How Brexit will change the journey

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(CNN) – After four years of confusion, it finally happened.

The United Kingdom officially severed ties with the European Union last night, as the Brexit transition period ended at 23:00, UK time.

Brexit has not been an easy road from a political point of view, and the UK – which voted 52-48 to leave the EU in 2016 – is moving in the new year more divided than ever.

But what does that mean for travel?

It all depends on whether your passport is from the UK, the EU or elsewhere – and what currency area you come from.

For some travelers, the pound tanker means that a trip to the UK looks very attractive.

But for UK and EU citizens, things will change.

Can British citizens travel to Europe now?

In the long run, yes. In the short term – possibly or probably not. Most EU countries currently have borders closed to citizens outside the bloc because of Covid-19. Now that the United Kingdom has “third country” status, citizens have lost their right to travel freely within the EU. Technically, there is no difference between a British citizen who wants to visit France and an American citizen – who, of course, has been banned since March – who hopes to do the same.

However, since EU states remain sovereign nations, each country has control over its own borders and will be able to make an exception for British citizens if it so wishes. It may take some time to see how this is resolved, as arrivals from the UK are currently banned from most of Europe, thanks to the new variant of Covid-19, which was first identified in southern England.

Most EU countries have introduced Covid-related restrictions on entry into the UK until at least 6 January. Only then could we get some clarification on whether or not countries will make exemptions for the British with the current health crisis starting to wane.

There may be some surprises. Germany, for example, has already included the UK in its list of permitted trips (although entry from the UK is currently banned until at least 6 January due to the new variant of Covid-19).

Greece currently allows travelers from the UK and has not indicated that this will change.

However, Britain’s historic ally, Portugal – which launched a “Welcome” campaign last year, promising that “Portugal will never leave you” – has announced that British citizens will not be allowed from 1 January, except essential travel. Belgium and Norway said the same thing.

France, Italy and Spain have not yet made any announcements, although non-resident trips to the UK are currently banned for all three, due to the Covid variant.

How about the other way around?

EU citizens can travel to the UK without too much trouble. Britain never closed its borders at any time during the pandemic. Anyone can enter as long as they have a visa or visa waiver – just fill out a passenger location form and you should self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival (or five days if you use the “Test of Release”). if they do not come from a country on the list of “travel corridors”.

Will it be cheaper to visit the UK?

Probably, though, of course, it depends on what currency area you come from. The pound sterling collapsed in June 2016, when the referendum was announced, and has yet to return to pre-Brexit levels against the euro and dollar.

However, it’s not as bad (or good, depending on your point of view) as it was – following another historic crash in March, when the pound fell to a 30-year low. years against the dollar and at a minimum of 11 years against the euro at the beginning of the most recent round of negotiations (aggravated by the pandemic), the pound regained a slight value and rallied again after a trade agreement with the EU was announced on December 24.

However, if you convert US dollars, this is a big difference from the dizzying days of 2007, when the conversion rate was 2 USD to 1 GBP. For many, the drop in the pound will eventually make life a trip to the UK.

I’m British. Once the borders have reopened after Covid, can they still travel freely to the EU?

Post-Covid Restrictions, whenever possible, you will be able to travel without a visa. But you will be allowed to spend 90 days out of every 180 days in the Schengen area (most EU nations, plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein). This means that it is no longer possible to spend the winter in Med. If you joined the EU on 1 January, for example, you should leave on 1 April – you would not be allowed to return until 30 June and then you should leave before October.

These allowances are cumulative – so you can’t spend three months in one country, go home and come back for a weekend break.

The EU is introducing a visa waiver system, called ETIAS (similar to the US ESTA scheme), until the end of 2022. British citizens are likely to be included in the scheme, which will cost around € 7 over three years.

How about the other way around?

No visas are currently required for EU citizens visiting the UK. You can currently spend six months in the UK without applying for a visa.

The United Kingdom is expected to include EU citizens in its ETA visa waiver system by 2025.

Will things become more expensive for British citizens?

Exchange rate aside, probably. Leaving the EU means that UK phone companies can now charge roaming charges once again while traveling there (they were previously abolished under EU rules). Major UK suppliers have said they will not introduce them, but check with your own before leaving.

Instead, EU residents could charge roaming charges when using their phones in the UK. Check with your provider again.

How about health care?

British citizens will need travel insurance, according to the government – even though the December 24 agreement says the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) cards (which provided health coverage the same as what locals receive) will be valid until their expiry date. Please note that these will not be valid in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.

Regular treatment for chronic conditions – such as dialysis or chemotherapy – will continue cross-border, with pre-booking.

In the meantime, the UK has said it will create a “global health insurance card” for its citizens, although details (and timing) have not yet been published.

Expect a lot of confusion in the coming months – when CNN called the EHIC investigation line on December 31, a call manager informed that the cards will no longer be valid from January 1 and we should call back in January. two weeks to find out if the government had arranged an alternative.

Will we need new documents?

British citizens will now need six months of validity left on their passports to enter the EU (technically, the EU requires three months of validity, but the UK recommends that citizens stay six months). EU residents can use their ID cards to enter the UK until 1 October 2021. After that, you will need a passport, unless you are a resident of the UK.

Speaking of paper, you may need to bring a lot more with you. In addition to the pandemic, Spain, for example, reserves the right to refuse entry to tourists – even those with valid visas or who qualify for visa-free travel – if they cannot provide proof of where they will stay, a documented itinerary or a round trip flight. In addition, anyone wishing to enter Spain “must prove that they have sufficient means of support available to enter Spain” – this means at least EUR 90 per day of your journey and a minimum of EUR 810 for the entire journey (even for a naughty weekend city break). The days of free rotation in Europe, as you feel, can be over for the British.

How about driving?

Last night, just four and a half hours before the end of the transition period, the British government confirmed in a tweet that its citizens will be able to drive in the EU without international driving licenses – UK licenses will be recognized because they were before Brexit.
Will it be reciprocal? We’re not sure yet. The relevant page on the British government’s website is out of date.

If you are driving a British car in the EU, it must have a GB sticker displayed and you must have a “Green Card” detailing your insurance in several languages.

What’s going on at the border?

Officially, British citizens are no longer allowed to use the gates of the EU passport for border control. However, each EU country will be able to decide whether or not to grant an exception. By the time the UK is banned in most countries at this time because of Covid, the situation is likely to become clearer in a few months.

The UK has confirmed that EU citizens can continue to use UK / EEA channels and ePassport gates to control the border with the UK. They are also open to citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States, as before.

What about pets?

Taking the dog on summer vacation is a rite of passage for many Britons. Now that the UK is no longer part of the EU pet passport scheme, you will need to obtain an animal health certificate at least 10 days before your trip. These can be obtained from your veterinarian. Please note that you will also need a certificate when traveling from England, Wales or Scotland to Northern Ireland.

How about moving abroad?

There is no longer freedom of movement between the EU and the UK. Anyone wishing to travel between the two will now have to apply for a visa.

What about Gibraltar?

In an 11-hour agreement on 31 December, it was announced that Gibraltar – Britain’s territory at the southern tip of Spain – would become part of the Schengen area as a point of entry into Spain. However, the Prime Minister, Fabian Picardo, confirmed that only the territory will be part of the Schengen area – not the people. In other words, British citizens will not be able to use it as a way into Spain.

There will be two entry points: one for Gibraltar and one for Schengen. The airport will be in the Schengen area, so there will be no immigration controls for intra-Schengen flights.

And Ireland?

The Republic of Ireland is exempt from Rule 90/180 for British citizens. And there is no limit to the items you can take across the border, as long as they are for personal use or gifts.

There will be no border controls between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; however, you cannot take meat or dairy products from England, Scotland or Wales to Northern Ireland, and if you are traveling with a pet, they must have a certificate – even if you do not intend to cross the Republic of Ireland.

Any advantage?

Duty-free shopping will now return for travel between the EU and the UK, although the UK has concluded a duty-free exemption for excise-free products – electronics and cosmetics, for example.

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