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Think back to the start of the Easter school holidays and you will remember the queues and queues of traffic at Dover, trying to get across the Channel to France. Various reasons were given for the delays, from sheer volume of traffic to French border officials carrying out additional checks on UK passports post-Brexit.
But what else has changed in terms of European travel post-Brexit? And what do you need to know if you are planning to travel to Europe this summer?
In this article we take a look at:
As before, you will need a passport to travel to Europe, but there are now additional rules about its validity. If you have a British passport, the date of issue needs to be less than ten years before the date you enter the country, and the date of expiry needs to be at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
For example, if you are travelling to the EU from 1st-15th August 2023, your passport must have been issued less than ten years before 1st August 2023 and be valid for at least three months after 15th August 2023.
If you’re travelling with children under 16, remember that their British passport is only valid for five years, so you need to ensure that it is still valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
Also check FCDO advice as to whether there are any additional validity rules or entry requirements for the country you’re visiting on the FCDO website here.
You don’t currently need a visa for short trips to Europe, and can stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
However, be aware that in 2024, the EU is going to introduce a travel authorisation system to enter most European countries. It will be called ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorisation System – and is similar to the ESTA for travel to the US. Once introduced, British passport holders travelling to the EU will need to apply and pay for an ETIAS via an online system. The ETIAS will then be valid for three years.
One of the contributing factors to the Easter travel delays was that British passport holders entering Europe now have to have their passports stamped. This applies to borders at any of the 27 European countries in what is known as the Schengen area. Passports are stamped to ensure that travellers are complying with the 90-day visa-free limit.
Passport stamping is expected to become fully automated towards the end of 2023 through a new “EES” – Entry/Exit system – which should enable passports to be processed more quickly and efficiently.
When travelling in Europe if you have an existing EHIC (European Health Insurance Cards) this remains valid if it is still in date. If your EHIC has expired, or you never had one, you can apply for a new GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) on the NHS website.
Both EHIC and GHIC cards entitle you to emergency and medical healthcare when travelling in the EU. However, it is still advisable to take out comprehensive travel insurance to ensure that you are protected against a variety of different circumstances that could happen. Try to find travel insurance that covers you for cancelling your holiday, medical expenses whilst abroad, and travel disruption such as delays, missed flights, or any unexpected quarantine requirements.
It is still pretty straightforward to drive to Europe, and your UK photocard drivers licence will normally be enough to enable you to drive in the EU. However, if you only have a paper licence or your licence was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man you will need to apply for an international driving permit (IDP). For more details check the Gov UK website.
If you’re taking your own car to the EU, you’ll need a GB car sticker and also a green card. This is an international certificate of insurance issued by your UK insurer, to confirm that you have the necessary minimum level of third-party insurance.
Rules around mobile data roaming in Europe have changed meaning you may face charges when using your phone in the EU. Be especially aware of data roaming. When you use your mobile phone to access the internet, it uses mobile network data to do so, which is known as data roaming. So for example, if you are using Google, checking other websites or email, or social media, you are using mobile data. Data roaming also applies when you connect to another network abroad to make a call or text.
Charges for data roaming vary between mobile operators. Some of the major firms charging roaming fees in Europe include EE, Vodafone and Three. Others either include it as part of your contract or may offer additional data roaming bundles for advance purchase.
The key thing is to check before you travel so that you are aware of what you do and do not have to pay and can avoid any unexpected mobile phone bills.
Before Brexit, a pet passport system enabled you to take your pet into the EU. However, now that is no longer the case and you will need an animal health certificate. To do this you will need to take your pet to a vet. The vet must be registered to issue animal health certificates; this is known as an OV – Official Veterinarian.
The animal health certificate will confirm that your pet is microchipped and is fully up to date with regular vaccinations. Your pet will also need to be vaccinated against rabies. Be aware that if your pet needs a rabies vaccination, you must wait 21 days after the vaccination date before you get an animal health certificate. Additionally, if you are travelling with a dog to Finland, Ireland, Norway or Malta it will need tapeworm treatment before travel.
You also need to get the timing right for your animal health certificate. It has to be dated within the ten days before you enter the EU. It will then be valid for four months for onward travel within the EU and re-entry into the UK.
So if you wish to take your pet abroad it is important to check with your vet at least one month in advance to confirm what you need to do and be confident that everything will be in place before you are due to travel. For further details check Gov UK guidelines.
If you are planning to travel to Europe this summer, we hope that the information in this article helps you to be well prepared and avoid any unexpected hassle. And if you need any additional short term funding for your trip, remember that Loans 2 Go offer online loans that may be able to help.
Do visit us here again soon for more lifestyle and financial tips from Loans 2 Go.
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