London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025

Travel, trade, phone bills and immigration: no-deal Brexit plan explained

From employing EU citizens to driving in Ireland, plan aims to show UK ready for crashing out

The government’s “comprehensive” plan to prepare the country for a no-deal Brexit has been released.

The 159-page document could be seen as part of an attempt to demonstrate to voters, and also to EU leaders, that the country is ready for no deal.

The report, created after two months of no-deal preparations accelerated and intensified after Boris Johnson became the prime minister, offers a one-stop summary of the impact of crashing out of the EU on trade, immigration, Northern Ireland and many other issues.

It also reveals new detail on what the government plans for the Irish border and employing EU citizens after 31 October.


Northern Ireland


The government discloses it will operate a “no new checks with limited exceptions” policy on the Irish border in the event of no deal.

It says it will introduce “necessary changes in legislation” before 31 October to apply the new approach, but it does not give details on what the limited exceptions could be.

It recognises the policy involves “significant risks” as it is “temporary in nature and unilateral”.

It says the UK will “look to engage with the Irish government and the EU as soon as possible following Brexit”.

The report is conspicuously light on detail for farmers and other small businesses, which rely heavily on moving animals, agri-food and other goods across the border into Ireland.

In the worst possible scenario, dairy producers on the south of the border would be banned by the EU from accepting milk from cows on the other side of the border, putting many farms out of business. The report does not explore this or similar challenges.

It merely states: “EU tariff and non-tariff requirements will apply to UK exports crossing the land border from Northern Ireland into Ireland, and exporters will need to ensure that they comply with these requirements.”

And it restates the policy, outlined by Theresa May in March, that tariffs will not be applied to any goods entering Northern Ireland from Ireland.

It also reconfirms its commitment to the common travel area, allowing British and Irish citizens to enjoy equal rights on both islands “even in the event of leaving without a deal”.

People holding a UK driving licence will need a motor insurance green card if they are taking a UK-registered vehicle into Ireland, something that will impact on the thousands of Irish-heritage families in Britain who spend their holidays in the Republic.

People living in border areas might incur roaming charges on their mobile phone bills, something that was done away with several years ago as part of an all-island telecommunications policy.


EU citizens currently in the UK


The report says Brexit will end free movement of people, allowing the government to “boost the labour market” through a “fairer immigration system” based on skills and talent.

It restates its commitment to EU citizens who “will continue to be able to work, study and access benefits and services such as the NHS” on the same basis after 31 October.


EU citizens wishing to remain in the country have until 31 December 2020 to apply for settled status.

Some 1.5 million EU citizens have already been granted settled status and 1.7 million have already applied.


EU citizens entering the UK after 31 October


A new scheme, called European temporary leave to remain, will be introduced for EU citizens who want to settle in the UK after 31 October.

From January 2021 the government will introduce an Australian-style points based system that will apply to all EU citizens newly entering the country.

“EU citizens moving to the UK if we leave without a deal on 31 October 2019 will be able to work, study and access benefits and services in the same way as EU citizens resident before exit day.

“However, to remain in the UK after 2020 they will be able to apply for European Temporary Leave to Remain (Euro TLR) which will last three years,” it says.

The paper makes it plain that employers will be expected to look to employ and train up workers locally.

EU citizens visiting the UK after Brexit may have to get health insurance if current reciprocal arrangements, through the European health insurance card, do not survive after Brexit.

There are also clear instructions for employers.

Up to 2021 employers will not need to distinguish between EU citizens with settled status and those without, or to distinguish between EU citizens who are already entitled to live in the country and new arrivals.

“In the interim, EU citizens will be able to evidence their right to live and work in the UK by using valid EU passport or national identity card, as now.”


Border


Planes will continue to fly.

But trains and coach journeys may be affected.


Trade

Trade will be heavily affected.

In a no-deal scenario, the UK and the EU will trade on World Trade Organization terms. For the first time in 50 years the UK will be able to “articulate” its “own voice” in the WTO and set its own tariffs, the report claims.

Exporters to the EU should check the additional paperwork required by the EU and ensure they are ready.

Hauliers should explain to drivers that a customs export declaration (P2P) must be completed before they will be allowed to progress on a ferry journey to the EU. The driver should check with the trader that the goods have received the P2P from HMRC before going across the border.

Those in the fishing industry will need to fill out catch certificates for all exports and potentially three other additional documents to fulfil EU laws.

Hauliers can refer to a checklist of must-dos provided by the government.

The chapter also runs through the many other requirements, such as the £10 permit required by UK hauliers on export routes, and challenges that could disrupt cross-border trains and coach services.

Importers will need to pay tariffs on a range of goods including meat, dairy produce and clothing. The government finalised its tariff schedule on Tuesday 8 October with just three changes to the tariff schedule published in March.

Exporters will also face hefty tariffs overnight for goods sold in the EU and to other countries where there is no deal. In a no-deal Brexit this will include the 52 countries which already have a deal with the EU.

The paper says the government “is working intensively to deliver continuity” on EU trade but warns that the EU’s common external tariff will apply on 60% of the UK’s exports to the EU.

In some sectors such as life sciences and electronics, the effect of these taxes will be “minor” but, in what farmers will consider an understatement, it says “other sectors will be more affected” with, for example, tariffs of 65% on boneless beef and 53% on fresh bone-in lamb.


Services


UK companies and British citizens living in the EU who rely solely on EU rights to work, will no longer be able to provide services on the same terms in the event of no deal.

In practice this means companies exporting services, which have not established a legal entity elsewhere in the bloc, will not be able to continue to do so.

Britons living in the EU who trade services such as accountancy, translation services and architecture will not be able to continue to do so outside the country of their residence unless they have acquired such a right through alternative routes such as citizenship.


Data


Anyone trading or storing data in the EU faces immediate consequences in a no deal.

This includes police, hotels, businesses, social media companies, transport and tech companies.

The report states that the government intends to bring the general data protection regulation (GDPR) that governs data in the EU into domestic law.

But as this will not happen overnight and the EU is not making an exception, “organisations receiving personal data from the EU/EEA need to make alternative legal arrangements”, it says.

The government is continuing to press for the EU to change its mind and grant the UK an exemption if Britain leaves without a deal, the report adds.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
×