British holidaymakers face a shake-up in travel to the European Union from 1 January 2021, when post-Brexit transition arrangements come to an end. The UK will no longer be treated as an EU member state, meaning travellers will be subject to the bloc's rules for non-EU countries. While the EU could still create a travel corridor with the UK, allowing restriction-free movement, the current position means tourist visits will be limited to 90 days in any 180-day period.
This 90-day limit could come as a surprise for those planning multiple trips. For example, an Easter weekend in Spain followed by a fortnight in Italy in June would be covered by the allowance. However, the rules differ for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania, where a separate 90-day trip would not count against the allowance for other EU countries. The six-month rule does not apply to Ireland, which remains part of the Common Travel Area.
From 2022, UK nationals will need to pay for a visa-waiver scheme to visit many European countries. Passport rules are also changing: the government advises applying in plenty of time for new passports, which will be a different colour. On the health front, existing European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) remain valid until their expiry date, and a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) will be introduced. Travel insurance with healthcare cover is still strongly recommended, especially for those with pre-existing conditions.
Mobile roaming guarantees will end on 1 January 2021, although the four main UK operators have said they have no plans to reintroduce fees. The government has introduced protections including a £45-a-month cap on data roaming and alerts at 80% and 100% of data allowance. Drivers taking their own cars will need a green card from their insurer, and most will not need an International Driving Permit. Pet passports issued in Great Britain will no longer be valid for EU travel; an animal health certificate will be required instead.
