The British Government in April 2006 passed legislation that any British person living outside the UK, or is who intending to, is eligible to transfer their whole pension tax free via QROPS (Qualifying Recognized Overseas Pension Scheme) providing they are between 18 and 75.

If you were to contact your UK pension company they would tell you that you may not take the benefits prior to your selected retirement age or age 55 (was 50 is changing in April of this year) this is 100% correct if you are a UK resident.

As an ex-pat living in Europe, or further afield, you come under the rules for QROPS (see above).

The process takes aproximately 12 weeks and there is no obligation to proceed.

If you are an ex-pat, irrespective of Nationality, and you have a frozen pension in the UK you qualify under the rulings of HMRC (Her Majesties Revenue & Customs).