How long can I spend in the UK without becoming a resident?

Last updated on 07.03.24

Following the Chancellors budget announcement in March 2024, significant changes have been made to non-dom tax regimes. For more information visit our budget summery PDF here.

The Statutory Residence Test consists of three parts

• the automatic overseas test – a series of tests which determine whether an individual is automatically non‑resident in a particular tax year
• the automatic residence test – a series of tests which determine whether an individual is automatically UK resident in a particular tax year, and
• the sufficient ties test – a series of tests which determine the residency position based on a combination of the amount of time spent in the UK and the number of UK ties a person has.

If an individual meets any of the automatic overseas tests, they will automatically be considered non‑UK resident for that tax year and no further tests need to be applied.

1. The first automatic overseas test: An individual was resident in the UK for one or more of the three tax years preceding the year in question, but was present for fewer than 16 days in the UK during the year in question.
2. The second automatic overseas test: An individual was not resident in the UK for any of the three tax years preceding the tax year in question, and was present for fewer than 46 days in the UK during that year.
3. The third automatic overseas test: An individual works sufficient hours (effectively ‘full‑time’) overseas during the year in question, with no significant breaks from this work, and spends fewer than 91 days in the UK during the tax year. The number of days during which they work for more than three hours in the UK must be less than 31. Certain amendments to this test apply to those with a ‘relevant job’ on board a vehicle, aircraft or ship during the year in question, where at least six of the trips made in that year as part of the job are cross‑border trips either beginning or ending, or beginning and ending in the UK.
4. The fourth and fifth automatic overseas tests: These tests relate to individuals who die during the year in question and who were not resident in the UK in the previous tax year and the year before that (unless that is a split year – see below). Such individuals will be non‑resident if they meet modified versions of the conditions set out in the second and third automatic overseas tests.

If an individual meets any of the automatic residence tests, they will automatically be considered UK resident for that tax year.

1. The first automatic UK test: An individual spends at least 183 days in the UK during the tax year in question.
2. The second automatic UK test: An individual has or had a home in the UK during all or part of the tax year. There must be at least one period of 91 consecutive days – at least 30 of which fall within the tax year – during which they have a UK home where they spend a ‘sufficient amount of time’ (at least 30 days, in aggregate), and either have no overseas home, or spend no longer than a permitted amount of time (fewer than 30 days in the year) in an overseas home. Each home must be considered separately.
3. The third automatic UK test: An individual works sufficient hours in the UK (broadly based on a 35‑hour week) over a 365-day period falling wholly or partly in the tax year in question. During that period there must be no significant breaks from the work. Of the total number of days worked, more than 75% of the days when the individual does more than three hours of work must involve work carried out in the UK. An individual must also carry out more than three hours of work in the UK on at least one day which falls within both the 365‑day period and the tax year. Similar exclusions apply to international transportation workers as with the third automatic overseas test.
4. The fourth automatic UK test: The above tests can apply to deceased individuals. In addition, the fourth automatic UK test stipulates that where individuals die during the tax year in question, they will be UK resident if:

• • they were resident for each of the previous three tax years by virtue of meeting at least one of the automatic UK tests
  • the tax year before they died was not a split year their home was in the UK at the time of their death, or where they had more than one home, at least one of these was in the UK
  • they did not spend a sufficient amount of time in any overseas home during the year in question.

Where an individual does not meet any of the automatic UK or automatic overseas tests, the sufficient ties test should be used to determine their residence status.

The sufficient ties test considers an individual’s connections to the UK, together with the number of days spent in the UK during the tax year and the residence status in the previous three tax years. Subject to certain qualifying conditions, a tie might include the following:

• a family tie – an individual’s spouse, partner or minor child are UK resident
• an accommodation tie – an individual has (and makes even one night’s use of) accommodation in the UK
• a work tie – an individual carries out at least 40 days of work in the UK
• a 90‑day tie – more than 90 days were spent in the UK in either or both of the previous two tax years
• a country tie – an individual spends more days in the UK than in any other country.

Transitional rules

Transitional provisions apply to the tax years 2013/14 to 2017/18 inclusive. For the purpose of determining UK residence status during those years, an individual can elect to determine their residence status before 2013/14 (a ‘pre‑commencement tax year’) by reference to the SRT.

Split years and temporary non‑residence

The SRT applies to individuals who are either resident or non‑resident in the UK for a full tax year. However, it is also important to consider the split year and temporary non‑residence rules when determining an individual’s tax position.

If an individual either starts to live or work abroad, or comes to live or work in the UK, during a tax year, it may be possible to split that year into two parts for the purposes of taxation:

• a UK part for which they are liable to pay UK tax, and
• an overseas part for which they are generally liable to UK tax as a non‑UK resident.

An individual must be UK resident for a tax year under the SRT to meet the split year criteria, and the split year treatment will not affect whether they are regarded as UK resident for the purposes of any double taxation agreement.

When returning to the UK after a period of temporary non‑residence, an individual may be liable to pay tax on certain income and gains received (or remitted to the UK) during that period.

This is a complex area and so it is best to discuss your particular situation with an expert. If you need help, please speak to one of our contacts below who would be delighted to help.