Can I buy a UK franchise if I live abroad?

Assuming that you also want to operate the business where you live, then there are a couple of options. Firstly, you could acquire the master franchise for your country for a system that operates in the UK, but which wants to expand overseas. That means you would first open one or more of your own units in that country in order to prove and adapt the system, after which you could go onto franchise additional outlets to others. In effect, you become a franchisor in your country.  Alternatively, you could simply open a franchised outlet where you live and thereby have a direct relationship with the UK franchisor. The relationship works in exactly the same way as it would if you had a franchised outlet in the UK, other than that you are likely to receive less support and fewer visits.  The caveat in all of this is that you must be confident that the franchisor is properly prepared to operate on an international basis and that it has devoted sufficient resources to such expansion, particularly for supporting franchisees.