London Daily

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Saturday, Feb 22, 2025

What will happen after Brexit and what does the transition period mean for you?

The UK’s exit from the EU is not the end of the Brexit saga.

Little will change overnight and both sides now have an 11-month transition period in which to hammer out a new relationship.

As well as trade, negotiators are attempting to iron out other issues including security, energy, transport links, fishing rights, data flow and citizens’ rights.

The UK government has now updated its advice and much will depend on what happens before the end of the year.

But for now, here is how our exit from the EU will affect you.


Freedom of movement

There are 450 million people within the EU with the freedom to live and work in all member states.

An estimated 3.5 million EU citizens are living in the UK while around 1.5 million Brits are living elsewhere in the bloc.

During the transition period, freedom of movement will remain in place and citizens’ rights will continue unaffected until December 31 2020.


That applies to both UK and EU nationals.

After the transition period, Britons living in any of the 27 EU member states will have to complete administrative procedures imposed by the national government in order to safeguard their rights.

EU citizens who wish to stay in the UK after Brexit have to apply for settled status.

This applies to people born in the UK who are not British citizens as well as the estimated 3.5million EU citizens already here.

Settled status is usually granted if an applicant has lived in the UK for five continuous years.

If not, a person can get pre-settled status but must have started to live in the UK by the end of the transition period.

Post-Brexit, the UK is planning to introduce an Australian-style points-based system that seeks to ensure only high-skilled workers come to the UK.

Ministers had previously set a minimum £30,000 annual salary but are looking to change that to ensure that the NHS – who relies on foreign-born workers – can continue to function.


Travel

During the 11-month transition period, flights, boats and trains will continue to operate as normal.

When it comes to passport control, UK nationals can still queue in the areas reserved for EU arrivals only.


Visas

Currently UK citizens can travel visa-free throughout the EU and that will continue during the transition period.

Afterwards, British nationals will need to apply for and buy a visa waiver.

The Etias (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) will cost seven euros (£6.30) and be valid for three years.

It will come into force in 2021 and is based on current arrangements for non-EU countries having visa-free travel in the Schengen area.

British and Irish citizens will be able to travel freely within the Common Travel Area – the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey.

If you are wanting to work or study in the UK, you may need to apply for a business visa.


Passports

Current passports are valid for travel anywhere in the EU until they expire.

From January 1 2021, you will need to have at least six months left on an adult or child passport to travel.

Blue passports will be making a return though, 30 years after they were replaced by the current burgundy design.

The new colour will be phased in over a number of months and once a current passport expires the blue one will be issued as a replacement.


Driving licences

As a member of the EU, UK drivers’ licences have been valid in all member countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

During the transition period, that will not change.

What happens next will depend on the negotiations between the UK and the EU on our future relationship.

It could be that there are different arrangements in place for different countries and some nations may require drivers to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) for longer visits.

Some countries also have strict rules about carrying a photocard and not just a paper licence.

If you are driving your own vehicle, you may also need a ‘green card’ to show that your insurance is valid abroad alongside a GB sticker.


Pet passports

Pet passports will continue to be valid during the transition period.

However, from January 1 2021 the existing scheme will change but – again – it depends on what is agreed.

The British government has warned pet owners to allow at least four months to arrange new documents and get the latest advice.

Currently pets need a health certificate obtained at least 10 days before travel and they also need to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies.

Blood samples have to be taken 30 days after vaccination and sent to an EU-approved testing laboratory three months before travel.


European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

These are cards that provide UK nationals with state-provided medical treatment in case of illness or injury.

They can be used in any EU country as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The UK has issued over 27 million EHIC cards and they cover pre-existing medical conditions and routine maternity as well as emergency care.

Individuals receive treatment on the same terms as the citizens in the country they are visiting.

The EHIC cards are valid during the transition period but afterwards they might not be, depending on the outcome of negotiations.

The UK government has urged people to get the correct travel insurance before a trip.


Pensions

UK nationals living in the EU will continue to receive their state pension and will also receive the annual increase.

The uprate is in line with the triple lock, which means it rises by whichever is highest of average earnings, inflations or 2.5%.

Under the terms of the withdrawal agreement, that will continue for anyone on a UK state pension or eligible for one before December 2020.

However, for people who move to those countries from 2021 it will depend on the outcome of negotiations.

The UK will only continue to uprate if it has an agreement with the whole of the EU or with individual countries.

UK citizens living in Ireland, Gibraltar and Switzerland claiming a state pension will benefit from uprating whether there is a deal or not.

One complication could be if a UK citizen has spent time working in an EU country and acquired pension rights there.

Again, it will depend on how negotiations go as to whether these can be carried over to the UK.


Insurance

At the end of the transition period, there is the possibility of travel disruption.

People have been urged to check their travel insurance policies to see whether they are covered for cancellations, delays and disruptions.

Some providers list specific reasons or may offer an add-on payment if Brexit is not mentioned.


Duty free

The rules around duty free – paying no duties on cigarettes and alcohol – will not change during the transition period.

The government has said it will return when visiting EU countries but only if a trade deal cannot be reached in the next 11 months.

In this scenario, a bottle of wine could be a few pounds cheaper.

People returning from the EU would have a choice when it comes to duty-free goods.

They could continue to purchase and bring home unlimited amounts of cigarettes and alcohol and pay duty – or instead by limited amounts at duty-free shops in EU countries.


Mobile roaming

During the transition period, nothing will change for mobile phone users so people can use their texts, calls, minutes and data to their heart’s content within the EU.

However, the government has warned that ‘from January 1, 2021 the guarantee of mobile phone roaming throughout the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway will end.’

The guidance encourages the public to contact their phone operators to clarify any roaming charges.

For now, the four major operators – Three, EE, O2 and Vodafone – have tried to assure customers they do not intend to resume charges even after the conclusion of the transition period.


Business and trade

The 11-month transition period is designed to avoid abrupt changes to trade rules that could be damaging to both sides.

The EU is the UK’s biggest trading partner and the next step is to get some kind of trade deal.

By January 1, 2021 if you move goods into or out of the UK you will need an EORI number that starts with GB.

If you already have one, you can continue to use the 12-digit long number.

You will not usually need one if you only provide services or move goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Businesses will need an EU EORI number if they deal with customs in the EU.

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