Generally, yes. Under the 2026/27 UK rules, you can keep your ISA open after you stop being UK resident and it keeps its UK tax advantages, but you cannot pay new money into it while you are non-resident. The bigger question is usually how your new country treats it, because outside the UK an ISA may be treated as an ordinary taxable account.

What HMRC allows

GOV.UK sets out the position for ISA holders who become non-UK resident:

  • You can keep it. Your existing ISA can stay open, and income and gains inside it generally remain free of UK tax.
  • You cannot add to it. You cannot subscribe while non-resident, unless you are a Crown employee working overseas, or their spouse or civil partner.
  • You should tell your provider. Let your ISA manager know when you stop being UK resident.
  • Transfers may be possible. The rules allow transfers between ISA managers, but whether a particular provider will accept a non-resident is a separate question.
  • You can start again on return. If you become UK resident again, you can resume paying in, up to the allowance for that year (£20,000 for 2026/27).

If you are thinking of topping up before you leave, check the timing with your provider first. Lifetime ISAs have their own conditions, so check these separately if you hold one.

How your new country may treat it

The ISA is a UK tax wrapper, and many other countries do not recognise it.

  • UAE: there is currently no personal income tax on interest, dividends or gains, so the UK and UAE positions broadly line up under current rules.
  • Spain: residents are generally taxed on worldwide income, and Spain generally does not recognise the UK ISA exemption. The Spanish position can depend on the underlying asset, whether income is distributed or accrued, whether a fund is treated as a qualifying or non-qualifying investment, regional tax differences, and treaty and reporting rules. Our article on whether Spain taxes your UK ISA covers this in more detail.
  • Portugal: residents are generally taxed on worldwide income, so ISA income and gains may be taxable locally.
  • Australia and Ireland: both generally tax residents on worldwide income, and the ISA's UK status does not usually carry over, so local rules on funds and investment income need checking.

In these countries you may also need to report the ISA as an overseas asset, and currency movements against sterling can affect the figures.

Illustrative example only, not a real client.

Tom and Claire have £80,000 each in stocks and shares ISAs and move to Dubai. They tell their provider, stop their monthly contributions and leave the ISAs invested. Assuming they are not UK resident and UAE rules do not change, no UK or UAE tax would generally arise on the ISA income and growth while they live in the UAE. Five years later they move to Portugal. Their ISAs are still open, but as Portuguese residents the dividends and gains may now be taxed in Portugal, so they may want to review the holdings before that move.

Practical issues while you are abroad

Some providers limit what non-resident customers can do. A provider's decision may also reflect the regulatory requirements of the country where you live. A UK provider may be unable to provide ongoing investment services, advice or new contributions even though the account remains legally valid. You may find you cannot buy certain funds, that some services are restricted, or that a move to another UK provider is not available to you. If you lose access to a UK bank account, managing withdrawals can also become harder.

Should you keep it?

It depends on your plans. An ISA may still be useful if you expect to return to the UK, or if you live somewhere with no local tax on investment income. If you settle somewhere that taxes worldwide income, the ISA may give no local tax advantage, and how your money is held may matter more. See our guide to investing a lump sum as a British expat, and if you are planning a return, returning to the UK after living abroad.

Common mistakes

  • Continuing to pay in after becoming non-resident.
  • Not telling the ISA provider about the change of residence.
  • Assuming the ISA is tax-free in your new country.
  • Cashing in an ISA in a hurry, losing a wrapper you cannot rebuild until you return to the UK.

A regulated financial adviser can help. Get in touch for a free introduction.

Sources and further reading

Last reviewed: October 2026. Tax year: 2026/27. Jurisdictions covered: UK, UAE, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Ireland. Rates, legislation and guidance change, so recheck before relying on this. Rules can differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; tax residence is fact-specific; treaty outcomes depend on residence, domicile or nationality provisions; examples are simplified and omit reliefs, costs, exchange rates and anti-avoidance rules. This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Take advice in the relevant country before acting.