Your move
Thousands make this move every year. You don't have to work it out alone.
In 2025 an estimated 246,000 British nationals left the UK to live abroad, according to provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics. Spain has long been one of the most popular places Britons settle, Dubai has grown fast, and plenty of people make the same journey back to the UK every year.
What to do, and when
Whichever direction you're heading, the same few things decide how smoothly it goes: tax, visas, money, legal paperwork, somewhere to live and the move itself. Tackle them in the right order and the rest falls into place.
- 6 to 12 months beforeCheck your visa options, take tax advice on when you'll stop being resident, and decide what to do with your home.
- 3 to 6 months beforeBook your removal, arrange health cover, update your will and open a bank account at the other end.
- The final monthMove your money, tell HMRC and your pension providers, and gather the documents you'll need on arrival.
- After you arriveRegister locally, complete your residency, and set up schools, utilities and insurance.
Expat Confidant introduces you to one vetted specialist for each of these steps, on your route. Tell us about your move once and we do the matching. It's free and there's no obligation.
Sources: Office for National Statistics, Long-term international migration, provisional: year ending December 2025; AGBI, August 2025; Spain's Permanent Immigration Observatory via The Local Spain, December 2025.
Choose your route
Moving from the UK to Dubai
Swapping the UK for Dubai means leaving one tax system, joining a very different one and getting a visa, a home and a bank account sorted in the right order.
See the planMoving back to the UK from Dubai
Coming home after years in the UAE is rarely as simple as booking a flight. The timing of your return can change your UK tax bill, and there is a lot to wind down in Dubai.
See the planMoving from the UK to Spain
Since Brexit, a move to Spain needs a visa, careful tax planning and a fair amount of paperwork. Getting the order right makes the rest fall into place.
See the planMoving back to the UK from Spain
Moving home from Spain means leaving the Spanish tax system cleanly, deciding what to do with your property there and getting set up again in the UK.
See the planReady to plan your move?
Tell us about your move and we'll personally introduce you to one trusted specialist for each thing you need. There's no cost to you and no obligation.