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ISAs and Global Investment Accounts

Whether you’re living in the UK or abroad, understanding your investment options is key to building wealth efficiently. This guide breaks down what an ISA is, how it changes once you move abroad, and how a Global Investment Account (GIA) can fill the gap for international investors.

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What Is an ISA?

An Individual Savings Account (ISA) is a UK-based investment or savings wrapper that allows UK residents to grow their money tax-free. There are different types — such as Cash ISAs, Stocks & Shares ISAs, Lifetime ISAs, and Innovative Finance ISAs — but they all share a common feature: tax-free growth and withdrawals for UK residents.

Key Features:

No capital gains tax or income tax on investments held within the ISA
Annual contribution limit (2025/26): £20,000 per person
Flexible access (depending on ISA type)
Only available to UK residents

What Happens If You Move Abroad?

You Can’t Open or Contribute to an ISA as a Non-UK Resident

Once you become a non-UK resident, you can no longer open a new ISA or add money to an existing one. However, if you already have ISAs in the UK, you are allowed to:

Keep your ISA open
Continue to benefit from tax-free growth (in the UK)

But here’s the catch:

Your new country of residence may still tax the gains or income from your ISA, even if the UK doesn’t. The tax-free benefit might only apply within the UK, depending on local rules.

What Is a Global Investment Account (GIA)?

A Global Investment Account (GIA) is an international investment platform that allows expats and globally mobile individuals to:

nvest across global markets (stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds)
Hold multiple currencies (GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, etc.)
Access advice and professional portfolio management
Stay flexible without UK residency restrictions

Unlike an ISA, a GIA does not offer tax-free growth, but it is available to both residents and non-residents of the UK. It also allows for broader currency, asset class, and market access — making it ideal for those living or planning to live abroad.

Feature	ISA (UK Residents Only)	GIA (Global Access)
Tax-Free Growth	✓ - Yes (in UK)	✗ - No but can be structured tax-efficiently
Residency Requirement	✓ - UK residents only	✗ - No residency restriction
Contribution Limits	✓ - £20,000 per year (2025/26)	✗ - No set limit
Currency Options	✗ - Usually GBP only	✓ - Multi-currency support (USD, EUR, etc.)
Global Market Access	⚠️ - Limited	✓ - Broad market and fund access
Suitable for Expats	✗ - Not after leaving UK	✓ - Yes designed for cross-border investing

Which Account Is Right for You?

You might choose an ISA if:

You’re a UK resident with no immediate plans to leave
You want tax-free growth within the UK
You’re saving for retirement, a home, or long-term investing

You might choose a GIA if:

You’re an expat or internationally mobile
You want access to global markets and currencies
You need flexibility in how and where you invest
You want to align your investments with international tax planning

Summary

ISAs are great for UK residents but lose their flexibility and contribution access when you move abroad.
Global Investment Accounts offer a powerful alternative for expats, providing investment flexibility without residency restrictions.
While GIAs are not tax-free like ISAs, they can be structured efficiently through local advice to manage capital gains, income, and inheritance exposure.