AFTER Brexit on January 31, the UK will officially enter into a transition period until December 31, 2020.
Although there will be very little change for Brits travelling during the transition period, the rules will change after January 1, 2021.
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And while that’s quite far away at the moment, if you’re booking a holiday for next year or beyond, such as a cruise, it’s certainly worth bearing the new advice in mind as it will affect everything from passports to driving abroad.
Here’s what you need to know:
Do I need to renew my passport from January 1, 2021?
During the transition period, you only need to make sure your passport is valid for the duration of your stay in an EU country.
From January 1, 2021, you will need a minimum of six months of validity – and as much as 15 months, if your passport is older – so do check if you need to renew your passport before you travel.
Why do I need 15 months left on my passport?
At the moment, Brits who renew their passport before it’s expired can carry up to nine months over to their new passport.
So a new passport can have the maximum validity of 10 years and nine months.
After the transition period, Brits visiting Schengen Area countries, including Spain, France and Greece, will be governed by the same rules as visitors from non-EU countries.
This means that they will need at least six months left on their passport to enter the EU, and their passport must have been issued in the last ten years.
It creates a loophole that makes the extra nine months that were carried over invalid in the Schengen Area.
That’s why Brits who carried over the full nine months when they last renewed would need at least 15 months left on the passport after Brexit – nine months to account for the now-invalid time carried over, plus six months for the required validity.
There are two simple questions you should answer to check whether you need to renew your passport before you travel, which you can find here.
It’s easy to check – just ask yourself two questions and if you’ve answered yes to both, you won’t have to renew your passport before you travel.
The first is, do you have at least six months left on your passport?
And the second is, is your passport less than ten years old?
If you’ve answered no, you may have to renew your passport.
You can do it online for £75.50, which costs less than if you do it in person at the Post Office.
It can take up to three weeks for your new passport to come.
If you’re travelling to Ireland, the rules are different – you just need your passport to be valid for the duration of your stay.
Do I need to get a visa to Europe if I’m travelling after January 1, 2021?
If you’re going on holiday to Europe after the transition period ends, you won’t need a visa.
However, you can only be there for a maximum of 90 days in a 180-day period.
If you plan to stay longer, or if you’re going for work or to study, you may need a visa.
You will need to check with the embassy of the country you’re visiting to see if you need a visa and what the requirements are in that case.
If you have a valid visa in an old passport, which you’ve just renewed, you should carry both passports to travel.
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Will there be additional checks if I’m visiting Europe after January 1, 2021?
A couple of things might change when you visit Europe after the transition period ends.
At border control, whether at airports or elsewhere,, you might have to stand in a different line for passport checks.
You might also need to show that you have a return or onward ticket and enough money to cover your stay.
However, there shouldn’t be any additional security changes for Brits.
Are there changes to air travel, trains and other ways of getting to Europe?
Flights, ferries, cruises, the Eurostar and Eurotunnel and bus and coach services are all expected to run as normal after the transition period ends.
There may be delays or disruptions initially, and you should check before you go.
If you’re driving or taking your own car, there are additional rules.
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What are the new documents you might need to drive to and in Europe?
If your holiday involves some driving, double check whether you need additional documents.
Depending on which country you’re travelling to and for how long, you might need one of three international driving permits (IDP).
You can find the full list of countries and IDP requirements on the government’s website.
While the government says that for stays of less than 12 months, you don’t need an IDP, if you’re hiring a car abroad, you should double check with the car hire company to see what their requirements are.
If you’re taking your own car, you will need to take your log book (V5C) and your insurance certificate.
In some countries, you may need to take extra equipment such as a reflective jacket and warning triangle so check before you travel.
Can I still use my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?
It’s not clear what will happen to the EHIC at the moment.
At the moment, the card entitles the holder to state-provided healthcare in EU countries.
Although the card will be valid for the duration of the transition period, it may not be valid from January 1, 2021.
What happens next will depend on what deals the UK government can strike with the EU.
In either case, you should make sure you have the right travel insurance to cover you in case of emergencies.
Can I still get free mobile roaming once the transition period ends?
The free mobile roaming guarantee will end after December 31, 2020.
Your mobile service provider may choose to continue the arrangement though, so you should check with them about what the fees will be from January 1, 2021.
However, there is a new law that means you won’t get charged more than £45 in mobile data charges without you knowing.
