Your 2021 European  Travel & Passport ‘Need to Knows’ for solo travellers 

Under current UK COVID-19 restrictions the governments Foreign Office advise that it is (still) illegal to travel abroad from the UK for holidays and other leisure purposes. You must not travel abroad unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so.

Running right to the wire, final agreement to a trade deal and our exit from the EU literally hours before the end of 2020 meant that we can now move forward with some clarity in all sorts of ways, from transport to holidays and travel in Europe.

Whilst the government is clear that’s it’s just not safe or legal to travel for holidays or leisure purposes at the moment, if you are planning a holiday in Europe or the sunny Mediterranean later this is year, then this is really good time to arm yourself with the facts. Having sifted the facts from the headlines here’s the significant changes you need to be aware of and our simple guide for solo travellers:

  • YOU DON’T NEED A VISA
    The good news is that as you would expect, all travellers in the 27 countries that now make up the European Union are keen to travel to the UK and still keen for us to travel and take our holidays in their own European countries when we emerge from COVID.  So you WON’T need a visa and WILL be able to spend up to 90 days in any 180 day period in the EU and the Schengen countries; (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) without a Visa.
    Whether you’re planning one enormous trip or lots of different smaller trips makes no difference, the bottom line is that you get up to 90 days of visa free travel in any 180-day period.

  • YOU’LL NEED AT LEAST 6 MONTHS LEFT ON YOUR PASSPORT WHEN YOU SET OFF
    Using a passport that’s close to its expiry date when you actually set off on your European travels is definitely NOT an option.  You will need at least 6 months left on your passport to be able to travel – (unless you are travelling to Ireland where the UK has different arrangements).
    So renewing your passport when the time is right, without putting your travels in jeopardy, is really important. Fortunately checking this out couldn’t be simpler. The UK government’s official completely FREE to use online passport checker enables you to check the validity of your passport against your planned travels.

    When your passport is renewed:
    1. Time left on your old passport will not be added to your new one.
    2. Your new passport number will not be the same as the old passport number, so booking holidays/air travel etc using your old passport and thinking you can sort it out later is not a good idea
    3.Applying for a passport online is £9.50 cheaper and takes up to 3 weeks. It takes longer and its more expensive if you apply for a new passport by post.
    4. Always, always, always use the official sources of FREE government information to check or update your passport. There’s absolutely no need to pay an agency or anyone else to do it for you.
    CHECK YOUR PASSPORT FOR TRAVEL TO EUROPE HERE
    CHECK THE ENTRY REQUIRMENTS OF THE COUNTRY YOU’RE PLANNING TO VISIT HERE
    RENEW YOUR PASSPORT HERE

  • FLIGHTS, FERRIES, TRAINS & EUROSTAR
    Outside of COVID-19 related disruptions, flights, ferries and trains (including Eurostar) to the EU should continue to operate as normal

  • DRIVING IN EUROPE
    Under the BREXIT agreement, British citizens DON’T need an International Driver’s Permit to drive in EU countries. If you’re taking your own car abroad though you may need to arrange additional cover with your insurer and carry a Green Card to prove that you have the necessary vehicle insurance, (Contact your insurer to get one for your vehicle).

  • BORDER CHECKS – 2021 & Transition
    UK travellers may face stricter border checks now. UK nationals arriving in Europe may be asked to show a return or onward ticket on arrival and have enough money to stay.  You may also need to use separate lanes from EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland citizens when queuing. So if you’re due to be met by someone when you arrive or you are booking an onward journey before you travel, it may be a good idea to allow extra time to get through the initial border checks so you don’t miss your connection.
    The good news is that once you’re in, you’re in. As before Brexit, you can then travel freely between European countries and won’t need to go through any extra border controls once you’re in (Covid restrictions notwithstanding).

  • DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
    Although Duty Free Shopping stopped in 1999 we have been able to bring home all sorts of duty paid goods – such as wine from France, where it is significantly cheaper than in the UK. From 2021 the Government says that we will be able to buy duty-free tobacco and alcohol when travelling to the EU but it is still unclear exactly what the allowances will be and whether there will be changes to the duty paid arrangements.

  • TRAVEL TO THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND & OTHER COMMON TRAVEL AREAS
    Travel between the UK and Ireland has always been covered by separate arrangements for the Common Travel Area, which covers the internal travel within the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. So unless the government advises otherwise, no change there.

  • PETS – new travel requirements
    Planning on taking your pet dog, cat (or ferret!) with you on your European travels? If you’re planning to take your pet with you, bear in mind that the UK will no longer be part of the pet passport scheme. Instead, you’ll need an Animal Health Certificate, which can take up to a month to arrange. FIND OUT MORE

ARE YOU PLANNING TO HOLIDAY IN EUROPE THIS YEAR? SHARE YOUR QUESTIONS 
If you have any questions relating to your own European travel plans, LET US KNOW and we’ll do do our best to find the answer.