The below information will aid you in preparing to depart BFC. This page only relates to personnel and family members returning to the UK, if you are assigned to another overseas posting, some information may still apply, speak to DBS (for UKBC’s) or unit HR’s (for Military personnel) for further information. Below are some useful links.
On receipt of Assignment Order/Posting Notice
- Print a copy of your assignment order.
- Apply for housing at your new unit.
- Ensure passports and visas are valid for at least 6 months, including pet passports.
- Contact Housing to book your pre-march out.
- Complete an Application for Transfer of Residency (ToR), this has to be done before you can book your removals (for more information see the Fiscal Office Departures Brief).
- Book removals with Agility.
- Book flights and hotels (for UKBC’s, this will be done by DBS, Military personnel should speak to unit HR’s).
- Arrange shipping/selling of vehicles.
- Apply for school places at your new unit.
- Contact HIVE for information on your next posting and shipping your pets.
After Pre-March Out
- Book March out cleaner and gardener (unless opting to self-clean).
- Start organising your house ready for the removals survey.
- Contact housing to book your march out.
3 Months to Moving
- Apply for Disturbance Allowance (military personnel) or Overseas Transfer Grant (UKBC’s).
- Arrange delivery of your items in storage, to your new address.
- Arrange suitable removals insurance cover (the Agility website recommends a list of suppliers or alternately you can contact your local Forces Mutual).
- Advise school/nursery of leaving date.
- Give notice on internet/phone/mobile contract.
1 Month to Moving
- Change your mailing address.
- Take curtains and sofa covers to barrack stores to be washed.
- UKFM’s need to complete a good conduct certificate & Cyprus criminal record check.
- Pay outstanding bills; Mess, nursery/school lunches, parking/speeding fines, library.
- Prepare pets for returning to UK; Rabies vaccine required 21 days prior to travel, worming is required 1-5 days before travel (further information can be found on gov.uk or by contacting your local HIVE).
- Pack personal bags for transit period.
- Visit your dental/medical centres to de-register.
- Collect children’s school paperwork.
- Close Cypriot bank accounts.
- Complete an application to clear via the Fiscal Office.
- Military Personnel & UKBC’s should go through the clearance procedure (speak to your line manager to find out how to do so).
- For UKFM’s employed in BFC/SBA:
- For UKFM’s working on base, give notice to your employer (if you have worked for BFC/SBA for over 156 weeks you will be required to give more than 4 weeks notice).
- You may also be eligible for an income tax rebate (the Fiscal Office departures brief provides information on how to do this).
- UKBC’s need to complete HR Forms to stop COLA – form 1901 and LUA – form 005.
Items to Return
- BFBS box (at your local BFBS office).
- Ration card (at the Fiscal office).
- Hand status stamp to the Fiscal office if returning via a Civilian flight or at the Akrotiri Air terminal if returning on the trooper.
- Station passes (at the Pass office).
- Library books.
In the UK
- TV licence.
- Register with a doctor and dentist.
- Arrange utilities.
- Register to vote at your new address.
- Apply for Jobseekers allowance (if eligible).
- Change address with bank, subscriptions etc.
- UKFM’s need to apply for National Insurance Credits.
- Register your vehicle (the Fiscal Office provides clear information on how to do this – it’s advisable you do this no earlier than 14 days before your vehicles arrival in the UK).
Police Check
UKFM’s returning to the UK who are looking for employment or volunteer opportunities (especially those looking to work with children or vulnerable adults), may be asked by prospective employers to provide a ‘Good conduct certificate’ for the period of time you were residing outside of the UK (similar to a DBS check in the UK). Information on how to obtain this can be found below.
- You can obtain a copy of the forms from the HIVE, the local police station or print them using the links below.
- Once you have completed the forms, take these with you to the police station, alongside €20 in cash, a photocopy of your passport and status card (the HIVE can photocopy these for you).
- The Police will give you a receipt and call you when your certificates are ready to collect (they may produce them there and then if they are not busy). In most cases this takes less than 2 weeks, but can be up to a month, so make sure you leave sufficient time before you leave island, as doing the police check once you have left can be difficult.
For further information or help, please contact your local HIVE.