Brexit FAQ's
Check to see if your passport will still be valid. If you have a British passport, you will need to have at least six months left on both adult and child passports to travel to most European countries. Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years.
Take out travel insurance with adequate healthcare cover
We always advise travellers to take out comprehensive travel insurance with sufficient healthcare cover, including cover for existing medical conditions and any activities you plan to do.
If you have a European Health Insurance Card it will be valid up to its expiry date. If you apply for a card now, you'll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC.
More details on using an EHIC can be found here
An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. It does not cover everything, such as mountain rescue or medical repatriation. Make sure you have both before you travel.
The Global Health Insurance Card is a new scheme introduced by the UK Government. The GHIC will work within nations of the European Union (EU). Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are not included as they are not part of the EU. If you're travelling abroad and wish to apply for a new GHIC more information can be found here.
Make sure you have all the documents you need to drive in Europe, Green cards for insurance – if you are driving your own car in Europe, you will need to obtain and carry a physical Green Card for your UK car insurance to be valid in the EU. These cards will be available from your car insurance provider. You may be charged a small fee to cover administration costs. The ABI advises you apply for a Green Card at least a month before you are due to travel. You may also need a Green Card for your trailer or caravan, so check with your insurer.
GB car stickers – you will need a GB sticker for your own car when driving in the EU after the transition period ends.
Driving permits – if you have a paper licence or your driving licence was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man you may need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some EU countries and Norway from 1 January 2021. These are available from the Post Office.
Get the necessary vaccines and certificate to take your pet abroad. Your pet passport will no longer be valid, instead you will need an Animal Health Certificate and you pet will need to be mircrochipped and vaccinated against rabies. If you wish to take your pet abroad you should speak to your vet in advance to make sure you have these in place before you are due to travel. Full details can be found at gov.uk.
Get the necessary vaccines and certificate to take your pet abroad. Your pet passport will no longer be valid, instead you will need an Animal Health Certificate and you pet will need to be mircrochipped and vaccinated against rabies. If you wish to take your pet abroad you should speak to your vet in advance to make sure you have these in place before you are due to travel. Full details can be found at gov.uk.
Check your mobile phone company’s policy on data roaming. Rules around mobile data roaming are changing meaning you may face charges when using your phone abroad, including for making calls, sending messages or using the internet. Check with your mobile phone provider about their data roaming policy.
The UK Government also has advice for people travelling to the EU after 1 January 2021.
Other things to be aware of when travelling to Europe
• If you are going on holiday you won’t need a visa for short trips to Europe.
• At border control you may need to show a return ticket and that you have enough money for your stay.
• When going through passport control you may not be able to use the EU or EEA lanes.
• You won’t be able to take any meat, milk or any products containing these items into the EU. There are exceptions for powdered baby milk, baby food, or pet food required for medical reasons.
We already require you to declare any pre-existing medical conditions and depending upon the type and severity of these, cover is often available. This process already applies to countries where there are no reciprocal health agreements and will apply for trips to destinations where a GHIC or an EHIC is valid.
Leaving the EU means several changes that may affect everyone. Keep yourself up to date with the latest information by checking the Government website.
