The Brexit transition period is coming to an end after a UK-EU trade deal was agreed – this is what will change from 1 January.
Visiting the EU
The government is warning Britons that travel to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein will change from 1 January.
Those planning trips in 2021 are being urged to check their passports – as from 1 January onwards, British travellers will need at least six months left on their passports.
Their passports will also need to be less than 10 years old, even if they have six months or more left.
Without renewing their passport, they may not be able to travel to most EU countries.
Currently, British travellers to the EU only need their passports to be valid for the proposed duration of their stay.
From New Year’s Day, UK nationals arriving at EU border controls might also need to show a return or onward ticket, show they have enough money for their stay, and use separate lanes from EU citizens when queuing.
Those planning to stay in an EU country for longer than 90 days may need to apply for a visa or permit.
However, the European Commission has recommended that EU member states discourage all non-essential travel to and from the UK until further notice due to the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant that was first detected in the UK.
Once the Brexit transition period ends, rules permitting free travel within the bloc cease to apply to Britons.
And UK citizens will not be able to take meat, milk or products containing them – apart from some exceptions such as powdered infant milk – into EU countries from 1 January.
Getting healthcare while you’re there
Britons planning trips in 2021 are also being urged to get appropriate travel insurance – with healthcare cover – before heading abroad.
But your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will continue to be valid if you’re travelling to an EU country until it expires.
Everyone else – either without an EHIC or with one that has expired, can apply for a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaces the EHIC scheme in the UK.
GHICs and most UK EHICs will not cover you in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.
So anyone travelling to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein should get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before travel, which should cover any pre-existing conditions that were previously covered by your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Some people can apply for a new UK EHIC that they can continue to use from 1 January 2021 in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. People who can apply for the new card include:
UK students studying in the EU
some British State Pensioners who live in the EU and their families
EU nationals in the UK
Driving in the EU
Britons are being told they should carry a “green card” – which is proof of motor insurance – when taking their own car to the EU, including in Ireland, from 1 January.
These can be obtained from insurance providers up to six weeks before travel.
Drivers will need to have multiple green cards in these instances:
- For fleet insurance – one for each vehicle
- For towing a trailer or caravan – one for the towing vehicle and one for the trailer or caravan
- If they have more than one policy covering the duration of their trip
From 1 January you might also need a GB sticker – but it depends on what sort of number plate is on your car.
If it has an EU logo next to the registration number, you will need a sticker.
Plates with GB and a Union flag on them will not require a sticker in most EU countries.
An international driving permit (IDP) won’t be required – as had been feared.
All 27 EU states have agreed to recognise UK licences without the need for an IDP.
Taking your pets abroad
From 1 January, you will not be able to use the pet passport scheme. Instead, you’ll need an animal health certificate (AHC) for any pet you want to take into the EU.
This is also required to take a pet into Northern Ireland (NI).
Getting an AHC involves having your dog, cat or ferret microchipped; vaccinating your dog, cat or ferret against rabies; waiting 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel; and visiting your vet to get an AHC no more than 10 days before travel to the EU.
The government advises that pet owners allow at least 1 month to arrange all of this and relevant vaccinations.
Anyone who previously held a pet passport will still need an AHC and will need to take proof of a pet’s microchipping date and vaccination history when attempting to obtain one.
The pet will need a new AHC for each trip to the EU or NI.
There are other restrictions for transporting more than five pets or to some countries with tapeworm controls.
Using your mobile phone while in the EU
From 1 January, the guarantee of free mobile phone roaming throughout the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway will end.
The government advises travellers to those countries to check with their phone operator to find out about any roaming charges.
Some mobile operators – Three, EE, O2 and Vodafone – have said they have no current plans to change their mobile roaming policies next year.
Meanwhile, the government has legislated to protect Britons from unexpected charges from 1 January, with a £45 per month limit on mobile data usage charges while abroad.
This means Britons cannot continue to use mobile data services when roaming unless they actively choose to continue spending.
Legislation also ensures that consumers will continue to receive alerts when they are at 80% and 100% data usage.
Mobile operators also have to ensure they continue to make information available to their customers in Northern Ireland on how to avoid inadvertent roaming in border regions from 1 January.
Operators will be required to take reasonable steps to protect their customers from paying roaming charges for inadvertently accessing roaming services.
Immigration
From 1 January, the UK’s new points-based immigration system will come into force.
EU nationals will be treated the same as non-EU citizens and will have to apply for visas to live, work or study in the UK.
Irish citizens will continue to be able to enter and live in the UK as they do now.
EU citizens will not require a visa to enter the UK when visiting the UK for up to six months.
Those EU nationals already living in the UK, as well as those from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, need to apply to continue living in the UK after 31 December under the settled status scheme.
PLEASE SUPPORT US FOR JUST £2 A MONTH
