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Gifted Deposit Receiving Money from Overseas

Laura Cristian - Digital Marketing Assistant - Meet the team - SAM Conveyancing Laura Cristian
24/09/2021
(Last Updated: 24/04/2023)
6 min read
Gifting deposits when buying a home is common practice, in fact 4 out of 5 first time buyers get help from their parents when buying their first home. The challenges arise when receiving money from overseas and gifts as the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks become even more rigorous.

As you’ll have read in our article, 3 things you must do when gifting a deposit, you’ll understand that you need to ensure your solicitor has:


This criteria expands further when receiving money from overseas and the checks conducted by solicitors will be far more extensive.

Money received from outside the European Union (EU)

Money which originates from an EU or European Economic Area jurisdiction is regarded as coming from a trusted source because the funds, and the bank which holds them, will have been subject to a number of European Union directives which have to be adhered to subject to legal penalty. The European Economic Area includes the EU and Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (through various bilateral agreements).

The same cannot be assumed for money originating from non-EU sources. Because it is not subject to the same directives it is likely to be regarded with more suspicion which explains why solicitors require additional proof of the source of funds to satisfy their own Money Laundering Policies. There are certain high risk jurisdictions (countries) from which solicitors will be unable to accept funds, either directly or indirectly.

* What countries can we receive money from?

The regulations define all countries as high risk EXCEPT the following: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK or the USA. You cannot receive or use money that originates from any other country.

If you are using funds that originated from a country not listed above then you need to check with your chosen solicitor if you are able to use those funds to purchase the property.


Overseas Gifts - What additional information is required?

Whether you have overseas investments or parents who live in another country, in order for your solicitor to receive this, you’ll need to complete additional compliance checks to satisfy the solicitors’ Anti-Money Laundering procedures.

For any money that is received from overseas you'll need to explain:


  • 1
    Who is sending the money?

  • 2
    Where did the money come from (source of funds)? and

  • 3
    Is the money a gift or a loan?


  • 1Who is sending the money?
With identity (ID) checks in the UK the solicitors can use online tools to confirm the ID of a person based on a copy of their proof of address and proof of photo ID. For overseas clients this is not an option and the ID requirements are as follows:

  • Proof of ID (photo ID): Passport, Driving Licence, National ID
If the person sending the money does not live in England or Wales then they will need to provide a Notarised photocopy of their passport (certified to the original by a Notary Public). The Notary Public will verify the copies are a true likeness of the originals and that the person is a true likeness to the photo ID and will sign the copied documents and add their unique seal (if a notary).

  • Proof of Address: Utility bill (last 3 months), Bank Statement (always useful to provide the same bank statement the money is coming from).

These ID documents should be sent to your solicitors in hard copy; they can be scanned and emailed, however the originals will need to be received anyway before any money can be received by the solicitors.


  • 2Where did the money come from (source of funds)?
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Where the money has come from is the most important question for any solicitors to understand and it is for you to prove. Whether it is an annuity, proceeds from a sale of a house or shares, divorce settlement or an insurance claim, all of these can be easily proved with supporting evidence.

To evidence where the gifted deposit has come from you should show:
  • when the money was received into the overseas account – a copy of the bank statement/s showing the bank account name
  • amount received and from whom.
You will need to also provide documents evidencing how these funds were accrued - Read How to prove source of funds


  • 3Is the money a gift or a loan?
If the money that is coming from overseas is from a parent, then they will need to declare whether the money is a:
  • Gift; or
  • a loan
If the money is a gift then your parents will need to follow the procedure here - Gifted Deposits.

If the money is a loan, then this need to be declared to your mortgage lender (if applicable) and a loan agreement should be drafted. Call us on 0333 344 3234 (local call charges apply) if you require a loan agreement.

If you are unsure whether the money you are receiving is a gift or a loan then read this article - Gifted deposit...or is it a loan from your parents?
Frequently Asked Questions

If the gifted deposit is from a lifetime of savings, it would be reasonable to demonstrate how these savings have come about. Most solicitors will require 6 months of bank statements showing the money has been within the account for a long period of time.
Failing to declare isn’t an option and claiming that the funds have been in your account for a long time isn’t a valid answer to the question of where the funds have come from. Anti-Money Laundering procedures are there to stop money laundering which, if you are found guilty of, can carry a maximum 14 year jail term and an unlimited fine.
It is important to note that if you are receiving money from overseas, you may also need to advise your UK bank account provider. Your bank may conduct their own investigations into the source of these funds, however any investigatory work your bank completes cannot negate the need for your solicitor to satisfy their own Anti-Money Laundering procedures.
If your proof of funds documents are not written in English, then these will need to be translated into English.

Gifted Deposit Receiving Money from Overseas Checklist

1. Get ID Notarised from a local notary public in the country where the person sending the gifted deposit is resident.

2. Get a letter from the person gifting confirming the money is a gift and not a loan.

IMPORTANT If the person gifting you money isn’t your parent then you may find that your lender will not agree to lend you the mortgage. You can download a template letter here - Gifted Deposit Letter Template

3. Get proof of funds and the best advice is to provide as much evidence as possible as to where the money has come from.
 
Laura Cristian - Digital Marketing Assistant - Meet the team - SAM Conveyancing
Written by:
Laura has a talent for data analysis and fact-finding. She is an advertising graduate with a broad range of skills in the web marketing field within conveyancing sector. She works closely with our panel of solicitors and surveyors to understand our clients' needs and challenges and to write the most valuable content for you.
Andrew Boast of Sam Conveyancing
Reviewed by:
Andrew started his career in 2000 working within conveyancing solicitor firms and grew hands on knowledge of a wide variety of conveyancing challenges and solutions. After helping in excess of 50,000 clients in his career, he uses all this experience within his article writing for SAM, mainstream media and his self published book How to Buy a House Without Killing Anyone.
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