Expat Money Guide

Managing your money

Finding accommodation. Organising healthcare plans. Sorting out schools. There’s a lot to think about when moving to another country. One of the most important things you need to do is make sure your finances are in order.

One of the biggest expat challenges is that you have financial commitments in both your home and host country. This means juggling finances in different currencies, moving money between countries, having more money to manage, and dealing with a more complex tax situation.

Our Expat bank account gives you the flexibility to manage your money while you're living or working abroad.

Expat bank accounts

Banking

Having the right banking arrangements is a key part of expat life. Your money should be easy to access and transfer between countries. Financial security is also important, so choose a reputable bank that complies with international regulations and has a solid capital base.

Most expats have a bank account in their home country and a local account in their host country. You should also consider opening an offshore account, as this can be the most effective way to save, invest and manage your money while you're abroad.

Before you move

It's best to have your new banking arrangements in place before you move, as local banks usually require a credit history and proof of address, which you're unlikely to have before you arrive.

To avoid the difficulties of opening an account in a new country, you can open an offshore account before you leave home. This will give you easy access to your money when you arrive.

If you use a bank with a global network, they may be able to open a local account and transfer your credit history - so everything is ready for you on the day you step off the plane.

Expat banking

Many expats choose to open an offshore bank account. Offshore banking simply means you have a bank account in a location outside the country you're living in. This location is usually a low-tax jurisdiction that offers economic and political stability.

Having an offshore account gives you the opportunity to keep your money in a central location, and allows you to stay with the same bank, wherever life as an expat takes you. It also makes it easier for you to access your finances and move money around the world.

For some expats, one reason to open an offshore account is because it gives them a tax-efficient way to save and invest, but these potential tax benefits very much depend on your circumstances. It is your responsibility to disclose your income to any relevant tax authorities and you should consider taking independent tax advice if you are uncertain on your tax position.

Talk to the experts

Before making any decisions about your new banking arrangements, it's important to get advice from someone with experience in expat finances. The sheer variety of banking services targeted at expats can seem daunting, but a good financial adviser – or a bank that specialises in expat accounts – can help you make the right choices. You can find more information in the financial planning services in HSBC Expat.

Moving money

Most expats need to transfer money between different currencies and make international payments, so it’s important to understand how foreign exchange works and how it's affected by fluctuating exchange rates.

When you’re juggling financial commitments in multiple currencies, remember that the currency markets can move very quickly, resulting in wide variations in the buying power of your money.

To help you reduce the risk associated with currency fluctuations, it’s worth considering foreign exchange solutions that let you fix an exchange rate for a period of time. By fixing the rate, you know exactly how much you’ll need to convert, whatever happens to the markets in the meantime.

Family finances

Adjusting quickly to a new way of life is particularly important for expat families. As any parent knows, bringing up children isn't cheap. As well as keeping them entertained, you want to give them the best start in life. And that means giving them a good education along with plenty of opportunities to develop their talents and interests.

Educating children abroad can be expensive because you can’t always send them to the local school. Even if your employer pays for private schooling as part of your relocation package, be prepared for significant extra costs, as international schools tend to have lots of extracurricular activities.

If you want your children to be educated in your home country, you’ll have to budget for boarding fees, along with flights so they can join your family at the end of each term.

Planning ahead to cover the cost of university fees is also important. If one of your children applies to study at a UK university while you’re living overseas, you can expect some rigorous questioning as to whether they qualify as a home-fees student, even if they’re a British national.

With the right protection in place, life-changing events such as job loss or a serious illness don’t have to be financially crippling for you and your family.

There’s a wide range of policies on the market for everything from income protection, critical illness cover and life insurance to private medical insurance and travel insurance. As an expat, you want cover that’s portable – so it moves with you if you move to another country or return home.

If you’re relocating with your company, check the conditions of your benefits package carefully to see if you need to take out additional cover. If you’re self-employed, looking for work or retired, it is likewise very important to consider how your family could best be protected.

Being an expat can affect your pension. If you can’t pay into a pension in your home country, you’ll need to think about other options. Portability is key as you should avoid creating small pension pots in numerous countries around the world.

Needless to say, this is a very complex area, and expert advice is vital. There are many factors to consider, including the benefits offered by your existing pension, your plans for the future, the tax regime where you’re based and the country you expect to retire to.

Many expats have property, possessions, investments and bank accounts in more than one country. Inheritance laws vary from country to country and are often highly complex. But with careful planning it’s possible to minimise the inheritance tax your family has to pay.

Consider making a tax-efficient will in your home country, your country of residence and any other country where you have substantial assets. If you have more than one will, make sure they tie in with one another – and that they clearly state who is responsible for dealing with your estate (your choice of executor is crucial), who is responsible for paying what tax where, and how any liabilities, administration expenses and tax should be paid.

Holding your wealth in an offshore location can make life a lot easier. By using specialist offshore-based solutions, many potentially difficult probate issues can be avoided.

Budgeting

When you move to a new country, a change in the cost of living can have a big impact on your finances. If you’re moving with your job, your employer may help with expenses such as accommodation or school fees, but relocation experts say these perks have been cut back in recent years as a result of the economic downturn. It’s therefore vital that you take all your new living costs into account. And don’t forget that setup costs, such as buying a car and new furniture, can take a big chunk out of your relocation budget.

When you’re planning to move abroad, it’s important to know how much money you’ll need to enjoy the same lifestyle as the one you have currently. This will help you negotiate your salary (if you’re moving for a job), make housing market comparisons and give you a sense of what your everyday expenses will be.

Healthcare is something you shouldn’t overlook. If you’ve relocated with your job, medical cover may be provided as part of your benefits package. If it isn’t, and there’s no reciprocal agreement between your home country and the country you’ve moved to, you may need to take out private medical insurance.

As an expat you may have to budget for some additional living costs, such as employing a driver and domestic staff or joining business and social clubs. There could also be bills to pay back in your home country. If you let out your house, for example, you’ll probably have to pay management fees to a letting agent, along with ongoing maintenance costs.

Financial planning

Expat life can be very busy, but it’s worth setting aside some time to look at how your money could be working harder for you. You may find yourself with more disposable income after you move – all the more reason to make financial planning a priority. Our guides to investing can help you plan for the future.

When it comes to saving or investing for things such as school fees or retirement, your expat status brings new opportunities that weren’t available to you back home. Many expats choose to include offshore savings accounts and investments in their plans. These can be a tax efficient way to grow your wealth while you’re abroad. And you don’t have to move your money if you relocate to a different country.

Please remember, though, that while banking offshore may have potential tax benefits for you, tax rules differ from country to country. If you are unsure about your personal tax obligations, you should seek professional advice. It is your responsibility to disclose your income to the tax authorities. Our expat tax guides and resources can help you navigate the complexities of international tax.

Making life easier for expats

Starting a new life abroad has its complexities - but your finances shouldn't be one of them.
Choosing to live abroad has the power to enrich your life. It can be a journey that leads to new experiences and opportunities. HSBC Expat can help you manage your finances and make planning for the future simple.

Expat bank accounts Why bank with HSBC Expat?

Top tips

See what people responding to our Expat Explorer Survey said.

Make banking arrangements that you can use in both countries and in both currencies.

Make sure you know what your take home pay will be and your monthly expenses before deciding to relocate.

All Expat Explorer survey data and all tips (in quotation marks) are provided by HSBC.

This information does not constitute legal or financial advice and no liability is accepted to recipients acting independently on its contents. The views expressed are subject to change.

Managing your money

Banking

Before you move

Expat banking

Talk to the experts

Moving money

Family finances

Education

Protection

Pensions

Inheritance planning

Budgeting

Calculate living costs

Medical insurance

Extra expenses

Financial planning

Making life easier for expats

Top tips

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