The best countries for expats retiring abroad

[Groucho]

The 7 Best Places to Retire in Europe:

Spain
Malta
Italy
France
Austria
Northern Cyprus
Croatia

https://www.express.co.uk/finance/perso ... -of-living

Not the south.... they'll be spitting blood no doubt.

[frugal90]

In the article it mentions no state pension increase if you are resident in North Cyprus. Is this correct?

[waddo]

frugal90, have been here for 16 years and always received any increase in the State Pension since I qualified. However, things change and I wait to see if I receive any increase this financial year - or any pension come to that - lol.

[13roman58]

In the article it mentions no state pension increase if you are resident in North Cyprus. Is this correct?

That is correct,no annual increase,but if you claim from a UK address you do get them and also the cold weather payments!!

[Groucho]

In the article it mentions no state pension increase if you are resident in North Cyprus. Is this correct?

That is not correct, I have never claimed from a UK address and I have always got the increases. The article is wrong in that respect.

[13roman58]

In the article it mentions no state pension increase if you are resident in North Cyprus. Is this correct?

That is not correct, I have never claimed from a UK address and I have always got the increases. The article is wrong in that respect.

.
I informed the DWPS that I am in Northern Cyprus and was told that I will not receive any increases ,as a result ,I havn,t.

[13roman58]

Groucho have you ever told DWPS where you live?

[Laura B]

I have always had pension increases both in Turkiye and here. I do not have any uk address and the DWP have my address here. I think maybe the problem arises as in the north we should be treated the same as TR but many people in the UK do not differentiate between the north and the south so if one says one lives in ''Cyprus'' it's assumed the south. As we are not in the EU so far as I understand it we are entitled to the rises.

[waddo]

Laura B, Quite correct in that the UK - all departments including the TAX office - treat the Northern part of Cyprus as being under the control of Turkey and therefore all rules that apply to Turkey also apply here (unless of course they want something from you), there is no reason why you should not be receiving any increase in State Pensions!

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... te-pension

The whole problem is that the UK services sometimes have no idea where TRNC is and as the UK does not recognise it anyway it has its own problems trying to figure out if we are in Cyprus (we are - but - we are occupied by Turkey so we are not) or if we are in Turkey (we are not - but - we are occupied by Turkey which means that we are). There you go, plain and simple but only if you know!

[Laura B]

Exactly Waddo. Can only agree!!

[Groucho]

Groucho have you ever told DWPS where you live?

Yes, I claimed my pension from here and only my UK employment history was given... They write to me here and require me to complete proof of life from here. We understood that as increases are paid to UK pensioners in the south that the UK Government do not discriminate between the two.

[13roman58]

Looks like a phone call to DWP on Monday.

[mrsgee]

Back to the original post though, quite ironic given the number of people saying they are selling up and going back to good old blighty because they are so fed up with TRNC. I think they will be in for a huge shock if they think the grass is greener there..... well it probably is to be fair given all the rain. .... personally I think I will have to be hauled back kicking and screaming to UK..... but each to their own of course.

[waddo]

mrsgee, just think of the "benefits" you could claim if that were to happen to you - no house to go to so have to stay in a hotel, just for starters - lol. No flight to pay for as no money here at all so would have to be sent back to country of origin - that's the bad bit - a McDonalds on every corner and no shortage of Marmite - those of course are 50/50 good/bad bits. Now I am struggling to find something good - maybe free health care, if you can get an appointment - nah!!!

OK, I give up, nothing worth going back to the UK for - not even a bus pass - lol.

[Laura B]

Oooh! A bus pass! I'm almost sold on it......

[Kanonier]

Swallow. Best of both worlds.

[Groucho]

Swallow. Best of both worlds.

or worst...

[Hair Cut]

In the article it mentions no state pension increase if you are resident in North Cyprus. Is this correct?

The last line of your address here should say "Turkey", I have always had the increases for the last 10 years

[manyworlds]

Is it correct that pensions aren't taxed in TRNC?

[PoshinDevon]

We are “swallows” and to be honest we believe we do have the best of both worlds.

The U.K. isn’t a bad place, even now with all the strikes and economic pressures. We love the changing seasons, the beautiful scenery, different areas, the quaintness of some places and a lot more.

After having first arrived on the beautiful island of Cyprus in 1970 as a mere 12 year old, the love affair has never faded. Since those days we have lived out and worked out here for many years, holidayed here more times than I can remember and finally in 2011 bought our little place in the sun. We love the island, it’s people and the relaxed way of life.

There are also frustrations; albeit it different ones, to living in the U.K. and the TRNC. Yes we do sometimes moan about them! Neither place is perfect.
Family, friends and grandchildren will always be a draw and mean we cannot permanently reside in the TRNC, however our time spent in the sunshine which is often 6 - 7 months each year adds a different dimension which we love.

We always look forward to coming out to the eastern Mediterranean but also look forward to returning to the U.K.

Best of both worlds

[Groucho]

PoshinDevon, but it's not the topic of this thread - which is "The best countries for expats retiring abroad" if you remain a swallow that's fine for you but it's not the same thing.

[PoshinDevon]

PoshinDevon, but it's not the topic of this thread - which is "The best countries for expats retiring abroad" if you remain a swallow that's fine for you but it's not the same thing.

I know it’s not the same. Many will choose to retire in the countries listed. Some will never return to the U.K. however many do for a variety of reasons.

All I am highlighting is that as we are now retired the best places for our retirement are both the U.K. and North Cyprus.

[Charlieboy]

Would have thought Portugal would have been in there

[ljarvo]

Yes Charlieboy - That’s what I thought and where we are off too!!

After a 3 month delay however as no Portuguese Embassy would accept our application as we live in a country only recognised by Turkey ! But that’s another story….

[Hair Cut]

Would have thought Portugal would have been in there

I think Residency is much easier there, let's hope the BRS don't move in !!!

[Walesforever]

How would you go about moving your money from TRNC to Portugal without incurring taxes/ capital gains etc from UK ?

[ljarvo]

Hi Walesforver,

I have been moving my money from here to Portugual before my residency kicks in there. I have a NT tax code in UK.

Once I have residency you can apply for a Non Habitual Tax status which means anything your earn outside of Portugal is not taxed for 10 years.

If you have any questions let me know

Thanks

[Panchocat]

To correct an earlier comment. To claim the cold weather payments you have to bd jn the UK during a certain time frame in September to claim. We don't bother.
There is a reciprocal arrangement with Turkey regarding pension increases.

[blueparrot]

Once I have residency you can apply for a Non Habitual Tax status which means anything your earn outside of Portugal is not taxed for 10 years.

Yes, apart from pensions. I understand that expat pensions are taxed at 10% in Portugal.