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Answereda year ago

What are the challenges of updating UK pensions and addresses while moving to Thailand?

Paul ********
asked Nov 10, 2025
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not visa related but I think interesting, so in the long process of cancelling my life in England for my move to Thailand on the 1st of December, you know it's easily to start something, 5 mins online and your a new member but trying to cancel or change your address is a different matter, I have two private pensions so went online to change address not so straight forward as I thought , they need evidence of my new address but what they are asking for is all westernised paper work, gas bill council tax bill, etc, so I phoned up and said the only thing I can send your is a copy of my tm30 from imagination and maybe a bank letter, would be interested how you got over this problem,

thanks, see you all in December,lol
Answer summary
The discussion revolves around the challenges faced by an individual moving from the UK to Thailand, particularly regarding changing their address for private pensions and the complexities in providing proof of residence. Various solutions were suggested by community members, including maintaining a UK address, using a relative's address, keeping UK bank accounts, and the importance of not forfeiting pension benefits.
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Michael ********
Michael ********
I use my sisters address
Paul ********
Paul ********
OP
@Michael *******
hi so how do you use your sister's address if they are asking for proof of address with your name on,
Michael ********
Michael ********
@Paul *******
my bank account goes there, letters from tax
Ally ************
Ally ************
Changing your residential address from the Uk to Thailand is mostly unnecessary.. and frought with danger.. firstly, if you advise the DWP (govt pensions unit) you no longer consider the Uk to be your permanent home.. you will immediately lose the indexation attached to your state pension.. secondly, you should maintain a Uk bank account registered to a Uk address.. and have any Uk pension or other income paid into that account initially.. that way you can control how much money you bring into Thailand and when.. which could become very important if you are deemed tax resident in Thailand.. and thirdly, some Uk banks are forcing closure of accounts held by expats who try to register their overseas address.. this very action triggers a review and unless you happen to be a 'premiere' customer with substantial funds on deposit.. they will likely ask you to close it.. it's better to simply change your address to a relatives residence. then toggle all communications from your Uk bank to email thereafter.. this also necessitates maintaining a Uk mobile number for OTP's.. as well as communications with other Uk centric organisations.. and this can be done very easily by porting your number from a physical network to a VOIP service.. offerings such as Expatfone will even give you free voicecalls back to the Uk.. and will also shield your location so nobody will know you are not in the Uk when making or receiving calls.. useful if you need to call your Uk bank to resolve an issue.. and if you later decide Thailand is not for you after all.. you haven't burnt your britches so to speak.. lastly, you may want to return to the UK for medical reasons in the future.. given that there is no NHS equivalent in Thailand.. and treatment for more complex conditions (or surgeries) can be expensive here if you dont have health insurance.. so keeping the door open to access the NHS would be prudent.. as a British citizen that may still be possible in the short term.. but one day the govt may decide to start charging non-residents in the same way as they charge foreign tourists.. so maintaining a UK address for as long as possible would make sense.. at least imo!
10
Terry **********
Terry **********
Same routine with my forces pension also. 5 yrs to wait for State pension
Roger ********
Roger ********
My advice? Do not burn your bridges.
Ken *******
Ken *******
What I did and with my pensions was keep them going into my Natwest bank and transfer the money through Wise to Thailand. I changed my address to my Thai address with the bank, pension company, DWP and HMRC that was 10 years ago maybe it was easier then.
John **********
John **********
You would be wise to maintain your UK bank accounts and have your pensions paid in there. You also need to inform the state pension people of your Thai address, I had to do that for pension and overseas landlord status but I don't remember having to provide any proof of address. Probably best to call them and explain
Paul ********
Paul ********
OP
@John *********
yes I'm keeping my Lloyds international account,
Jamie ******
Jamie ******
Will send you a pm ,I have a question
Michael ********
Michael ********
Don't bring any pensions here, keep an address in the UK if you can, family member ?
Kevin ********
Kevin ********
@Michael *******
your government pension is freeze and no more wises
Michael ********
Michael ********
@Kevin *******
Government pension where i paid serps all my working life frozen, the rises now are peanuts anyway thanks to the frozen tax free allowance, but Private pension and ISAs I have 2 as my wife has 1 all handled in the UK ! Anything else you would like to know ?
Michael ********
Michael ********
@Kevin *******
Wises ?? No I don't use Wise, just direct transfer from English bank each month, cost just £15 for any amount.
Paul *******
Paul *******
@Michael *******
Why? I use my Thai address and have never had a problem.
Michael ********
Michael ********
@Paul ******
up to you as they say ! I have a reason !
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
I use my brothers address and registered myself on electoral role and put my UK banks on that address
Vince **********
Vince **********
@Datsun *****
do exactly this and get a gov't issued ID (driver's license) reflecting that address.
Datsun ******
Datsun ******
@Vince *********
yes and kept credit cards and even a loan
Peter *******
Peter *******
Proof of Residential Address in Thailand is now a problem. Many UK Institutions no longer accept Certification by Thai Notaries. The only way is via a zoom call to your financial advisor or certification by a UK solicitor.
Tom ********
Tom ********
I found it better to email them with change of address and they responded but if you are already out of the UK then you need to go on the International pensions website
***********************************************
James *******
James *******
@Tom *******
What's the Government got to do with private pension details updates?

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