The official response to this was that the Government are in constant talks with the financial institutions to try and resolve this, but there is no guarantee at this point that there will be a resolution and in fact there was an article published this week in International Investment that states the government White Paper “has confirmed that its negotiations with the EU27 over Brexit will see it aim to end passporting rights for financial services”.
Now this is a very broad statement and there are moves afoot to negotiate cross-border dealings within the financial industry, but if there comes a time when deals are made and passporting is not included then this could cause a few headaches for many expats who are already receiving their pensions or getting ready to start.
There may be a simple solution to this problem, in that you could have your UK pension paid into a UK bank account and then face the issue of fluctuating currency rates when you need to transfer it to your French account, or you may need to consider a more permanent solution and transfer your pension into an International SIPP (self-invested personal pension) or a QROPS (Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme). Which of these will suit your needs is dependant on your individual circumstances and it may not be a possibility or in your best interests to do this, but if you are at all concerned about this then please get in touch and we can talk you through your options. All initial consultations are without obligation or cost and we may be able to provide a simple solution that you hadn’t thought about before.
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.
Over the years, the trend for South African nationals to seek out new lives and experiences in Portugal has continued to grow and grow; I myself made the move back in 1988 as a fresh-faced economics graduate from Witswatersrand University in Johannesburg, and I’ve never looked back. It’s easy to see the appeal for South Africans – the year-round sunshine and vast expanses of Atlantic coastline are a familiar part of daily life, just as they are back home – but the secure location and easy access to the rest of Europe is something really special. Being as there’s over 11,000 KM of distance between the two countries, a mere 12 hrs by plane give or take, there are going to be some big differences in the way of life, even if there are those obvious similarities. It’s probably advisable for any emigrant to arrive armed with a willingness to accept how things are done in their new home country rather than try to carry on as before and hope for the best. This is never more true than when dealing with your finances.