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Around the World
The FIG era: four years of oxygen, then normal air
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From 6 April 2025, the remittance basis is gone. New or returning UK residents who have been non-resident for 10 tax years get a four-year Foreign Income & Gains (FIG) window with tax-free foreign income and gains and simplified remittance - plus a one-off “Temporary Repatriation Facility” to bring in pre-2025 funds at a discount. Translation: plan arrivals, gifting, portfolio rebalancing, and cash movements with a calendar in hand.
Sam Says: Think of FIG like oxygen when you climb a mountain - you get a boost for four years, but after that, you’re on your own. The mistake I see is people drifting into UK residence without a plan. That FIG window isn’t a cushion - it’s a countdown.
Milan’s moment
Italy’s expat magnetism is having a Milan-shaped moment: high earners are decamping as UK non-dom rules tighten, drawn by Italy’s “forfait” €200k flat tax on foreign income and lifestyle perks. The boom brings glitz - and growing pains around housing and development. It’s a live case study in how tax and talent flows reshape a city.
Sam Says: Italy has mastered the art of selling lifestyle with tax planning. But don’t get carried away - €200k a year is a steep price if your income isn’t structured right. Milan is fashionable, but fashion fades. Make sure your maths works before you pack the designer bags.
Portugal’s paperwork plot twist
Portugal’s government has floated doubling the general citizenship residence requirement from five to ten years (Golden Visa routes may still reach citizenship in five). For digital nomads on the D8, income thresholds remain chunky and integration matters more than ever. If you were banking on a five-year passport, follow this closely and document residence days and language progress.
Sam Says: Portugal is learning what every expat hotspot eventually does: if you make it too easy, the floodgates open. Ten years will change the calculus for a lot of nomads. Don’t assume yesterday’s promises are tomorrow’s rules - bank your milestones as you go.
Dubai money, London bargains
Prime London looks “on sale” to Gulf buyers, with UAE nationals now a noticeably larger share of overseas purchasers as prices soften and sterling wiggles. For returners planning a UK base, the cocktail of discounted prime stock and a four-year UK FIG window is proving irresistible - just remember the FIG clock starts once you become UK-resident.
Sam Says: I’ve always said London doesn’t stay cheap for long. The same expats who once swore they’d never touch UK property again are quietly buying back in. If you’re tempted, don’t wait for the papers to tell you it’s a boom - by then, you’ve already missed the best deals.
ETIAS: not this year… and mind the fakes
Schengen’s ETIAS pre-travel authorisation won’t go live until late 2026, after the EU’s Entry/Exit System rolls out. That means no ETIAS application is needed now - so avoid third-party “application” sites charging fees today. Bookmark the official EU page and ignore the noise.
Sam Says: This is classic EU - delays, bureaucracy, and confusion. But scammers love confusion, and I’ve already seen clients duped into paying. If it’s not on an official .eu site, don’t touch it. Keep your passport valid and your credit card in your pocket.
Insight from the ProACT Paphos Office
We’re seeing a decisive uptick in clients moving UK pensions to Cyprus to elect the flat 5% tax on foreign pension income (over €3,420). The headline is simple, but the planning isn’t: coordinating UK-to-Cyprus payments, timing residency, and aligning drawdown strategy with your broader tax picture makes a big difference to lifetime outcomes. If you’re weighing a move, model cash flow + tax + residency days together - not in isolation.
For help and guidance you can contact us or book a free review.
Deadlines
Expatriates in Cyprus must be aware that the deadline for their 2024 final tax return is by the end of September. Ensure you submit your returns now to avoid fines & penalties.
30 September 2025
Final 2024 Cyprus Tax Returns for Individuals
31 December 2025
2nd & final instalment of 2025 Provisional Tax
Payment for Special Contribution for Defence for last 6 months of 2025
31 January 2026
2024/25 UK Tax Return Deadline
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