Advance planning makes returning home less stressful

Moving back to the UK after spending time living abroad is usually a difficult time for most people. There are a number of reasons why people decide to return ‘home', and these could be homesickness, missing family members, work, or simply not settling. However, whatever the reason for you returning home, it is always important to plan ahead so that when you do eventually arrive home, the stress associated with moving is considerably reduced.

The final decision will usually take months to reach, with continual doubts as to whether the right one is actually being made. Some people go back and forth for many years (known as yoyo movers), only to eventually return to the UK to stay.

If you are planning to move back to the UK for good, there are literally millions of points to consider and important tasks you must carry out. The actual logistics could entail creating a whole manual of ‘to do's', but here are some essential and practical tips that you must get right the first time.

1. Before you leave, you should let your doctor know that you will no longer need to be on the medical roll and are returning to the UK.

2. If you have private medical insurance, you should let the company know of your change in circumstances. Some may be able to simply transfer your policy to the UK, while others may require you to cancel your policy altogether.

3. If possible, get your current general practitioner, dentist and any other healthcare records sent to the UK before leaving.

4. If you have any existing life or income protection policies in place, you should check whether the plans are globally portable and whether you are still covered if residing in the UK.

There are also a number of important legal steps you must take when moving back to the UK to ensure that you receive everything you're entitled to. Some of the most important revolve around benefits, pensions, national insurance and tax.

1. Speak to HM Revenue & Customs and let them know that you are coming back to live in the UK permanently. They can help you with any tax issues you may encounter on your return.

2. To obtain your National Insurance number and to find out about any NI Contributions, you should contact the HM Revenue & Customs National Insurance Contributions Office.

Before you leave it is advisable to arrange someplace to stay, even if it's only temporary.

1. Most people will stay with relatives where possible or some may book into a hotel for some time. This can be expensive and it might be worth considering a temporary short-term rental.

2. Check out websites that deal specifically with short-term rentals and see if they have anything suitable.

3. If you're selling a home where you currently live, you should do this well in advance of your moving date. These things can take time and sorting out paperwork and payments are usually painstaking experiences. Get your house on the market and know when you need to sell it by.

4. If buying in the UK, you can be brave and buy unseen, but generally it is best to wait until you arrive so that you can get a feel for the place. If you are even slightly unsure about how long you're staying, rent rather than buy. It can be more difficult and expensive if you buy and have to sell again within a short-term period.

Although children are relatively good at adapting to new circumstances, it can be an emotional time for them to up and leave friends and a school that they are settled in. Try to make the move back to the UK an exciting time for them and remind them that they can stay in touch via email with friends they are leaving behind. As well as the emotional support you'll need to provide them, there are also a number of legal issues to take care of.

1. Notify the local school and official school authorities that you are leaving the country and let them know your forwarding address.

2. Contact the UK authority that deals with school admissions in the area you're moving to. Some areas have difficulties in placing children at specific schools, so arrange this in advance of the school term if possible.

3. It is always advisable to enrol your child at the beginning of a school term where possible. This means they don't have to come in during a term where people are already settled into their new classrooms and new teachers.

The writer is senior consultant at Acuma Wealth Management in Dubai. Opinions expressed here are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Gulf News.