Your Brexit Questions Answered

Check the date your passport expires. If we leave the EU without a deal, the UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office says you need to have six months left on your passport on the date of your arrival into the EU.

If you renewed your passport before it expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the six months needed. 

There’s a handy online passport checker you can use to make sure your passport’s OK to travel with. It might be a good idea to renew your passport sooner rather than later, in order to make sure you have it in time for your holiday.

The EU has confirmed that UK travellers won’t need a visa to travel the EU after Brexit, even if we leave without a deal.

If the UK leaves with no deal, it would become a so-called ‘third country’ for the purposes of the EU Pet Travel Scheme. There are three categories of ‘third country’ - each presenting different outcomes, from no change to your pet passport requirements to the need to have your pet checked by an official veterinarian either four months or 21 days in advance of travel. See this page for more information.

Ferry services will operate as normal, with our without a deal, as they are governed by international laws and regulations, not European ones.

The cross-channel rail-and-car service is expected to operate as normal. It’s guaranteed by the ‘The Treaty of Canterbury’, which secures the smooth operation of the route until 2086!

Currently, UK driving licence holders don’t need an additional licence to drive in the EU. But, if we leave without a deal, you’ll have to apply for an International Driving Permit, and use a GB sticker.

There are a number of different permits available for different areas of the EU, so you should check which permit is required for each country you intend to drive within. International Driving Permits cost £5.50 and are available from the Post Office.
Visit the gov.uk website for full details about International Driving Permits

If the UK leaves without a deal, UK citizens driving their vehicle within the EU would be required to obtain and carry a Green Card in order for UK car insurance to be valid. Your insurer will issue one to you. Make sure you leave enough time to get one posted out to you.

ABTA advises holidaymakers to make sure they have appropriate travel insurance, even with a valid EHIC card. But, following a no-deal exit, this advice is essential. We’d always recommend you check any insurance covers your current medical conditions and any previous medical history is clearly noted. If you have an annual policy, make sure you check the Terms and Conditions and contact your insurance provider if you need to make any updates.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows any EU citizen to access state medical care when they are travelling in another EU country. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, UK registered EHICs will no longer be valid. We suggest it’s always a good idea to travel with appropriate travel insurance.