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Returning home : United Kingdom

People leave and return to the UK every day for many reasons.  Regardless of if you leave for a job opportunity or to just start a new life, it could mean that one day you may want to return.  You may have just decided you've had enough, or you may have a loved one who needs repatriation.  Whatever your or your loved one's reason for returning we will attempt to help.

So, the biggest question is... What do I need to do now?

DirectGov - Moving back to the UK   

• Arrange somewhere to live 
• Tax, benefits, pensions and National Insurance 
• Insurance and Health 
• Schools and Colleges 
• Driving Licence and Passports 
• Registering an imported vehicle 
• Bringing your pet home 
• Tie up loose ends 

Firstly you need to decide where you want to move back to. 

Once you have signed a contract on a property, you'll need to contact your local council.  You need to ensure you are registered for both Council Tax and included on the Electorial Register. 

Prior to moving in, you will also need to find out who the local utility companies are, and inform them of the date you take posession of the property.  This will ensure that they arrange final meter readings with the previous occupents and you would not take responsiblity for anything prior to that date.

Send out change of address cards!

Inform HM Revenue and Customs of your expected arrival date and find out if you have a tax liability.

HM Revenue & Customs - Contact US

Contact the Department of Work and Pensions.  Inform them of your impending return and passing on contact details for both your address abroad and in the UK.

Department for Work and Pensions - Contact Us

Ensure that your NI contributions are up to date and inform them you are back in the country too.

HM Revenue & Customs - Paying NI from abroad

Inform any insurance companies of your move back to the UK.

Register with a GP and Dentist in the local area.

If you have children, speak to the Local Education Authority regarding school and college places.

Find your local LEA

If you have chosen to exchange your driving licence while living abroad, change it back as soon as possible after returning to the UK.  Although legally, you can drive on a foreign licence for up to 6 months, it may become difficult sorting out car insurance etc without a UK licence.  So avoid the hassle and do this quickly!  In addition, make sure you change the address on your passport.  Incorrect information renders the document invalid...

If returning to the UK, you may either be bringing your UK car back with you, or a foreign one.  Either way, you will need to register/re-register it.  The following site will help:

Direct Gov - Register an imported vehicle

If you took your pet out of Britain, providing you kept the the Pet Passport rules, you should have no problem bringing them back.  If you have purchased a pet abroad, providing it's not an illegal animal in the UK, you should be able to bring it into the UK under the PETS scheme too.

Information regarding the PETS scheme can be found here:

DEFRA - PETS Scheme