FIG regime -- no remittance test. TRF allows pre-2025 unremitted income at 12% (2025/26-2026/27) or 15%.
16 Jun 2026 · 12 min read
Retiring in Spain on a UK pension 2026: the UK State Pension is uprated annually in Spain and taxable at IRPF rates (19-47%). Private pension drawdown (SIPP) is taxable only in Spain under UK-Spain DTC 2013 Article 17. Government pensions (NHS, civil service) remain UK-taxable.
16 Jun 2026 · 11 min read
UK state pension qualifying years in 2026: 35 years are needed for the full new State Pension of £221.20 per week (2025/26); minimum 10 years for any entitlement. Class 2 NIC costs £3.45/week; Class 3 costs £17.45/week. An April 2027 deadline allows filling NI gaps back to 2006.
16 Jun 2026 · 10 min read
UK expat Spain vs Portugal 2026: Spain’s Beckham Law (24% flat rate, tightened 2025) suits employed professionals; Portugal’s IFICI (replacing NHR) suits qualifying researchers. Portugal is cheaper on rent and groceries. UK State Pension is uprated annually in both countries.
16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read
Under most UK double tax conventions, private pension income (SIPP, defined benefit) is taxable only in the country of residence (OECD Model Article 17). Government pensions (NHS, civil service) remain UK-taxable under Article 19. Pensions enter the UK IHT estate from April 2027.
16 Jun 2026 · 10 min read
The UK expat remittance basis was abolished from 6 April 2025 (Finance Act 2025 Schedule 9), replaced by the 4-year FIG regime -- no remittance test, full exemption for 4 years. TRF allows pre-2025 unremitted income at 12% (2025/26-2026/27) or 15%.
16 Jun 2026 · 10 min read
Moving to Cyprus from UK in 2026: post-Brexit UK nationals require a residence permit (Yellow Slip) from CRMD (moi.gov.cy/crmd). Cyprus’s 60-day tax residency rule requires 60 days plus economic ties. Cyprus non-dom regime: 17 years’ exemption on worldwide dividends and interest.
16 Jun 2026 · 10 min read
Currencies direct vs Wise in 2026: both are UK FCA-authorised payment providers. Currencies Direct (FCA 900669, since 1996) uses a dealer model for larger transfers; Wise (FCA 900507, since 2011) uses a self-service online model with published fees.
16 Jun 2026 · 8 min read
The Spain digital nomad visa for UK citizens (Ley de Startups 2023) requires 200% of the Spanish SMI -- approximately EUR 2,646/month in 2026 (approx £2,222). UK citizens apply at the Spanish consulate in London. The visa grants a 1-year initial stay extendable to 3 years.
16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read
Canada cost of living for UK expats 2026: Toronto 2-bed rent approx CAD 3,000-4,000/month (approx £1,650-£2,200). Groceries broadly comparable to UK at approx CAD 700-950/month for a family of 4 (Statistics Canada). Combined federal+Ontario income tax: up to 53.5%.
16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read
The UK expat property tax return 2026 requires SA100 + SA105 (UK Property) + SA109 (Residence Remittance Basis). Separate property income rates apply from 6 April 2026: 22%/42%/47% (Autumn Budget 2025 OOTLAR). NRLS withholds 20% from rent unless HMRC NRL1 approval is held.
16 Jun 2026 · 10 min read
UK expat pension contributions abroad 2026: Annual Allowance £60,000 (2025/26) subject to 100% of relevant UK earnings cap. MPAA is £10,000 if drawdown income has been taken. Tapered AA reduces by £1 for every £2 over £260,000 adjusted income; floor £10,000 (at £360,000).
17 Jun 2026 · 10 min read
The UK expat tax treaty Spain (2013 DTC) governs pensions, dividends and capital gains. Article 17 allows private pension income to be taxed only in the country of residence; government pensions remain UK-taxable. Finance Act 2025: 10-year UK residency triggers worldwide estate.
17 Jun 2026 · 10 min read
UK expat self employed tax in 2026: Class 2 NIC voluntary rate is £3.45/week (gov.uk); Class 4 NIC on profits: 6% on £12,570-£50,270 and 2% above. NI thresholds frozen until April 2031 (Autumn Budget 2025). UK dividend rates from 6 April 2026 via UK Ltd: 10.75%/35.75%/39.35%.
16 Jun 2026 · 11 min read
Portugal property for UK buyers 2026: IMT (transfer tax) runs 1-8%; Imposto de Selo adds 0.8%; annual IMI council tax is 0.3-0.45%. Non-resident mortgages: 60-70% LTV at approx 4-5% (Banco de Portugal). Finance Act 2025 IHT: 10-year UK residency triggers worldwide estate.
16 Jun 2026 · 10 min read
Moving to Netherlands from UK in 2026: post-Brexit UK nationals require a Verblijfsvergunning from IND for stays exceeding 90 days. The 30% ruling allows 30% of salary tax-free for qualifying highly skilled migrants (capped at EUR 246,000 from 2024). Dutch tax: 36.97-49.5%.
16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read
International schools Singapore for UK expats 2026: MOE (moe.gov.sg) registers all international schools; CPE (cpe.gov.sg) regulates them. British-curriculum fees run approx SGD 30,000-50,000/year per child (approx £17,700-£29,500). Singapore has 70+ international schools.
16 Jun 2026 · 8 min read
Expat health insurance in Australia 2026: the UK-Australia Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement covers urgent and essential medical treatment for UK visitors only. Permanent residents enrol in Medicare (2% Levy). Lifetime Health Cover loading: 2%/year over age 31, capped at 70%.
16 Jun 2026 · 8 min read
UK expat home insurance 2026: UK property let to tenants requires FCA-authorised landlord buildings insurance; overseas property via specialist brokers. UK Insurance Premium Tax is 12% standard rate. Verify any UK insurer at register.fca.org.uk. Premiums run £200-600/year.
16 Jun 2026 · 8 min read
The UK expat tax return in 2026 requires SA100 plus SA109 for non-UK-residents with UK-source income. Online filing deadline: 31 January 2027. Finance Act 2025 abolished non-dom status from 6 April 2025; 4-year FIG applies. Dividend rates from 6 April 2026: 10.75%/35.75%/39.35%.
16 Jun 2026 · 10 min read
Cost of living UK vs Portugal 2026: Portugal is 30-50% cheaper than London. Algarve 2-bed rent approx EUR 900-1,400/month (approx £756-£1,176); Lisbon approx EUR 1,300-2,000/month. Portuguese groceries are 20-30% cheaper than UK. UK State Pension is uprated in Portugal.
16 Jun 2026 · 8 min read
Moving to Ireland from UK: the Common Travel Area (2019 UK-Ireland MoU) gives UK citizens the right to live, work, and access services in Ireland without a visa. Irish income tax runs 20-40% plus USC. Dublin 2-bed rent runs approx EUR 2,200-3,000/month (approx £1,850-£2,520).
16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read
Spain cost of living for UK expats 2026: Barcelona 2-bed rent approx EUR 1,100-1,500/month (approx £920-£1,260). Spanish groceries are 15-25% cheaper than UK (INE Spain). Spanish income tax runs 19-47%. UK State Pension is uprated annually in Spain.
16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read
Cost of living UK vs Singapore 2026: Singapore CBD 2-bed rent runs SGD 5,000-8,000/month (approx £2,950-£4,720). Singapore income tax for residents: 0-22% (IRAS). British-curriculum school fees: SGD 30,000-50,000/year per child (approx £17,700-£29,500). Singapore has no CGT.
16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read
Moving to Germany from UK in 2026: post-Brexit UK nationals require an Aufenthaltserlaubnis for stays exceeding 90 days (BAMF). EU Blue Card requires minimum EUR 43,800/year salary. German income tax runs 14-45%; GKV statutory healthcare applies below EUR 73,800/year.
16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read
Dubai cost of living for UK expats 2026: a 2-bed Dubai Marina apartment costs AED 10,000-16,000/month (approx £2,100-£3,360). Zero UAE income tax versus UK rates up to 45%. School fees AED 50,000-100,000/year per child; mandatory health insurance AED 6,000-18,000/year.
16 Jun 2026 · 9 min readGet Kael Tripton in your Google feed
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