Tax credits if you leave or move to the UK

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Your family lives abroad

If your partner is outside the UK and you do not have children, check the Working Tax Credit guidance for information on whether you can continue to claim.

You have a child who lives abroad

If you already get Working Tax Credit and want to add Child Tax Credit to your claim, check if you’re eligible.

If you already get Child Tax Credit, you may be able to make a claim for an additional child if:

  • you are working in the UK
  • the child is living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
  • you are supporting the child

You must also be one of the following:

You usually cannot claim for a child who lives outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. There’s an exception if your partner is a Crown servant posted abroad.

You must let HMRC know within a month if your partner or child join you in the UK. This is because your tax credits payments may change.

Your partner gets benefits in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you’ve got children and your partner gets benefits paid by the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, this may affect your tax credits. You must tell HMRC if you or your partner are paid benefits by the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

Some benefits are counted as income, for example benefits paid because of unemployment.