Brexit and how it affects your holiday plans

We often get asked ‘How will Brexit effect us cycling in Europe?’ The short answer is ‘Not at all’ as all British citizens will be treated as ‘third-country nationals’ and permitted to travel in the EU for up to 90 days in any 180 day period. More than enough for several cycling trips with Viva Velo! But there will be some simple things you can do to ensure your journey is as smooth as possible.

We are currently in a transition period until 1st January 2021. But, thereafter according to the British government’s campaign “New Start – Lets Get Going”, Brits will be able to move around in the same ways, just with different documentation. To make things easier, the government has released a self checker tool, which tells you about all the necessary steps you need to take during the transition period.

In addition to this handy self checker, they have also released a guide on visiting Europe after 1st January 2021

Documentation

After the 1st January 2021 your passport will still be valid as British travel documents until they expire. However, they won’t have the saem weight as European passports within the EU. There is a good chance that your passport will need to have at least 15 months left on it before you travel. Passport checks are likely to be more strict when entering the E.U, so please ensure that it fulfils the requirements before travelling. If you are planning to visit several E.U. countries, the validity of your passport will be critical, as there will be restrictions on free movement too.

A common question for British travellers is “Will I need a Visa to travel to E.U countries?”. The short answer is ‘No’

As we mentioned above, once the transition period is over, British tourists will be considered as ‘third-country nationals’, meaning that they will be allowed to visit E.U countries for up to 90 days in every 180 days without a visa but, they will not be allowed to work or study.

However, Brits will be subject to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

The ETIAS will be set up before 2022, and its goal is to keep tabs on migration, security and public health risks from people from visa-exempt third countries. It is a very similar scheme to the US ESTA system. Before travelling, you will need to fill in a very simple online form, which you will state your health and employment status, as well as any criminal convictions.

The good news, is that once you have filled in the ETIAS form, it lasts for three years and only costs about £6.

So it shouldn’t be too much hassle for you to get away and join us in all the wonderful European destinations we will continue to take clients to.