As of 31 January 2020, the UK has begun the transition period of leaving the EU and with it comes a vast amount of speculation. However, with the right amount of planning and EHIC card apply in advance, you can begin to travel to and from Europe with minimum disruption. In this article, we will be helping you to prevent issues by showcasing to you how negotiations can affect your travel plans in 2020.
Brexit Day
On the 31 January 2020, the UK left the EU and saw the beginning of the 11-month negotiation period take place. With talks on trade, travel and of course the Irish backstop, 2020 is a huge year for English politics as they begin to negotiate the rules that they wish to keep and those they wish to get rid of. However, as these negotiations get underway, there are many wondering how their travel plans are set to be affected.
The 12-Month Transition Period
During the 12 months, there are set to be several talks between the EU and the UK to negotiate the best possible deal. Though this can take time, this is set to change a vast number of rules and regulations surrounding the UK and the ability to travel freely through Europe. However, throughout the 12-month transition period, there will be no disruption to those looking to travel. This means that you can use EU passport lines as normal without any disruption travelling across borders.
What Will You Need to Bring When Travelling?
When travelling during the transition period, you will not need a visa or any documents to travel to and from Europe. However, following the transition period, tourists will be allowed to travel to the EU for 90 days out of 180 without a visa. However, they will not be allowed to work or study. This, therefore, means that there are special regulations for those that are looking to travel for either work or studying, however, we are yet to find out more information on this at this time. For those that are wondering about the queues in the airport, it is important to note that they will remain the same until the end of the transition period.
How is This Set to Change at the End of 2020?
Though there is not much outlined at this time, there is slight regulation surrounding passports post-Brexit. The British government has released a statement saying that you are not required to have a brand-new passport, but you do need to have at least 6 months valid on your passport to travel. In addition to this, there is also expected to be changes to medical care when travelling to Europe, therefore it is important to stay aware of the changes to prevent any disruption to your travel plans.
With this in mind, it is important to check any restrictions before travelling to prevent unnecessary disruption. Whether this is using the government website or watching the news, you can stay on top of any changes and alter your plans accordingly. Where will you be travelling to in 2020?
Author: John Douce
This article was first published on the Bruges Group website, and is republished with permission. You may not use, copy, distribute, publish, syndicate, sub-license and transmit the whole or any part of such material in any manner and in any format and/or media without the permission of the original publishers.
