Can I transfer my LISA if I move abroad?

I've recently moved abroad to Switzerland and have a LISA account with Nutmeg, now J.P. Morgan Personal Investing.

I'm not able to keep my LISA account with my current provider due to moving to Switzerland. Are you able to help me find a provider that will accept the transfer of my LISA?

Thank you for getting in touch about your Lifetime ISA.

Unfortunately, under UK government rules, you cannot hold a Lifetime ISA if you're not a UK resident. The rules state that you must be a UK resident to open a LISA, and if you cease to be a UK resident, you're no longer eligible to contribute into (pay into), the account.

This means that no UK provider will be able to accept a transfer of your LISA while you're resident in Switzerland.

Your options are:

Keep your existing LISA open, but stop contributing

You should be able to keep your current LISA with Nutmeg/J.P. Morgan open. You won't be able to add new money to it, but the account can remain open, and your investments will continue to grow. You won't receive government bonuses on any contributions made while a non-resident. We'd recommend contacting Nutmeg/J.P. Morgan directly to confirm you can maintain your LISA as a non-resident without making further contributions.

Close your LISA

If you withdraw the money, you'll face a 25% government withdrawal charge on everything you take out (including your original savings and any government bonus received), unless you're using it for a qualifying first home purchase or you're over 60.

Wait until you return to the UK

If you plan to move back to the UK in the future, you could keep the account open without contributing and resume contributions once you're a UK resident again.

We hope this helps, though we appreciate it's not the answer you were hoping for.