Remember All The Things You Need To Do If Going To The EU From 1st January 2021

29th December 2020

Travel to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein will change from 1 January 2021.

Things you may need to do before you go include:

check your passport

get travel insurance that covers your healthcare

check you have the right driving documents

organise pet travel - contact your vet at least 1 month before you go

There are more things to do if you're travelling for business. For example, going to meetings and conferences, providing services (even with a charity), and touring art or music.

Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), read the advice for travelling during the pandemic before you plan your trip.

Passports: check if you need to renew

You may need to renew your British passport earlier if you're travelling to an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

On the day you travel, you'll need your passport to both:

have at least 6 months left

be less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left)

These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland. You can continue to use your passport as long as it's valid for the length of your stay.

Healthcare: check you're covered

Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will continue to be valid if you're travelling to an EU country.

You can use a UK passport to get medically necessary healthcare in Norway (for example emergency treatment, or to treat a pre-existing condition).

If you're travelling to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you should get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you travel. Make sure it covers any pre-existing conditions that were previously covered by your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

You can read advice on buying travel insurance with the right cover.

UK-issued EHICs after 1 January 2021

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

Find out more about the new UK EHIC.

Entering other countries

Border control: you may have to show your return ticket and money

At border control, you may need to:

show a return or onward ticket

show you have enough money for your stay

use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing

Visas for short trips: you will not need one if you're a tourist

If you're a tourist, you will not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You'll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania. If you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total.

You may need a visa or permit to stay for longer, to work or study, or for business travel.

Check each country's travel advice page for information on how to get a visa or permit.

Travel to Ireland will not change from 1 January 2021. You'll also be able to work in Ireland in the same way as before.

Taking food and drink into EU countries

You will not be able to take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries from 1 January 2021.

There are some exceptions, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons. Check the rules about taking food and drink into the EU on the European Commission website.

Taking plants and plant products into EU countries

You'll need a certificate to take certain plants and plant products into EU countries from 1 January 2021. Check the rules about taking plants and plant products into the EU on the European Commission website.

Driving

You may need extra documents from 1 January 2021.

If you're taking your own vehicle, you will need a green card and a GB sticker.

You might also need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some EU countries and Norway if you have:

a paper driving licence

a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

Check with the embassy of the country you will be driving in.

Pet travel: allow at least 1 month to arrange

From 1 January 2021 you will not be able to use the existing pet passport scheme. Instead, you'll need an animal health certificate (AHC) for your pet. Allow at least 1 month to arrange this and relevant vaccinations.

Follow the guidance about pet travel to Europe from 1 January 2021.

Free mobile roaming: check with your phone operator

From 1 January 2021, the guarantee of free mobile phone roaming throughout the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway will end.

Check with your phone operator to find out about any roaming charges you might get from 1 January 2021.

A new law means that you're protected from getting mobile data charges above £45 without you knowing.

Once you reach £45, you need to opt in to spend more so that you can continue using the internet while you’re abroad. Your phone operator will tell how you can do this.

Compensation if your travel is disrupted

Some travel insurance policies only cover certain types of disruption. Check your provider’s terms and conditions to make sure you have the cover you need if your travel is cancelled or delayed.

Your consumer rights will not change from 1 January 2021. This means that if your travel is cancelled or delayed you may be able to claim a refund or compensation. Check your booking’s terms and conditions to find out more.

If the travel company you’ve booked through goes out of business

You’re protected if you buy a package holiday and the company goes out of business. You get this cover even if it’s an EU company, as long as the company sells to UK customers.

Otherwise, you can claim compensation if you used your credit card to buy it - you’ll be able to claim for payments between £100 and £30,000.

Other changes from 1 January 2021

If you’re a business:

you will need to make a customs declaration if you take goods with you to sell abroad or use for business

find out what else you need to do to prepare your business during the transition period

There’s different guidance if you’re:

an EU national and you want to continue living in the UK

a UK national living in the EU

There are many links to more information on al of the above topics HERE

Check if you need an international driving permit

Health Cover

Healthcare for UK nationals visiting the EU

Visit Europe from 1 January 2021