ISSUE 314 | JANUARY 2021
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Rules on travel differ if you are a British or Irish passport holder as new relationship with the EU begins...
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TRAVEL POST-BREXIT ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Left: As the UK officially leaves the European Union some rules have changed, what does this mean for holidaymakers?
HE UK left the European Union on January 31, 2020 and in November 2019, the UK and the EU reached a legally-binding agreement setting out the terms of the UK’s exit from the EU, known as the Withdrawal Agreement. This agreement included a transition period, which has now come to an end. As of January 1, 2021 new rules on trade, travel, and business for the UK and EU have come into force.
Passport Rules
Travel to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein has now changed, but what these changes are depend on how you’re travelling and where you’re going to.
British passport holders will no longer have the same freedom of movement within the EU as EU citizens and new passport rules now apply for travel to Europe. If you hold a British passport you’ll need to have at least six months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including the Republic of Ireland) and you’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport. Irish passport holders will still be allowed freedom of movement within the EU. The European Union’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said earlier this year: “Whilst Northern Ireland will no longer be part of the EU, people born and raised here that choose to be Irish citizens will still be EU citizens. This means they can continue to move and reside freely within the EU.”
Travel Regulations
When travelling you may have to show your return ticket and show you have enough money for your stay. You will also have to use separate lanes from EU, European Economic Area and Swiss citizens when queueing.
You’ll be able to stay in an EU country for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. If you want to stay longer you will have to apply for a visa. The changes are likely to affect British passport holders who have holiday homes aboard. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania.
Common Travel Area The existing Common Travel Area between the
UK and Ireland will continue. The Common Travel Area is a long-standing arrangement between the UK and Ireland which means Irish citizens can move freely to live, work, and study in the UK on the same basis
as British citizens, and vice versa. Irish and British citizens also enjoy associated rights and entitlements including access to employment, healthcare, education, social benefits, and the right to vote in certain elections. Living, working and travelling in Ireland or the UK, isn’t going to change a lot because of the Common Travel Area and the rights it gives to Irish and British citizens.
The Common Travel Area is not reliant on membership of the EU, and dates back to before either the UK or Ireland were EU members.
Driving in the EU
If you hold an NI/UK driving licence you will not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in the Republic of Ireland. You will, however, need to carry your NI/ UK driving licence with you. Drivers may also need one or more IDPs, in addition to their NI/UK driving licence, to drive in other EU and EEA countries.
NI drivers may also need to carry a physical Green Card when travelling across the border into the Republic of Ireland to prove they have valid insurance cover for their vehicle. It may be illegal to travel without this proof of insurance.
A Green Card will also be required to drive your vehicle in the rest of the EU and EEA.
More than one Green Card may be required if - for instance, if you are towing a trailer or a caravan. You should contact your motor insurance provider to get a Green Card. As this may take anything from 15 days to one month to process, enough time should be allowed before travelling.
Cross-border bus and rail services may continue
to operate as normal. All senior citizens resident in Northern Ireland aged 65 or over will still be eligible for free travel on public transport throughout the island of Ireland.
Travelling with Pets
When travelling with your pet dog, cat or ferret, the rules you must follow depend on the country you are going to or coming from.
There will be no change for pet travel to the EU, including the Republic of Ireland however, pet travel from GB to Northern Ireland will require additional health preparations and documents.
To make sure your pet is able to travel, you should contact your vet before travelling to get the latest advice.
EHIC
A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU country. The UK has reached an agreement on healthcare when visiting the EU and you can continue to use an EHIC or get a provisional replacement certificate (PRC) if you need treatment and don’t have a card. If you apply for a card now, you’ll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC. You do not need to apply for a GHIC if you already have an EHIC. Your EHIC remains valid in the EU until it expires.
Worth noting though is that GHICs and most UK EHICs will not cover you in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. If you’re visiting those countries, make sure you have travel insurance with health cover.
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