The short answer

Start with a retirement planner who understands UK pensions and life in Thailand, and who can bring in specialists when needed. Use a pension transfer specialist before giving up any final-salary pension — it's a legal requirement above £30,000. Use tax advisers where UK and Thai tax interact in complex ways, and lawyers in each country for wills and powers of attorney. Use free official services to trace lost pensions and check whether State Pension top-ups make sense. Never use anyone who contacted you first. Lawrence will review your pensions free and refer you to the right specialist where you need one.

Pension specialists at a glance

Who does what, when you need them, and what to watch for.

Costs for specialists vary — always agree fees in writing first. Basic Thai will cost from ThaiLawOnline (October 2026).

1. A retirement planner: your starting point

For most people, the right first step isn't a narrow specialist — it's someone who can see the whole picture: your pensions, income, currency, tax in both countries, investments, protection and family. A good retirement planner deals with most questions directly, knows when a specialist is needed, and coordinates them so everyone's advice fits together.

• What they do: review every pension, plan income and tax-free cash, consolidate where sensible, plan currency and estate, and review yearly.
• When to use them: before you retire or move, and every year after.
• What to look for: experience with UK pensions and Thailand, clear written charges, and the honesty to say when doing nothing is best.

Our international retirement planning service profile explains what a good service includes, and how JLIT's works.

2. Pension transfer specialists

If you have a final-salary (defined benefit) pension, you may receive a transfer value — sometimes a very large one. Before you can transfer safeguarded benefits worth more than £30,000, the law requires you to take advice from a qualified pension transfer specialist, and the receiving scheme will want written confirmation that you have.

• What they do: compare the guaranteed income you'd give up with what a transfer could provide, and give a written recommendation.
• When to use them: only if you're seriously considering a final-salary transfer — and before the transfer value guarantee runs out, usually three months.
• What to expect: for most people, the advice is to keep the guarantees — a rising income for life, often with a spouse's pension, is hard to beat.
• Watch for: anyone who seems to start from the answer "transfer", or who is linked to the investment you'd move into.

Our guide to international pension transfer considerations explains the rules, including the 25% overseas transfer charge on most transfers to overseas schemes from Thailand.

3. Tax advisers in the UK and Thailand

Most retirees' tax can be planned well without a formal tax opinion. But some situations call for a tax specialist — ideally one who understands both countries, or two who talk to each other.

• UK residence questions — the statutory residence test, split-year treatment, and the year you leave.
• Large one-off events — selling a UK property or business, taking a large lump sum, or cashing in an offshore bond.
• Thai tax on money brought in — since 2024, foreign income arising while you're Thai tax resident can be taxable when remitted.
• Treaty questions — which country taxes which pension under the UK–Thailand treaty.
• Inheritance tax — the UK's residence-based rules and the April 2027 pension changes.
• Tax returns — in one or both countries.

Our guide to tax residence and international investments explains the rules in both countries.

4. Lawyers for wills and powers of attorney

Pensions pass by nomination, not by will — but the rest of your estate needs wills that work in both countries, and you'll want someone able to act for you if you can't.

• UK solicitor: your UK will, and a lasting power of attorney for property and financial affairs — far easier to arrange before you leave.
• Thai lawyer: a Thai will for Thai assets, which a Thai court can act on directly. A basic one can cost from under ฿4,000, and it can save your family six to twelve months compared with relying on a UK will alone.
• Both: make sure neither will revokes the other.

Our guide to estate and beneficiary planning for expats explains how the pieces fit together.

Where to start

A free review to find out which specialist you need, and the right way to move pension money to Thailand.

5. Free official services

Some of the most valuable pension help costs nothing — and is often overlooked by expats.

The Pension Tracing Service

A free GOV.UK service that helps you find contact details for workplace and personal pension schemes you've lost track of. Many people have pensions from jobs decades ago. Beware of websites that charge for the same thing.

Your State Pension forecast

Check your forecast and National Insurance record on GOV.UK. It shows how much you're on track for and any gaps in your record.

The International Pension Centre

The part of the Department for Work and Pensions that deals with State Pensions for people living abroad — claims, payments, changes of address and bank, and life certificates.

Voluntary National Insurance

If you have gaps, voluntary Class 3 contributions — £18.40 a week in 2026/27 — can add to your State Pension. Since 6 April 2026, the cheaper Class 2 option is no longer available for periods abroad, and new applications from abroad need ten years' continuous UK residence or ten years of contributions. Check eligibility and value before you pay.

Is a State Pension top-up worth it?

One year of voluntary Class 3 contributions, compared with what it can add — if the year counts towards your pension.

Illustration only. Whether a year adds to your pension depends on your record — check your forecast and eligibility first.

Which specialist, when?

1. "I don't know what pensions I have." Pension Tracing Service and a State Pension forecast, then a retirement planner.
2. "I'm planning to retire to Thailand." A retirement planner, plus a UK solicitor for a lasting power of attorney before you go.
3. "I've been offered a final-salary transfer value." A retirement planner first, then a pension transfer specialist if you're still considering it.
4. "Someone called me about moving my pension." Stop. Get a second opinion from someone you choose.
5. "I'm selling my UK home or cashing in a big investment." A retirement planner, and a tax adviser if the sums are large.
6. "I have gaps in my National Insurance." Check your forecast and eligibility before paying Class 3.
7. "I own property in Thailand." A Thai lawyer for a Thai will.
8. "I've moved and my State Pension needs updating." The International Pension Centre.

Specialist help for particular situations

Some life events bring pension questions that need particular care.

Divorce or separation

Pensions are often one of the largest assets to divide. Splitting them usually needs a family lawyer and a court order, and the pension scheme has to implement it. If one of you lives in Thailand, both countries' rules may come into play — get advice early.

Serious illness

Ill health can change the best answer completely. Enhanced annuities can pay more to people with certain health conditions, and pensions may allow earlier or tax-free access in cases of serious ill health. Tell your adviser about any health issues.

Bereavement

When a partner dies, their pensions, life cover and accounts in two countries all need claiming, often with different paperwork. A planner can coordinate the claims while you deal with everything else.

Returning to the UK

Moving back changes your tax residence, may restart State Pension increases and affects which accounts suit you. Plan the timing, ideally before you go.

How to choose a specialist

• You contacted them — never the other way round.
• They understand expats and the Thai side, not just the UK.
• Their qualifications fit the job — a pension transfer specialist for final-salary transfers, a qualified lawyer for wills.
• Fees are agreed in writing, in pounds or baht, before work starts.
• Their advice comes in writing, with reasons.
• They're independent of the outcome — they don't profit more from one answer.
• They'll work with your other advisers, so the advice fits together.
• You can reach them from Thailand, in your time zone.

Our guide to questions to ask before changing pension arrangements has a full list of questions for any adviser.

The "specialists" to avoid

Expats are a prime target for pension scams and high-commission sales. Any one of these signs is a reason to stop. Our guide to investment scams and due diligence explains the checks.

Questions to ask a pension transfer specialist

If you do see a pension transfer specialist, these questions help you judge the advice — and the adviser:

1. What exactly would I give up — the income, increases, spouse's pension and any lump sum?
2. What would the transferred money need to earn, every year, to match those benefits?
3. Where would the money go, how would it be invested, and what would it all cost?
4. How would the overseas transfer charge apply, given I live in Thailand?
5. How are you paid — and is your fee the same whatever you recommend?
6. Will I get your recommendation in writing, with your reasons?
7. What happens to my partner if I die after transferring?
8. How long is my transfer value guaranteed, and what if it expires?

A good specialist will be glad to answer every one of them, and won't mind if their answer is "keep it".

How specialists are paid

Knowing how someone is paid tells you a lot about whether their advice is truly independent of the outcome.

• Fixed fees — a set price for a piece of work, such as a transfer report or a will. Clear and easy to compare.
• Hourly fees — common for tax advisers and lawyers. Ask for an estimate and a cap.
• Percentage fees — a share of the money advised on, often yearly for ongoing advice. Ask for it in pounds, not just percent.
• Commission — paid by a product provider. Make sure you know how much, and whether it depends on what you buy.

Whatever the method, ask for every cost in writing before work starts, and be wary of anyone who says their help is "free" because someone else pays them.

Working with specialists from Thailand

Most pension specialists can work with you remotely, but living in Thailand adds a few practical points:

• Time zones — Thailand is six or seven hours ahead of the UK, so early-evening calls in Thailand suit UK office hours.
• Documents — some schemes and lawyers need certified copies of your passport and proof of address; ask exactly what's required.
• Legalisation — documents for use in Thailand currently need legalisation through embassies; Thailand's accession to the Apostille Convention takes effect on 28 February 2027.
• Post — some providers still send letters; keep a reliable UK address or ask for email.
• Security codes — keep your UK mobile number active for verification.
• Deadlines — transfer values and tax years don't wait; start early.

What to prepare before you see a specialist

• Your latest statements for every pension.
• Any transfer value letter, with its guarantee date.
• Your State Pension forecast and National Insurance record.
• A summary of your income and spending, in pounds and baht.
• Your residence history — when you left the UK and days spent there since.
• Your family details — partner, children and any marriage certificate.

The better prepared you are, the faster — and often cheaper — the specialist's work will be.

How a referral through JLIT works

1. Tell us about your pensions through the enquiry form on this page, by email at enquiries@ExpatFAA.com, WhatsApp +66 95636 1829 or LINE LAW007LU.
2. A free review with Lawrence — he'll answer what he can directly.
3. A clear recommendation of whether you need a specialist, and which kind.
4. An introduction to a suitable specialist, with the background they need.
5. Fees agreed directly between you and the specialist, in writing.
6. Everything joined up — Lawrence keeps the specialist's advice working with the rest of your plan.

Three real-world examples

Colin: the forgotten pensions

Colin, 63, in Pattaya, thought he had two pensions. The Pension Tracing Service and a review with Lawrence found four, including one with protected tax-free cash. He consolidated three and kept the fourth where it was.

Helen: the top-up that paid off

Helen, 60, in Chiang Mai, had six missing years on her National Insurance record. After checking her eligibility and forecast, she paid voluntary contributions for the years that counted — each one adding to her State Pension for life.

Graham: the transfer specialist who said no

Graham, 58, in Phuket, was offered a large transfer value for his final-salary pension. Lawrence referred him to a pension transfer specialist, whose written advice was to keep the guarantees — including a spouse's pension for his Thai wife. He did.

Your pension specialist checklist

• I've traced every pension and checked my State Pension forecast.
• I know whether top-ups make sense for me.
• I have one person coordinating my pension plan.
• I'll use a transfer specialist before any final-salary transfer.
• Complex tax questions go to a tax adviser who knows both countries.
• My wills and power of attorney are done by lawyers.
• Every fee is agreed in writing, first.
• I never deal with cold callers.

Sharing pension details safely

Pension statements, National Insurance numbers and passport copies are exactly what fraudsters want. Share them only with people you've chosen and checked, through secure channels; never share passwords or one-time codes; and use a private, protected connection on hotel, café and condo Wi-Fi.

How we compiled this directory

This directory draws on our pension, retirement and estate guides and their sources: Aberdeen's technical guidance on defined benefit transfers; GOV.UK on the overseas transfer charge, the State Pension abroad and pension tracing; ACCA In Practice (May 2026) on voluntary National Insurance abroad; uktax.tools and Which? on 2026/27 rates; J.P. Morgan Personal Investing (September 2026) on pension ages; Pensions Age (March 2026) on inheritance tax; and ThaiLawOnline (October 2026) on Thai wills. The top-up illustration is a simple calculation. Specialist fees vary and are agreed directly. Checked 14 October 2026. This directory is general information, not personal financial, tax or legal advice.