Transferring a UK Pension When Living in France:
Understanding SIPP’s
If you’re a UK expat living in France, one of the biggest financial decisions you may face is what to do with your UK pension. For many, transferring to a SIPP which is set up for non-UK residents is an attractive option (also referred to as an International SIPP).
Here’s what you need to know about how a SIPP works, the rules and charges involved, and the benefits they can offer for retirees in France.
What is an SIPP?
An SIPP is designed to accept transfers from UK pension schemes, including both defined contribution and defined benefit pensions. Some SIPPs are only available for UK residents, whereas others are designed for non-UK residents. If you set up a SIPP as a UK resident, it’s likely that you have a SIPP that’s only available for UK residents, meaning you won’t have the option of making additional transfers into the scheme, plus you may have access or death benefits restrictions. A SIPP for a non-UK resident as generally only available through a financial adviser.
For UK nationals living in France, SIPPs can offer flexibility and control over retirement savings that many UK-based schemes may not provide.

Who Qualifies to Transfer to a SIPP?
If you have existing UK personal pensions, workplace pensions, or preserved benefits from previous UK employment, you qualify to transfer them to a SIPP. You cannot create new contributions if you do not have UK-relevant earnings, but you can still transfer existing UK pensions into a SIPP.

Benefits of a SIPP for Residents in France
While there are important tax rules to navigate, SIPP’s can offer significant advantages for expats in France:
Taxation
PCLS payments from a SIPP are paid gross of UK income tax, and the 75% income part is taxed at source, which can be claimed back in France, helping you avoid double taxation issues. You may also be eligible to apply for an NT tax code so that it’s all paid gross of tax.
Access Flexibility
From age 55, you can take a 25% lump sum and choose flexible drawdown arrangements.
Full Access
You can withdraw 100% of your pension from age 55 if you choose.
Greater Investment Choice
SIPPs often offer a wider range of investment options than UK schemes, including access to global markets. If you have a SIPP that’s set up for expats, your access to funds is unrestricted, whereas SIPPs for UK residents are limited to UK-domiciled funds.
Multi-Currency Options
For expat SIPPs, you can hold and withdraw your pension in any major worldwide currency, reducing currency risk if you spend in euros.
French Taxation for SIPP Transfers
If you transfer a UK pension to a SIPP while living in France, understanding French taxation rules is essential. Applying for an NT tax code or reclaiming UK tax can help prevent double taxation and ensure your withdrawals are handled correctly.
Check the latest French tax rates to see how your SIPP withdrawals may be affected and stay fully compliant.

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Get Expert Advice on Transferring Your UK Pension
Transferring a UK pension to a SIPP while living in France involves complex rules around access, taxation, and investment options. Expert guidance can help you navigate these considerations, avoid costly mistakes, and make the most of your retirement savings.
What does the obligation free call include?
An initial 15-minute introduction call explaining our services and how we can help.
We go through a fact-finding exercise so we can then provide a full financial planning report including a personalised retirement forecast with future projections and work out how on track you are.
Lastly, we will provide a recommendation on any areas where we feel you could improve.
Who is SJB Global and meet your adviser
Our regulations, Independence and Fees
Our process from start to finish
Area we help with including:
UK Pension Advice
Retirement Planning
Investment Planning
Tax Planning
US Expat Services
International Estate Planning
Note: Minimum managed assets for SJB Global is £100,000 or currency equivalent.
Licensing & Regulations
Nexus Global specialises in providing a regulatory platform and compliance support to international financial advisers and intermediaries to enable them to meet regulatory requirements to provide their clients with a professional service. The financial advisers trading under SJB Global are members of Nexus Global. Nexus Global is a division of Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited (BFMI). All approved members of Nexus Global are appointed representatives of BFMI. BFMI is licensed and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (FSC) and bound by the rules under licence number 3647: http://www.fsc.gi/regulated-entity/blacktower-financial-management-international-limited-3647.
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