Moving abroad from the UK: your leaving checklist and the last drive to the airport

Whether you are emigrating to Australia, Canada, the US or Dubai, starting a job overseas or retiring to the sun, the last day is always the busiest. Work through this checklist in the weeks before you go, then let us handle the final drive to the airport with every case you own.

Book your airport drop-off

Moving abroad from the UK usually comes down to two lists: the paperwork you must close off before you go, and the physical job of getting your family and its luggage to the airport on the day. This page covers both. Start the first list two or three months ahead; the second is where a pre-booked car or minibus, sized for your suitcases rather than your head count, takes one worry off the most emotional day of the move.

Two to three months before you go

Visa first. Do not hand in notice on your job or home until the visa for your new country is granted.
Passports. Many countries want at least six months of validity left; check every family member's, including children's.
Shipping. Get quotes for a container or part-load early, then decide what goes by sea and what flies with you.
Pets. Countries such as Australia and New Zealand have long import processes involving vaccinations, blood tests and waiting periods, so start months ahead.

The paperwork people forget

HMRC: tell them you are leaving, usually on form P85, or on the SA109 residence pages if you file a Self Assessment return. GOV.UK's guidance on tax if you leave the UK explains which applies.
Council tax: give your council the date you move out so the final bill is correct.
Student loan: the Student Loans Company needs to know you are moving abroad, because repayments no longer come through UK payroll.
Voting: you can register as an overseas voter, and since 2024 there is no longer a 15-year limit on staying registered.
National Insurance: check your record on GOV.UK and take advice on whether voluntary contributions make sense for your future State Pension.
GP and dentist: ask for copies of your records and enough of any regular prescriptions to see you through until you register with a new doctor.
Banks and post: some UK accounts are restricted for customers living abroad, so check with your bank; Royal Mail can redirect post overseas while you settle.

Leaving day: getting everything to the terminal

Emigration flights are usually long-haul with full baggage allowances, so a family of four can easily have eight large cases, cabin bags, a pushchair and perhaps a bike box. That is far more than any saloon can take, and squeezing it into a friend's car or onto the Tube is miserable. Count your bags before booking, then choose the vehicle by luggage:

Your load	Vehicle
One or two people, two large cases	Saloon
A couple or small family with a case each plus carry-ons	MPV or Mercedes V-Class
A family with eight or more large cases, or extended family seeing you off	9-seater minibus (up to eight passengers)
A big farewell party travelling with you	16-seater minibus

As a guide, Mayfair to Heathrow Terminal 3 is £85 by saloon, £100 by MPV and £130 by 9-seater. From east London, Stratford to Terminal 5 is £100 in an MPV, and Canary Wharf to Gatwick's South Terminal is £159 in a 9-seater. If the removal van is leaving the same morning, set the pickup with a generous buffer after it, or book from the hotel or family home where you spend the last night.

Journey	Distance	Drive time*	Saloon	MPV	Executive	9-seater
Mayfair to Heathrow Terminal 3	16 miles	35 min	£85	£100	£115	£130
Stratford to Heathrow Terminal 5	26 miles	1 hr 5 min	£85	£100	£115	£130
Canary Wharf to Gatwick South Terminal	45 miles	1 hr	£114	£129	£144	£159

One-way fixed fares, 4 Oct 2026. *Light traffic.

Pets that fly as cargo are usually checked in at a separate cargo or animal reception facility, often by a pet shipping agent, not at the passenger terminal. Find out where yours goes; dogs can travel in the car by arrangement if you are taking them yourself. Some families time the move for the new year, after a last Christmas at home; fares are higher over Christmas and New Year, and our Christmas Day airport taxi page covers travel on the day itself.

Coming back to visit

When you fly home for holidays or family events, the driver can be waiting in arrivals with your name on a board, having tracked the flight from the other side of the world, and take you straight to relatives. Booking the return to the airport at the same time saves 5%. Our airport transfers overview is the place to start for a visit home through any London airport.

Questions about emigrating and the airport run

Which vehicle do we need for all our luggage?

Start from the case count. Two big suitcases is the limit for a saloon, an MPV or V-Class holds noticeably more, and a 9-seater with fewer than eight passengers has room for a serious amount of luggage. Give us the exact count of large cases, carry-ons and odd items such as bike boxes, and we will confirm which vehicle fits.

Can our dog travel with us to the airport?

Dogs travel by arrangement, so mention it when booking. If the dog is flying as cargo, though, it will usually be checked in at a separate animal facility by a pet shipper, so confirm the drop-off address and timing with them first.

What if our departure date moves?

There is no charge for cancelling up to 24 hours before pickup, so a visa delay or a rebooked flight costs nothing as long as you tell us in time. Message us as soon as the new date is confirmed so the booking can be moved.

Do I really need to tell HMRC I am leaving?

Yes, if you want your tax affairs closed properly. Most people use form P85, which can also trigger a refund if you have overpaid; Self Assessment filers complete the SA109 residence pages instead. GOV.UK sets out which form fits your situation.

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