ACHIEVERS ADDA: August 2011

We strongly recommend that prospective purchasers of overseas property seek independent legal and financial advice at all stages of their purchase.

The following information is suggested only as general advice which you may wish to take into account when purchasing property overseas. Before making a decision you should fully research and understand all aspects of the purchase before committing to buy.

Buy with CARE

Go into it with Caution, make sure you seek Advice - local laws can be complex and unclear, do your own Research then Evaluate on the basis of that before you proceed.

Proceed with Caution

Buying a property overseas is a major decision and make sure you look at a wide range of information and advice before you buy. You should proceed with caution.

Seek independent legal Advice

Appoint a lawyer who is experienced in property law, who only represents you and is fully independent of anyone else involved in the transaction e.g. the estate agent, vendor and developer.
Do not sign any papers or hand over any money until you have taken independent legal advice.

Do your Research

It is important to thoroughly research the property laws in the country you are considering purchasing in, as well as companies you might use (developers, estate agents and lawyers).

Search through local papers and local property forums
Read independent purchasing guides
Compare property prices
Visit your location
Do your numbers
Use a chartered surveyor – with around 100,000 qualified members in 140 countries the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) provides qualified and experienced professionals who can offer independent and impartial advice
Look out for companies who are registered with theAssociation of International Property Professionals (AIPP)

Search Embassy and High Commission websites.

You can find further advice on living in a country on our websites. Below are links to information on some of the most popular destinations for Britons living abroad.

Australia
Canada
Cyprus
France
Germany
Ireland
New Zealand
Bulgaria
Turkey
Spain
USA

Evaluate

Once you have all the information and completed all your searches; when you have taken independent legal advice and when you are confident that you know all there is to know about the property laws in the country you are planning to buy property, only then should you consider proceeding.

Where to go for advice if things go wrong

If you run into difficulties we advise you to seek independent legal advice. Property disputes are private legal matters, which can only be resolved by the parties involved via the courts of the country concerned, a process in which the British Government cannot interfere.
If you purchased the property through a firm in the UK and think there was any negligence on their part, it may be open to you to complain to Which? (The UK Consumers’ Association) or toConsumer Direct or the Office of Fair Trading.

European Consumer Centres Network

If the property is in the EU you may wish to contact the European Consumer Centres Network. This network of consumer advice centres provide information and advice to help consumers with cross-border disputes.

Fraud help lines

If you consider yourself to be a victim of fraud then Action Fraud is the UK’s national fraud reporting centre. They provide a central point of contact for information about fraud. The service is run by the National Fraud Authority – the government agency that helps to co-ordinate the fight against fraud in the UK. Their online fraud reporting service is available 24 hours a day, enabling anyone to report a fraud and find help and support. They also provide help and advice over the phone through the Action Fraud contact centre - 0300 123 2040.

Association of International Property Professionals

If the company, or legal advisor, you have worked with is a member of AIPP and you are unhappy with the services provided, you may wish to write to the AIPP

Disclaimer:

The FCO makes no representation as to the quality or accuracy of the information which is available at the web addresses listed nor do we endorse them. We are not involved in the production or sale of the company’s products nor do we monitor their quality.

Living abroad

British pensioners in Lloret de Mar, Spain. Photo by Cate Gillon/Getty Images.

If you're thinking of retiring or moving abroad, it's important to research your destination, consider your personal circumstances carefully and plan for the long-term.

You can find tips and information here on starting your new life abroad, including some of the issues you should consider before you go, and what steps you can take when you arrive to help yourself settle into your new community.

Our Going to live Abroad booklet has further information, including useful addresses.

Where can I move to?

British citizens have the right to live in any country in the European Economic Area (EEA).

The following countries are in the EEA:

All full members of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

For other countries contact the local British Embassy for more info.

How our Embassies can help you

There is information on all our Embassy websites about living in that country.

But remember: our Embassies can only do so much. It’s your responsibility to find a place to live, ensure you can support yourself financially and find a school for your children. You should register with the nearest British Embassy or Consulate or use our online LOCATE service so we can provide assistance if you need it.

Before you go

Information and advice on some of the things you should consider before you move or retire abroad.

When you arrive

Steps to take once you've moved to a new country.

Buying a property abroad

Advice on buying a property abroad.

Passport and entry requirements

You can find information on passport validity, visa information and entry requirements in the travel advice for each country under 'entry requirements'. This advice is reviewed constantly.

We can’t answer all your queries about the specific entry requirements of a country other than what appears in the Travel Advice. You should consult the relevant foreign embassy in the UK for information on things like:

medical conditions and taking medicines into a country
stamps from previous visits abroad affecting travel to new countries
criminal convictions affecting entry eligibility
travelling to some countries with children of whom you are not legal guardians

See our list of Foreign Embassies in the UK for phone numbers and addresses.

Check the entry requirements of the country you intend to visit well in advance – some require that you have a certain amount of validity left on your passport when you travel, so you may have to apply for a new passport in time for your trip.

Some countries may also physically stamp your passport on entry and exit and they will require a minimum of two empty pages to do that. You should check this requirement before travelling, especially if your passport is quite full.

Some common questions we receive are:

What are the visa requirements for the USA?

Our Travel Advice for the USA explains in detail the visa requirements.

US entry requirements have changed! If you're entering the US on the Visa Waiver Programme you now also need to complete anESTA form online. More information is available on the US Embassy's website.

The US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) allows most British Citizen passport holders to visit the USA for up to 90 days. The types of journeys that are permissible under the VWP include general travel/tourism, certain types of business and when transiting to another country. More details on the VWP and other aspects of US immigration are available at:

If you have any doubts about whether you are eligible to enter the USA under the VWP, or about visa matters generally, you are strongly advised to contact the US Embassy in London before your travel. The Visa Information line is 0904 245 0100 (calls are charged at £1.20 per minute).

Is the passport validity the same for all members of the EU?

No - you should check each country you intend to travel to. Travel advice for Europe.

Do I need a passport to travel to the Republic of Ireland?

The Republic of Ireland is classed as being part of the Common Travel Area of the UK so you do not need a passport to enter. Most airlines or ferry services only require satisfactory photographic ID (i.e., your passport, driving licence, etc). We recommended that you take your passport if you have one and that you take care to read any advice the airline or ferry service give you about travelling when you book your tickets.

I have an Israeli stamp in my passport. Will it stop me from travelling to other countries?

You should contact the relevant Foreign Embassy in the UK to find out. You should also check the relevant Travel Advice page for the country you intend to visit, as this information should be mentioned there too.

VIDEO @ PASSPORT

NEW PASSPORT PROCESSING PROCEDURES EXPLAINED

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/passports1/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/passports1/

Passports

You will need to go to our A to Z listing of countries to get specific information on what to do if you're overseas.

In the UK you must apply to theIdentity and Passport Service.

New passport processing procedures explained

The passport service is changing over the next few years. The journey has five parts and this video explains what the puzzle pieces are, what they mean to you and what the benefits of the changes are.

Renewing or replacing a passport if you live abroad

You can renew or replace a passport at one of our Passport Processing Centres. Please click on this A-Z and choose the country that you are applying from and this will direct you to the Passport Processing Centre for that country. It usually takes around 4 weeks to issue a passport and you shouldn’t make travel plans before you receive your new passport. If you are applying for your first British passport allow at least 6 weeks. You might also be asked to attend an interview at the embassy or consulate.

Lost or stolen passports

You should report the theft of a passport to the local police so you can get a police report. You’ll need the report for insurance purposes and to obtain a replacement travel document from us. You should note that some police authorities will not issue a report for lost passports. In such cases we do not require a police report, but you need to demonstrate that you have at least tried to report the theft.

If your passport is lost or stolen you should contact the nearest British embassy or consulate.

You’ll need to complete an LS01 form in order for your passport to be cancelled. Identity theft is a growing crime. To protect your identity please bring or send this form to us as soon as possible. You do not need to wait until you apply for a new passport.

Renewing your passport in the UK if you live abroad

You can renew, amend or replace your passport whilst you’re visiting the UK. You should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

You’ll need to make an appointment, provide a verifiable residential address, and be able to attend any interviews as required by IPS. You’ll have to be available at this address so you can sign for the passport. Please note that IPS do not accept applications by post or email from abroad.

Replacement and emergency passports

We can issue you with a replacement travel document if you need to travel urgently. But we’ll need some verification of your identity to be satisfied that you are a British national. You’ll also need to show us a police report and pay a fee. For further details, seeEmergency travel.

I’ve found my missing passport

If you reported your passport missing to the embassy or consulate and it later turns up you won’t be able to use it as it will have been electronically cancelled. You must send it to the nearest embassy or consulate, or to the Identity and Passport Service if you are in the UK. If you try to use it for travel or identification purposes you may be detained by the authorities.

Passport fees

Check the A-Z listing for the country you are applying from for fees in the local currency. Fees are non-refundable even if your application is unsuccessful as the fee is for the administration of the application not just the issue of the book.

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