Moving a parent to a care home abroad: legal, health and practical checklist

Moving abroad · 4 min read · Last updated 30 October 2026

Moving an older relative to another country is not only a care decision. It also raises legal, healthcare, financial and practical questions that vary by country. This guide lists the main things to settle, with pointers to official sources. It is general information, not legal or financial advice: use a lawyer or adviser in the destination country for your own situation.

Start with your relative's wishes and capacity

Where your relative can decide for themselves, the move should be their decision: talk early, and visit together if possible. If they may lose the ability to make decisions, find out what legal authority you have, and whether it will be recognised in the destination country, before you act.

Powers of attorney and legal authority

A power of attorney or guardianship order made in one country is not automatically accepted in another. The 2000 Hague Convention on the International Protection of Adults aims to help recognition between member states. According to the Hague Conference's status table, updated on 13 October 2026, France, Portugal and Greece are Contracting States. Italy has signed but not ratified the Convention, and Spain and Turkey do not appear in the table.

Healthcare cover

Moving into a care home does not automatically give access to the local public health system. Entitlement depends on your relative's nationality, pension and residency.

  • Pensioners moving within Europe: UK state pensioners living in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein can apply for an S1, a certificate of entitlement to healthcare in that country, through the NHS Business Services Authority. Citizens of other countries should ask their own pension and health authorities which similar arrangements apply.
  • Benefits and the S1: the NHSBSA notes that Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Carer's Allowance and Attendance Allowance can no longer support a new S1, so check which benefits your relative receives.
  • Visitor cards: temporary-stay cards such as the EHIC or GHIC are designed for visits, not for permanent moves.
  • The home itself: ask what the home covers, how medical emergencies are handled, and which hospital it uses.

Residency, pensions and benefits

  • Register as a resident in the destination country if required. Rules, certificates and tax numbers differ by country.
  • Tell your relative's pension providers, state and private, the new address.
  • Confirm which benefits can be paid abroad. Some cannot, or stop after a period abroad.
  • Check how residency affects public care support. France's APA requires stable and regular residence in France, and Spain's dependency system requires five years of residence, two of them immediately before applying. See our country guides for France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Money, tax and inheritance

  • Tax residence can change which country taxes your relative's pension and income. Take cross-border tax advice before the move.
  • Check succession and inheritance rules in both countries.
  • If public aid will be needed, understand the rules first. In France, for example, aide sociale à l'hébergement can be recovered from the estate, and from gifts made in the previous ten years.
  • Plan how the fees will be paid, in which currency and by whom, and keep records.
  • Think carefully before making irreversible decisions, such as selling a home, until the move has settled, and take advice first.

Documents and practical preparation

  • Passport or ID and any residence documents
  • A medical summary and a current medication list using generic names, translated if needed
  • Vaccination and test records, and contact details for the current doctor
  • Insurance and pension documents
  • Power of attorney or guardianship documents, certified and translated where needed
  • A one-page "about me": routines, preferences, important people and life history
  • Familiar belongings, photographs and any language aids
  • Travel arrangements and an escort for the journey

Plan for changes and emergencies

Choose a home near a hospital and with practical transport links for family visits. Where available, CareBrowser listings show nearby hospitals, airports and stations. Ask who your emergency contact is and how quickly the home can reach you.

Discuss what you would do if your relative's needs increase, or if they want to return home. Where the home allows it, a trial or temporary stay shows whether the move works before you commit. Consider arranging a trusted person nearby, such as a friend or a local care adviser, to visit regularly. Our visit checklist has extra questions for families abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Do we need a lawyer?

For powers of attorney, residency, tax and inheritance, advice from a lawyer or adviser in the destination country is strongly recommended. Rules differ between countries and mistakes can be costly.

Can my parent keep their state pension abroad?

State pensions can generally be paid abroad, but the details, and which top-up benefits continue, depend on the country and the type of benefit. Ask the pension provider before the move.

What if my parent wants to come back?

Plan for that at the start. Keep key documents, check what healthcare and benefit rights your relative keeps in their home country, and avoid irreversible financial decisions until the move has proved a success.

Sources and further reading

This guide is general information only, compiled from the public sources listed above as of the date shown. It is not legal, medical, tax, financial or care advice, and we cannot guarantee that it is complete, accurate or up to date. Rules, thresholds and prices change and differ by country and region, and some sources describe other countries' rules as examples. Check details with the authorities and care homes named, and take professional advice for your own situation before you act. If you spot an error, please email [email protected] and we will correct it.