Moving abroad from London means sorting four things in the right order: your right to live in the new country, your UK tax and official records, your home and belongings, and your pets if you have them. Start with the visa or residency rules, because every other date depends on them. This moving abroad checklist sets out what to do and when, with links to the official pages.
K1 Removals is a London removal company, and we move households from across London and the UK to Europe and worldwide. The rules below come from GOV.UK and the destination countries’ own guidance, but they do change, so check the official page before you act.
Before you start: check you can live there
Your first job when moving abroad from London is to find out what your new country requires. GOV.UK advises checking the “living in” guide for your country, and says you may need a visa if you plan to live in the EU. For work, contact the country’s UK-based embassy. People who were already living in an EU country before 1 January 2021 are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.
Moving abroad does not change your UK citizenship. GOV.UK is clear on that.
Once you know how long your visa or residency will take, you can set a realistic moving date. Try not to book a removal until that date looks firm.
Three to six months before you move
Book a survey and compare shipping options
Ask for a survey as soon as you have a likely date. A surveyor will work out the volume of your belongings, and that decides how they should travel. Part load, full container, road and air freight all suit different moves. Our international removals page explains each one.
Decide what is going
This is the moment to sort your home into four piles: ship, store, sell and donate. Shipping costs depend on volume, so there is no point paying to send furniture that won’t fit your new home. Measure first if you can. Check whether your electrical items will work abroad too, as voltage and plugs differ between countries.
If you are keeping some things in the UK, or your new home isn’t ready, look at removals and storage now.
Check the customs rules for your destination
Household goods are not always free of duty and tax. The rules depend on where you are going, and missing a condition can be expensive. Three examples:
- France: relief from duty and VAT on household goods needs you to have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months, and to have owned the items for at least six months. You need an itemised inventory and form cerfa 10070, and you can’t sell or rent the goods for 12 months. See our removals to France page and our guide to moving to France from London.
- Australia: goods arriving separately from you need an Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement (form B534). Failing to declare risk items on it can lead to prosecution. Our removals to Australia page has more, and we explain the furniture rules in shipping furniture to Australia from the UK.
- USA: household goods sent separately are usually declared on CBP Form 3299, with a detailed inventory. See our guide to moving to the USA from the UK.
For Spain, start with our London to Spain checklist. For the UAE, see moving to Dubai from the UK.
Start the pet paperwork early
Pets need the longest lead time of all. Under GOV.UK’s rules for travel to the EU from Great Britain, a dog, cat or ferret must be microchipped before or at the same time as its rabies vaccination, and you must wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination before travelling. You then need an animal health certificate from your vet, which is valid for entry to the EU for 10 days. You can’t use a pet passport issued in England, Scotland or Wales to enter the EU.
Dogs may also need tapeworm treatment for some countries. Non-EU countries have separate rules, so check the GOV.UK page for your destination.
One to two months before you move
Tell HMRC you are leaving
You must tell HMRC if you are leaving the UK to live abroad permanently, or to work full-time abroad for at least one full tax year. How you do it depends on your tax position:
- If you don’t normally file Self Assessment: fill in form P85, and include parts 2 and 3 of your P45 if you have one.
- If you do file Self Assessment: complete the residence section (form SA109) and send your return by post. GOV.UK says you can’t use HMRC’s online services to tell them you are leaving.
Pensions, benefits and student loans
- State Pension: contact the International Pension Centre.
- Benefits: tell the office that pays them. It will say whether they can continue abroad.
- Student loan: tell the Student Loans Company.
Banks, post and subscriptions
Talk to your bank about keeping a UK account, as some accounts have residency conditions. Update your address with your pension providers and any other firms you deal with. Set up mail redirection if you still expect UK post. Keep a UK phone number active for a while, since many banks send security codes by text.
Check your driving position
If you plan to drive in your new country, check the GOV.UK driving abroad guidance and the local rules on exchanging your licence.
Health and schools
Tell your GP and dentist you are leaving, and ask how to get copies of your records. If you have children, ask their school for reports and records for the new school. Find out how healthcare works in your new country before you arrive, not after.
Two to four weeks before you move
Finish your inventory
An itemised list matters more for an overseas move than any other. Customs officers want to know what is in each box. For Australia, the official guidance asks you to record what is in each box on the packing list, including the materials, for example “metal bed frame, wooden chair(s)”. It also says to number your boxes.
If you are using a professional packing service, your crew will build this list as they go.
Clean anything that has touched soil
This matters most for Australia, which lists outdoor furniture, garden equipment, sporting goods, wooden items, soil and food among its concerns. Clean outdoor toys, lawn mowers, footwear, bikes, barbecues and camping gear before packing. Vacuum carpets and rugs, and empty the vacuum cleaner. If live timber pests are found on arrival, the furniture is treated at your expense.
Sort parking at your London home
A long trip often means a bigger vehicle, and that needs space outside your door. In much of London that means a parking suspension from the council, and notice periods vary. Hounslow, for example, asks for at least 10 working days. Our borough parking suspension guide covers Hounslow, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham.
Close down the household
- Contact your local council and give a forwarding address, so your Council Tax can be sorted out.
- Give your energy and water suppliers a closing reading date.
- Cancel broadband, TV and other subscriptions, or give notice.
- If you rent, follow your tenancy’s notice terms. Our general moving house checklist for London covers the rest of the UK side.
Moving week
- Set aside what must travel with you: passports, visas, certificates, medication and valuables. Never pack these in the shipment.
- Keep copies of your inventory, shipping documents and quote in your hand luggage and online.
- Pack a suitcase for the weeks before your shipment arrives. Sea freight takes a while, so plan for that. Ask your removal company for the expected transit time.
- Take photos of your meter readings on the last day.
After you arrive
- Register with local authorities as your new country requires.
- Keep your customs paperwork safe. Some countries place conditions on your goods after they arrive, such as France’s 12-month ban on selling them.
- Check you can vote from abroad if you want to. GOV.UK says you can usually vote in UK elections if you move or retire abroad.
Moving abroad from London: FAQs
How far in advance should I plan a move abroad?
Start as soon as you know you are going. Three to six months is a sensible target, because visas, pet paperwork and shipping all take time. Some moves take longer.
Do I need to tell HMRC I’m moving abroad?
Yes, if you are leaving to live abroad permanently or working full-time abroad for at least one full tax year. If you don’t file Self Assessment, use form P85. If you do, use the residence pages (SA109) and send your return by post.
Do I pay Council Tax after I leave?
Contact your local council and give a forwarding address. GOV.UK lists this as one of the steps when you move abroad.
Can I take my furniture abroad without paying duty?
Often, but only if you meet the rules. Many countries offer relief on household goods you have owned and used for some time. The conditions and forms differ, so check them before packing. France’s conditions are set out above.
Can K1 Removals help me move abroad from London?
Yes. We handle international removals from London and the UK, from the free survey and export packing to shipping and delivery. Tell us where you are going and we will explain your options.
Get a free quote
Moving abroad from London is easier with one team looking after your belongings. Tell us where you are going, and we will arrange a free survey and send you a clear written quote. Call 0330 103 0041 or use the link below.