This is what lands on Saturday.

Morning. Three things this week: the UK lump-sum trap that catches pension transfers, three Mediterranean countries compared on how they tax a foreign pension, and the first proper walk-through of the Croatia route from the UK. Then the rule changes, newest first.

New this week

• Leaving the UK: why the 25% tax-free lump sum is only tax-free before you go
  Non-resident rules, pensions, and the order of operations that decides whether HMRC or your new country taxes the lump sum.
• France vs Italy vs Greece: how each taxes a foreign pension in 2026
  One table, three regimes, and the residency conditions attached to each headline rate.
• Moving to Croatia from the UK: the 2026 process, costs and visas
  The digital nomad permit, temporary stay, and what the income floor means for a couple.

Rule changes, newest first

Red = proposal, not yet law. Green = in force or a fixed deadline. Every item links to the page we updated and to the source we checked.

• Netherlands · Healthcare · Proposal
  Dutch budget pencils in a EUR 169 monthly health premium and a EUR 400 deductible for 2027
  Budget Day 2026: the government estimates the average basic premium at EUR 169 a month for 2027, with the eigen risico rising to EUR 400 as statutory indexation resumes. Insurers publish final premiums by 12 November 2026. The plan to halve the deductible is dead; a rise to EUR 455 is postponed to 2028.
  Source: Rijksoverheid (VWS budget 2027) · checked 15 Sep 2026
• Ireland · Visas & Residency · Proposal
  Irish naturalisation set to stretch from 5 to 8 years under bill now in priority drafting
  The Government approved priority drafting of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026, which would raise the residency requirement to 8 years and add language, civics and self-sufficiency tests. Not yet law. Citizenship by descent via the Foreign Births Register is untouched.
  Source: Department of Justice (gov.ie) · checked 7 Sep 2026
• France · Healthcare · Proposal
  France plans to lift the medical franchise cap to €140
  A draft decree reported on 24 August 2026 would raise the annual ceiling on medical franchises and flat-rate patient charges from €100 to €140, a 40% increase. The government had earlier planned to double it to €200. Not yet published.
  Source: Boursorama (AFP) · checked 24 Aug 2026
• Sweden · Cost & of & Living · In force
  Riksbank holds its policy rate at 1.75% and keeps a rise on the table
  At its 20 August 2026 meeting the Riksbank left the policy rate at 1.75%, noting that summer growth and inflation had come in higher than its June forecast and that there is still a risk of underlying inflation becoming too high.
  Source: Sveriges Riksbank · checked 20 Aug 2026
• Cyprus · Cost & of & Living · In force
  Cyprus inflation hits 4.4% in July 2026, third-highest in the EU
  Cyprus recorded annual HICP inflation of 4.4% in July 2026 against an EU average of 3.0% and a euro area average of 2.9%, behind only Romania and Lithuania. Construction material prices were 3.33% higher than a year earlier.
  Source: Cyprus Mail · checked 20 Aug 2026
• Cyprus · Tax & Finance · Proposal
  Cyprus proposes its biggest pension overhaul since 1980
  The government presented a pension reform that would raise payments for all 123,000 current pensioners, with roughly 50,000 gaining more than €100 a month and some future low-income pensioners up to 60% more. It is a proposal, not yet law.
  Source: Cyprus Mail · checked 20 Aug 2026

One number

65. From 1 March 2027 Finland adds a civic-knowledge test to citizenship applications, with a 70% pass mark for applicants aged 18 to 64. Applicants aged 65 and over are exempt (source: Finnish Immigration Service). If citizenship is part of your long-term plan, the age you apply at now matters in Finland. The visa checker gives you a first shortlist in four questions, no email needed.

Reply to any issue and it comes to me, not a ticket queue. If something on the site is wrong, that is the fastest way to get it fixed.
Nick

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