Tips for travelling in Europe post-Brexit

Flights

The EU is putting legislation in place and the UK has agreed to reciprocate, so as a result all airlines are confident that they will continue to fly as normal, even in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The European Commission has proposed extending the right to fly until October 2020 giving some reassurance that air travel will not be impacted. For more information on flights click here.

Eurostar and Eurotunnel

Eurostar expects to maintain services on the existing basis, timetable and terms and conditions following Brexit.

Eurotunnel has the protection of The Treaty of Canterbury and will continue to operate as normal in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Travellers should leave additional time to accommodate potential traffic as congestion is expected due to delays at the border.

Border Controls

It is expected that there will be delays at border control, as passport and security queues designated for EU nationals might not be available to UK passport holders, and vice versa. It is advisable that travellers allow additional time to get through security.

Passports

The government has advised that passports will require at least six months’ validity to travel in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

If passport was renewed before it expired, extra months may have been added to the new passport’s expiry date. It is advisable to check whether they count towards the six months that should be remaining for travel to most countries in Europe.

This link enables you to check the validity of your passport.

However, some EU nationals currently travel on ID cards. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, there is no guarantee that ID cards will be permitted for travel between the EU and UK. It is advisable for all travellers to have a valid passport.

Visas

The latest proposal from the European Commission states there will be visa-free travel to the EU for UK nationals in a no-deal scenario if the UK also grants reciprocal visa-free travel to all EU citizens. Therefore, British citizens should be able to travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area or elsewhere in the EU without needing a visa, so requirements for short-term business trips will remain the same. More information is available here.

Driving in Europe

British citizens may require an International Driving Permit to drive in the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit. There are a number of different permits and are available from the Post Office. Check on the government website whether this is necessary.

If the UK leaves without a deal, UK citizens driving their vehicle within the EU would be required to obtain and carry a physical Green Card in order for their UK car insurance to be applicable in the EU. These cards are be issued by insurers and there may be a fee to cover the cost.

Speak with your insurer for more information on obtaining a Green Card for any trip on or after 31 October 2019.

Health Insurance

In the event of no-deal Brexit, the EHIC card, which allows access to state medical care, will no longer be valid. Check that you are fully covered under your travel insurance.

Data roaming

Under EU rules, the cost of making calls, sending messages or using the internet on your phone in the EU is the same in the UK. If the UK leaves without a deal these rules will no longer apply, but some UK companies have said they may continue to offer this benefit to their customers. Check with your mobile phone provider about the costs of using your phone in the EU.

This information is correct on 19 September 2019, but may change closer to Brexit. The UK government website guidelines should be checked in advance of travelling.