Visiting or living abroad
This page helps you find information that is important if you are:
- coming to the United Kingdom (UK) from abroad and are new to the country
- returning after a period abroad
- going abroad permanently or for a visit
- living abroad but want information on benefits and services you may be able to get or are already getting
- a member of a family living abroad because of service in HM Armed Forces.
International pensions consulting event
Are you or have you been working in Great Britain or Germany? In conjunction with the German State Pension agency, Deutsche Rentenversicherung, DWP has organised an event where British and German experts will give you advice on all questions concerning your pension.
The event takes place from 9 to 11 December 2008 at:
German House,
34 Belgrave Square,
London SW1X 8QB
To book an appointment read more about the event (155KB) 
Going abroad
- If you are planning to go abroad for short or long periods and want to know how benefits you are claiming may be affected:
check the name of the benefit or benefits in the A-Z listing. - If you want to find out about social security agreements with different countries:
check Social security agreements between the United Kingdom and other countries. - You can get health information and advice from the Department of Health website.
- You can find information about UK tax and other HM Revenue & Customs issues while you are abroad by visiting the HM Revenue & Customs website.
Coming to Great Britain
If you are coming or have just come to Great Britain, you may need to know about benefits you can get. You may be new to the country, or you may be returning after a period abroad.
The rules for some benefits are different if you have just come to Great Britain, even if you are a United Kingdom (UK) national. These extra rules vary and for some benefits and services, there are no extra rules.
To get this information, when you have looked at everything that interests you on this page:
- Return to the page about benefits and services for people of working age using the link below.
- Once you have done this, choose the link or links on that page that apply to you.
- When you reach a page about a benefit or service, if there are extra rules for people who have come from abroad you will find a link to the extra information you need. The link is at the start of the section called ‘What else should I know?’ If there are no extra rules, the link will not be there.
Return to the page about benefits and services for Pensions and retirement.
If you are returning after a period abroad and already getting a UK social security benefit, contact:
International Pension Centre
Tyneview Park
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE98 1BA
Phone: 0191 218 7777
Fax: 0191 218 7381
- You can find information on immigration to the UK and working in this country on the Home Office's Border and Immigration Agency website.
- You can find information about tax and other HM Revenue & Customs issues by visiting the HM Revenue & Customs website
Pensions information for European workers
The EUlisses website provides pensions information for people who have worked in different countries of the European Economic Area (EEA)
Visit the EUlisses website