Life as a British Expat: Useful Resources

Welcome to our Expat Resources portal.

Here we answer some of your top questions relating to living overseas (or making the move). We look at the practicalities of leaving the UK - things you should do before, while and after you're gone.

We take an in-depth look at careers for Brits abroad, from the traditional path of working for a multinational, or teaching, to some of the more unconventional approaches, such as working online or freelancing. There are plenty of ways to be location independent!

In this section we also review some of our favourite services for expat life. Including everything from ways of watching British TV overseas, to ordering your favourite groceries, to sending money to and from the UK with less hassle.

Browse our latest posts below, or access the full archives here:

List of Useful Resources

Moving out of the UK is a big decision that requires planning, research and the ability to adapt to a new way of life.

To help you with the move, and the decision process itself, we've compiled some helpful resources for expat Brits.

British Expat resources

British Expat resources: Some information you may find help...

British Expat Resources

UK Government advice on working abroad -- One of the most stressful parts of moving overseas is working out what you still need to pay (if anything) in UK taxes. This government resource helps you through what is still an unfortunately convoluted process.

UK Government foreign travel advice -- The latest Government travel advice for 225 countries and territories with information on staying safe. For most countries, Brit expats shouldn't have to worry about this. But if you're planning on retiring and moving to a jungle in the subcontinent... better give it a glance.

Find a British Embassy -- You'll never know when you'll need one, and hopefully you never will. This is a list of all British embassies, high commissions and consulates. Spoiler: There's a lot of them!

UK Expat -- Specialist tax services for British expats living outside the UK. Probably only worth hiring this outside help if you have a lot of tax affairs to sort through.

NHS Healthcare Abroad -- The National Health Service has a useful guide explaining when and where you are entitled to free medical care (or reduced costs) whilst travelling abroad.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) -- A valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare whilst visiting any country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. Signing up for this is a no-brainer if you are moving to Europe. However, note that the after-effects of Brexit could lead to significant changes with European health insurance in the future.

Working Abroad (Prospects) -- Useful British portal curating resources for working abroad on a country-by-country basis.

StaySure -- Specialist insurance for expats, including: travel insurance, health insurance, home insurance, holiday home insurance and more.

Go Work Abroad -- For Brits looking to leave the UK and land a job overseas. Go Work Abroad is a collection of articles covering a wide spectrum of jobs-based moving advice.

XPatulator -- Useful international Cost of Living calculator.

Numbeo -- Another popular Cost of Living tool.

Blog Expat -- Huge selection of expats blogs and user submitted guides. Albeit not the easiest site to find what you're looking for.

Forums and Communities for British Expats

British Expats Forum -- A large site that has one of the busiest British expat forums, with sub-forums for every continent. Network with your fellow Brits and get advice whilst planning your move.

BritsAbroad -- Forum dedicated to Brits living abroad. Not the busiest of expat forums, but has some useful discussions in the archives.

Expats-Abroad -- Run by two British expats in Spain, this community is designed to connect Brits living abroad. It has a variety of articles that may prove interesting reads for expats.

Allo' Expat -- Aptly named for Brits, this forum connects expats from all around the world.

Expat.com -- A whooping expat support network with over 1.6 million members in 500+ cities worldwide. It's internationally themed so you'll have to pick out the advice that is relevant for Brits.

Expat Women -- Another international expat community, this time aimed at connecting female expats. Tons of information that British women abroad will find useful. Also has a forum for networking and finding local events.

Meetup -- Doesn't matter where you are in the world, this meetup portal (one of the world's largest) will have events going on near you.


Got a useful resource to add to this list?

If you have a site or blog that British expats will appreciate, drop us a message and we will consider it for inclusion.

The Logistics of Moving Home

It doesn't matter how well you prepare, moving home is stressful. But that doesn't mean there aren't steps you can take to reduce the stress - thankfully there are!

In our Moving Home section, we look at various checklists for managing the 'before and after' of relocation. From the best packing materials, to self storage deals, and step-by-step guides designed to combat moving pains.

Financial Planning for Expats

It always pays to be prepared when it comes to financial planning. But this is particularly the case for UK expats who don't always have access to the same banks and basic infrastructure once they have settled abroad.

In our Financial section, we look at some of your common concerns, from managing a mortgage abroad, to keeping track of student loan repayments. We also look at cost efficient ways of transferring money between countries, using services like TransferWise and WorldRemit, or the emerging tech of cryptocurrency.

uk mortgage moving abroad

What Happens To My Mortgage If I Move Abroad?

One question we hear time and again from would-be UK expats is, ‘what happens to my mortgage if I move abroad?’ It’s a good question. While moving abroad is undoubtedly…

Careers and Job Options for UK Expats

How will you pay the bills when you move overseas?

While many expats head abroad with a job in place, things don't always go to plan. It's good to be aware of the various career paths when moving to a foreign country.

In our Careers section, we look at some of the most popular options for Brits securing jobs overseas. We also profile some of the top location independent career choices, some of which can be fantastic ways of exploring the world and making money at the same time.

How To Find Chef Jobs Abroad

Considering moving abroad to be a chef? Make sure you read this guide first. The world is full of unique and delicious cuisines, so what could be better for a…