Less Than 6 Months To Go Until UK Brexit Transition With EU Is Over - Are You Ready For All The Changes?

24th July 2020

Major new campaign to prepare UK for end of the transition period.

The government has launched a new campaign to help businesses and individuals prepare for the end of the transition period.

New campaign to help businesses and individuals prepare for the end of the transition period.

The campaign will ensure we are all ready to seize the opportunities available for the first time in nearly fifty years as a fully sovereign United Kingdom.

Business and citizens may need to take action regardless of the type of agreement reached with the EU.

The government has launched a major new public information campaign, ‘The UK's new start: let's get going'. It will clearly set out the actions businesses and individuals need to take to prepare for the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, and ensure they are ready to seize the opportunities that it will bring. Campaign advertisements will include our "Check, Change, Go" strapline which directs people and businesses to a straightforward checker tool at gov.uk/transition which quickly identifies the necessary next steps they need to take.

The campaign will run across the full range of communication channels, including TV advertising and radio, out of home, digital, print, and direct channels such as text messages and Webinars. The campaign will also see the launch of a field force team which will give one-to-one support in person or over the phone to businesses and their supply chains to minimise disruption to the movement of goods.

The campaign will target UK citizens intending to travel to Europe from 1 January 2021 and all importers to and exporters from the EU, alongside UK nationals living in the EU and EU, EEA or Swiss citizens living in the UK.

The actions people and business owners need to take vary based on their circumstances. They include:

Making sure you are ready to travel to Europe from 1 January 2021, for example by getting comprehensive travel insurance, ensuring your passport is valid, and checking your roaming policy with your mobile phone provider.

If you want to travel to Europe with your pet from 1 January 2021, contact your vet at least 4 months before you travel.

Making sure your business is ready to export or import from/to the EU, for example by getting an EU EORI number or registering with the relevant Customs Authority.

The campaign isn't being run just to prepare people and businesses for changes at the end of the year. It will also highlight the significant opportunities ahead including for exporters through new free trade agreements, for small businesses through smarter regulation, and for fishermen as we take back control of our coastal waters.

This campaign will run alongside the UK's continued negotiations with the EU. The UK is leaving the single market and customs union at the end of the year, and so most of the actions businesses and citizens are being asked to take will need to be completed regardless of the outcome of negotiations.

Some areas of UK-wide guidance published will not be applicable for trade between Northern Ireland and the European Union, until negotiations have concluded with the EU. Initial guidance specific to Northern Ireland will be published in the coming weeks and will continue to be issued throughout the transition period. The government is already working closely with NI businesses, traders, agents, carriers and ports to prepare for the end of the transition period.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove said:At the end of this year we are leaving the single market and Customs Union regardless of the type of agreement we reach with the EU. This will bring changes and significant opportunities for which we all need to prepare.

While we have already made great progress in getting ready for this moment, there are actions that businesses and citizens must take now to ensure we are ready to hit the ground running as a fully independent United Kingdom.

This is a new start for everyone in the UK - British and European citizens alike - so let's get going.

Details of the key actions that businesses and individuals need to take before the end of the transition period can be found on gov.uk/transition

From 1st January 2021 the UK will be out of the EU and many things will changes. For both individuals and businesses there a range of changes that will affect what you do whether we leave with or without a deal.

Actions you can take now

Actions you can take now that do not depend on negotiations.

Travelling to the EU

You can continue to travel to the EU as usual during the transition period.

Passport rules for travel to Europe from 1 January 2021

From 1 January 2021 there will be new rules to travel to the EU, or to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

Check what you need to do to travel to Europe from 2021

https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021

Staying in the UK if you're an EU citizen

Check if you need to apply to the settlement scheme if you or your family are from the EU, or from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

Check what you need to do to stay in the UK

https://www.gov.uk/staying-uk-eu-citizen

Continue living and working in the EU

Living and working in an EU country depends on the rules in that country.

You may need to register or apply for residency. You should check that you're covered for healthcare.

You may also need to exchange your UK driving licence for a licence issued by the EU country where you live.

Check what you must do in the country where you live

https://www.gov.uk/uk-nationals-living-eu

Businesses that import and export goods

From 1 January 2021 the process for importing and exporting goods will change. Find out what you need to do to continue to:

import goods from the EU

export goods to the EU