# ExpatCuppa > The community website for Brits living abroad: practical, sourced guides to the UK rules that follow British citizens abroad (leaving and returning to the UK tax system, the State Pension and National Insurance, passports, voting, UK property and money) and to moving, money, health, schools, housing and getting around in 20 cities. Written in British English. General information, not legal, tax, immigration or financial advice. Site: https://expatcuppa.com/ · Sitemap: https://expatcuppa.com/sitemap.xml · Updated: 2026-11-14 ## Sections - [Cities](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/): 20 city hubs with up to 20 guides each, by category - [Living abroad](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/): UK tax residence, the State Pension, banking, passports, voting and moving - [Back to Blighty](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/): UK mortgages, renting out or selling a UK home, the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme, wills and moving back - [Compare](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/): buying where you live vs back in the UK - [Join](https://expatcuppa.com/join/): community groups in 20 countries ## Vote - [Registering as an overseas elector: the five-minute form and the bits after it](https://expatcuppa.com/vote/registering-as-an-overseas-elector-step-by-step): The online form takes five minutes. Proving where you used to live can take longer. Here's every step, from the NI number to the attestation form. - [Renewing your overseas registration: the 1 November date that quietly removes you](https://expatcuppa.com/vote/renewing-your-overseas-registration-every-three-years): Overseas registrations always end on 1 November. Here's how the three-year cycle works, how to renew early, and what to do if you've already dropped off. - [Postal vote or proxy vote from abroad: which one actually gets counted](https://expatcuppa.com/vote/postal-vote-or-proxy-vote-from-abroad): A postal pack can't leave the UK until 19 working days before polling day. Here's how to decide between post and proxy, and the deadlines for each. - [Which constituency you vote in from abroad: your last UK address decides](https://expatcuppa.com/vote/which-constituency-you-vote-in-from-abroad): You vote where you last lived or were registered in the UK, even decades later. Here's how that address works, what boundary changes mean and how to check. - [Deadlines for general elections and by-elections from abroad: beat the clock](https://expatcuppa.com/vote/deadlines-for-general-elections-and-by-elections-from-abroad): A UK general election takes 25 working days from dissolution to polling day. From abroad, that's barely enough time. Here are the deadlines and how to get ahead of them. - [What overseas electors can and can't vote in: Westminster, yes; the council, no](https://expatcuppa.com/vote/what-overseas-electors-can-and-cant-vote-in): Votes for life means a vote for Westminster, not for your old council, mayor or devolved parliament. Here's exactly what's on and off the ballot from abroad. - [Updating your overseas registration: new country, new name, or back to Blighty](https://expatcuppa.com/vote/updating-your-overseas-registration-or-moving-back): Moved from Spain to Portugal, married, or moving home to the UK? Here's what to tell the council, what happens to your overseas registration and your postal or proxy vote. - [Flying home to vote in person: photo ID, your old polling station and the day itself](https://expatcuppa.com/vote/flying-home-to-vote-in-person-photo-id-and-the-day): Overseas electors can vote in person if they're in the UK on polling day. Here's which photo ID works, which foreign ID won't, and what to sort before you fly. - [Voting from abroad with a Northern Ireland address: paper forms, proxies and no postal votes](https://expatcuppa.com/vote/voting-from-abroad-with-a-northern-ireland-address): If your last UK address was in Northern Ireland, it's a paper form to EONI, a proxy or a trip home, and earlier deadlines. Here's how it all works. - [Getting help with voting from abroad: who to ask, and what they can do](https://expatcuppa.com/vote/getting-help-with-voting-from-abroad): Your council runs your registration, the Electoral Commission explains the rules, and the embassy can't help at all. Here's who to contact for what, from abroad. ## Living abroad - [Leaving the UK: telling HMRC with the P85 and sorting your last tax year](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/leaving-the-uk-telling-hmrc-p85-and-your-last-tax-year): HMRC won't notice you've emigrated unless you tell it. Here's when to send a P85, when you need a Self Assessment return instead, and how to get overpaid PAYE back. - [The Statutory Residence Test explained: are you still UK resident?](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/the-statutory-residence-test-explained): Leaving the UK doesn't make you non-resident. The Statutory Residence Test does. Here's how the automatic tests, the ties and the day count fit together. - [Split-year treatment: cutting your leaving year in two](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/split-year-treatment-the-year-you-leave): The tax year you emigrate is normally one whole UK-resident year. Split-year treatment cuts it in two, but only if you fit one of three cases. Here's how they work. - [UK income while you live abroad: what the taxman still wants](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/uk-income-while-you-live-abroad-rent-pensions-and-savings): Leaving the UK doesn't take your UK income out of the UK tax net. Here's what stays taxable, who keeps the Personal Allowance, and when you still file a return. - [Double taxation agreements: how Brits abroad avoid paying tax twice](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/double-taxation-agreements-and-reliefs): The UK has tax treaties with most countries Brits move to. Here's how they split the taxing rights, how to claim relief at source or a credit, and which form to send. - [Inheritance tax for Brits abroad: residence, not domicile, now decides](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/inheritance-tax-for-brits-abroad-after-the-2025-residence-rules): Since April 2025, UK inheritance tax on your worldwide estate depends on how long you lived in the UK, not on domicile. Here's how the test and the tail work. - [Working abroad for a UK employer: PAYE, National Insurance and posting certificates](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/working-abroad-for-a-uk-employer-paye-national-insurance-and-posting-certificates): Keeping your UK job while living abroad sounds simple. Here's when PAYE stops, when you keep paying UK National Insurance, and what the other country expects. - [Coming back: tax in your first year home in the UK](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/coming-back-tax-in-your-first-year-home): Moving back to Blighty? Your first UK tax year can be split, and if you've been away 10 years or more, foreign income and gains may be tax-free for four years. - [Keeping a UK bank account abroad: why banks close them and how to hold on](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/keeping-a-uk-bank-account-when-you-live-abroad): UK banks don't have to keep your account when you move abroad. Here's why they close them, which accounts tend to survive, and what to sort out before you go. - [ISAs when you move abroad: what you can keep and what has to stop](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/isas-when-you-move-abroad): You can keep your ISA when you emigrate, but you can't add to it while you're non-resident. And your new country may not treat it as tax-free at all. - [Sending money between the UK and abroad: rates, fees and the checks to expect](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/sending-money-between-the-uk-and-abroad): The fee is rarely the real cost of sending money abroad; the exchange rate is. Here's how banks and specialist services compare, and how to move a big sum safely. - [Your UK credit file while you're abroad: why it fades and how to rebuild it](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/your-uk-credit-file-while-youre-away): Your UK credit history doesn't follow you abroad, and it slowly fades while you're gone. Here's what stays on it, what to keep going, and how to rebuild when you come home. - [UK student loans abroad: thresholds, fixed payments and avoiding arrears](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/uk-student-loans-while-living-abroad): Your UK student loan doesn't stop at the border. Here's how to tell the Student Loans Company, what you'll repay in your new country, and how arrears build up if you don't. - [The UK State Pension abroad: frozen, uprated and how to get paid](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/the-uk-state-pension-abroad-frozen-or-uprated): Your State Pension follows you anywhere, but it only rises every year in some countries. Here's the list, the 2026/27 rates and how claiming from abroad works. - [Voluntary National Insurance from abroad: what changed in April 2026](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/voluntary-national-insurance-from-abroad-class-2-vs-class-3): Topping up your State Pension from abroad got dearer and harder in April 2026. Here's who can still pay, what it costs and how to apply. - [UK workplace and private pensions abroad: leave them, draw them, and beware the transfer pitch](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/uk-workplace-and-private-pensions-abroad-and-the-transfer-warnings): Your UK pensions can usually stay put and pay you abroad. Here's how drawing them works, why transfers are taxed and why cold-call pension offers are a red flag. - [Retiring abroad: the main retirement visas for Brits after Brexit](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/retiring-abroad-the-main-retirement-visas-for-brits): Since Brexit, retiring to the sun means a visa. Here's how the main retirement routes work, what income they want and what health cover you'll need. - [Renewing a British passport from abroad: fees, timings and emergencies](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/renewing-a-british-passport-from-abroad): Overseas renewals are online, cost more than in the UK and go by courier. Here are the 2026 fees, how long to allow and what to do in a real emergency. - [A baby born abroad: is your child British, and what do you need to do?](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/registering-a-child-born-abroad-and-british-citizenship-by-descent): Most children born abroad to a British parent are British automatically. The catch comes a generation later. Here's how descent works and what to sort out. - [Your UK mobile number and address abroad: keeping banks and HMRC happy](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/keeping-a-uk-mobile-number-and-address-for-banks-and-hmrc-while-abroad): Your UK bank still texts codes to a UK number, and HMRC still needs to know where you live. Here's how to keep both working from abroad without breaking any rules. - [Consular help from the FCDO: what the embassy can and can't do](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/consular-help-from-the-fcdo): The embassy can visit you in a cell, call your family and find you a local lawyer. It can't get you out, pay your hospital bill or lend you the fare home. - [Voting from abroad: how votes for life works for Brits overseas](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/voting-from-abroad-votes-for-life): The 15-year limit ended on 16 January 2024. Here's how to register as an overseas voter, pick postal or proxy, and keep your registration alive. - [Leaving the UK: council tax, jury summonses and who needs your new address](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/jury-service-council-tax-and-other-obligations-when-you-leave): Moving abroad doesn't switch off the council, the jury summons or the DVLA. Here's who to tell, what council tax you might still owe and the fines to avoid. - [Moving abroad checklist: what Brits should sort, and in what order](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/moving-abroad-checklist-for-brits): Visa first, then the taxman, the council, the bank and your NI record. A step-by-step checklist for leaving the UK without loose ends. - [Moving pets and belongings abroad: the dog, the sofa and the customs form](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/moving-pets-and-belongings-from-the-uk): Your dog needs a microchip, a rabies jab and the right certificate; your sofa needs a customs form. How Brits move pets and belongings abroad. - [Driving abroad on a UK licence: when it's enough and when to swap it](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/driving-abroad-on-a-uk-licence): A UK photocard licence covers a holiday. Moving abroad is different: you'll usually swap it for a local one, and DVLA won't let you keep an address you've left. - [Brits in the EU after Brexit: Withdrawal Agreement rights, the 90/180-day rule and the new border checks](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/brits-in-the-eu-after-brexit-residence-rights-and-the-90-180-day-rule): Lived in the EU before 2021? Your rights are protected. Everyone else counts days: 90 in any 180. Plus what the Entry/Exit System and ETIAS mean for you. - [The NHS when you live abroad: why free care stops, and how the S1 helps pensioners in the EU](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/the-nhs-when-you-live-abroad-and-the-s1-for-pensioners-in-the-eu): The NHS is for people who live in the UK, not for British passport holders. Here's what changes when you move, how the S1 works and what happens on visits home. - [The emotional move: leaving Mum and Dad, the partner who followed and the kids' friends](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/the-emotional-move): The removals firm takes the furniture. The guilt about Mum, the partner who followed and the kids' best mates come in your hand luggage. What helps Brits abroad. - [Bringing a non-British partner to the UK later: the family visa explained](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/bringing-a-non-british-partner-to-the-uk-later-the-family-visa): Married abroad and thinking of coming home? Your partner needs a UK family visa. Here's the £29,000 income rule, how it works if you're both still overseas, and the English tests. - [Your helper and your language: why shared words make a safer, happier home](https://expatcuppa.com/living-abroad/your-helper-and-your-language): Your helper may spend more waking hours with your children than you do. Here's why a shared language matters, how to offer lessons fairly, and where to find classes. ## Back to Blighty - [UK mortgages from abroad: why the high street says no, and who says yes](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/uk-mortgages-for-brits-living-abroad): Plenty of high-street lenders won't touch a salary paid abroad. Here's why, how specialist expat lending works, and what to have ready before you apply. - [Renting out your UK home from abroad: the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/renting-out-your-uk-home-the-non-resident-landlord-scheme): Let your UK home from abroad and HMRC expects 20% of the rent up front, unless you get approval on form NRL1. Here's how the scheme works and what changes in 2027. - [Buying UK property from abroad: viewings, ID checks and stamp duty](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/buying-uk-property-from-abroad): Buying back home while you live abroad is doable, but stamp duty can bite: the 2% non-resident surcharge and the 5% additional-home rates can stack up. - [Selling UK property as a non-resident: capital gains tax and the 60-day return](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/selling-uk-property-as-a-non-resident-capital-gains-tax-and-the-60-day-return): Selling your UK house from abroad? You must report the sale to HMRC within 60 days of completion, even with no tax to pay. Here's how the gain is worked out. - [Keeping your UK home or selling it before you go: rent, leave empty or sell](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/keeping-your-uk-home-or-selling-it-before-you-go): Let it, leave it empty or sell it? Each choice for your UK home comes with its own costs, rules and tax bill. Here's how they compare before you book the flight. - [Remortgaging from abroad: switch, move lender, or go buy-to-let](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/remortgaging-your-uk-property-from-abroad): Your fixed rate is ending and you're overseas. A product transfer with your current lender is usually the easy route, but letting the home changes the picture. - [Gifts and inheritances across borders: what the UK taxes, and what the other country might](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/gifts-and-inheritances-between-the-uk-and-abroad): The UK taxes the estate, not the heir. Your new country may take the opposite view. How gifts, the seven-year rule and inheritances work when family is split across borders. - [UK investments from abroad: what your platform will and won't let you do](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/uk-investments-and-platforms-when-you-live-abroad): Your UK platform account doesn't vanish when you move, but it often freezes in place. What you can keep, what you can't buy, and how the new country taxes UK funds. - [Powers of attorney from abroad: letting someone you trust run things back home](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/powers-of-attorney-and-managing-uk-affairs-from-abroad): Someone has to sign for the house, ring the bank and open the brown envelopes. How lasting powers of attorney work when you live abroad, and their limits. - [Wills across two countries: one life, two legal systems and a lot of paperwork](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/wills-and-estate-planning-across-two-countries): A UK will may be valid abroad and still not do what you meant. Forced heirship, choosing UK law in EU countries, executors abroad and probate back home. - [Moving back to the UK: the NHS, benefits, school places and home fees](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/moving-back-to-the-uk-nhs-benefits-school-places-and-home-fees): The NHS is usually yours again from day one. Benefits, school places and university fees each have their own residence test, and some are stricter than you'd think. - [Health cover between countries: insurance abroad and the NHS on your return](https://expatcuppa.com/back-to-blighty/health-insurance-between-countries-and-the-nhs-on-your-return): The NHS stops being free when you move abroad and starts again when you move back. In between: insurance, the S1, the GHIC, and a gap during the move nobody warns you about. ## Sydney - [Cost of living in Sydney: how it stacks up against London and the rest of the UK](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/cost-of-living-in-sydney): Sydney rents rival London's, the Opal weekly cap is a gift and a flat white won't break the bank. Here's what living in Sydney costs, in dollars and pounds. - [Sun, heat and bushfires in Sydney: a Brit's guide to staying safe](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/sun-heat-and-bushfires-in-sydney): The Sydney sun is not the Blackpool sun. Here's how to read the UV index, cope with a heatwave, follow the fire danger ratings and make a bushfire plan. - [Languages and your family in Sydney: the second language your kids will meet](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/languages-and-your-family-in-sydney): English is the easy bit. Your kids will still meet a second language at high school, and a partner who grew up with another language has free help on offer. Here's how it works in Sydney. - [Australian taxes for Brits: residence, the UK treaty and your frozen State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/australia-taxes-for-brits): Australia taxes you as a resident from the day you settle, while HMRC wants to know you've really gone. Here's how the two fit, and why your State Pension stops rising. - [Banking in Australia as a Brit: opening an account before you land](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/banking-in-australia-as-a-brit): You can open an Australian account before you fly and pick up your card in Sydney. Here's what the big banks ask for, why your TFN matters and what to do with your UK account. - [The frozen UK State Pension in Australia: what it costs you and how the Age Pension fits in](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/the-frozen-uk-state-pension-in-australia): Retire in Sydney and your UK State Pension never goes up again. Here's why, what that costs over twenty years, and how the Australian Age Pension can soften the blow. - [Superannuation and your UK pensions: what Brits in Sydney need to know](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/superannuation-and-your-uk-pensions): Your employer pays 12% into super from day one, and your UK pensions can usually stay put. Here's how the two fit together, and why transfers need regulated advice. - [Renting in Sydney: where Brits live and how to land a place](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/renting-in-sydney): Sydney rents are steep and inspections are crowded, but renters' rights are stronger than they were. Here's where Brits live, what you'll pay and how to protect your bond. - [Buying a home in Sydney as a Brit: the foreign buyer ban, FIRB and the NSW surcharges](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/buying-a-home-in-sydney-as-a-brit): On a temporary visa you can only buy new in Sydney, with FIRB approval and a 9% surcharge on top of stamp duty. Get permanent residence and most of that falls away. - [Moving to Sydney as a Brit: the visa routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/moving-to-sydney-as-a-brit): There's no British fast lane into Australia, but there are good routes. Here's which visa fits you, what it costs to qualify, and the first things to sort before you fly. - [Skilled work visas in Australia: the 482, 186 and 189 for Brits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/skilled-work-visas-in-australia-for-brits): Most Brits who settle in Sydney do it through a job. Here's how the Skills in Demand visa, the 186 and the 189 work, what they cost from July 2026 and how they lead to permanent residence. - [Australia's working holiday visa for Brits: three years, up to age 35](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/australias-working-holiday-visa-for-brits): Since July 2024 Brits can get three years in Australia on the 417 without a day of farm work, and you can apply up to the day before you turn 36. Here's how it works. - [Partner visas in Australia: a guide for Brits with an Aussie partner](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/partner-visas-in-australia-for-brits-with-an-aussie-partner): Fallen for an Aussie? The partner visa is your route to staying for good, but it's one of the priciest visas going and the evidence takes work. Here's how it works in 2026. - [Australian citizenship for Brits: when you can apply, the test and keeping your British passport](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/australian-citizenship-for-brits): Four years in Australia, the last one as a permanent resident, a 20-question test and a ceremony. And no, you don't have to give up your British passport. - [Healthcare in Sydney: Medicare, the UK agreement and private cover](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/healthcare-in-sydney): Brits get some Medicare cover from day one thanks to the UK agreement, but it has gaps. Here's what's covered, when you need private insurance and how to see a GP in Sydney. - [Medicare in Australia: when Brits in Sydney can enrol, and when you need cover](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/medicare-in-australia-when-brits-can-enrol): Medicare isn't the NHS, and not every Brit gets it. Here's who can enrol, what the reciprocal deal covers, and the levy and private cover deadlines new arrivals miss. - [Schools in Sydney: public, private, IB and the British question](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/schools-in-sydney): Sydney has almost no true British-curriculum schools, but plenty of good options. Here's how the NSW system works, what temporary visa holders pay and how to keep UK universities open. - [Driving in Australia with a UK licence, and getting around Sydney](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/driving-and-getting-around-sydney): Your UK licence works in Sydney at first, and swapping it for a NSW one needs no test. Here's the deadline that matters, plus how to get around on trains, metro and ferries. - [British life in Sydney: roasts, the footie at 2am and finding your people](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/british-life-in-sydney): Sydney is full of Brits, but British life here runs on a different clock: the footie before breakfast, Christmas on the beach. Here's where to find a roast, a match and your people. - [British food in Sydney: a proper cuppa, a roast and the footie](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/british-food-in-sydney): Sydney's oldest pubs do a decent Sunday roast, a Scottish butcher sells black pudding and haggis, and British sweets are a tap away. Here's where we'd start. - [Nightlife in Sydney: where Brits go out after the lockouts](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/sydney/nightlife-in-sydney): The lockout laws are gone and live music is back. Here's where to go out in Sydney, how late things stay open, what a schooner is and how to get home in one piece. ## New York - [Cost of living in New York: how it stacks up against London and the rest of the UK](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/cost-of-living-in-new-york): New York makes London look reasonable. Rent, health cover and tipping are the big shocks; the subway and wages soften the blow a little. - [Your Social Security number and US credit score: starting from zero in New York](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/social-security-number-and-us-credit-from-scratch): Twenty years of paying your Barclaycard on time won't help you rent a flat in Brooklyn. Here's how to get your Social Security number and build US credit from nothing. - [Languages and your family in New York: Spanish, dual-language classes and keeping English strong](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/languages-and-your-family-in-new-york): English gets you everywhere in New York, but Spanish is all around you and taught in hundreds of school classrooms. Here's what that means for a British family. - [US taxes for Brits: residence, the UK–US treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/us-taxes-for-brits): Once you're US resident, the IRS wants to hear about your whole world, ISAs included. Here's how the two tax systems fit together and why your State Pension is taxed in the US. - [Banking in the US as a Brit: your first account, your UK account and moving money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/banking-in-us-as-a-brit): You don't need a Social Security number to open a US bank account, but it helps. Here's what New York banks ask for, and what to do with your UK account. - [ISAs, UK pensions and PFICs: the US tax traps waiting for Brits in New York](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/isas-uk-pensions-and-pfics-us-tax-traps-for-brits): Your ISA is tax-free back home and fully taxable in New York. UK funds can be taxed punitively as PFICs. Here's what changes once you're US resident, and the forms involved. - [The UK State Pension and US Social Security: how Brits in New York get both](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/the-uk-state-pension-and-us-social-security): Good news for once: the US is on the uprated list, so your State Pension keeps rising. Here's how the UK–US agreement works and how to claim both pensions. - [New York State and City income tax: the three-layer tax bill Brits don't expect](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/new-york-state-and-city-income-tax-for-brits): Live in the five boroughs and you pay income tax three times over: federal, state and city. Here's how the layers work, who's a resident and why New Jersey commuters still pay New York. - [Renting in New York: deposits, broker fees and your rights as a Brit](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/renting-in-new-york): New York rents are eye-watering, but the rules have tipped towards tenants: deposits are capped at a month and landlords' brokers can no longer charge you their fee. - [Co-ops vs condos: what Brits need to know before buying a flat in New York](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/co-ops-vs-condos-buying-in-new-york-as-a-brit): In New York you don't just buy a flat, you may have to be approved by your future neighbours. Here's how co-ops and condos differ and what buying really costs. - [Moving to New York as a Brit: the visa routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/moving-to-new-york-as-a-brit): There's no easy way in. Most Brits reach New York through a job, a business, a course or an American partner. Here are the routes and what to sort before you go. - [US work visas for Brits: the E-2, L-1, H-1B and O-1 compared](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/us-work-visas-for-brits-e-2-l-1-h-1b-and-o-1): There's no easy US work visa, but Brits have more options than most. Here's how the E-2, L-1, H-1B and O-1 work, who they suit and what they cost in 2026. - [ESTA vs living in New York: what the Visa Waiver Program won't let you do](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/esta-vs-living-in-the-us-what-the-visa-waiver-program-doesnt-allow): An ESTA gets you into New York for a holiday or a meeting. It won't let you work, study, house-hunt for months or quietly stay on. Here's where the line sits. - [Green cards and US citizenship for Brits: the routes, the lottery and your British passport](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/green-cards-and-us-citizenship-for-brits): Family, a job or a big investment: those are the realistic green card routes for Brits. The lottery mostly isn't, and becoming American doesn't cost you your British passport. - [Healthcare in New York: insurance, deductibles and life without the NHS](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/healthcare-in-new-york): There's no NHS safety net in New York and no UK–US health deal. Here's how insurance works, what it costs you at the desk and where to go when you're ill. - [Schools in New York: British, international and public, and the road back to UK universities](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/schools-in-new-york): New York has one British-curriculum school, some excellent international ones and a huge free public system. Here's how they compare, what they cost and how to plan for UCAS. - [US universities or back to the UK? UCAS, the SAT and home fees for New York teenagers](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/us-universities-vs-going-home-ucas-the-sat-and-home-fees): Your teenager has grown up in New York and now has a choice: the Common App or UCAS. Here's how both work, the 2027 deadlines and the home-fees question. - [Driving in New York on a UK licence, and getting around without a car](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/driving-and-getting-around-new-york): Your UK licence is fine for a visit, but once you live in New York the DMV wants you on a local licence within 30 days. Most Brits barely drive anyway. Here's why. - [British life in New York: Sunday roasts, the footie and finding your people](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/british-life-in-new-york): New York has a big, busy British crowd if you know where to look: early-kickoff pubs, a 250-year-old English society, a proper roast and a grocer selling pork pies. - [British food in New York: a proper cuppa, pork pies and a pub for the footie](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/british-food-in-new-york): A West Village grocer with home-made pork pies, a tea room that's been pouring for decades and a pub for almost every Premier League club. Here's where homesick Brits go. - [Nightlife in New York: where Brits drink, dance and watch the footie](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/new-york/nightlife-in-new-york): Bars open till 4am, jazz on a Tuesday, the Premier League with breakfast. Here's how New York nightlife works for Brits, from where to go to tipping and ID. ## Toronto - [Cost of living in Toronto: how it compares with London and the rest of the UK](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/cost-of-living-in-toronto): A Toronto one-bedroom costs less than the London average, the TTC now caps your monthly fares, and OHIP covers the doctor. Here's what Toronto costs in pounds. - [Your first month in Canada: SIN, mobile and a credit history from scratch](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/your-first-month-in-canada-sin-phone-and-credit): Your UK credit score stays in the UK. Here's the order to do things in your first weeks in Toronto: SIN, bank, mobile, health card and a Canadian credit history. - [Winter in Toronto: proper cold, a lot of snow and how to keep the heating bill down](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/winter-in-toronto-snow-cold-and-heating-bills): Toronto winters are colder, snowier and longer than anything back home, but the city runs on them. Here's what to expect, what to wear and how to keep warm for less. - [Languages and your family in Toronto: core French, French Immersion and keeping English strong](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/languages-and-your-family-in-toronto): Every child in an Ontario English-language school learns French. Whether yours does a bit or a lot depends on decisions you make early, sometimes before you've even unpacked. - [Canadian taxes for Brits: leaving the UK system, the tax treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/canada-taxes-for-brits): Move to Toronto and Canada taxes your worldwide income from the day you settle. Here's how that fits with leaving the UK, the tax treaty and your State Pension. - [Banking in Canada as a Brit: your first account, your ID and your UK money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/banking-in-canada-as-a-brit): Opening a Canadian account is quick if you bring the right ID. Here's what the banks ask for, how the newcomer packages work and why you should hang on to your UK account. - [The frozen UK State Pension in Canada, and how it fits with CPP and OAS](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/the-frozen-uk-state-pension-in-canada): Retire to Canada and your UK State Pension freezes at the rate you first get there. Here's what that costs, and how Canada's OAS and CPP fit alongside it. - [RRSPs, TFSAs and your UK pensions: saving in Canada without tripping up](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/rrsps-tfsas-and-your-uk-pensions): Canada's TFSA and RRSP are generous, but newcomers start with little room. Here's how they work, how Canada taxes UK pensions and ISAs, and the transfer warnings. - [Renting in Toronto: neighbourhoods, deposits and your rights under Ontario law](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/renting-in-toronto): In Toronto the landlord asks for last month's rent up front, not a damage deposit, and newer flats have no rent control. Here's how renting works for Brits. - [Buying a home in Toronto as a Brit: the foreign buyer ban, two land transfer taxes and your first mortgage](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/buying-a-home-in-toronto-as-a-brit): Most Brits can't buy in Toronto until they're permanent residents or meet an exemption. Here's how the ban works, the two land transfer taxes and getting a mortgage. - [Moving to Toronto as a Brit: the visa and residence routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/moving-to-toronto-as-a-brit): A British passport gets you into Canada for six months, not a job or a home. Here are the routes that let Brits actually live in Toronto, and what to do first. - [Express Entry for Brits: how the points work and where Ontario fits in](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/express-entry-for-brits-points-and-provincial-nominations): Express Entry is Canada's main route to permanent residence, and it's a points race. Here's how the CRS works, what recent draws needed, and what Ontario's 2026 shake-up means. - [Canada's working holiday for Brits: IEC, the pools and staying on](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/canadas-working-holiday-iec-for-brits): If you're 18 to 35 with a British passport, IEC can get you two years in Canada, and a second stint later. Here's how the pools work, what it costs and how people stay on. - [Canadian permanent residence and citizenship: what Brits need to know](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/canadian-permanent-residence-and-citizenship-for-brits): Got your PR? Keep it with 730 days in Canada every five years, then aim for citizenship after 1,095. You don't have to give up your British passport to do it. - [Healthcare in Toronto: OHIP, the gaps and why the NHS can't help](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/healthcare-in-toronto): There's no UK–Canada health agreement, so OHIP is your NHS once you qualify. Here's who gets it, what it doesn't cover and how to insure the gaps. - [OHIP: how Brits in Toronto get Ontario health cover, and what it leaves out](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/ohip-getting-ontario-health-cover): Ontario dropped the old three-month wait, so eligible newcomers are covered straight away. Here's who qualifies, what to take to ServiceOntario and what OHIP won't pay for. - [Schools in Toronto: public boards, private schools and the IB](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/schools-in-toronto): There's no British-curriculum school in Toronto, but public schools are free for most newcomers' children and the private sector is big. Here's how it works, with fees in CAD and GBP. - [Driving in Toronto on a UK licence, and getting around without a car](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/driving-and-getting-around-toronto): Your UK licence works in Ontario for 60 days, then you swap it. Here's how the exchange works, why you don't need an IDP to move, and how to get around Toronto on the TTC. - [British life in Toronto: roasts, the footie, cricket and the old British societies](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/british-life-in-toronto): Toronto has British pubs with a proper roast, a cricket club older than Canada itself and societies founded in the 1830s. Here's where Brits find a bit of home. - [British food in Toronto: Sunday roasts, pie and mash and a proper pub](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/british-food-in-toronto): Toronto does a better roast than you'd expect. Here are the pubs, chippies, pie shops and British grocers we checked, from Leslieville to Yorkville and Scarborough. - [Nightlife in Toronto: where to drink, dance and catch a gig](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/toronto/nightlife-in-toronto): Toronto goes out later than you'd think and stops earlier than you'd like. Here's where to drink, where to catch a gig, what it costs and how to get home after 2am. ## Málaga - [Cost of living in Málaga: how it really compares with London and the rest of the UK](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/cost-of-living-in-malaga): Málaga is no longer the bargain it was, but rent and getting about still cost far less than London. Here's what you'll pay in euros and pounds, and where the savings vanish. - [NIE and TIE: Spain's foreigner numbers explained for Brits on the Costa del Sol](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/nie-and-tie-spains-foreigner-numbers-explained): The NIE is a number, the TIE is a card, and Spanish life runs on both. What each one is, which Brits need which, and how to land an appointment in Málaga. - [The padrón: why registering at the town hall matters on the Costa del Sol](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/the-padron-registering-at-the-town-hall): It's free, it takes one visit and half of Spanish life depends on it. How to get on the padrón in Málaga, Marbella or Fuengirola, and how not to fall off it. - [Learning Spanish in Málaga: why it's worth it, even if work is in English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/learning-spanish-in-malaga): Plenty of Brits on the Costa del Sol get by in English at work. The plumber, the GP and the school office are another story. Here's why Spanish pays off, and how to start. - [Spanish taxes for Brits: residence, the UK–Spain treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/spain-taxes-for-brits): Move to Málaga and Spain taxes your worldwide income, often at higher rates than you're used to. Here's how residence works, what the UK–Spain treaty says and where your pensions are taxed. - [Banking in Spain as a Brit: opening an account on the Costa del Sol](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/banking-in-spain-as-a-brit): A Spanish account makes life on the Costa del Sol far easier. Here's what the bank will ask for, the basic account you're entitled to, and how to keep your UK side ticking over. - [Spanish wealth tax, Modelo 720 and the solidarity tax: what Brits in Andalusia pay](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/spanish-wealth-tax-modelo-720-and-the-solidarity-tax): Andalusia has switched off most wealth tax, but the national solidarity tax and the Modelo 720 asset declaration still matter. Here's who's caught and what to file. - [Spanish inheritance tax and wills: what Brits in Andalusia need to sort](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/spanish-inheritance-tax-and-wills-for-brits-in-andalusia): Andalusia has made inheritance tax small for close family, but the paperwork after a death in Spain is still heavy. Here's how the tax, the EU rules and a Spanish will fit. - [Renting in Málaga: where Brits live, what you'll pay and how to avoid getting stung](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/renting-in-malaga): Long-term rentals around Málaga are scarce and pricey, but Spanish law is kinder to tenants than you might think. Here's where to look, what to sign and the scams to dodge. - [Buying on the Costa del Sol: abogados, notaries and how to dodge an illegal build](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/buying-on-the-costa-del-sol-abogados-notaries-and-illegal-builds): A Spanish notary isn't your solicitor, and a nice terrace can hide a planning problem. Here's how buying a home on the Costa del Sol works, what it costs and what to check. - [Moving to Málaga as a Brit: the visa and residence routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/moving-to-malaga-as-a-brit): Since Brexit, sunshine alone won't get you residence in Spain. Here are the routes Brits really use to move to Málaga, what each one asks for, and the first jobs once you land. - [Spain's non-lucrative visa: how British retirees get to stay on the Costa del Sol](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/spains-non-lucrative-visa-for-british-retirees): Retiring to the Costa del Sol after Brexit means a visa. Here's the income test, the health cover, the paperwork from the UK, renewals and why you can't work on it. - [Spain's digital nomad visa: working remotely from Málaga as a Brit](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/spains-digital-nomad-visa-for-brits): Keep your UK job and move your laptop to Málaga. Who qualifies for Spain's digital nomad visa, how much you must earn, the tax regime and where to apply. - [The 90/180-day rule: how part-year Brits on the Costa del Sol count their days](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/the-90-180-day-rule-for-part-year-brits-in-spain): Owning a flat in Fuengirola doesn't buy you extra days. Here's how the 90/180 rule really counts, what the new Entry/Exit System changes and how to stay longer. - [Healthcare in Málaga: the GHIC, the S1 and getting into the system](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/healthcare-in-malaga): The GHIC is for visits, the S1 is for pensioners, and everyone else needs a route into the Andalusian health service or private cover. Here's how it fits together on the Costa del Sol. - [Convenio especial: paying into Spanish public healthcare on the Costa del Sol](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/convenio-especial-paying-into-spanish-public-healthcare): No job, no S1, and tired of private premiums? After a year on the padrón you can pay a flat monthly fee for Spanish public healthcare. Here's the catch: prescriptions. - [Schools in Málaga: British schools, Spanish state schools and UK university](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/schools-in-malaga): The Costa del Sol has one of the biggest clusters of British schools outside the UK. Here's who's where, what fees look like for 2026/27, and how UK university works from Spain. - [Driving in Spain on a UK licence, and getting around Málaga without a car](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/driving-and-getting-around-malaga): Visitors can drive on a UK photocard licence; residents get six months before they must swap it for a Spanish one. Plus how Málaga's buses, metro and coastal trains fit together. - [British life in Málaga: roasts, the footie and the Legion on the Costa del Sol](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/british-life-in-malaga): The Costa del Sol has one of the biggest British communities anywhere abroad. Here's where to watch the footie, find a Legion branch, go to church and meet other Brits. - [British food in Málaga: where to find a cuppa, a pint and the footie](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/british-food-in-malaga): You can live on tapas and still crave a proper cuppa. Here's where Brits on the Costa del Sol stock up on home comforts, and where to watch the footie in Málaga. - [Nightlife in Málaga: late nights, cañas and the coast after dark](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/malaga/nightlife-in-malaga): Dinner at ten, drinks at midnight, clubs at two. Where to go out in Málaga and along the coast, what to order, how late it runs and how to get home safely. ## Dublin - [Cost of living in Dublin: London prices for rent, a bargain on the bus](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/cost-of-living-in-dublin): Dublin rent is London-level, the bus is cheaper than London's, and a GP visit costs money. Here's how the numbers stack up in 2026, in euro and pounds. - [PPS number, MyGovID and Revenue myAccount: your first weeks in Ireland](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/pps-number-revenue-myaccount-and-your-first-weeks-in-ireland): Ireland's PPS number is your National Insurance number, tax reference and welfare number rolled into one. How to get it, how to dodge emergency tax and what to sort next. - [Languages and your family in Dublin: Irish at school and the exemption for children from abroad](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/languages-and-your-family-in-dublin): Your kids will learn Irish in Dublin unless they qualify for an exemption, and the rules for children who arrive from the UK are precise. Here's how they work and when to use them. - [Irish taxes for Brits: income tax, USC, PRSI and what happens to your UK income](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/ireland-taxes-for-brits): Ireland taxes you on a calendar year, hits 40% sooner than the UK and adds USC and PRSI. Here's how it works for Brits, and what happens to UK pensions and rent. - [Banking in Ireland as a Brit: your first account, the paperwork and your UK money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/banking-in-ireland-as-a-brit): Opening an Irish account is easy once you can prove your Dublin address. Here's what banks ask for, the stamp duty nobody warns you about and why your UK account should stay open. - [Working for a UK employer from Dublin: Irish tax, PRSI and posting certificates](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/working-for-a-uk-employer-from-dublin-tax-and-prsi): Moving to Dublin but keeping your London job? Your laptop may be British, but Revenue sees an Irish worker. When Irish PAYE and PRSI apply, and what both employers need to sort. - [The UK State Pension and the Irish State Pension: getting both in Dublin](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/the-uk-state-pension-and-the-irish-state-pension): Retire in Dublin and your UK State Pension keeps its yearly rise. Add Irish PRSI years and you may get a second pension too. Here's how the two fit together. - [Renting in Dublin: what Brits need to know before handing over a deposit](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/renting-in-dublin): Dublin rents are London-level and there's barely anything on the market. Here's what flats cost by area, the new rules from March 2026 and how to avoid the scammers. - [Buying a home in Dublin: mortgage limits, Help to Buy, First Home and stamp duty](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/buying-a-home-in-dublin-help-to-buy-stamp-duty-and-mortgage-limits): Irish lenders cap borrowing at four times income for first-time buyers, Help to Buy now pays up to €35,000 and stamp duty is 1% on most homes. Here's the full picture. - [Moving to Dublin as a Brit: no visa, no stamp, but a few jobs to do first](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/moving-to-dublin-as-a-brit): A British passport is all you need to live, work, study or retire in Dublin. The paperwork starts with your PPS number, and gets harder if your partner isn't British or Irish. - [The Common Travel Area: why a British passport is all you need in Ireland](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/the-common-travel-area-living-and-working-in-ireland-as-a-brit): No visa, no permit, no registration. The CTA gives Brits almost the same rights as the Irish in Ireland, but it stops at your own passport. Here's what it covers and what it doesn't. - [Irish citizenship for Brits: grandparents, the Foreign Births Register and naturalisation](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/irish-citizenship-for-brits-grandparents-and-the-foreign-births-register): Got a granny from Cork or Belfast? You may be able to become Irish, and an EU citizen, without giving up your British passport. The routes, fees and timescales. - [Healthcare in Dublin: what the Common Travel Area gives you, and what you still pay for](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/healthcare-in-dublin): As a Brit living in Dublin you get Irish public healthcare on the same terms as the Irish. The catch is that GP visits aren't free for most adults. Here's how it all works. - [Schools in Dublin: international schools, Irish state schools and the road to a UK university](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/schools-in-dublin): Dublin has no shortage of good schools but almost no British-curriculum ones. Here's how the international schools, Irish state schools and admissions work for British families. - [University in Ireland or the UK: what fees your child pays as a Brit in Dublin](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/university-in-ireland-or-the-uk-fees-for-brits): UK nationals can get Ireland's Free Fees, but a child raised in Dublin may pay overseas fees in England. Here's how the CAO works and which fee rules apply on each side. - [Irish schools explained: patronage, exemptions from Irish and the Leaving Cert](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/irish-schools-patronage-irish-exemptions-and-the-leaving-cert): Most Irish primary schools are Catholic, Irish is compulsory unless your child qualifies for an exemption, and the Leaving Cert replaces A levels. Here's how it all works. - [Driving in Ireland with a UK licence, and getting around Dublin without one](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/driving-and-getting-around-dublin): Visitors can drive on a UK licence, but once you live here you must swap it for an Irish one. Here's how the exchange works, and how to get round Dublin on a Leap card instead. - [Bringing your UK car to Ireland: VRT, customs, the NCT and motor tax](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/bringing-a-uk-car-to-ireland-vrt-and-the-nct): Driving your car off the ferry at Dublin Port starts a 30-day clock. Here's how VRT, customs, transfer of residence relief, the NCT and Irish motor tax work for Brits. - [British life in Dublin: roasts, the footie, cricket and the Royal British Legion](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/british-life-in-dublin): Dublin is a short hop from home, yet just different enough. Here's where Brits find a roast, the footie, a cricket match, Remembrance and each other. - [British food in Dublin: a proper cuppa, a Sunday roast and the footie on the telly](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/british-food-in-dublin): Dublin is the easiest place abroad to feel at home: pubs show the Premier League and Tesco sells Marmite. The surprises are the tea aisle and what customs says about your bacon. - [Nightlife in Dublin: pints, gigs and getting home after dark](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dublin/nightlife-in-dublin): Dublin does a night out brilliantly, but the clubs shut earlier than you'd think and happy hours are illegal. Where to go, what it costs and how to get home. ## Auckland - [Cost of living in Auckland: how it compares with London and the rest of the UK](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/cost-of-living-in-auckland): Auckland rent comes in well under London's but above the UK average, the weekly bus fare is capped and the supermarket will make you wince. Here's what it costs, in dollars and pounds. - [IRD number, bank account and your first month in New Zealand: the Brit's checklist](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/ird-number-bank-account-and-your-first-month-in-new-zealand): Get the IRD number and the bank account sorted and almost everything else in your first month falls into place. Here's the order to do it in, and what to sort before you fly. - [Floods, cyclones and earthquakes in Auckland: what Brits need to know and how to prepare](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/floods-cyclones-and-earthquakes-in-auckland): Auckland is calmer underfoot than Wellington, but the 2023 floods showed what heavy rain can do. Here's the real risk, how alerts reach you and how to get your home ready. - [Languages and your family in Auckland: te reo Māori at school and in daily life](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/languages-and-your-family-in-auckland): Your kids will come home saying kia ora, singing waiata and counting in te reo. Here's how much Māori they'll meet at school in Auckland, and how to keep up yourself. - [New Zealand taxes for Brits: residence, the UK treaty and your frozen State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/new-zealand-taxes-for-brits): New Zealand taxes you as a resident almost from day one, but gives new migrants four years off tax on most foreign income. Here's how it fits with HMRC, and why your State Pension stops rising. - [Banking in New Zealand as a Brit: IRD number first, then the account](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/banking-in-new-zealand-as-a-brit): In New Zealand the IRD number comes before the bank account, not after. Here's the order to do things in, what the banks check and why your UK account is worth keeping. - [The frozen UK State Pension in New Zealand: why NZ Super softens the blow, and when it doesn't](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/the-frozen-uk-state-pension-in-new-zealand): Your UK State Pension won't rise in New Zealand, but NZ Super deducts it dollar for dollar anyway. Here's who actually loses out from the freeze, and who barely notices. - [KiwiSaver, the FIF rules and your UK pensions: a guide for Brits in Auckland](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/kiwisaver-the-fif-rules-and-your-uk-pensions): KiwiSaver is easy. Your UK pensions and ISAs are where New Zealand's tax rules bite. Here's how the two systems fit, and why transfers need regulated advice. - [Renting in Auckland: suburbs, bonds and the rules that protect you](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/renting-in-auckland): Auckland rents are quoted by the week, bonds are capped at four weeks and letting fees are banned. Here's where Brits live, what it costs and how to avoid getting stung. - [Buying a home in New Zealand: the foreign buyer ban, the exemptions and when Brits can buy](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/buying-a-home-in-new-zealand-the-foreign-buyer-ban-and-exemptions): A British passport doesn't get you a house in Auckland. A residence visa and a year living here usually does. Here's how the foreign buyer ban works and the ways round it. - [Moving to Auckland as a Brit: the visa and residence routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/moving-to-auckland-as-a-brit): Brits get a head start in New Zealand: six-month visits, a working holiday up to 35 and dual citizenship allowed. Here's which visa fits you and what to sort first. - [Skilled Migrant and Accredited Employer visas: how Brits get to work, and stay, in New Zealand](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/skilled-migrant-and-accredited-employer-visas-for-brits): Most Brits who move to Auckland for work start on the Accredited Employer Work Visa and switch to residence later. Here's how the AEWV, the points and the Green List fit together. - [New Zealand's working holiday visa for Brits: up to 35 and up to three years](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/new-zealands-working-holiday-visa-for-brits): Since the UK–New Zealand trade deal, Brits can take a working holiday in New Zealand up to age 35 and stay for up to three years. Here's how the visa works. - [Residence and New Zealand citizenship: from resident visa to a Kiwi passport](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/residence-and-new-zealand-citizenship-for-brits): A resident visa isn't quite permanent until its travel conditions are sorted. Here's how Brits go from resident to permanent resident to Kiwi citizen, and keep the British passport. - [Healthcare in Auckland: the UK agreement, the two-year rule and private cover](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/healthcare-in-auckland): The UK agreement only covers urgent care on a temporary stay. Full public healthcare needs residence or a two-year work visa. Here's how it works in Auckland, and what it costs. - [Schools in Auckland: Cambridge A levels, state school zones and fees](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/schools-in-auckland): There's no British international school in Auckland, but several schools teach Cambridge IGCSEs and A levels, and children of work visa holders can usually go to state school free. - [Driving in New Zealand on a UK licence, and getting around Auckland](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/driving-and-getting-around-auckland): Arrive from 1 November 2026 and you get 12 months on your UK licence, not 18. Converting is easy with no test for most Brits. Plus AT HOP, fare caps and the new City Rail Link. - [British life in Auckland: pies, the footie at 4am and finding your people](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/british-life-in-auckland): Auckland feels familiar to Brits, from the street names to the pies, but the footie kicks off before dawn and Christmas is a beach day. Here's where to find a pint, a match and your people. - [Rugby, Kiwi culture and te reo: a Brit's guide to fitting in in Auckland](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/rugby-kiwi-culture-and-te-reo-for-brits): Kiwis are friendly, funny and very like us, until they aren't. Rugby, te reo Māori and a few unwritten rules explain most of the gap. Here's the cheat sheet. - [British food in Auckland: Sunday roasts, pub footie at 4am and where to buy Hobnobs](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/british-food-in-auckland): A weekend roast on the Viaduct, shepherd's pie in Sandringham, Liverpool games in Parnell and two British grocers on the North Shore. Plus why Kiwi Marmite isn't your Marmite. - [Nightlife in Auckland: K Road, Ponsonby and a 4am last orders](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/auckland/nightlife-in-auckland): From K Road dives to Ponsonby wine bars and gigs at the Powerstation, here's where Brits go out in Auckland, how late it stays open and how to get home. ## Paris - [Cost of living in Paris: how it really compares with London and the rest of the UK](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/cost-of-living-in-paris): Paris rents rival London's, but getting about costs a fraction of a Travelcard. Here's what you'll pay in euros and pounds, and where the savings vanish. - [The carte de séjour: Withdrawal Agreement cards, renewals and permits for new arrivals](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/the-carte-de-sejour-withdrawal-agreement-cards-vs-new-arrivals): Thousands of five-year Brexit cards expire in 2026. Here's how to renew yours in Paris, and how residence permits work if you arrived after Brexit. - [French admin for Brits: the RIB, your first tax return and the CAF](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/french-admin-for-brits-caf-impotsgouv-and-the-rib): France runs on paper: a RIB here, a justificatif de domicile there. Here's how to file your first French tax return, declare your UK accounts and get set up with the CAF. - [Learning French in Paris: why it's worth it, even if work is in English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/learning-french-in-paris): An English-speaking office in Paris is easy to find. An English-speaking landlord, prefecture or school office is not. Here's why French pays off, and how to get going. - [French taxes for Brits: leaving the UK system, the treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/france-taxes-for-brits): Move to Paris and France taxes your worldwide income. Here's how French tax works, how the UK–France treaty stops you paying twice, and where your State Pension is taxed. - [Banking in France as a Brit: opening an account in Paris and keeping your UK one](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/banking-in-france-as-a-brit): In Paris you can't rent a flat, sign up for electricity or get paid without a French RIB. Here's how to get the account, keep your UK one and stay on the right side of the taxman. - [Assurance vie, PEA and your ISA: how France taxes a Brit's savings](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/assurance-vie-pea-and-isas-french-savings-for-brits): Your ISA stops being tax-free the day you become French tax resident. Here's how France taxes UK savings, why the French love assurance vie, and form 3916. - [French inheritance rules: forced heirship, choosing UK law and what your heirs will pay](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/french-inheritance-rules-forced-heirship-and-choosing-uk-law): French law reserves part of your estate for your children. Brits can choose UK law in their will instead, but a 2021 change and French inheritance tax still bite. - [Renting in Paris: what Brits need to know before signing a bail](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/renting-in-paris): Paris flat-hunting is a contact sport. Here's where Brits live, what a landlord can legally charge you, how rent control works and the scams to dodge. - [Buying property in France: the notaire, the compromis and what it really costs](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/buying-property-in-france-the-notaire-compromis-and-fees): In France the notaire runs the sale, the buyer gets ten days to change their mind and the taxes add 7% to 8% to an older home. Here's how a French purchase works, step by step. - [Rural France as an alternative to Paris: the Dordogne and Brittany](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/rural-france-as-an-alternative-the-dordogne-and-brittany): For the price of a Paris studio you can buy a stone farmhouse with land. Here's what the Dordogne and Brittany really cost, the septic tank rules and what rural life is like. - [Moving to Paris as a Brit: the visa and residence routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/moving-to-paris-as-a-brit): Since Brexit, a love of croissants won't get you residence in France. Here are the routes Brits really use to move to Paris, what each asks for and the first jobs once you land. - [French visas for Brits: the talent card, the visitor visa and working for a French employer](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/french-visas-for-brits-talent-passport-visitor-and-salaried-routes): Since Brexit, a Brit moving to Paris for more than three months needs a long-stay visa. Here are the main routes, the 2026 salary thresholds and what happens on arrival. - [Healthcare in Paris: the GHIC, the S1, PUMa and a mutuelle](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/healthcare-in-paris): The GHIC is for visits, the S1 is for pensioners, and everyone else joins French state healthcare through the CPAM, usually with a mutuelle on top. Here's how it fits together in Paris. - [Carte Vitale and mutuelle: how Brits get into French healthcare](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/carte-vitale-and-mutuelle-getting-into-french-healthcare): The French system pays most of your doctor's bill, not all of it. Here's how to get covered through PUMa or the S1, get your carte Vitale and fill the gap with a mutuelle. - [Schools in Paris: British, bilingual and French state schools for British families](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/schools-in-paris): Paris gives British families three real choices: a fee-paying British school, a bilingual British Section inside French state schools, or going fully French. Here's what each costs and how to get in. - [Bilingual sections in French state schools: the British international sections and the BFI](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/bilingual-sections-in-french-state-schools): A British international section gives your child a French state education with hours of English literature and history on top. Here's where they are around Paris and how to get in. - [Driving in France on a UK licence, and getting around Paris without a car](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/driving-and-getting-around-paris): Your UK licence may be fine for years, or need swapping within 12 months, depending on when it was issued. And in Paris, the Navigo pass will probably do more for you than the car. - [British life in Paris: roasts, rugby, the Legion and where to find your people](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/british-life-in-paris): Paris has one of the oldest British communities on the Continent. Here's where to watch the footie, find a Legion branch, play cricket or dance a reel. - [British food in Paris: pubs, fish and chips, a proper cuppa and a taste of home](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/british-food-in-paris): Paris does many things brilliantly, but a pint and the Premier League on a Saturday isn't one you'd expect. It's there if you know where to look, along with fish and chips and a decent scone. - [Nightlife in Paris: apéro, jazz cellars and the last métro home](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paris/nightlife-in-paris): Apéro at seven, dinner at nine, jazz at eleven and a Noctilien home. Where to go out in Paris, what it costs and how to get back safely. ## Cape Town - [Cost of living in Cape Town: cheaper rent, pricier extras and how it stacks up](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/cost-of-living-in-cape-town): Your pound goes a long way in Cape Town, but private healthcare, security and backup power add costs you never had at home. Here's how 2026 prices compare. - [Load-shedding, water and backup power in Cape Town: what to check before you rent](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/load-shedding-water-and-backup-power-in-cape-town): The lights have mostly stayed on since 2025, but Cape Town's dams are lower than they should be. Here's what to know about power cuts, solar, water and your next rental. - [Safety in Cape Town: what the FCDO says and how Brits actually live with it](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/safety-in-cape-town-fcdo-advice-and-everyday-precautions): Cape Town is a brilliant place to live, but it asks for more care than Bristol or Brighton. Here's the FCDO advice in plain English and the habits locals swear by. - [Languages and your family in Cape Town: Afrikaans, isiXhosa and the school language rules](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/languages-and-your-family-in-cape-town): Every child in a South African state school takes two official languages. In Cape Town that usually means English plus Afrikaans or isiXhosa. Here's how the rules work for British children. - [South African taxes for Brits: residence, the UK treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/south-africa-taxes-for-brits): Move to Cape Town and SARS taxes your worldwide income, but the UK–South Africa treaty and a few useful exemptions change the picture, especially for pensions. - [Banking in South Africa as a Brit: opening an account and moving your money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/banking-in-south-africa-as-a-brit): Opening a bank account in Cape Town is mostly paperwork. Here's what the banks ask for, how to keep your UK account going, and the exchange control rules worth knowing. - [The frozen UK State Pension in South Africa: what it costs you and how to claim from Cape Town](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/the-frozen-uk-state-pension-in-south-africa): Retire to Cape Town and your UK State Pension never rises again. Here's why, what that costs over twenty years, and how to claim and get paid in rand. - [South African exchange control: bringing money in, getting it out, and the paperwork in between](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/south-african-exchange-control-bringing-money-in-and-out): South Africa still controls money leaving the country. Here's what that means for Brits: declaring what you bring in, keeping the paper trail, and the allowances for taking money out. - [Renting in Cape Town: where Brits live, what you'll pay and how not to get scammed](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/renting-in-cape-town): Cape Town is South Africa's priciest place to rent, and the good flats go fast. Here's where Brits live, what deposits and leases look like, and how to spot a scam. - [Buying property in Cape Town as a foreigner: transfer duty, bonds and the real costs](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/buying-property-in-cape-town-as-a-foreigner): Foreigners can buy freehold in Cape Town, but bank lending, exchange control and transfer duty work differently from back home. Here's the process and the costs. - [Moving to Cape Town as a Brit: the visa routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/moving-to-cape-town-as-a-brit): You can visit South Africa for 90 days on a British passport, but living in Cape Town needs a visa. Here are the routes that work for Brits in 2026, and where to start. - [South African visas for Brits: the retired person's visa, critical skills and remote work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/south-african-visas-for-brits-retired-person-critical-skills-and-remote-work): Brits get 90 days visa-free. To stay longer you need a visa: here's how the retired person's, critical skills and remote work visas compare, and how to apply from the UK. - [Permanent residence in South Africa: the routes for Brits, the wait and what it changes](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/permanent-residence-in-south-africa-for-brits): Permanent residence means no more visa renewals. Here are the routes Brits use, how long Home Affairs takes, and what it changes for work, banking and property. - [Healthcare in Cape Town: medical aid, private hospitals and why the NHS won't help](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/healthcare-in-cape-town): Cape Town's private hospitals are excellent and expensive, the public ones are stretched, and the NHS won't pay. Here's how Brits get covered properly. - [Schools in Cape Town: Cambridge, international and state options for British families](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/schools-in-cape-town): Cape Town has a handful of Cambridge schools, good state schools in the leafy suburbs and fees well below UK private schools. Here's how it all works. - [South African schools and the British curriculum: matric, IEB or A levels in Cape Town?](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/south-african-schools-and-the-british-curriculum): Matric, IEB or Cambridge A levels? Here's how the South African school system lines up with GCSEs and A levels, which Cape Town schools teach the British route, and what it costs. - [Driving in South Africa with a UK licence, and getting around Cape Town](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/driving-and-getting-around-cape-town): They drive on the left, so that bit's easy. Here's how long your UK licence lasts, what converting involves, staying safe on the roads and using MyCiTi. - [British life in Cape Town: Sunday roasts, Newlands, the Legion and finding your people](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/british-life-in-cape-town): Cape Town has a long British history and a big British community. Here's where to find a roast, a pint at Newlands, Remembrance, cricket and each other. - [British food in Cape Town: a proper cuppa, a Sunday roast and the footie](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/british-food-in-cape-town): Braais are brilliant, but sometimes you want a roast and a proper brew. Here's where Brits in Cape Town find Sunday carvery, chippies, afternoon tea and home comforts. - [Nightlife in Cape Town: where Brits go out, and how to get home safely](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/nightlife-in-cape-town): Sundowners with a view of Table Mountain, speakeasies off Bree Street and rock bars in Observatory. Here's where to go out in Cape Town and how to get home in one piece. - [Wine country weekends from Cape Town: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Constantia](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/cape-town/wine-country-weekends-from-cape-town): Constantia is 20 minutes away, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek an hour. Here's how Brits in Cape Town do the winelands: tastings, the wine tram, and getting home safely. ## Berlin - [Cost of living in Berlin: how it really compares with London and the UK average](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/cost-of-living-in-berlin): Berlin is no longer the bargain it was, but next to London it still looks kind. Here's what rent, the U-Bahn, the weekly shop and a night out cost in euros and pounds. - [Anmeldung in Berlin: how Brits register an address (and why everything waits for it)](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/anmeldung-registering-your-address-in-berlin): In Berlin, almost nothing happens until you've registered your address. Here's how the Anmeldung works for Brits, what to bring to the Bürgeramt and when your tax ID turns up. - [The Aufenthaltsdokument-GB: your Brexit residence card in Germany, explained](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/withdrawal-agreement-status-in-germany-the-aufenthaltsdokument-gb): If you lived in Germany before 2021, a small card protects your right to stay. Here's what the Aufenthaltsdokument-GB covers, how to keep it and what newcomers need instead. - [Sundays, quiet hours and house rules: living politely next to Berliners](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/sundays-quiet-hours-and-german-house-rules): Hoovering on a Sunday? Bottles in the bin? Here's the guide to Berlin's quiet hours, closed Sundays, the Pfand and the house rules your neighbours expect. - [Learning German in Berlin: why it's worth it, even if work is in English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/learning-german-in-berlin): Your office may run in English, but your landlord, the Bürgeramt and the school gate don't. Here's why German pays off in Berlin, what's required and how to learn it. - [German taxes for Brits: leaving the UK system, the treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/germany-taxes-for-brits): Move to Berlin and Germany taxes your worldwide income. Here's how German tax works, how the UK–Germany treaty splits the bill, and where your State Pension is taxed. - [Banking in Germany as a Brit: opening an account, SCHUFA and your UK money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/banking-in-germany-as-a-brit): Your landlord wants a German account, your bank wants an address, and everyone wants a SCHUFA. Here's how Brits open an account in Berlin and keep their UK money working. - [Freelancing in Berlin: Freiberufler or Gewerbe, your tax number and the Künstlersozialkasse](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/freelancing-in-berlin-tax-numbers-and-the-kunstlersozialkasse): Berlin runs on freelancers, but the paperwork is very German. Here's how to tell Freiberufler from Gewerbe, get a tax number, handle VAT and use the Künstlersozialkasse. - [German tax classes, church tax and your Steuer-ID: the payslip puzzle explained](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/german-tax-classes-church-tax-and-your-steuer-id): Your German payslip depends on a tax class, a tax ID and a box you ticked about religion. Here's how the classes work for couples, how church tax works and how to file. - [Renting in Berlin: how Brits find a flat, sign safely and keep the deposit](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/renting-in-berlin): Berlin flat-hunting is a contact sport. Here's where Brits live, what the paperwork looks like, the tenant protections on your side and the scams to dodge. - [Buying a flat in Berlin: the notary, Grunderwerbsteuer and what it really costs](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/buying-a-flat-in-berlin-notary-grunderwerbsteuer-and-costs): No gazumping, no conveyancing chains, but a notary, a 6% transfer tax and a land register. Here's how buying a Berlin flat works, step by step. - [Moving to Berlin as a Brit: the residence routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/moving-to-berlin-as-a-brit): Brexit ended the easy move, but Germany still lets Brits arrive first and apply for residence later. Here are the routes that work for Berlin and the first jobs once you land. - [German residence permits for Brits: Blue Card, freelancer or Chancenkarte?](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/german-residence-permits-for-brits-blue-card-freelancer-and-chancenkarte): Three permits do most of the heavy lifting for Brits moving to Berlin. Here's what each asks for in 2026, what it costs and how to get through the immigration office. - [German citizenship for Brits: keep your British passport and add a German one](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/german-citizenship-for-brits-after-the-2024-reform): Since June 2024 Germany lets you keep your British passport when you naturalise. Here's who qualifies, what the test asks and how the Berlin application works. - [Healthcare in Berlin: the Krankenkasse, the S1 and finding an English-speaking doctor](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/healthcare-in-berlin): There's no NHS in Germany: everyone needs health insurance. Here's how British residents in Berlin get covered, what it costs and how to find a doctor who speaks English. - [Schools in Berlin: British, international and free state options for Brits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/schools-in-berlin): Berlin has a proper British school, several international ones and free bilingual state schools that teach in English. Here's what each costs and how to get a place. - [Kita places in Berlin: how the free Kita-Gutschein works for British parents](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/kita-places-in-berlin-the-kita-gutschein): Childcare in Berlin is free from age 1, which feels like a miracle after London nursery fees. The catch is getting the voucher and then finding a Kita with a space. - [Driving in Germany with a UK licence, and getting around Berlin without one](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/driving-and-getting-around-berlin): Your UK licence works in Germany for six months after you move. Here's how to swap it without a test, and why many Brits in Berlin barely drive at all. - [British life in Berlin: roasts, the footie, the Legion and where Brits gather](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/british-life-in-berlin): Berlin's British community is spread thin across a big city, but it's there: in Irish pubs on match days, at St George's on a Sunday and on rugby pitches in Zehlendorf. - [British food in Berlin: where to find a roast, a cuppa and a jar of Marmite](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/british-food-in-berlin): Berlin does sausages and beer brilliantly, but a proper roast or a box of Weetabix takes some finding. Here's where homesick Brits actually go. - [Nightlife in Berlin: a Brit's guide to bars, clubs and getting home](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/berlin/nightlife-in-berlin): Last orders isn't really a thing in Berlin. Here's where to drink, how the clubs work, what a night costs in 2026 and how to get home in one piece. ## Rome - [Cost of living in Rome: how it really compares with London and the rest of the UK](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/cost-of-living-in-rome): Rome is cheaper than London on almost everything except the rent in the centro storico. Here's what a flat, a travel pass, healthcare and a night out cost in 2026, in euros and pounds. - [Codice fiscale, residenza and the permesso di soggiorno: Rome's big three for Brits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/codice-fiscale-residenza-and-the-permesso-di-soggiorno): Three bits of Italian paperwork open every other door in Rome: the tax code, the permit to stay and your residence. Here's the order to do them in, what they cost and the traps. - [Learning Italian in Rome: why it's worth it, even if work is in English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/learning-italian-in-rome): You can work in English in Rome. The questura, the condominium, the GP and the plumber are another matter. Here's why Italian pays off, what the rules ask for, and how to start. - [Italian taxes for Brits: leaving the UK system, the treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/italy-taxes-for-brits): Become tax resident in Rome and Italy taxes your income from everywhere. Here's how IRPEF works, how the UK–Italy treaty stops you paying twice, and where your State Pension is taxed. - [Banking in Italy as a Brit: opening an account in Rome and keeping your UK one](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/banking-in-italy-as-a-brit): An Italian account makes life in Rome far easier, from rent to the utilities. Here's what banks ask for, your right to a basic account, the costs, and how to keep your UK account alongside. - [Italy's flat tax and the 7% regime: who really qualifies](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/italys-flat-tax-and-the-7-regime-for-pensioners): Italy offers two tempting deals to newcomers: a fixed annual tax on foreign income for the wealthy, and 7% for pensioners who move to a small town in the south. Here's who qualifies. - [Italian inheritance tax and wills: forced heirship, choosing UK law and the tax bands](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/italian-inheritance-tax-and-wills-for-brits): Die resident in Rome and Italian law, not your English will, may decide who gets what. Here's how forced heirship works, how to choose UK law, and what Italian inheritance tax costs. - [Renting in Rome: where Brits live, what you'll pay and how to sign safely](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/renting-in-rome): Rome's rental market is tight and rents are climbing. Here's where Brits live, what the 4+4 and 3+2 contracts mean, how big a deposit can be and how to spot a scam. - [Buying a home in Italy: the notaio, the geometra and the catch with €1 houses](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/buying-a-home-in-italy-the-notaio-geometra-and-the-1-houses): Buying in Italy runs through a notaio, not a solicitor, and the taxes depend on who sells and whether it's your main home. Here's the process, the costs and the truth about €1 houses. - [Moving to Rome as a Brit: the visa and residence routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/moving-to-rome-as-a-brit): Since Brexit, a love of carbonara won't get you residence in Italy. Here are the routes Brits really use to move to Rome, what each asks for and the first jobs once you land. - [Italy's elective residence visa: how British retirees make the move to Rome](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/italys-elective-residence-visa-for-british-retirees): The elective residence visa is Italy's door for Brits who want la dolce vita without a job. Here's the income test, the home you need first and the catch about working. - [Italy's digital nomad visa: working remotely from Rome as a Brit](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/italys-digital-nomad-visa-for-brits): Italy finally has a visa for laptop workers. Here's who qualifies as highly skilled, how much you need to earn, and what happens once you reach Rome with your laptop. - [Italian citizenship for Brits: residence, marriage and the 2025 descent shake-up](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/italian-citizenship-for-brits-residence-marriage-and-descent): An Italian passport puts you back in the EU and you keep your British one. Here's how the residence, marriage and descent routes work for Brits, and what changed in 2025. - [Healthcare in Rome: how Brits get covered, from the GHIC to the S1 and private cover](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/healthcare-in-rome): Italy's public health service is good and cheap once you're in it. Here's how Brits in Rome get covered, what the S1 and GHIC do, and where to find an English-speaking doctor. - [Registering with the SSN: how Brits get into Italian public healthcare](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/registering-with-the-ssn-italian-public-healthcare-for-brits): Getting into Italy's public health service is mostly paperwork at the ASL. Here's who registers free, who pays the voluntary fee, how the S1 works and how to choose a family doctor. - [Schools in Rome: British schools, Italian state schools and the road to UK universities](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/schools-in-rome): Rome has a handful of proper British schools, a free state system and some big fee bills. Here's how to choose, what it costs and what it means for UK university later. - [Driving in Italy with a UK licence, and getting around Rome without one](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/driving-and-getting-around-rome): Your UK licence works in Italy for a while, then has to be swapped. Here's the 12-month rule, how the exchange works, and how to get around Rome by metro, bus and tram instead. - [ZTL zones, fines and parking in Rome: how not to get a nasty letter months later](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/ztl-zones-fines-and-parking-in-rome): Drive through a Rome ZTL gate at the wrong time and the fine can land on your doormat up to a year later. Here are the zones, the hours, the fines and how parking works. - [British life in Rome: Remembrance, the King's Birthday, cricket and a pint of something cold](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/british-life-in-rome): Rome isn't Benidorm, and that's half the charm. But there's a real British community here, from Remembrance at the war cemetery to cricket and the Six Nations in the pub. - [British food in Rome: where to find a proper cuppa, a pub for the footie and a jar of Marmite](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/british-food-in-rome): You didn't move to Rome for the beans on toast. But when you need a proper cuppa, a pub for the match or a jar of Marmite, here's where to look. - [Nightlife in Rome: aperitivo, late bars, live music and getting home in one piece](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/rome/nightlife-in-rome): Romans go out late, drink slowly and rarely end up in a kebab shop at 2am. Here's how a night out in Rome works, where to go and how to get home. ## Lisbon - [Cost of living in Lisbon: how it stacks up against London and the UK average](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/cost-of-living-in-lisbon): Lisbon is no longer the bargain it was, but it still beats London by a mile on rent and transport. Here's how the numbers compare with London and the UK average in 2026. - [NIF, NISS and AIMA: getting Portugal's three numbers and dealing with the immigration agency](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/nif-niss-and-aima-portugals-numbers-and-the-immigration-agency): Portugal runs on numbers: NIF for tax, NISS for social security and the utente number for the health service. Here's how to get all three, and how to cope with AIMA. - [Learning Portuguese in Lisbon: why it's worth it, even if work is in English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/learning-portuguese-in-lisbon): Lisbon's cafés and co-working spaces run happily in English. The câmara, the centro de saúde and the landlord often don't. Here's why Portuguese is worth it, and how to start. - [Portuguese taxes for Brits: leaving the UK system, the new treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/portugal-taxes-for-brits): Become tax resident in Lisbon and Portugal taxes your income from everywhere. Here are the 2026 IRS bands, the new UK–Portugal treaty and what happens to your State Pension. - [Banking in Portugal as a Brit: opening an account, keeping your UK one and moving money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/banking-in-portugal-as-a-brit): In Lisbon, nothing much happens without a Portuguese bank account and an IBAN starting PT50. Here's how to open one as a newcomer, and how to keep your UK account alongside. - [After NHR: Portugal's IFICI tax regime, and who can still use the old one](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/after-nhr-portugals-ifici-tax-regime): The NHR tax break that drew British retirees to Portugal closed in 2024. Its replacement, IFICI, is narrower and aimed at skilled workers. Here's who qualifies for what. - [Renting in Lisbon: where Brits live, what you'll pay and how not to get stung](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/renting-in-lisbon): Lisbon has the highest rents in Portugal and a market that moves fast. Here's where Brits live, what a lease looks like, what the deposit rules are and how to spot a scam. - [Buying property in Lisbon: the CPCV, IMT, stamp duty and IMI explained](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/buying-property-in-lisbon-cpcv-imt-and-imi): Buying in Lisbon means a promissory contract, a hefty deposit and a property transfer tax with its own bands. Here's how it works in 2026, with real numbers. - [The Algarve as the retiree alternative to Lisbon: sun, golf and the S1](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/the-algarve-as-the-retiree-alternative-to-lisbon): Lisbon is a capital city with capital prices. The Algarve offers cheaper homes, a big British community and Faro airport. Here's how the two compare for retirees. - [Moving to Lisbon as a Brit: the visa and residence routes that work in 2026](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/moving-to-lisbon-as-a-brit): Since Brexit, a love of custard tarts won't get you residence in Portugal. Here are the routes Brits really use to move to Lisbon, what each asks for and the first jobs once you land. - [Portugal's D7 visa for Brits: the income test, the paperwork and the AIMA appointment](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/portugals-d7-visa-for-brits): The D7 is the classic route for Brits who want to retire to Lisbon or live off rent and savings. Here's the 2026 income test, the paperwork and what happens after you land. - [Portugal's digital nomad visa (D8): working from Lisbon for a UK boss or UK clients](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/portugals-digital-nomad-visa-d8): Fancy swapping the Northern line for the 28 tram and keeping your UK job? Here's how Portugal's remote worker visa works, what it asks for and the tax catch. - [Portugal's golden visa today: what's left now property is off the table](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/portugals-golden-visa-today-whats-left): You can't buy a Lisbon flat for a golden visa any more. Here's what's left of the scheme, what it costs, how little time you must spend in Portugal and how the 2026 nationality law changed the maths. - [Portuguese citizenship for Brits: the new 10-year rule, the tests and keeping both passports](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/portuguese-citizenship-for-brits-the-residence-rules): The five-year shortcut to an EU passport has gone. Here's what Portugal's 2026 nationality law means for Brits in Lisbon, who's protected by the old rules and how to keep your British passport. - [Healthcare in Lisbon: GHIC, the S1, the SNS and going private](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/healthcare-in-lisbon): Visiting on a GHIC, retiring on an S1 or working in Lisbon? Each gets into Portuguese healthcare a different way. Here's who's covered, what it costs and where to go. - [The SNS and your utente number: getting into Portugal's health service](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/the-sns-and-your-utente-number-in-portugal): Your número de utente is your key to Portugal's health service, but on its own it doesn't guarantee free care. Here's how to register properly, step by step. - [Schools in Lisbon: British curriculum schools, Portuguese state schools and the road to a UK university](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/schools-in-lisbon): Lisbon has more British-curriculum schools than ever, most of them out along the Cascais line. Here's how they compare, what they cost and how state schools work. - [Driving in Portugal with a UK licence, and getting around Lisbon without one](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/driving-and-getting-around-lisbon): Good news for British drivers: residents in Portugal can now keep driving on a UK licence until it expires. And in Lisbon, a EUR 40 (about £33) monthly pass may mean you barely need the car. - [British life in Lisbon: the oldest alliance, a royal club and the footie at 3pm](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/british-life-in-lisbon): Britain and Portugal have been allies since 1386, and Lisbon still shows it. Here's where Brits meet, worship, remember and watch the footie in and around the capital. - [British food in Lisbon: a roast in Chiado, tea on the 24th floor and where to find the PG Tips](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/british-food-in-lisbon): Lisbon eats brilliantly, and almost none of it is British. For the days you need a roast, a pint for the match or a proper cuppa, here's where to go. - [Nightlife in Lisbon: late starts, Pink Street, fado in Alfama and how not to get stung](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/lisbon/nightlife-in-lisbon): Lisbon goes out late, drinks on the street and dances till dawn. Here's where to go, what it costs, the new takeaway alcohol rules and how to get home in one piece. ## Paphos - [Cost of living in Paphos: how it stacks up against London and the UK average](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/cost-of-living-in-paphos): Paphos rents are well under London's, buses are cheap and there's no council tax. But summer air conditioning bills bite, and prices are rising faster than in the UK. - [Residence in Cyprus for Brits: from the yellow slip to the biometric card](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/residence-in-cyprus-for-brits-the-yellow-slip-meu1-and-biometric-card): Still carrying a folded yellow slip from the Paphos immigration office? Here's how Withdrawal Agreement Brits swap it for a biometric card and keep their rights safe. - [Heat, water cuts and wildfires in Paphos: a summer survival guide for Brits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/heat-water-cuts-and-wildfires-in-paphos): A Paphos summer is glorious until the reservoirs run low and the hills catch fire. Here's how the heat, the water supply and wildfire season really work, and how to prepare. - [The Green Line: crossing to the north of Cyprus, and why property there is risky](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/the-green-line-crossing-to-the-north-and-property-there): A day trip to Kyrenia or Famagusta is easy from Paphos. Buying a house in the north is a different matter. Here's what the FCDO says about both, in plain English. - [Learning Greek in Paphos: why it's worth it, even if life runs in English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/learning-greek-in-paphos): Paphos runs happily in English, until the council, the plumber or the village kafeneio doesn't. Here's why Greek pays off, what's required and how to start. - [Cypriot taxes for Brits: the 2026 reform, the UK treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/cyprus-taxes-for-brits): Cyprus raised its tax-free band to EUR 22,000 in 2026. Here's how residence works, what the UK–Cyprus treaty says about pensions and rent, and what the taxman back home still wants. - [Banking in Cyprus as a Brit: opening an account in Paphos and moving your money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/banking-in-cyprus-as-a-brit): Cypriot banks want more paperwork than your high-street bank back home. Here's what to bring, why to keep your UK account, and how to move money and your pension across. - [Cyprus non-dom status and the 60-day rule: what they really mean for Brits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/cyprus-non-dom-status-and-the-60-day-rule): Most Brits in Cyprus are non-doms without lifting a finger. Here's what that saves you, what changed in 2026, and why the 60-day rule is narrower than the brochures suggest. - [UK pensions in Cyprus: when the 5% flat rate pays, and when it doesn't](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/uk-pensions-in-cyprus-the-5-option): Cyprus lets you pay a flat 5% on foreign pensions above EUR 5,000. Since the 2026 reform, the normal rates often beat it. Here's how to work out which suits you, year by year. - [Renting in Paphos: where Brits live and what to check before you sign](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/renting-in-paphos): Paphos has plenty to rent, from Kato Paphos flats to villas in Peyia. Here's what it costs in 2026, how deposits and contracts work, and how to spot a dodgy listing. - [Buying in Paphos: title deeds problems and the checks that protect you](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/buying-in-paphos-title-deeds-problems-and-how-to-check): Thousands of Brits in Cyprus paid in full and still didn't own their homes. Here's how the title deeds mess happened, what has changed and the checks to run before you buy. - [Moving to Paphos as a Brit: the residence routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/moving-to-paphos-as-a-brit): Cyprus drives on the left and sells Cadbury's, but since Brexit you need a permit to stay. Here are the routes Brits really use to move to Paphos, and what to do first. - [Moving to Cyprus after Brexit: the pink slip, Category F and the other permits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/moving-to-cyprus-after-brexit-the-pink-slip-and-category-f-permit): Arrived in Paphos after 2020? You're a third-country national now. Here's how the pink slip and Category F work, what they ask for and how to apply. - [Healthcare in Paphos: the GHIC, the S1, GeSY and private cover for Brits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/healthcare-in-paphos): Cypriot healthcare isn't free, but it's good and cheap once you're in GeSY. Here's how the GHIC, the S1 and private cover fit together, and where to go in Paphos. - [GeSY for Brits: who can join Cyprus's health system, and what it costs](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/gesy-cypruss-general-healthcare-system-for-brits): GeSY is Cyprus's answer to the NHS, with a few euros to pay at the door. Here's who can join as a Brit, how the S1 fits in, what contributions cost and when you need private cover. - [Schools in Paphos: British-curriculum schools, state schools and fees for Brits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/schools-in-paphos): Paphos has English-curriculum private schools teaching GCSEs and A levels, and free Greek-speaking state schools. Here are the options, the 2026/27 fees and what it means for UK university. - [Driving in Cyprus with a UK licence, and getting around Paphos](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/driving-and-getting-around-paphos): Cyprus drives on the left, so you'll feel at home behind the wheel. But if you live here, your UK licence is only good for six months before you must swap it for a Cypriot one. - [British life in Paphos: poppies, carveries and the footie at 5pm](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/british-life-in-paphos): Paphos has one of the biggest British communities in Cyprus, and it shows. Here's where Brits remember, worship, watch the footie and play sport in and around the town. - [Retiring in Paphos: clubs, volunteering and staying active in the sun](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/retiring-in-paphos-clubs-volunteering-and-staying-active): The sunshine gets Brits to Paphos. What keeps them happy is a reason to get up in the morning. Here's where retirees find friends, exercise and something useful to do. - [British food in Paphos: carveries, chippies and where to find PG Tips](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/british-food-in-paphos): You can eat very well in Paphos without touching a Yorkshire pudding. But when the craving hits, here's where to find a proper carvery, a chippy and a box of PG Tips. - [Nightlife in Paphos: from the harbour to the old town after dark](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/paphos/nightlife-in-paphos): Paphos isn't Ayia Napa, and most residents are glad of it. But there's more going on after dark than you'd think, from old-town cocktail bars to clubs that open at midnight. ## Dubai - [Cost of living in Dubai: how it really compares with London and the UK average](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/cost-of-living-in-dubai): No income tax sounds like a pay rise, until the rent comes in a year at a time. Here's what Dubai really costs in 2026, in dirhams and pounds, set against London and the UK average. - [Emirates ID, Ejari and your first month in Dubai: the order that works](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/emirates-id-ejari-and-your-first-month-in-dubai): In Dubai, each bit of admin opens the door to the next: Emirates ID, then Ejari, then DEWA, a bank and a phone. Here's the order, the fees in dirhams and pounds, and the faffs to dodge. - [UAE laws Brits trip over: alcohol, medicines and social media](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/uae-laws-brits-trip-over-alcohol-medicines-and-social-media): Dubai feels relaxed until it isn't. Here are the laws Brits most often fall foul of, from liquor licences and codeine to a rude WhatsApp message, and what the FCDO says. - [Summer, Ramadan and the working week in Dubai: the rhythm of the year for Brits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/summer-ramadan-and-the-working-week-in-dubai): Dubai's year runs to a different clock: a blazing summer, a month of Ramadan that moves every year, a short Friday and no Boxing Day. Here's how to plan around all of it. - [Languages and your family in Dubai: the second language your kids will meet](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/languages-and-your-family-in-dubai): Your children will learn Arabic at a British school in Dubai, from nursery up. Here's what's compulsory, when exemptions apply and how to keep the family's English sharp. - [UAE taxes for Brits: no income tax, the UK treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/uae-taxes-for-brits): No income tax on your Dubai salary, but VAT, corporate tax for side businesses and a frozen State Pension. Here's how the UAE and UK systems fit together. - [Banking in the UAE as a Brit: your first account, cheques and money from home](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/banking-in-uae-as-a-brit): You'll need your Emirates ID before most banks will talk to you, and debt is treated far more seriously than at home. Here's how banking in Dubai works for Brits. - [No income tax in Dubai, but UK tax ties: how HMRC can still reach you](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/no-income-tax-in-dubai-but-uk-tax-ties): A tax-free salary in Dubai only stays tax-free if you've really left the UK. Here's how the residence test, UK income and the return home trip Gulf workers up. - [End-of-service gratuity in Dubai: how it's worked out, DEWS and your retirement](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/end-of-service-gratuity-and-workplace-savings-in-dubai): No pension contributions, no state pension, just a lump sum when you leave. Here's how Dubai's gratuity is worked out, what DEWS changes and how to plan around it. - [Renting in Dubai: what Brits need to know before handing over the cheques](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/renting-in-dubai): Dubai rents are paid a year at a time, often by cheque, and the rules are nothing like an assured shorthold. Here's where Brits live, what it costs and how to protect yourself. - [Buying property in Dubai: freehold areas, off-plan, Oqood and the DLD fee](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/buying-property-in-dubai-off-plan-oqood-and-dld-fees): Foreigners can own outright in Dubai's freehold areas, and off-plan deals are everywhere. Here's how Oqood, escrow, the 4% DLD fee and expat mortgage limits work. - [Moving to Dubai as a Brit: the residence routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/moving-to-dubai-as-a-brit): Brits can fly into Dubai without a visa, but living there needs a residence visa and an Emirates ID. Here are the routes Brits actually use and what to sort first. - [UAE residence for Brits: employment, Golden and green visas compared](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/uae-residence-for-brits-employment-golden-and-green-visas): Your UAE residence visa decides who can cancel it, who you can sponsor and how long you can spend back in Blighty. Here's how the employer, green and Golden routes compare. - [Retiring in Dubai: who gets the retirement visa, and what it really costs](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/retiring-in-dubai-the-retirement-visa): Dubai will let you retire there from 55, if you can show the money. Here's how the retirement visa works, what the income test means in pounds, and why your State Pension won't cover it. - [Healthcare in Dubai: how insurance works, and why the NHS and GHIC won't help](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/healthcare-in-dubai): Dubai's hospitals are excellent, but nothing is free at the point of use. Here's how compulsory health insurance works, who pays for your family's cover and what the NHS no longer does for you. - [Schools in Dubai: British schools, international options and the UCAS question](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/schools-in-dubai): Dubai has more British-curriculum schools than most English counties, but the good ones fill up fast and fees run to £20,000 a year. Here's how it works. - [Dubai school fees and the KHDA ratings: what British schools cost and what the grades mean](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/dubai-school-fees-and-the-khda-ratings): Year 13 at a top British school in Dubai now costs over AED 110,000 (about £22,000). Here's what the fees buy, how the KHDA ratings work and how to plan for the extras. - [Driving in Dubai with a UK licence: swapping it, and getting around without a car](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/driving-and-getting-around-dubai): Good news: a British licence swaps for a Dubai one without a driving test. Here's how the RTA exchange works, what it costs, and how to get about by Metro, tram and bus instead. - [British life in Dubai: roasts, rugby and finding your people in the desert](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/british-life-in-dubai): Dubai has one of the biggest British crowds anywhere outside the UK. Here's where they watch the footie, eat a roast, play rugby and mark Remembrance. - [British food in Dubai: where to find a full English, a roast and a proper cuppa](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/british-food-in-dubai): A full English for AED 85, a roast with Yorkshires from AED 115 and an M&S Foodhall opening in December. Dubai does British food better than you'd expect. - [Nightlife in Dubai: rooftop bars, late clubs and the rules Brits forget](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/dubai/nightlife-in-dubai): Dubai's nightlife is bigger and later than most Brits expect, but it lives inside hotels and licensed venues. Here's where to go, what it costs and the rules that matter. ## Singapore - [Cost of living in Singapore: how it really compares with London and the UK average](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/cost-of-living-in-singapore): Hawker lunches are cheap, cars cost more than a London flat deposit and rent decides everything. Here's what Singapore really costs in 2026, set against London and the UK average. - [Singapore's rules and fines: the ones that actually catch Brits out](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/singapores-rules-and-fines-what-catches-brits-out): Singapore's 'fine city' jokes are half true. Here's what's really illegal, from vapes and drugs to jaywalking and litter, the fines that apply and the FCDO's warnings. - [Languages and your family in Singapore: Mother Tongue, exemptions and keeping English strong](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/languages-and-your-family-in-singapore): Singapore's schools teach in English, but every child in a local school also learns a Mother Tongue. Here's what that means for a British family, and how exemptions work. - [Singapore taxes for Brits: low rates, the UK treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/singapore-taxes-for-brits): Singapore's top rate is 24% and most overseas income isn't taxed at all. Here's how its system fits with HMRC, the UK treaty and a State Pension that won't rise. - [Banking in Singapore as a Brit: your first account, scams and money from home](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/banking-in-singapore-as-a-brit): Your Employment Pass and a Singapore address get you most of the way to a bank account. Here's what DBS, OCBC and UOB ask for, and how to keep your UK banking alive. - [CPF for Brits: why Employment Pass holders don't pay, and what changes as a PR](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/cpf-what-it-means-for-foreigners-and-prs): On an Employment Pass you won't pay CPF. Become a PR and a fifth of your pay goes into it. Here's how Singapore's savings scheme works and how it fits with UK pensions. - [Renting in Singapore: where Brits live, tenancy rules and the scams to dodge](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/renting-in-singapore): Most Brits in Singapore rent a condo, a few go local in an HDB flat. Here's where people live, the rules on contracts and stamp duty, and how to avoid the fake listings. - [Buying property in Singapore as a Brit: condos, 60% ABSD and why most of us rent](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/buying-property-in-singapore-as-a-foreigner): As a foreigner you can buy a condo, but you'll pay 60% stamp duty on top of the price. Here's what Brits can buy in Singapore, what PRs can do, and why most of us rent. - [Moving to Singapore as a Brit: the pass routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/moving-to-singapore-as-a-brit): Brits can visit Singapore without a visa, but living there means holding a pass. Here are the routes Brits really use, what each one asks for and what to sort first. - [Employment Pass and COMPASS: how Brits get a work pass in Singapore](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/employment-pass-and-compass-for-brits): The Employment Pass is how most Brits work in Singapore. Here's the salary bar by age, how the COMPASS points add up, and when the S Pass or ONE Pass fits better. - [Dependant's Pass and LTVP: bringing your family to Singapore](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/dependants-pass-and-ltvp-bringing-your-family): Singapore lets your family join you, but only if your own salary is high enough. Here's who gets a Dependant's Pass, who goes on an LTVP, and how a trailing partner can work. - [Permanent residence in Singapore: what Brits gain, pay and sign up for](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/permanent-residence-in-singapore-for-brits): Singapore PR brings security, CPF and, for sons, National Service. Here's how Brits apply, what it costs, and why PR (unlike citizenship) leaves your British passport alone. - [Healthcare in Singapore: world-class, but foreigners pay full price](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/healthcare-in-singapore): Singapore's hospitals are excellent, and foreigners pay the full bill. Here's how public and private care work for Brits, what a visit costs and how to sort proper health insurance. - [Schools in Singapore: British schools, local places and what it all costs in pounds](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/schools-in-singapore): Singapore's British schools are superb and cost about as much as a top UK day school. Local schools are cheaper but harder to get into. Here's how it works. - [Universities in Singapore for British students: NUS, NTU, SMU and the tuition grant bond](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/universities-in-singapore-for-british-students): Singapore's universities are world-class and, with the Tuition Grant, cheaper than you'd think. The catch is a three-year work bond. Here's what British students need to know. - [Driving in Singapore with a UK licence: the IDP, converting, and the MRT](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/driving-and-getting-around-singapore): Your UK licence gets you on Singapore's roads for a while, but not forever. Here's when you need an IDP, how to convert after 12 months, and why most Brits take the MRT anyway. - [Why most Brits don't drive in Singapore: the COE, the MRT and Grab](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/why-most-brits-dont-drive-in-singapore-coe-mrt-and-grab): In Singapore, the piece of paper that lets you own a car can cost more than a house deposit in Leeds. Here's how the COE works, and how Brits get about happily without one. - [British life in Singapore: cricket on the Padang, late-night kick-offs and finding your people](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/british-life-in-singapore): Singapore has a big, settled British crowd. Here's where they play cricket, watch the rugby, mark Remembrance and stay up for the 11pm kick-off. - [Hawker centres, Singlish and local life: how to fit in (and not get fined for your tray)](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/hawker-centres-singlish-and-local-life): Hawker centres are Singapore's living room. Learn the unwritten rules, order your kopi like a local, pick up a bit of Singlish and you'll feel at home far faster. - [British food in Singapore: fish and chips, a full English and the great Marmite drought](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/british-food-in-singapore): Singapore does chicken rice better than anywhere. When you want haddock and mushy peas, a fry-up or a roast, here's where to go, and where the Marmite went. - [Nightlife in Singapore: world-class cocktails, riverside bars and rules worth knowing](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/singapore/nightlife-in-singapore): Singapore has some of the best cocktail bars in the world and a club scene that runs till dawn. It also has rules a Brit on a night out should know first. ## Zurich - [Cost of living in Zurich: what Brits really pay compared with London](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/cost-of-living-in-zurich): Zurich is famously pricey, but the gap with London isn't the same everywhere. Here's how rent, health insurance, groceries, transport and eating out compare, in francs and pounds. - [Registering with the Gemeinde and Swiss house rules: bin bags, laundry rotas and quiet Sundays](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/registering-with-the-gemeinde-and-swiss-house-rules): In Zurich you register within 14 days, pay for every bin bag and never drop bottles on a Sunday. Here's the admin and the unwritten rules, so your neighbours stay friendly. - [Learning German in Zurich: why it's worth it, even if work is in English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/learning-german-in-zurich): Zurich offices run happily in English. The Gemeinde, the landlord and the playground don't. Here's why German pays off, what the canton requires and how to learn it. - [Swiss taxes for Brits: leaving HMRC behind, the UK–Swiss treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/switzerland-taxes-for-brits): Switzerland taxes you on your worldwide income once you live here, but HMRC doesn't let go by itself. Here's how the two systems fit, from the P85 to your State Pension. - [Banking in Switzerland as a Brit: opening an account, keeping your UK one and moving money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/banking-in-switzerland-as-a-brit): Swiss banks are happy to take your salary, but they want paperwork first. Here's how Brits in Zurich open an account, keep the UK one going and move money between the two. - [Pillar 2 and Pillar 3a: how Swiss pensions work for Brits, and where your UK pensions fit](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/pillar-2-and-pillar-3a-swiss-pensions-and-your-uk-pensions): Your Swiss payslip funds three pensions at once. Here's how the AHV, your pension fund and Pillar 3a work, what happens when you leave, and how they sit next to your UK pots. - [Swiss tax for Brits: tax at source, Zurich's rates and the lump-sum deal that Zurich scrapped](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/swiss-tax-for-brits-withholding-tax-cantons-and-lump-sum-taxation): Most Brits in Zurich meet the Swiss taxman on their payslip. How tax at source works, when you must file a full return, how Zurich's rates stack up, and why lump-sum tax isn't on offer. - [Renting in Zurich: how Brits find a flat in a city with almost none empty](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/renting-in-zurich): Zurich has barely any empty flats, so renting here is a contest. Here's where Brits live, what landlords want to see, your rights on deposits and rent, and the scams to dodge. - [Buying property in Switzerland: what Lex Koller lets Brits buy, and what it costs](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/buying-property-in-switzerland-lex-koller-and-foreigners): Since Brexit, which Swiss property a Brit can buy depends on your permit and when you arrived. Here's what Lex Koller allows, how Swiss mortgages work and what buying in Zurich costs. - [Geneva as the alternative to Zurich: French, frontaliers and a different tax bill](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/geneva-as-the-alternative-to-zurich): Geneva swaps German for French, banking for diplomacy, and offers the option of living in France. Here's how it stacks up against Zurich on rent, tax and permits. - [Moving to Zurich as a Brit: the residence routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/moving-to-zurich-as-a-brit): Switzerland is in Schengen but not the EU, and since Brexit Brits are third-country nationals there. Here are the routes that really get you to Zurich, and the first jobs once you land. - [Swiss permits for Brits: L, B and C permits, the UK quota and the fast track to a C](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/swiss-permits-for-brits-l-b-and-c-permits-and-the-quotas): Brits lost free movement in Switzerland in 2021, but kept a few perks: their own quota and, in Zurich, a C permit after five years. Here's how the permits work. - [Swiss citizenship for Brits: ten years, three tiers of government and a test on your Gemeinde](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/swiss-citizenship-for-brits-the-long-road): Becoming Swiss takes ten years, a C permit, decent German and the blessing of your commune, canton and Bern. The good news: you keep your British passport. - [Healthcare in Zurich: compulsory insurance, the S1 and finding a doctor who speaks English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/healthcare-in-zurich): There's no NHS in Switzerland: every resident buys their own health insurance within three months. Here's how British newcomers in Zurich get covered and find a doctor. - [Swiss health insurance for Brits in Zurich: basic cover, the franchise and the 30 November deadline](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/swiss-health-insurance-basic-cover-and-the-franchise): Swiss health insurance is compulsory, personal and pricey. Here's how the franchise works, what Zurich premiums cost in 2027, how to switch and who gets help with the bill. - [Schools in Zurich: British-curriculum and international schools, fees and the route to UK universities](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/schools-in-zurich): A levels in Oerlikon, the IB in Zumikon, or free local schools in German: here's how British families in Zurich choose a school, what it costs and what it means for UK uni. - [Swiss state schools vs international schools in Zurich: German support, the Gymi and the fees](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/swiss-state-schools-vs-international-schools-in-zurich): Zurich's free local schools are good enough that many Swiss never consider anything else. Here's how they work for British children, the Gymi exam, and when paying makes sense. - [Driving in Switzerland with a UK licence, and getting around Zurich without a car](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/driving-and-getting-around-zurich): Your UK licence works in Switzerland for 12 months after you move, then it must be swapped. Here's how, plus the tram passes and rail cards that mean many Brits never bother. - [British life in Zurich: poppies, pints and finding your people](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/british-life-in-zurich): Zurich's British crowd is small but well organised: an English church, a residents' association, a cricket club, a rugby club and pubs that open for the footie. - [British food in Zurich: a Sunday roast, a proper cuppa and where to find the Marmite](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/british-food-in-zurich): Zurich does a decent Sunday roast, a posh afternoon tea and a proper pub for the footie, if you know where to look. Here's where to go and how to get the Marmite delivered. - [Nightlife in Zurich: where Brits go out after the banks close](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/zurich/nightlife-in-zurich): Zurich has a reputation for early nights, but its clubs run until breakfast at weekends. Here's where to go, what a round costs, how to get home and how to stay safe. ## Tel Aviv - [Cost of living in Tel Aviv: what Brits really pay compared with London](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/cost-of-living-in-tel-aviv): Tel Aviv rents are London-level and the supermarket bill stings, but buses are cheap and healthcare comes out of your wages. Here's how the sums compare, in shekels and pounds. - [Safety in Tel Aviv: sirens, shelters and what the FCDO advice says](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/safety-in-tel-aviv-alerts-shelters-and-the-fcdo-advice): Living in Tel Aviv means knowing where your nearest shelter is and how long you have to get there. Here's how the alerts work, what a mamad is, and what the FCDO advice says. - [Teudat zehut, Bituach Leumi and your first month in Israel: the paperwork in the right order](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/teudat-zehut-bituach-leumi-and-your-first-month-in-israel): In Israel almost everything hangs off your ID number. Here's the order to tackle the teudat zehut, Bituach Leumi, the health fund, the bank and the council in your first weeks in Tel Aviv. - [Shabbat in Tel Aviv: what shuts, what stays open and how to get about from Friday to Saturday night](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/shabbat-in-tel-aviv-whats-open-and-getting-around): From Friday afternoon to Saturday night most of Israel's public transport stops. Tel Aviv keeps more open than anywhere else, but you'll need a plan. Here's how the weekend works. - [Learning Hebrew in Tel Aviv: why it's worth it, even if work is in English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/learning-hebrew-in-tel-aviv): Tel Aviv's offices run on English, but the landlord, the health fund and the school WhatsApp group don't. Here's why Hebrew pays off, the first phrases and how to learn. - [Israeli taxes for Brits: leaving HMRC behind, the UK–Israel treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/israel-taxes-for-brits): Israel taxes residents on their worldwide income, but HMRC doesn't let go by itself. Here's how the two systems fit, from the P85 to the treaty and your uprated State Pension. - [Banking in Israel as a Brit: opening an account, keeping your UK one and moving money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/banking-in-israel-as-a-brit): You'll need an Israeli account for your salary, your rent and Bit. Here's how Brits in Tel Aviv open one, keep the UK account going, and move money between the two without overpaying. - [Tax benefits for new immigrants and returning residents in Israel: the ten-year exemption and the 2026 changes](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/tax-benefits-for-new-immigrants-and-returning-residents-in-israel): Israel gives new immigrants a ten-year break on foreign income, and 2026 added a break on Israeli earnings too. But the old reporting exemption has gone. Here's how it all fits with the UK. - [Renting in Tel Aviv: where Brits live, what landlords ask for and your rights](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/renting-in-tel-aviv): Tel Aviv is Israel's priciest place to rent, and landlords want cheques, guarantors and a contract you understand. Here's where Brits live, what it costs and your rights as a tenant. - [Buying property in Israel as a Brit: purchase tax, the Land Authority, lawyers and mortgages](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/buying-property-in-israel-as-a-brit): Whether you pay 8% purchase tax or almost nothing on a Tel Aviv flat depends on your status. Here's how purchase tax, Land Authority leases, lawyers and Israeli mortgages work for Brits. - [Moving to Tel Aviv as a Brit: the routes that actually get you there](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/moving-to-tel-aviv-as-a-brit): Israel lets Brits visit for three months with an ETA-IL, but living there needs a real route: aliyah, an expert work visa or an Israeli partner. Here's how they compare, and what to do first. - [Aliyah for British Jews: the Law of Return, the paperwork and your first year](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/aliyah-for-british-jews-the-law-of-return-and-the-first-year): Aliyah turns a British Jew into an Israeli citizen on the day they land, with cash, free Hebrew lessons and a year of deadlines. Here's who qualifies, how to apply and what the first year looks like. - [Work visas in Israel for Brits who aren't making aliyah: experts, founders and partners](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/work-visas-in-israel-for-brits-who-arent-making-aliyah): Without the Law of Return, Brits get into Israel's job market through an employer's B/1 expert visa, the innovation visa or an Israeli partner. Here's how each works and what it costs you. - [Healthcare in Tel Aviv: health funds, private cover and why your GHIC stays in the drawer](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/healthcare-in-tel-aviv): Israel has excellent healthcare, but the NHS, the GHIC and the S1 don't reach it. Here's how British residents in Tel Aviv get covered, what it costs and where to go when it's urgent. - [Kupat holim: how Israel's four health funds work and how to pick one](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/kupat-holim-choosing-a-health-fund-in-israel): Clalit, Maccabi, Meuhedet or Leumit? Every Israeli resident must join one. Here's how the health funds work, what new immigrants pay, and whether the supplementary plan is worth it. - [Schools in Tel Aviv: the English-curriculum school in Jaffa, the American school up the road and the free local option](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/schools-in-tel-aviv): Tel Aviv has few English-language schools, so the choice is narrow: a long-running English-curriculum school in Jaffa, an American school north of the city, or free local schools in Hebrew. - [Ulpan in Tel Aviv: free Hebrew for new citizens, and what everyone else pays](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/ulpan-learning-hebrew-in-tel-aviv): New citizens get five months of free Hebrew; everyone else pays, though not much. Here's how ulpan works in Tel Aviv, what Ulpan Gordon charges and how much Hebrew you really need. - [Driving in Israel with a UK licence, and getting around Tel Aviv without a car](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/driving-and-getting-around-tel-aviv): You can drive in Israel on your UK licence for a year after you arrive. Here's how to convert it, how to park in Tel Aviv without a ticket, and why plenty of Brits never bother with a car. - [British life in Tel Aviv: pints, poppies and finding your people](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/british-life-in-tel-aviv): Tel Aviv has no British club as such, but it has Brits everywhere: in the rugby clubs, the Irish pub on Hayarkon Street, the business chamber and the Remembrance service at Ramleh. - [British food in Tel Aviv: fish and chips, a proper pint and where to find the PG Tips](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/british-food-in-tel-aviv): Tel Aviv does fish and chips and a decent pint of Guinness, but a Sunday roast is rare and the PG Tips usually comes by post. Here's where Brits go for a taste of home. - [Nightlife in Tel Aviv: where Brits go out in the city that never sleeps](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/tel-aviv/nightlife-in-tel-aviv): Tel Aviv goes out late and goes out hard, with Thursday as the big night. Here's where to go, what a round costs, how to get home when the buses stop and how to stay safe. ## Amsterdam - [Cost of living in Amsterdam: what Brits really pay compared with London](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/cost-of-living-in-amsterdam): Amsterdam rent is London-level, health insurance is a new bill and the trams are cheap. Here's how the big costs compare with London and the UK average, in euros and pounds. - [BSN, DigiD and registering at the gemeente: the three things you can't do without in Amsterdam](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/bsn-digid-and-registering-at-the-gemeente): In Amsterdam almost everything, from your first payslip to your health insurance, waits on a BSN. Here's how to register with the City, get the number and set up DigiD without a wasted trip. - [Learning Dutch in Amsterdam: why it's worth it, even if work is in English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/learning-dutch-in-amsterdam): Amsterdammers switch to English the moment you stumble. Here's why Dutch still pays off, when the civic integration exam applies to Brits, and how to learn it. - [Dutch taxes for Brits: the box system, leaving HMRC behind and your UK State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/netherlands-taxes-for-brits): Move to Amsterdam and the Belastingdienst taxes your worldwide income in three boxes, but HMRC only lets go when the UK rules say so. Here's how the two fit, from the P85 to your pension. - [Banking in the Netherlands: opening a Dutch account, keeping your UK one and moving money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/banking-in-netherlands-as-a-brit): You'll need a Dutch bank account for almost everything in Amsterdam, from rent to the bike shop. Here's how to open one fast, what to keep in the UK, and how to move money between them. - [The 30% ruling for Brits: who gets the Dutch expat tax break, and what changes in 2027](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/the-30-ruling-for-brits): The Dutch expat scheme lets your employer pay up to 30% of your salary tax-free for five years. Here's the 2026 salary test, the 150 km rule, the cap and the cut to 27% coming in 2027. - [Box 3 explained: how the Dutch tax your savings, investments and UK ISAs](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/box-3-how-the-dutch-tax-savings-and-investments): The Dutch don't tax the interest you earn so much as the interest they think you earned. Here's how Box 3 works in 2026, what the courts changed, and where your ISA fits. - [Freelancing in the Netherlands: the KVK, VAT, tax breaks and the false self-employment crackdown](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/freelancing-in-the-netherlands-zzp-kvk-and-false-self-employment): Going freelance in Amsterdam is quick to set up and slow to get right. Here's who can do it, the KVK and VAT steps, the 2026 tax breaks and why the taxman is watching ZZPers. - [Renting in Amsterdam: where Brits live, what it costs and the rules that protect you](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/renting-in-amsterdam): Amsterdam is the priciest rental market in the Netherlands, but Dutch tenants have strong rights. Here's where Brits live, what you'll pay in 2026, and the rules and scams to know. - [Buying a home in Amsterdam: why everyone overbids, and the mortgage and tax rules for Brits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/buying-a-home-in-amsterdam-overbidding-and-the-mortgage-rules): In Amsterdam the asking price is where the bidding starts. Here's how overbidding works, how much Dutch lenders will lend, the 2026 transfer tax rules and what newcomers should know. - [Moving to Amsterdam as a Brit: the residence routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/moving-to-amsterdam-as-a-brit): Since Brexit, Brits moving to Amsterdam are third-country nationals. Here are the routes the IND actually offers, what they cost in 2026, and what to sort out in your first week. - [Dutch residence for Brits: the highly skilled migrant scheme, the self-employed permit and Withdrawal Agreement rights](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/dutch-residence-for-brits-highly-skilled-migrant-and-self-employed-routes): Most Brits moving to Amsterdam now come on the highly skilled migrant scheme; a few go self-employed. Here are the 2026 thresholds, fees and tests, plus what earlier arrivals keep. - [Healthcare in Amsterdam: compulsory insurance, the S1 and finding a huisarts who speaks English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/healthcare-in-amsterdam): There's no NHS in the Netherlands: every resident takes out health insurance within four months. Here's how British newcomers in Amsterdam get covered and find a GP. - [Schools in Amsterdam: British-curriculum and international schools, fees and the route to UK universities](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/schools-in-amsterdam): A levels in Amsterdam Zuid, the IB in Amstelveen, or a subsidised international school for a fraction of the price: here's how British families in Amsterdam choose a school. - [Dutch schools in Amsterdam: free local schools, the school advice at 12 and the international streams](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/dutch-schools-and-international-streams): Dutch schools are free, start at four and sort children into streams at twelve. Here's how the system works for British families in Amsterdam, and the international options in between. - [Driving in the Netherlands with a UK licence, and getting around Amsterdam without a car](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/driving-and-getting-around-amsterdam): Your UK licence works for 185 days after you move to the Netherlands, then it must be swapped. Here's how in Amsterdam, plus the trams, fare caps and bikes that mean many never drive. - [Cycling in Amsterdam: the rules, the fines and how not to lose your bike](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/cycling-in-amsterdam-rules-theft-and-the-right-bike): In Amsterdam the bike is how you get to work, the shops and the pub. Here are the rules and fines, how to keep your bike from being nicked, and whether to buy or lease. - [British life in Amsterdam: poppies, pints and finding your people](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/british-life-in-amsterdam): Amsterdam's British crowd is spread out but well served: a society going since 1920, a Legion branch, a cricket club in the woods, a rugby club and pubs that show the Premier League. - [Dutch directness and making friends: a Brit's guide to the Amsterdam agenda](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/dutch-directness-and-making-friends): The Dutch will tell you your haircut doesn't suit you and book a coffee with you for three weeks on Thursday. Here's how to decode it and how Brits make friends in Amsterdam. - [British food in Amsterdam: a full English, a Sunday roast and where to find the Marmite](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/british-food-in-amsterdam): Amsterdam does a proper full English, a cream tea with clotted cream and a Sunday roast with Yorkshire-style trimmings, if you know where to look. Here's where to go and what it costs. - [Nightlife in Amsterdam: where Brits go out once the stag dos have gone home](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/amsterdam/nightlife-in-amsterdam): Forget the stag-do version. Amsterdam has all-night clubs, cracking gig venues, cosy brown cafés and a night bus home. Here's where to go, what it costs and the rules to know. ## Bangkok - [Cost of living in Bangkok: how far your pounds go against London and the UK average](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/cost-of-living-in-bangkok): Bangkok rent is about a quarter of London's and a street-food lunch costs pennies, but imported cheese, international schools and health insurance can level the score fast. - [90-day reporting, TM30 and re-entry permits: Thailand's paperwork rhythm for Brits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/90-day-reporting-tm30-and-re-entry-permits): Live in Thailand and immigration wants to know where you are every 90 days, your landlord has to report you, and one trip abroad without a re-entry permit can cost you your visa. - [Air pollution, floods and the hot season in Bangkok: living with the city's three weathers](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/air-pollution-floods-and-the-hot-season-in-bangkok): Bangkok has haze in the dry months, floods in the rainy season and serious heat in April. Here's how to read the air quality index, what to buy and when to book a trip home. - [Learning Thai in Bangkok: why it's worth it, even if work is in English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/learning-thai-in-bangkok): Your office runs in English, but the taxi, the condo office and the hospital pharmacy run in Thai. Here's why a little Thai goes a long way, the first phrases and how to learn. - [Thai taxes for Brits: leaving HMRC behind, the 1981 treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/thailand-taxes-for-brits): Spend 180 days a year in Thailand and the Revenue Department takes an interest in your income. Here's how Thai tax fits with HMRC, the 1981 treaty and your UK pensions. - [Banking in Thailand as a Brit: opening an account, keeping your UK one and moving money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/banking-in-thailand-as-a-brit): Thai banks want the right visa before they'll open an account. Here's what Bangkok branches ask for, how your deposits are protected, and how to keep the UK side going. - [The frozen UK State Pension in Thailand: what it costs you and how it meets the visa tests](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/the-frozen-uk-state-pension-in-thailand): Retire to Bangkok and your State Pension stops rising. Here's why, what it adds up to over 20 years, and why it won't meet the retirement visa income test on its own. - [Thai tax on foreign income: what the 2024 remittance change means for Brits in Bangkok](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/thai-tax-on-foreign-income-the-2024-remittance-change): Since January 2024, money you bring into Thailand can be taxed whenever you transfer it. Here's what counts, what doesn't, and how UK pensions and the treaty fit in. - [Working in Thailand: work permits, the jobs closed to foreigners and the remote-work grey zone](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/working-in-thailand-work-permits-and-jobs-closed-to-foreigners): In Thailand you need a work permit to work, and 27 jobs are off limits to foreigners whatever papers you hold. Here's how Brits get hired legally in Bangkok, and where remote work fits. - [Renting in Bangkok: where Brits live and what to check before you sign](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/renting-in-bangkok): Renting a condo in Bangkok is quick and fairly cheap by London standards. Here's where Brits live, what it costs, what a fair lease looks like and the traps to dodge. - [Owning property in Thailand: condos, leases and the 49% rule, explained for Brits](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/owning-property-in-thailand-condos-leases-and-the-49-rule): A Brit can own a Bangkok condo outright, but not the land under a house. Here's how the 49% foreign quota, leases and the costs work, and why nominee companies are a trap. - [Moving to Bangkok as a Brit: the visa routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/moving-to-bangkok-as-a-brit): Since September 2026 a Brit gets 30 days in Thailand without a visa, and that's for holidays only. Here are the routes that really get you to Bangkok, and the first jobs once you land. - [Thailand's retirement visas for Brits: the Non-O, the O-A and the yearly extension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/thailands-retirement-visas-for-brits-non-o-and-o-a): Thailand still welcomes retirees from 50, but the money tests are strict and the paperwork comes round every year. Here's how the Non-O and O-A work for a British pensioner. - [The DTV and the LTR: Thailand's two long visas for remote workers and the well-off](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/the-destination-thailand-visa-and-the-ltr-visa): The DTV gives remote workers five years of 180-day stays for £300; the LTR gives high earners ten years and a lighter admin load. Here's which one fits a Brit heading for Bangkok. - [Healthcare in Bangkok: private hospitals, Thai social security and why the NHS won't pay](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/healthcare-in-bangkok): Bangkok's private hospitals are excellent, but nobody treats you on trust. Here's how British residents get covered, what Thai social security gives employees and why the NHS can't help. - [Schools in Bangkok: British international schools, fees and the road back to UK universities](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/schools-in-bangkok): Bangkok has more British schools than most English counties, from Harrow and Shrewsbury to Garden. Here's what they charge for 2026/27, how to get a place and what it means for UK uni. - [Driving in Thailand with a UK licence, and getting around Bangkok without losing your mind](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/driving-and-getting-around-bangkok): Visitors drive on a UK licence plus a 1968 IDP; residents convert to a Thai licence. Most Brits in Bangkok leave the car at home and take the Skytrain. - [British life in Bangkok: poppies, pints and a club that's been going since 1903](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/british-life-in-bangkok): Bangkok's British crowd has a members' club from 1903, a Legion branch that parades at Kanchanaburi, an Anglican church on Convent Road and plenty of pubs for the match. - [Marrying in Thailand and bringing a Thai partner to the UK: the paperwork, step by step](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/marrying-in-thailand-and-bringing-a-thai-partner-to-the-uk): A Thai wedding needs a registrar, not just monks and a party. Here's the paperwork from the British Embassy to the district office, and the UK family visa that follows. - [British food in Bangkok: where to find a full English, a Sunday roast and a proper cuppa](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/british-food-in-bangkok): Bangkok does a cracking Sunday roast if you know where to look. Here are the pubs, the afternoon tea, what a pint costs and where to hunt down Marmite and PG Tips. - [Nightlife in Bangkok: where Brits go out, what it costs and how to get home in one piece](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/bangkok/nightlife-in-bangkok): Bangkok's nightlife runs from rooftop bars to 4am clubs. Here's where to go, what a round costs, the drinking hours that can now land you a fine, and how to stay safe. ## Hong Kong - [Cost of living in Hong Kong: how far your pounds go against London and the UK average](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/cost-of-living-in-hong-kong): Hong Kong rent will make a Londoner wince, but the MTR, a bowl of noodles and the public hospitals are a bargain. Here's the full budget, in Hong Kong dollars and pounds. - [Typhoon signals and black rainstorms in Hong Kong: what the numbers mean for work, school and your flat](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/typhoon-signals-and-black-rainstorms-in-hong-kong): T8 means a day at home, black rain means stay where you are, and T10 means the real thing. Here's what each Hong Kong weather signal means for your job, the school run and your flat. - [Languages and your family in Hong Kong: Cantonese, Mandarin and keeping English strong](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/languages-and-your-family-in-hong-kong): Hong Kong runs on Cantonese, its schools increasingly teach Mandarin, and your kids will meet Chinese whichever school they go to. Here's what that means for a British family. - [Hong Kong taxes for Brits: low rates, the 2010 treaty and your frozen State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/hong-kong-taxes-for-brits): Hong Kong's top salaries tax rate is 17% and there's no tax on capital gains or dividends. HMRC still needs a proper goodbye, and your State Pension stops rising the day you settle. - [Banking in Hong Kong as a Brit: opening an account, FPS and keeping your UK bank](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/banking-in-hong-kong-as-a-brit): Hong Kong banking is fast and app-based once you're in, but getting in means paperwork. Here's what banks ask newcomers for, how FPS works and why you should keep your UK account open. - [MPF: how Hong Kong's pension works, and getting your money out when you leave](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/mpf-hong-kongs-pension-and-what-happens-when-you-leave): Every Hong Kong payslip feeds the MPF, and Brits who leave for good can usually take the lot. Here's how the contributions work, the once-in-a-lifetime claim and where HMRC fits in. - [Salaries tax in Hong Kong: allowances, the April tax year and splitting your UK year](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/salaries-tax-in-hong-kong-and-your-uk-split-year): Hong Kong's salaries tax is low and simple, but the first bill can come with a year's provisional tax on top. Here's how it works, and how to stop HMRC taxing the same months. - [Renting in Hong Kong: where Brits live and what to check before you sign](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/renting-in-hong-kong): Hong Kong rents are among the highest anywhere, and flats are small. Here's where Brits live, what a fair lease looks like, who pays what and the checks that protect your deposit. - [Buying property in Hong Kong: stamp duty, mortgages and the end of the cooling measures](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/buying-property-in-hong-kong-after-the-cooling-measures): Since February 2024 a British buyer pays the same stamp duty as a local. Here's what a flat costs to buy, how much a bank will lend, and whether buying beats renting. - [Moving to Hong Kong as a Brit: the routes that actually get you there](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/moving-to-hong-kong-as-a-brit): A Brit can visit Hong Kong for six months without a visa, but not work a single day on it. Here are the routes that really get you living there, and the first jobs once you land. - [Visas for Brits in Hong Kong: the employment and talent schemes compared](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/visas-for-brits-in-hong-kong-employment-and-talent-schemes): A job offer, a big salary or a top-ranked degree: each opens a different Hong Kong visa. Here's how the GEP, the Top Talent Pass and QMAS work for Brits, and what the family gets. - [Permanent residence in Hong Kong after seven years: what Brits actually get](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/permanent-residence-in-hong-kong-after-seven-years): Seven years of ordinary residence can turn a Brit into a Hong Kong permanent resident. Here's how the application works, what it changes, and how you can lose it again by staying away. - [The BN(O) route in reverse: planning for British–Hong Kong families](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/the-bno-route-in-reverse-british-hong-kong-families): You moved to Hong Kong; your in-laws may be moving to the UK. Here's how the BN(O) visa, the family visa and Hong Kong's dependant rules fit together for British–Hong Kong families. - [Healthcare in Hong Kong: public hospitals, private care and why the NHS won't pay](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/healthcare-in-hong-kong): With an HKID card you can use Hong Kong's public hospitals for modest fees, but most Brits lean on private doctors and insurance. Here's how the two systems work and what they cost. - [Schools in Hong Kong: British schools, ESF, local options and what it all costs](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/schools-in-hong-kong): School fees in Hong Kong run from about £13,700 a year at ESF to over £26,000 at Kellett, before levies. Here's how the system works, what it costs and how to plan for UK university. - [ESF and international schools in Hong Kong: debentures, levies and how waiting lists really work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/esf-and-international-schools-in-hong-kong-debentures-and-waiting-lists): A Hong Kong school place can cost more than the fees. Here's how ESF's capital levy and nomination rights work, what Kellett's debentures cost, and how to play the waiting list. - [Driving in Hong Kong with a UK licence, and getting around without a car](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/driving-and-getting-around-hong-kong): A UK licence lets visitors drive for 12 months, and residents can swap it for a Hong Kong licence without a test. Most Brits barely bother: the MTR, trams and ferries are that good. - [British life in Hong Kong: poppies at the Cenotaph, pints in Wan Chai and a ball for the Scots](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/british-life-in-hong-kong): Hong Kong's British crowd has a busy Legion branch, a Remembrance service at the Cenotaph, a St Andrew's Ball, the Sevens at Kai Tak and plenty of pubs for the match. - [Hiring a domestic helper in Hong Kong: the rules, the contract and the real cost](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/hiring-a-domestic-helper-in-hong-kong): Live-in help is normal for Hong Kong families in a way it never was back home. Here's what the law requires: the standard contract, the minimum wage, the room, the insurance and the paperwork. - [British food in Hong Kong: where to find a full English, a Sunday roast and a proper chippy](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/british-food-in-hong-kong): Hong Kong does a proper roast, a decent chippy and a very grand afternoon tea. Here's where to go, what it costs in HK$ and pounds, and where to hunt down Walkers and Marmite. - [Nightlife in Hong Kong: from Lan Kwai Fong to the 118th floor, and the rules that catch Brits out](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/hong-kong/nightlife-in-hong-kong): Hong Kong goes out late and drinks high up. Here are the areas, the rooftop bars, Wednesday nights at the races, what it costs, getting home, and the vaping and drugs rules. ## Fethiye - [Cost of living in Fethiye: how far your pounds go against London and the UK average](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/cost-of-living-in-fethiye): Fethiye rent is about a quarter of London's and a meal out costs under a tenner, but Turkish inflation of around 30% means today's prices won't be next year's. - [Turkey's 90/180 rule: how long Brits can stay in Fethiye without a visa](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/visa-free-stays-in-turkey-for-brits-the-90-180-rule): Brits get 90 days in any 180 in Turkey without a visa. It's Turkey's own rule, not the EU's. Here's how to count the days, what an overstay costs and when to switch to an ikamet. - [Your first month in Turkey: e-Devlet, the tax number and the rest of the admin](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/e-devlet-tax-number-and-your-first-month-in-turkey): A tax number, a foreigner ID, an e-Devlet password, a bank account and a registered phone: the five bits of Turkish admin that make everything else in Fethiye work, and the order to do them in. - [Earthquakes and wildfires: how Brits in Fethiye can prepare their home and family](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/earthquakes-and-wildfires-preparing-in-fethiye): Fethiye was almost flattened in 1957 and the pine hills burn most summers. Neither should stop you moving, but both should shape where you live and what you keep by the door. - [Learning Turkish in Fethiye: why it's worth it, even if everyone speaks English](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/learning-turkish-in-fethiye): In Çalış and Hisarönü the waiters speak better English than your nephew. The tapu office, the plumber and the village muhtar don't. Here's why Turkish pays off and how to learn it. - [Turkish taxes for Brits: leaving HMRC behind, the 1986 treaty and your State Pension](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/turkey-taxes-for-brits): Settle in Fethiye and the Turkish tax office may take an interest in your income. Here's how Turkish tax fits with HMRC, the 1986 treaty and your UK pensions. - [Banking in Turkey as a Brit: opening an account, keeping your UK bank and moving money](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/banking-in-turkey-as-a-brit): A Turkish bank account makes life in Fethiye far simpler, from paying rent to receiving your State Pension. Here's what to bring, what to keep in the UK and how to move money. - [Living on UK pensions in Turkey: budgeting with 30% inflation and a wobbly lira](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/living-on-uk-pensions-in-turkey-inflation-and-the-lira): Prices in Fethiye rise by roughly a third a year, but your pension arrives in pounds. Here's how to budget, get paid and keep the taxman happy on both sides. - [Renting in Fethiye: where Brits live, what it costs and what to check before you sign](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/renting-in-fethiye): Fethiye rents have climbed fast with Turkish inflation, but the law still caps deposits and yearly rises. Here's where Brits live, what to pay and what to check first. - [Buying property in Fethiye: the TAPU, the valuation report and the checks Brits must do](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/buying-property-in-fethiye-the-tapu-valuation-and-checks): Buying in Fethiye is open to Brits and quicker than conveyancing back home, but the checks are on you. Here's how the TAPU, the valuation report and the zone check work. - [Fethiye, Çalış and Hisarönü: choosing where to live, all year round](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/fethiye-calis-and-hisaronu-choosing-where-to-live): The place you loved on a fortnight's holiday in August can be shuttered by November. Here's how Fethiye's main areas compare for living there all year. - [Moving to Fethiye as a Brit: the residence routes that actually work](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/moving-to-fethiye-as-a-brit): A British passport gets you 90 days in any 180 in Turkey without a visa. Staying longer means an ikamet. Here are the routes Brits in Fethiye really use, and the first jobs once you land. - [The ikamet: getting and keeping a Turkish residence permit in Fethiye](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/turkish-residence-permits-for-brits-the-ikamet): The ikamet is the card that lets you live in Fethiye beyond 90 days. Here's how the online application, the appointment, health insurance, fees and renewals work in 2026. - [Turkish citizenship by investment: the property route for Brits in Fethiye](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/turkish-citizenship-by-investment): Buy property worth at least USD 400,000, keep it three years, and you can apply for a Turkish passport. Here's how the route works, what it costs and what it means for a British citizen. - [Healthcare in Fethiye: private insurance, the state scheme and why the GHIC won't help](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/healthcare-in-fethiye): Fethiye has a state hospital and private hospitals used to British patients, but the NHS won't pay and the GHIC isn't valid. Here's how residents get covered. - [Schools in Fethiye: Turkish state schools, the international options and UK university](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/schools-in-fethiye): Fethiye has no British-curriculum school we could verify. Here's what local Turkish schools offer, where families look further afield, what it costs and how UK university works from here. - [Driving in Turkey with a UK licence: the six-month rule, swapping it, and getting around Fethiye](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/driving-and-getting-around-fethiye): Your UK licence covers your first six months in Turkey, with an IDP or notarised translation. After that you need a Turkish one. Plus dolmuşes, taxis and the airport run. - [Bringing a UK car to Turkey: customs time limits, the TURİNG carnet and buying locally instead](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/bringing-a-uk-car-to-turkey): A UK-plated car can only stay in Turkey as long as you can, and residents need a TURİNG carnet and a deposit. Here's how the rules work, and when buying locally makes more sense. - [British life in Fethiye: Sunday roasts, the match and finding your crowd](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/british-life-in-fethiye): Fethiye's Brits don't have a members' club or a Legion branch, but they do have roasts in Hisarönü, the match on big screens and an English service near the bazaar. - [British food in Fethiye: a full English, a Sunday roast and hunting for PG Tips](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/british-food-in-fethiye): Hisarönü does a full English and a Sunday roast. Marmite and PG Tips take more hunting. Here's where Brits in Fethiye eat, drink and stock the cupboard. - [Nightlife in Fethiye: from harbour cocktails to the Hisarönü strip](https://expatcuppa.com/cities/fethiye/nightlife-in-fethiye): Fethiye does nights out three ways: old-town bars in Paspatur, a loud resort strip in Hisarönü and beach bars in Ölüdeniz. Here's how they compare, and how to get home. ## Compare - [Buying in Sydney vs back in the UK: surcharges, stamp duty and the taxman](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-sydney-vs-the-uk): On a temporary visa, Sydney charges foreigners heavily on the way in. Back home, living abroad and owning a Sydney flat can push your stamp duty up too. - [Buying in New York vs back in the UK: co-op boards, mansion tax and HMRC](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-new-york-vs-the-uk): New York lets a Brit buy almost anything, if a co-op board agrees. Back home, living abroad and owning a Brooklyn condo can both add to your stamp duty. - [Buying in Toronto vs back in the UK: two land transfer taxes and one HMRC](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-toronto-vs-the-uk): Toronto charges two land transfer taxes and, for foreign buyers, two speculation taxes. Back home, living abroad and owning a Toronto condo can lift your stamp duty. - [Buying in Málaga vs back in the UK: ITP, IBI and the taxman on both sides](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-malaga-vs-the-uk): Málaga charges a flat transfer tax to buy a resale home and taxes non-resident owners every year. Here's how that compares with stamp duty, council tax and CGT back home. - [Buying in Dublin vs back in the UK: cheap stamp duty, tight mortgage rules](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-dublin-vs-the-uk): Ireland's stamp duty is a fraction of England's, but the Central Bank caps what you can borrow. Here's how buying in Dublin stacks up against buying back home. - [Buying in Auckland vs back in the UK: no stamp duty, but a long wait](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-auckland-vs-the-uk): Auckland charges no stamp duty at all, but most Brits can't buy until they're residents. Back home anyone can buy, though living abroad adds to your stamp duty. - [Buying in Paris vs back in the UK: notaire fees, the 35% rule and two taxmen](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-paris-vs-the-uk): France charges the same 7% or so to buy whether it's your first home or your fifth. England is cheap for a first home and dear for a second. Here's how they compare. - [Buying in Cape Town vs back home: transfer duty, the 50% rule and stamp duty](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-cape-town-vs-the-uk): The same £300,000 costs more in transfer duty in Cape Town than in stamp duty back home, unless you keep a second home. Here's how the two compare, from the bond to the sale. - [Buying in Berlin vs back home: a flat 6% now, stamp duty surcharges later](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-berlin-vs-the-uk): Berlin charges a flat 6% when you buy and leaves your gain alone after ten years. Here's how that compares with buying back home in the UK while you live abroad. - [Buying in Rome vs back home: cadastral values, the notaio and the taxman](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-rome-vs-the-uk): Italy taxes your purchase on an official value that's often far below the price. Here's how buying in Rome stacks up against buying back home while you live abroad. - [Buying in Lisbon vs back in the UK: IMT, IMI and a brand-new tax treaty](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-lisbon-vs-the-uk): Portugal taxes a Lisbon purchase on a sliding scale and keeps the yearly IMI low. Back home, stamp duty bites if you live abroad. Here's how the two compare in 2026. - [Buying in Paphos vs back home: transfer fees, title deeds and the taxman](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-paphos-vs-the-uk): Cyprus is cheap to own and fairly cheap to buy into, but the paperwork is a minefield. Here's how a Paphos purchase compares with buying back home in Blighty. - [Buying in Dubai vs back in the UK: the 4% fee, stamp duty and the taxman](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-dubai-vs-the-uk): Dubai is cheap to own and has no tax on the gain, but the day you buy back in the UK, that flat can add thousands to your stamp duty. Here's how the two compare. - [Buying in Singapore vs back in the UK: 60% stamp duty, condos and HMRC](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-singapore-vs-the-uk): A Brit pays 60% extra stamp duty on a Singapore condo, while a UK house costs a fraction of that to buy. Here's how the two compare, from mortgages to tax on the sale. - [Buying in Zurich vs back home: Lex Koller, a 20% deposit and almost no stamp duty](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-zurich-vs-the-uk): Zurich barely taxes the purchase but wants a fifth of the price in cash. Here's how buying in Zurich compares with buying back home in the UK while you live abroad. - [Buying in Tel Aviv vs back home: purchase tax, your status and stamp duty](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-tel-aviv-vs-the-uk): In Tel Aviv your status decides the bill: a foreign resident pays about £72,800 purchase tax on an average three-room flat, a new immigrant about £2,300. Here's the UK comparison. - [Buying in Amsterdam vs back home: 100% mortgages, a 2% tax and the UK surcharges](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-amsterdam-vs-the-uk): Dutch banks lend the whole price and the transfer tax on your own home is 2%. Here's how buying in Amsterdam compares with buying back in the UK while you live abroad. - [Buying in Bangkok vs back in the UK: condos, the 49% rule and stamp duty](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-bangkok-vs-the-uk): A Bangkok condo is cheap to buy and cheaper to hold, but you can't own the land and you'll probably pay cash. Here's how it stacks up against buying back in the UK. - [Buying in Hong Kong vs back in the UK: same stamp duty as locals, different taxman](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-hong-kong-vs-the-uk): Since 2024 a Brit pays the same stamp duty as a Hong Konger, and a cheaper flat pays just HK$100. Here's how buying in Hong Kong compares with buying back in the UK. - [Buying in Fethiye vs back home: the TAPU fee, the lira and stamp duty](https://expatcuppa.com/compare/buying-property-in-fethiye-vs-the-uk): A Fethiye villa is quick and cheap to buy into, and the lira does strange things to your gain. Here's how it compares with buying back home in Blighty.