United Kingdom · Relocation guide

Leaving the UK: a practical departure checklist

Leaving is not one cancellation event: notify the offices responsible for tax, benefits, pensions, loans, council services and healthcare, and keep evidence for the destination country.

Content updated 11 September 2026. Individual source-check dates are listed below.

Decide what remains open

Save passports, immigration decisions, National Insurance records, pension statements, payslips, tax returns, medical records, school records and property documents. Ask each provider what changes when you live abroad rather than closing everything automatically.

Tell your local council, benefits office and pension administrator where the GOV.UK guidance says notification is required. Student Loans Company guidance matters if you have a loan and move abroad.

Tell HMRC using the route that applies

HMRC says permanent departure, a full-time overseas job for at least a full tax year, and some foreign-national departures require notification. The method depends on whether you file Self Assessment and your employment circumstances; P85 is not an automatic answer for every person.

The tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. Consider split-year treatment, UK income, property, pensions, National Insurance and any double-tax agreement. A departure does not itself guarantee non-residence.

Healthcare, home and belongings

Ask the relevant NHS nation or provider how ongoing prescriptions, records and planned treatment work after departure. Arrange healthcare in the destination country before relying on UK access.

Record meter readings, tenancy or sale documents, insurance and forwarding addresses. If shipping belongings back into the UK later, transfer-of-residence relief and ToR01 rules may matter; keep inventories and receipts.

After departure

Keep a calendar of tax, loan, pension and visa obligations. Tell HMRC if circumstances change and retain evidence of travel, work and home ties if residence becomes relevant. Keep a UK contact method without assuming that UK banking, benefits or healthcare continue unchanged.

Your moving checklist

Tick off the tasks that apply to you. The timing is a planning order, not a substitute for the deadlines on your permission or an official instruction.

0 of 5 tasks completed

Before you move

Notify council, benefits, pension, Student Loans Company and HMRC where applicable.

Assess tax residence and retain departure evidence.

Arrange mobile data for arrival.Check whether your existing plan covers your destination. Otherwise, compare an arrival eSIM with other suitable options. This task is optional and does not require a purchase.

On arrival

Arrange destination healthcare and preserve UK medical records.

Later and before renewal

Update HMRC and other offices when circumstances change.

Sources and checks

The linked authorities set the rules. VisaAtlas explains how the steps fit together; planning suggestions are not a decision on your immigration status, tax residence or entitlement to services.

GOV.UK: moving or retiring abroadSource checked 11 September 2026
HMRC: tax if you leave the UKSource checked 11 September 2026
GOV.UK: moving personal belongings to the UKSource checked 11 September 2026
NHS: ordinary residence and healthcareSource checked 11 September 2026
HMRC: statutory residence testSource checked 11 September 2026
Student Loans Company: repaying from overseasSource checked 11 September 2026