Will my passport be valid after Brexit?
If you currently have a valid passport, you will be able to continue to travel to Europe until it expires.
If your passport is currently valid, is maroon and states ‘European Union’ on the front, you’ll be able to continue using this until we leave the EU on the 1st January 2021. If you wish to travel after this date, you will need to apply for a new passport.
Previously, if you renewed your passport early, any additional months you had remaining would be added to your new passport. However, the Government has warned British travellers who hold passports with any extra months added from their previous passport, that those extra months will now no longer count.
Those who do not meet the appropriate requirements on their passport may not be able to enter EU countries. The Government has set up a page that can help travellers understand whether their passport is valid for the country they intend to visit. You can visit that page here.
These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland. You can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.
Will roaming charges change after Brexit?
Although telecoms providers such as EE, Three and O2 have said that they have no immediate plans to change how they currently deal with roaming charges, the Government has introduced legislation which a) caps the amount of mobile data consumers can use by accident whilst abroad to £45, and b) ensures consumers receive alerts when they reach 80% of their data usage.
We’d always advise to check your roaming charges policy with your provide before you travel, to prevent any unexpected surprises!
At the airport, which passport line do I follow after Brexit?
Before Brexit, we could sail through border and passport control by joining the EU queue but after 1st January 2021, we’ll no longer be part of the European Union and will have to join the third-country queue through border and passport control.
Will I need a VISA to travel to Europe after Brexit?
VISA documentation has changed so travellers should check what is required for their trip before they travel. If your holiday plans post-Brexit include travelling to Europe for less than 90 days, you won’t need a VISA. However, if you plan on travelling to or around Europe for more than 90 days in any 180-consecutive day period, you’ll need to get a VISA specific for your type of travel. This will also apply to Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Different rules apply when visiting Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania. You can make a 90-day trip to any of these countries and not use up you 90-day allowance for other EU countries.
You can visit the Government’s page for your specific destination country for information on how to get a VISA here.
Will Brexit affect your Emergency Assistance service?
Our appointed Assistance team will still be available 24/7 to take your emergency assistance calls as and when required, and Brexit will not affect the service we provide to travellers whilst they are abroad.
As we require customers to call our Emergency Assistance service from abroad, please bear in mind that your service provider’s roaming charges may apply and could mean that you incur additional costs.
How will Brexit affect medical treatment costs?
The UK government has now reached an agreement on healthcare when travelling to the EU and have confirmed that an individual’s EHIC card will remain valid until it expires for all countries in the EU except Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
The UK government have also advised that once your EHIC expires, you can apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card or GHIC which you can apply for here. Be aware of unofficial websites, which may charge if you apply through them. A GHIC is free of charge.
Please note the EHIC/GHIC will not be accepted in private clinics. Make sure that your travel insurance policy has adequate cover for medical expenses, including repatriation and air ambulance costs, to ensure that they meet your needs. We would also always advise customers to ensure they had declared any and all medical conditions to their travel insurance provider to protect them from having any claim declined.
+If you’re abroad and do not have your EHIC/GHIC card with you
You can now get a Provisional Replacement Certificate or PRC in order to prove your entitlement to medically necessary healthcare if you are travelling within Europe and forget your EHIC/GHIC. This will give you the same cover as the cards until you return home.
You’ll need to apply for a PRC by calling Overseas Healthcare Services at the NHS Business Services Authority on +44 (0)191 218 1999. They are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
If you are unable to call, someone else can apply on your behalf.
If you need it outside the opening hours stated above, you should call as soon as possible the next working day.
When calling for a PRC, you’ll need to give:
*Disclaimer: All information was correct at the time of writing 14/01/2021. This content will be updated as new information is released
