What to Know About Travel in Europe After Brexit
Travel in Europe After Brexit
As of January 2020, the UK began the lengthy process of leaving the EU. As the majority of Brits voted to leave the EU in the ongoing Brexit debate, there will be some definite changes to travel in Europe after Brexit. At 11PM on December 31st 2020, Brexit was officially put in place and Britain is no longer an EU member, so what does this mean for your future travel plans?
We know for certain that travel guidelines have changed since January 2021, so here are some of the key points to remember when booking your next big Europe trip. Before you leave for your chosen EU destination, don’t forget to brush up on your language skills with Idyoma.
Travel in Europe After Brexit
• EHIC 200
• Mobile Roaming 200
• Passport 200
• Driving License and Insurance 200
• Visas 200
• Vaccinations 200
• Easiest Destinations for Brits 200
Why You Need EHIC to Travel in Europe After Brexit
An EHIC is a European Health Insurance Card. Previously this card offered all EU citizens entitlement to the relevant state healthcare services of the country you were visiting. This would give you access the local healthcare system at a reduced cost or for free. For example, if you broke an arm in Germany, you could present your EHIC card at the hospital to show that you were able to use the healthcare services as an EU resident. However, this no longer applies if you’re a UK resident.
Previous EHIC cards are valid until their shown expiry dates, but you cannot apply for a new EHIC card under the new UK government Brexit legislation. Instead, a replacement scheme was rolled out in January 2021 called the Global Health Insurance Card or GHIC. The GHIC is similar to the old EHIC, as it gives the holder free or reduced cost use of state healthcare In reciprocal countries like Australia and New Zealand. Unlike its name suggests, the GHIC doesn’t currently cover EEA states such as Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Iceland. Also, if you have an existing or long-term illness you should probably seek out independent health and travel insurance to ensure you’re covered.
You can apply for the new GHIC card for free on the NHS website.
Mobile Roaming
One thing yuo might have considered when thinking about travel in Europe after Brexit is your mobile! Mobile roaming can be a tricky one to figure out when entering a new country. Previously, free mobile roaming was guaranteed in the European and Schengen areas, but this ended on December 31st 2020. While mobile roaming isn’t guaranteed, many phone operators aren’t actually planning to introduce fees for roaming. You need to check with your individual phone operator to find out if there are any particular charges you could incur if you use roaming data while on holiday in an EU country.
Thankfully, there is a new law that adds a little bit of protection for you. While you browse the internet in another country, you won’t rack up enormous roaming data charges. If there are charges for mobile roaming in your destination country, then you will receive a notification when charges reach £45. No further charges for using internet can be incurred unless you clearly opt-in to continue using roaming internet data at a cost. If you check with your provider well before leaving the UK, though, you’ll be made fully aware of any possible fees for mobile roaming.
To Travel in Europe After Brexit You’ll Need a Passport
As a lover of travel, you probably know that until 2021, UK citizens with a valid passport were able to travel freely within Europe. From January 2021 UK citizens must renew their passports earlier than they may have previously expected, to ensure it’s still valid. Your passport must have at least six months left before its expiry date, on the day that you travel. If your passport is even a week or a day short of six months remaining validity, you may not be allowed to travel to EU countries or EEA states.
As before, travel rules for travel to Ireland apply. Travel in Europe after Brexit is undoubtedly going to be a litle trickier. But you must also still be aware of the COVID guidelines and quarantine rules of your destination country, so you’re prepared to enter safely and know that your passport won’t expire while you’re away.
If you want to check whether or not you need to renew your UK passport before your travel date, the British government have provided a useful online tool. You can also apply for a new passport from the government website. Remember that it can take up to a few months for passport applications to be fully processed and for you to receive your valid passport, so it’s a good idea to sort out your passport well in advance of booking any trips to EU destinations.
Driving License and Insurance
Feel like braving the winding Italian countryside roads on your next travel adventure? Previously as a UK citizen, you will have enjoyed a lot of freedom with your EU driver’s license but driving in the EU as a UK citizen has changed just a little.
There were some concerns that Brits would be required to apply for an international driving permit in order to drive throughout the European Union countries. The final Brexit deal terms instead dictated that all UK driving licenses, providing they’re valid and the driver also has insurance, are still valid for use in the EU. This means you can still rent cars on your holidays to the EU and drive with your usual license. The complication comes when you want to bring in your own vehicle to drive. In this case you’ll also need to apply for a Green Card which proves you have a car insurance policy in place, as well as a GB sticker to be displayed on your vehicle. Funnily enough, these rules also apply if you are driving from Northern Ireland to the Republic, where a Green Card is required.
Visas
When it comes to travel in Europe after Brexit, there is speculation that you will need to apply in advance to visit the EU from 2022, as a British citizen. The new ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme) you’ll be required to pay 7 Euro for a three-year pass (not unlike a visa). Before you can leave for your destination, you will also need to specify which country you will arrive in and the exact address of where you’ll be staying for the first night in that destination country.
That may sound a bit complicated, but for now as a tourist, you don’t need to apply for a visa for short trips to EU and EAA countries. You’ll be allowed to stay in that country for up to 90 days within any one 180-day period. If you want to stay longer than those 90 days in an EU country, you’ll need to get a visa or a travel permit specific to your circumstances.
Bear in mind that travel to Ireland is still the same as it has been regarding visas. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania and Croatia have different rules, however, so time spent in those countries does not count towards your 90-day total visiting allowance.
Because of the confusing changes and specificity of rules depending on your destination, the EU created a ‘short term stay visa calculator’ so you can figure out how many more days you are allowed to stay in a European country. In short – check the visa rules around your specific destination country and stay aware of how long you’re allowed to remain there on your trip.
Vaccinations and Border Restrictions During Travel in Europe After Brexit
As of writing this article, there is still some debate on whether ‘vaccine passports’ will be required from British travellers to cross into European borders. What’s certain for now is that the UK is not exempt from border restrictions that may prevent travel into the EU borders. The UK is currently under third-party travel restrictions when it comes to the EU, and many Brits trying to holiday in the EU have reportedly been turned away as their trips were not deemed essential in the current global climate.
Japan, South Korea, and Australia are enjoying special allowance to enter EU borders due to their unique negotiations and lower COVID rates. EU officials have commented that there are no current plans to introduce the UK into this special border allowance. The global pandemic situation is likely to change, though, as will UK travel guidelines within the EU, so it’s best to check with your destination country before booking and taking your trip.
Easiest Destinations for Brits to Travel in Europe After Brexit
With Brexit completed and Britain entering new negotiations regarding travel within the EU, it’s looking like EU travel will still be just as possible and equally enjoyable. But which European states are going to be the easiest destinations for Brits to Travel in Europe in Europe After Brexit, even with new restrictions? Currently the countries below are some of the best EU destinations to British citizens. By offering easy and high quality healthcare accessibility, easy immigration policies, and having a high percentage of English-speakers, these are the top countries to visit after Brexit as a UK citizen:
• Spain and France
• Mainland Portugal
• The Netherlands