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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

… To be considering leaving the UK?

567 replies

globalnomad25 · 05/07/2025 13:17

We have been considering leaving, even if only for a few years. Many of our clients have already gone or are planning it, and some of our friends too.

I’m not sure where we’d go: UAE, Portugal, Jersey, Ireland, Canada, Australia? We don’t currently want to move to the US, even though that would probably make the most sense from a business/client point of view.

For those out there who have already left, how has it gone? Was it a horrible mistake or are you glad you did it?

For those also thinking about it, where would you go?

Kids are school-aged and smart and used to international travel as our work already takes us all over, although they’d miss their friends (as would we). We aren’t English so our family is already based all over the place, although we visit them frequently.

OP posts:
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Crushed23 · 05/07/2025 16:40

I emigrated last year due to stagnant wages in the UK. I have to say that I absolutely loved living in the UK! So I can’t get my head around the daily “This country is awful, where should I move to?” threads. It can’t have changed that much in the year I’ve even gone?!

That being said, the quality of life here from earning literally double what I was earning in London (for the exact same role at the same company) vs a COL that’s only 30-50% higher, has been great. I’m able to live in a prime central neighbourhood (equivalent of Knightsbridge / Mayfair in London), travel more comfortably- business class for long haul, nicer hotels etc. and still have plenty left to save, overpay on my UK mortgage or throw into my pension.

So for me it has 100% been worth it.

Good luck & keep us posted!

NormasArse · 05/07/2025 16:39

Zov · 05/07/2025 14:04

👏 100% this.

Fact is, the people posting this type of thread won't leave the UK. Wink

Deep down they know where they're well off. And as you say, it's hilarious that people assume these countries will allow them in!

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I clicked on this thread because I’m really interested; why did you click on it?

NormasArse · 05/07/2025 16:35

Mrsbloggz · 05/07/2025 13:31

And very high taxes.

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To support the incredible infrastructure.

Original poster
globalnomad25 · 05/07/2025 16:34

BMW6 · 05/07/2025 13:42

Aren't you rather assuming that these countries want you?

But really, you're not British to start with and have family all over (presumably globally) so I'm sure you have enough information from your global family to be able to make informed decisions without needing input from here! 🙄

These "we are leaving UK" threads get very wearisome. Honestly, no-one cares. Off you pop, have a nice life, byeeee

Thanks. Yes, we’d definitely need to check entry requirements for all the countries but I feel reasonably confident we would eligible for most of the countries listed.

For clarity, I am actually British (I’ve had a British passport for many years alongside my European one, and my husband has held a British passport - obtained via ancestry - for over 15 years), but neither of us are English. One of our children was born here too.

OP posts:
Poppins21 · 05/07/2025 16:33

Cesarina · 05/07/2025 16:30

What's a "departure" tax?🤔

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Some countries will tax you on unrealised gains- so if you bought shares but not sold them they may tax the expected profit as per the day you leave.

Cesarina · 05/07/2025 16:30

Underpr3ssure · 05/07/2025 13:53

Not to mention the 'departure' tax on your worldwide assets when you eventually leave.

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What's a "departure" tax?🤔

heldinadream · 05/07/2025 16:29

@Movingon2024 You say the summer is brutal and only going to get worse, but you also say you doubt that you'll come back.
I'm truly not trying to be goady- if you see my post above you'll see I have relatives in Portugal who are thinking of returning partly for that reason. But do you not worry that more brutal will actually become impossible to live in?
As someone who's been aware of climate change for a long time, before the phrase was even coined, nothing would make me move to a country that's hot and going to get hotter and I'm increasingly mystified that anyone would consider it or seriously think they're going to be able to stay as it gets worse.

Cyclistmumgrandma · 05/07/2025 16:27

We lived in the USA for 3 years and then back to UK for 12 years. Then we lived in Switzerland for 2 years then France for 16 years. We have now retired back to the UK to be nearer to family. It certainly helped us financially and we enjoyed it and wouldn't have changed it.

Poppins21 · 05/07/2025 16:26

L00kingAround · 05/07/2025 16:25

Oh go if you can!

I know 2 families in the last year alone that have gone (to Dubai) as well as someone else on my team.
We're leaving in a a few months (not Dubai), just working my notice period.

Make sure you do your research and have a job to go to. My new company is paying me a relocation allowance and helped with all the paperwork.
From speaking to others, it'll probably take at least 6+ months for where ever you go to truely feel like you've settled in. But we felt like that's a small price to pay for a better quality of life.

Where you going too? Exciting times

Poppins21 · 05/07/2025 16:26

FeministUnderTheCatriarchy · 05/07/2025 14:59

I've lived all over the world. I've been an expat for 11 years. The grass definitely isn't greener and despite it's faults, the UK is the best country I have ever lived in (and I've lived in NZ, Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Greece, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia).

It does depend on where in the UK you are, so if it was me I would focus on moving somewhere nicer in the UK rather than overseas.

I know loads of expats, I've met a ton over the years. I would say 90%+ of the men love it but only a few women I've met have genuinely been happy.

I am a woman and I love being an expat it really suits our family and has been incredible opportunity for our daughter.

L00kingAround · 05/07/2025 16:25

Oh go if you can!

I know 2 families in the last year alone that have gone (to Dubai) as well as someone else on my team.
We're leaving in a a few months (not Dubai), just working my notice period.

Make sure you do your research and have a job to go to. My new company is paying me a relocation allowance and helped with all the paperwork.
From speaking to others, it'll probably take at least 6+ months for where ever you go to truely feel like you've settled in. But we felt like that's a small price to pay for a better quality of life.

Original poster
globalnomad25 · 05/07/2025 16:23

PlutoCat · 05/07/2025 13:35

There are quite a few threads on MN from (often new for some reason) posters who are planning to leave the UK imminently. If you do a search you will find helpful info, I'm sure.

Thanks. I’m not actually new to Mumsnet (I’ve been actively posting for about 13 years, as a normal mum, and I’m not a journalist or bot or whatever you’re thinking). I have changed my username about 3 times in those 13 years so as not to be too outing. I have done a search too, of course, but hoping for replies from others who’ve gone through the same thing or are similar.

OP posts:
Poppins21 · 05/07/2025 16:23

Meetmeundertheclock · 05/07/2025 14:09

Does your business benefit from UK standards like Accountancy or Law? Cyprus might work out.

Good option and there are some interesting tax options too.

Eixample · 05/07/2025 16:22

I moved when the children were under one year old. I would consider their ages carefully when deciding whether to move. I couldn’t move one of my seven year olds now without severing impacting her, I suspect.

Poppins21 · 05/07/2025 16:21

CeaselesslyIntoThePast · 05/07/2025 14:08

MN is full of posts declaring they want out of the UK usually following some sort of political decision they deem makes the UK the worse place in the world. I suspect most don’t go. It’s another form of flouncing.
You can’t realistically choose a country to move to like you are picking a holiday cottage.

Why not? We did and have a few times. We are moving again next year and that’s exactly what we have done again this time.

Original poster
globalnomad25 · 05/07/2025 16:19

ByGreenHiker · 05/07/2025 13:29

UAE ...enjoy

Did you move there? If so, do you like it?

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Poppins21 · 05/07/2025 16:18

Zov · 05/07/2025 14:04

👏 100% this.

Fact is, the people posting this type of thread won't leave the UK. Wink

Deep down they know where they're well off. And as you say, it's hilarious that people assume these countries will allow them in!

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People with high educational levels and assets are pretty much welcome anywhere. We no longer live in the UK and our standard of living is much better. To the OP if it makes sense for your life and business do it- depending on your assets and income maybe Greece or Italy with their new non dom rules as Portugal are phasing theirs out?

Original poster
globalnomad25 · 05/07/2025 16:18

PonyPatter44 · 05/07/2025 13:26

The fact that you're already a mobile expat family changes this up a bit. Really, where do you want to go?

My husband favours UAE for the tax advantages but I probably like the idea of Europe, Ireland or Canada better as I think it would be an easier cultural transition for the kids and also because we are outdoorsy/love greenery.

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Natsku · 05/07/2025 16:18

I left the UK and moved to Finland 18 years ago (unintentionally - I was only supposed to go for my Erasmus year) and I've never regretted it, especially now that I have a secondary school age child (she gets to go to a school with reasonable rules rather than something more prison-like)

Movingon2024 · 05/07/2025 16:16

I left last year. Mainly postBrexit blues and I’m also in a pretty international career.

am in a Southern European country.

it took a while to sort out, get job etc. but has worked out pretty well.

i don’t miss the UK but I do miss close friends and family. I’d say that’s the number one consideration. If you have a close network in the UK I would opt for somewhere accessible to get back (I come back frequently for weekends).

quality of life better here in some ways, worse in others. You just have to decide what’s important to you and whether you can find it in the countries you can live in.

I love the blue skies here, the amazing food, the lovely lifestyle….But summer is brutal (36 today) and only going to get worse. Navigating ordinary life in a second language is hard going atm. And settling in has been rough - I’m only starting to really find my feet a year in.

so if you know what you’re looking for, and go into it with eyes open & plenty of resilience it can work well. If not…..rethink.

i also kept my house in the uk which feels like a safety net if I do decide to return - If that is an option, it does help.

overall though I am really happy. I don’t think I would come back.

Original poster
globalnomad25 · 05/07/2025 16:16

Foolsgold74 · 05/07/2025 16:09

I'm just doing some soul searching on whether to move or not. I'm starting to get twitchy. I can't bear the way the UK mainland is going and I'm getting on a bit and thinking about a smaller home. I'm just doing some number crunching to see if I can make it work. I loathe the heat, so I'm not going anywhere warmer and will probably go to a UK island.

Are you thinking of somewhere like Jersey? I looked into that as one of the options and thought it sounds wonderful. It’s tricky for work though, especially as I don’t think we’d be eligible for a HNW visa.

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Kay286 · 05/07/2025 16:15

We moved to canada 5 years ago , absolutely love it ! But you have to earn good money you can’t live a decent quality of life on a mediocre salary. We just bought our first house for a $1m it’s nice but a normal house nothing mansion like. Eldest works as server while a uni makes great tips around $150-$300 per shift on top of hourly rate.
youngest going to summer camp for 2 weeks will spend her time on the lake , canoes , swimming , fire pits , climbing etc. we’re around 45 mins from downtown Toronto on the train - going today in the glorious sunshine , will have lunch on the harbour front and get a water taxi across to island with great city scape views on the way back.
we go to cottages up north in muskoka areas and spend long weekends on the lake it’s beautiful. We take trips and drive to the USA 🇺🇸.
we get proper summers here the weather is amazing , getting a pool in the back yard - but we can do all this we we well over $240k without decent income you will struggle

Original poster
globalnomad25 · 05/07/2025 16:14

Sourisblanche · 05/07/2025 13:29

When the UK decided to leave the EU was the moment I thought okay we’re off. It’s taken a few years because of GCSEs and my dear poorly mum but we sold up and moved to S of France this year.

Thanks for this. How have you found the move? Was it worth it? We are in a similar position I think, although we aren’t French nor fluent French-speakers (yet - I’d happily learn!)

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theDudesmummy · 05/07/2025 16:12

Moved to Ireland in 2020 (100% Brexit related). We absolutely love it.