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When it comes to short trips, travelling to Europe after Brexit hasn’t changed much. You can still travel without a visa for a holiday or to conduct business. The only difference is that now, you can only stay in Europe visa-free for up to three months, whereas before, you could stay anywhere in the EU indefinitely.
How Long Can UK Citizens Stay in the EU After Brexit?
After Brexit, you can stay in the EU, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland without a visa for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. For any trip longer than 90 days, you must apply for the appropriate visa and residence permit.
The 90/180 days rule can be confusing – especially if you never had to abide by it in the past. But, all you have to do is look back at the last 180 days, and count the overall number of days you spent in any EU country (and Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland) during that time. Deduct that from 90, and that’s how long your trip can be.
Or you can use this online calculator to determine the remaining time you can stay in Europe.
Note: This does not apply to Ireland. You can visit, work, or study in Ireland in the same way as before Brexit.
Do UK Citizens Need to Apply in Advance to Travel to the EU?
For the time being, British citizens do not need to apply in advance to travel to the UK. All you need is your passport, travel ticket or driving documents (if you are driving), enough money, and health insurance. But, starting from 2024 you will have to get an electronic travel authorisation known as ETIAS.
Requirements for British Citizens Travelling to the EU
To enter the EU after Brexit, you must have the following documents when you travel:
- Valid passport.
- Health insurance (such as private travel insurance or an EHIC/GHIC).
- Enough money to cover your stay in the EU.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
Lining Up at the Airport
As a UK citizen, after Brexit, you can no longer queue up at the EU/EEA/Swiss line at the airport. You will have to use a separate line for non-EU nationals.
Additionally, while in the past, you may have entered the EU with simply an ID card, now you may be required to present health insurance or proof of finances alongside your passport. You will also receive a stamp on your passport.
Passport Validity
When travelling to the EU, your passport must be valid for at least a few months after your intended departure. The exact period of validity required depends on the specific country you will visit, but it is usually three or six months past the day you leave.
Before you leave the UK, check the passport requirements of the country you will visit. You may need to renew your passport if it expires soon, or you could be denied entry.
>> UK Passport Validity Checker for EU Travel
Health Insurance for UK Citizens Travelling to the EU
British citizens travelling to the EU can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) in medical emergencies at state hospitals. For more comprehensive coverage (private hospitals, less waiting time, evacuation, etc.), you need Schengen travel health insurance.
EHIC or GHIC
As a UK citizen, you can use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) to receive state healthcare in EU countries. The difference between the two cards is:
- EHIC – used by EU citizens or residents when travelling to other EU countries. As a British citizen, you cannot get a new EHIC,* but can continue to use your existing one until it expires.
- GHIC – the new health card for British citizens who travel to Europe after Brexit. It has replaced the EHIC for British citizens but serves the same function as its predecessor.
You can use the EHIC or GHIC to receive public healthcare in all EU countries (but not Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.) This means you are entitled to the same healthcare as nationals of the country you are visiting.
*British nationals can apply for a new EHIC only if they have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement (e.g. you are living in the EU and have been since before 1 January 2021). Otherwise, you have to get a GHIC when your existing card expires.
Travel Health Insurance
After Brexit, British citizens should consider purchasing travel health insurance before travelling to the EU. European travel health insurance for UK citizens, such as the ones provided by Europ Assistance, vti.travel and Mondial Care, provide the following coverage:
- Coverage in all EU and Schengen countries.
- Policies with coverage of up to €100,000 for hospitalization, repatriation, and other medical emergencies.
- Optional coverage for baggage and personal belongings, flight delays, trip cancellations, etc.
You need travel insurance even if you have an EHIC or GHIC because these cards are not valid at private hospitals and do not offer any coverage in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Travelling to the EU for Business After Brexit
You can travel to the EU for business purposes without a visa for up to 90 days. Under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, while in the EU, you are allowed to engage in non-remunerated activities, such as:
- Attend meetings or conferences.
- Sign contracts or negotiate sales.
- Take part in training (as an attendee, not a trainer).
- Conduct independent research.
- Offer translation and interpretation services.
- Act as a tour or travel agent.
- Engage in commercial transactions (if you are a management or financial services personnel).
- Purchase goods and services for a company.
You cannot work in the EU; you are not allowed to receive a salary or any compensation for work done in the EU by an EU company without applying for a visa.
After Brexit, if you want to work somewhere in the EU, you are subject to the same rules and conditions as other third-country nationals: you must apply for a work visa and permit.
Note: This does not apply to Ireland. You can work and conduct business in Ireland in the same way as before Brexit.
Which EU/Schengen Countries Can Britons Visit Without a Visa?
The European countries where British people can travel without having to obtain a short-term Schengen visa are:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
British passport holders can travel without having to obtain a short-term visa to the other European micro-states, which are de facto part of the Schengen Area:
- Andorra
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican City
Travelling from the UK to Ireland
The above rules do not apply to travelling and working in Ireland as a UK citizen.
As a UK passport holder, you have the right to live, travel, work, and study in Ireland under the Common Travel Area (CTA) agreement between the UK and Ireland.
There are no routine passport controls in operation for Irish and UK citizens travelling between the two countries. However, you must show identification to board a ferry or an aeroplane, and some airlines and sea carriers only accept a passport as valid identification.
For more information about the types of ID you might be asked to present, see the Ireland Citizens Information Board website.
How Will ETIAS Work for UK Citizens?
As a UK citizen, you will need an ETIAS to visit Europe starting in 2024. ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System, and it is an electronic system that keeps records of visitors from countries that do not need a visa for Schengen, such as the UK.
It is worth noting that an ETIAS is not a visa! It is simply a travel authorisation that you can easily obtain online in a matter of minutes (and will be valid for three years).
The purpose of ETIAS is to keep better track of who enters and leaves the European Union, not to deny entry to tourists and business people. So, unless you are on an international watchlist or you lie on your application, it is unlikely that your application will be denied.
Non-UK Citizens Residing in the UK
If you are living in the UK on a valid residence permit, you can apply for a Schengen visa from the UK. To apply for a visa, you must set an appointment with the relevant Schengen-country embassy or consulate and submit the required documents. You may also be asked to enter an interview.
>> How to Buy Schengen Insurance from the UK?
If you are only visiting the UK, or your residence permit will expire in less than three months, you cannot apply for a Schengen visa from the UK. You must submit your application at the Schengen embassy in your country of nationality.
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