Can I keep my Lifetime ISA if I move abroad?

Can I keep my Lifetime ISA if I move abroad?

To open and keep contributing to a Lifetime ISA, you need to be a UK resident. As long as you continue to tick all the boxes which make you a UK resident, you can keep paying into your Lifetime ISA as normal.

So if you travel a lot, this won’t impact your LISA contributions unless you spend fewer than 91 days in the UK within the tax year.

Who counts as a UK resident?

Even if you’re a British citizen and hold a British passport, you might not be a UK resident. This is because your residency status depends on the tax you pay here in the UK. You are considered a UK resident if you:

• You spent 183 or more days in the UK in the tax year (which runs April–April)
• You have a home in the UK (rented or owned) for longer than 90 days (and you stayed in it for at least 30 days in a row)
• You worked full-time in the UK for any period within the tax year (even as little as 1 day)

You’re usually a non-UK resident if:

• You spent fewer than 16 days in the UK (or 46 days if you have not been a UK resident for the 3 previous tax years)
• You worked abroad full-time (averaging at least 35 hours a week)
• You spent fewer than 91 days in the UK within the tax year (and you spent less than 30 days working)

Are there any exceptions?

There are some exceptions (e.g. you’re in the armed forces and get stationed or deployed abroad). If you’re unsure which category you fall into, you can use HMRC’s online residence checker.

What happens to my Lifetime ISA if I’m not a UK resident?

Your Lifetime ISA will stay open while you're not a resident of the UK, but you can no longer contribute to it. If you're planning on moving abroad, you will need to tell your LISA provider that you’re no longer a UK resident. While you’re away, your LISA will stay open and all the money you have in there (bonus, investments and all) will stay where it is, but it won't accrue extra interest (in the case of a Cash LISA), and any other payments will be on pause.

Moving to the USA? 🇺🇸

Some LISA providers (including us) aren’t able to offer financial services to US residents or US citizens because of certain American tax rules. For this reason, you might have to close your account (which means you’ll pay the government’s 25% early withdrawal fee). If you keep your LISA open while you live in the US, you’ll be taxed by the IRS on all money you hold in your account, including your bonus and any return on investments.

Can I buy my first property with a Lifetime ISA abroad?

No, you cannot use a Lifetime ISA to buy a property abroad. To buy a home with a Lifetime ISA, the property has to be here in the UK and it must be your first home. This also means that you wouldn't be able to use your LISA to buy property in the UK if you have previously bought a place abroad.

What should I do with my LISA if I buy a home abroad?

👵 You could keep your Lifetime ISA for retirement

Lifetime ISAs are designed to help people save for a home or for retirement. So if you can’t use your Lifetime ISA to buy a home, but know you want to retire in the UK someday, you could use it as a booster for your pension. Just remember, you have to be a UK resident to save or invest in your Lifetime ISA, which means you can’t put money towards your LISA retirement fund while you’re living abroad.

🏧 You could withdraw all your money

If you withdraw funds for a home abroad, you will face the 25% government withdrawal charge. This means:

• You lose the entire 25% government bonus.
• You pay an additional £6.25 for every £100 of your own original savings.
• You may get back less than you put in.