It’s happening; the UK is leaving the EU on January 31 2020. So pay attention to the status of your passport.
You must ensure:
- Your passport is less than ten years old on the date of travel (no matter how much time is left on it).
- You must have at least six months of validity from the date of travel if it doesn’t you will not be allowed into most EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. This does not apply if you are travelling to Ireland.
NOTE: If you do need to renew your passport, please note that it generally takes three weeks for the renewal to be processed.
Brexit Transition Period – your holiday is not affected
There is a transition period, which is due to run from February 1, 2020, to January 1, 2021, and all other current rules on travel to the EU will remain intact.
This means that your holiday or other travel plans to Europe will be unaffected for the whole of 2020, and your passport will be valid.
ABTA travel association said:
“If Parliament ratifies the Withdrawal Agreement before 31 January 2020, which it is on track to do, the UK will enter a transition period, meaning everything will remain the same and you can continue to travel as you do now until at least the end of December 2020.”
What about EHIC cards?
There will be no changes to EHIC cards, driving licences, data roaming or taking pets abroad during the transition period, as the UK will still technically be an EU member state.
We will keep you posted when things change.
How to renew your passport
You can either renew your passport online, which costs £75.50, or via a paper application form which is a little more expensive at £85.
Remember that it usually takes three weeks to renew your passport.
If you need your passport more urgently, there is a two-day premium service costing £177.
