What is a QROPS and how does it work?

A QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme) is an overseas pension scheme recognised by HMRC for receiving UK pension transfers without triggering an unauthorised payment charge. Irish Revenue-approved pension schemes can qualify as QROPS.

Are there tax implications when transferring a UK pension to Ireland?

If you transfer to a QROPS within 5 years of leaving the UK, an Overseas Transfer Charge of 25% may apply unless you are resident in Ireland or an EEA country. There can also be UK LTA (Lifetime Allowance) considerations, though the LTA was abolished in April 2024.

Should I transfer my UK final salary pension to Ireland?

Transferring a defined benefit (final salary) pension requires careful consideration and regulated financial advice in both the UK and Ireland. While a transfer can offer flexibility, you give up the guaranteed income of a defined benefit scheme. This decision should never be made without specialist advice.

How long does a UK pension transfer to Ireland take?

A UK pension transfer to Ireland typically takes between 3–6 months, depending on the UK pension provider, the type of scheme, and the documentation required. Having a qualified advisor manage the process can help avoid delays.

Can I access my transferred UK pension in Ireland?

Yes, once transferred to an Irish scheme, your pension will be governed by Irish rules. For most people this means access from age 60, with the option to take a tax-free lump sum and invest the remainder in an ARF or annuity at retirement.

What happens to my UK State Pension if I move to Ireland?

Your UK State Pension entitlement is based on your National Insurance contribution record and cannot be transferred. However, you can continue to receive your UK State Pension while living in Ireland, and Irish/UK social insurance contributions may be combined under EU/bilateral agreements.

Do I need a financial advisor to transfer my UK pension?

For defined benefit (final salary) pensions valued over £30,000, regulated financial advice is legally required in the UK before a transfer can proceed. For defined contribution pensions, advice is strongly recommended given the complexity of the process.

What documents do I need to transfer my UK pension to Ireland?

You will typically need your UK pension policy documents, proof of identity (passport), proof of Irish address, your PPSN (Irish tax number), and a transfer value analysis from the UK scheme. Your Irish advisor will guide you through the full documentation requirements.

Can I transfer multiple UK pensions to Ireland?

Yes, you can consolidate multiple UK pension schemes into a single Irish pension. This can simplify administration and may reduce charges. Each pension will need to be assessed individually to determine the best transfer approach.

Pensions · UK to Ireland

UK Pension Transfer to Ireland — Plain English Guidance

If you have worked in the UK and now live (or plan to retire) in Ireland, you have decisions to make about your UK pension. We will help you understand your options, compare scheme outcomes, and manage the transfer process end-to-end.

Book a Free Consultation How it works

Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland
Whole-of-market across six leading providers
Qualified Financial Advisors based in Dublin

Last reviewed by Debbie Cheevers, QFA, RPA · 30 June 2026

Who this is for

Irish residents with UK pensions

You have worked in the UK and accumulated pension entitlements. You now live in Ireland — or plan to retire here — and want to know whether to transfer.

Returning emigrants

You have spent a chapter of your career in the UK and are coming home. You want a single advisor, in your own currency, to bring your pensions together sensibly.

Pre-retirees planning carefully

Retirement is in sight. You need to understand how a UK pension fits with your Irish drawdown plan — ARF, annuity, lump sum — before you commit.

What is a QROPS?

QROPS

Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme — an Irish pension that HMRC recognises, so you can move a UK pension into it without an unauthorised-payment charge. Once transferred it follows Irish rules: Irish tax, Irish drawdown, and options like an ARF or annuity.

Which UK pensions can transfer?

Defined Contribution (DC)

Workplace pensions, personal pensions, SIPPs and stakeholder pensions. Generally straightforward to transfer.

Defined Benefit (DB)

Final-salary schemes. Transferring means giving up valuable guarantees, so it needs regulated advice and isn’t always the right move.

Should you transfer?

Transferring isn’t automatically the right answer. Here’s the honest case on both sides.

Reasons to transfer

Currency match. Your pension is in euro — no sterling/euro uncertainty.
Simpler admin. One Irish provider, English paperwork, an adviser you can meet by video or phone.
Irish drawdown flexibility. ARF, annuity and tax-free lump sum options may suit you better.
Estate-planning clarity. Death benefits under Irish rules — simpler if your family is here.

Reasons to leave it in the UK

Existing guarantees. Some DB and older DC schemes have valuable guarantees lost on transfer.
Smaller funds. For small values, transfer costs can outweigh the benefits.
Employer features. Some schemes include ill-health or early-drawdown benefits worth keeping.

Transfer to Ireland vs leave in the UK — at a glance

Consideration	Transfer to Ireland (QROPS)	Leave in the UK
Currency	Euro — matches your Irish spending	Sterling — exchange rate affects your income
Drawdown rules	Irish rules (ARF, annuity, 25% tax-free lump sum subject to limits)	UK pension rules
Tax in retirement	Irish income tax on pension income	Irish-resident still generally pays Irish tax (DTA applies)
Administration	Irish provider, English paperwork, Dublin-based adviser	UK provider, UK paperwork, time-zone friction
Death benefits	Irish QROPS rules	UK scheme rules
Existing guarantees	May be lost on transfer	Preserved
Ongoing complexity	Lower — single jurisdiction	Higher — cross-border

Tax and currency considerations

Irish tax on UK pensions

As an Irish tax resident, you are generally taxable in Ireland on your worldwide pension income. The Ireland-UK Double Taxation Agreement determines which country has primary taxing rights — Ireland is usually the taxing country for an Irish-resident drawing a UK private pension.

Tax on the transfer itself

A properly structured transfer from a UK registered pension scheme to an Irish QROPS does not trigger Irish income tax at the point of transfer. The fund continues to grow tax-free inside the Irish pension scheme until you draw benefits.

Currency timing

The transfer value is in sterling. By the time it lands in your Irish QROPS, it has been converted to euro. The exchange rate on the day of conversion affects the final fund value. We discuss timing as part of your recommendation.

Good to know: you must remain tax resident in Ireland for five years after the transfer.

Our four-step transfer process

1

Free consultation & pension review

We review your UK scheme paperwork and your goals, tell you exactly what to request from your UK provider, and discuss whether a transfer is likely right — free, no obligation.
2

Personalised recommendation

If a transfer is right, you get a written recommendation — which Irish QROPS, why, projected outcomes, costs and documents needed. If it isn’t right, we tell you that too.
3

We manage the transfer

We handle the paperwork and liaise with both schemes. UK transfers aren’t fast — most take several months, some six to twelve — so we give you a realistic timeline up front.
4

Finalisation & ongoing review

Your pension is invested under Irish rules, and we review it each year so your strategy keeps fitting your timeline and risk tolerance.

Trusted providers

We work with Ireland’s leading life & pension companies

Frequently asked questions

Can I transfer my UK pension to Ireland?

Generally yes — if you are an Irish resident and your UK pension is in a transferable scheme. Most Defined Contribution (DC) schemes can be transferred. Defined Benefit (DB) transfers require regulated advice and are not always the right choice. We review your specific scheme as part of your free consultation.

What is a QROPS?

A Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme — an overseas pension scheme recognised by HMRC as eligible to receive UK pension transfers without triggering an unauthorised payment charge. To transfer a UK pension to Ireland, the receiving Irish scheme must be a QROPS.

Do I have to transfer my UK pension if I move to Ireland?

No. You can leave your UK pension where it is and draw an income from it as an Irish resident. The question is whether transferring would be better for your circumstances — that is what the consultation determines.

Will I pay tax on the transfer?

A properly structured transfer from a UK registered pension scheme to an Irish QROPS does not trigger Irish income tax at the point of transfer. Tax applies when you eventually draw benefits, under Irish pension drawdown rules.

What about currency? My pension is in sterling.

The transfer is converted from sterling to euro at the prevailing rate on the day of conversion. Currency timing affects the final fund value. Once transferred, your pension is held in euro and grows tax-free inside the Irish scheme.

How long does a transfer take?

UK pension transfers are not a fast process. Most cases take several months, and some take six to twelve months depending on how quickly the UK ceding scheme processes the request and the complexity of your scheme. We will give you a realistic timeline for your specific case at the recommendation stage.

What happens to my pension if I die after transferring?

Death benefits are then governed by the rules of your Irish QROPS, which generally allow your pension to pass to your spouse, civil partner or estate. We will explain the specific death benefit options of the recommended scheme as part of our recommendation.

Will my tax-free lump sum be the same?

Once your pension is in an Irish QROPS, Irish rules apply at retirement — including the Irish tax-free lump sum rules and the lifetime limit. We will model the projected lump sum so you can compare against leaving the pension in the UK.

Can I transfer just part of my UK pension?

In most cases, transfers are made in full from each ceding scheme. If you have multiple UK pensions, you can choose which to transfer and which to leave. We will advise on the best combination for your circumstances.

Do I need to live in Ireland to transfer?

You generally need to be an Irish resident (or close to becoming one) for an Irish QROPS to make sense. If you are planning to return to Ireland in future, we can talk through timing.

What if I am close to retirement age?

Timing matters more when retirement is close. If you are within a year or two of taking benefits, we will be especially careful to compare what your UK scheme would pay versus what an Irish QROPS would pay — and recommend whichever leaves you better off.

What does Greenway charge for managing a transfer?

We provide a clear written quote as part of Step 3 (Personalised Recommendation). Costs depend on the complexity of the transfer. The initial consultation is free.