Brexit Deadline – What This Means for Travelling to the EU

ADVICE FOR CUSTOMERS

During the summer, we addressed the news that broke about the UK leaving the interrail scheme and spoke briefly about Brexit. Now, with deadline day being this Friday, 31 January 2020, we feel we need to offer our customers more information on Brexit and travel to the EU. Here at InterrailingPackages Ltd, we are always getting asked questions about how Brexit is going to affect your travel plans, and we are here to compile the FAQ’s into one blog post!

Will my travel plans be cancelled because of Brexit or will the price increase after I book? 

To answer the first part of that question, no, your travel plans will not get cancelled because of Brexit. So please, do not panic! Just because the UK is leaving the EU, it doesn’t mean you’re never going to be able to travel anywhere in the EU again!

To answer the second part of that question, no, prices will never increase after you book a package with us. Once the price is confirmed, that’s the price you pay, despite any currency fluctuations that may follow. InterrailingPackages Ltd is an ABTOT licenced tour operator, meaning that you have 100% financial protection. If you want to know more about this, visit our FAQ page.

Will I need a visa to travel to the EU after Brexit?

Once the UK leaves the EU on Friday at 11 pm (31 January 2020), it will trigger a transition period. During this transition period, due to run from February 1st to January 1st 2021, the UK will remain a member of the EU without representatives in its institutions. This means all travel arrangements are going to stay the same for 2020 when it comes to UK residents visiting the EU.

Now we know what you’re thinking, what exactly is going to happen then after the transition period? Well, that will on depend on the finer details of the deal which will be negotiated in the next 11 months. However, the Government has said there are no current plans to require visas for short-term travel between the UK and the rest of Europe.

The current plans are expected to allow UK citizens to visit EU countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Will the Eurostar be affected by Brexit? 

The European Commission has confirmed that flights and trains will still operate between the UK and mainland Europe. No extra border controls between EU countries for UK citizens so you can travel freely within the EU (which has always been the case).

Can I still use my EHIC Card after Brexit?

The European Health Insurance card, also known as an EHIC, allows any EU citizen to access state medical care when they are travelling in another EU country. UK registered EHICs will still be valid throughout 2020. We always advise that an EHIC is simply not enough, you need to ensure you have appropriate travel insurance when travelling abroad.

Find out more about the importance of travel insurance here.

If you have booked a holiday or interrail trip, we hope we have answered your burning questions on what’s going to happen with travel to the EU after Brexit. If you’re a customer of InterrailingPackages, we are always on hand to answer any other questions about your trip and Brexit.

Book your next adventure, check out our packages!