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Brexit day: What you need to know about traveling between the UK and EU

Jan. 31, 2020
5 min read
Brexit day: What you need to know about traveling between the UK and EU
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After years of back and forth, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, is the day that the United Kingdom will officially leave the European Union. As of 11 p.m. GMT (6 p.m. ET), the U.K. will end its 47-year relationship with the EU. But what does Brexit mean for travelers? Will U.K. citizens be able to continue to travel freely throughout Europe? Will flights between the U.K. and EU continue to operate as scheduled?

Thankfully, there is little for U.K.- or U.S.-based travelers to be concerned about in the near-term. As of Friday night's exit from the EU, very little is expected to change for the U.K., as the country enters a "transition period." Most EU laws will still apply, including the free movement of people, which allows U.K. citizens to travel freely throughout other EU member-states.

According to ABTA, a U.K. travel trade association for tour operators and travel agents, "everything will remain the same and you can continue to travel as you do now until at least the end of December 2020."

Flights, ferries and trains

Flights will continue as normal for the remainder of 2020 during the U.K.'s transition period. The government has advised passengers traveling by air not to expect any delays for flights between the U.K. and the European Union.

"Flights will continue and you should not experience any difference in security screening," the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said on its dedicated Brexit travel page. "Passengers flying from the UK will continue to transfer to onward flights at EU airports without extra security screening. This will also be the case at airports in Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. There will be no impact to direct flights to non-EU countries."

EasyJet has a dedicated Brexit page on its site, advising passengers that "regardless of the outcome of Brexit you will still be able to fly between the UK and the EU. Even if there is no-deal the European Commission and the UK government have said that UK airlines will still be able to operate flights between the UK and the EU."

Passengers make their way towards the Baggage reclaim and flight connections in Terminal 2 having arrived at Heathrow Airport in London on July 16, 2019 (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

British Airways is advising passengers that travel will not be affected as of Jan. 31, and all flights will continue to operate on a normal schedule.

Related reading: British Airways: Brexit outcome won't affect our flights

In addition to air travel, ferry services and cruises between the U.K. and Europe will continue to sail as normal, as will coach journeys and train trips — including on the Eurostar.

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Travelers with a U.S.-issued passport shouldn't see any drastic changes in traveling between the U.K. and EU, as your passport will grant you the same access. If you have vacation travel booked between the U.K. and EU, you should not experience any delays or changed itineraries for the remainder of 2020.

Potential changes after the transition period

By the end of December, free travel between the U.K. and Europe might be a different story. By then, the government plans to have reached a permanent free trade agreement with the EU. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, travel regulations may — though are not guaranteed to — change.

U.K. travelers may need a visa to visit some European countries on a longer-term basis. The U.K. government has said that as of Jan. 1 2021, tourists on short stays (up to 90 days) will not need a visa to travel to the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. However, the government has said that "You may need a visa or permit to stay for longer, to work or study, or for business travel."

During the transition period, U.K. driver's licenses and health insurance cards will continue to be valid. However, as of Jan. 1, 2021, they may need to be swapped for versions that will apply to the EU. For U.S. travelers, as has long been the case, consider a travel insurance.

Europe is the number one overseas destination for U.K. travelers, with more than 58 million trips each year, according to ABTA. In the near-term, if you're traveling to Europe — even as a U.S. citizen — you can expect your trip to go on as planned. In the future though, European travel as we have come to know it may change in the case of a no-deal Brexit. However, for the duration of 2020, you can expect seamless travel between the U.K. and Europe.

Featured image by NurPhoto via Getty Images

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  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
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  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
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