The United Kingdom has officially left the European Union after a long struggle from both sides of the aisle. While it remains to be seen what long lasting impacts will come from this change, in the immediate term there is some confusion surrounding travel.
We’re here to help answer all your questions about the implications and what Brexit means for travelers.
Let’s start with a bit of background
What is Brexit?
- The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union
- Withdrawal officially began in 2017 and was finalized in 2020
- The UK has until December 31st, 2020 to complete the transition period
The term “Brexit” is a truncated word for “British Exit” - the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union. Britain joined the precurser to the EU, the EC (European Community) in 1973 and now becomes the 4th country to have left, following French Algeria in 1962 (leaving after Algeria won independence), Greenland in 1985, and Saint Barthélemy in 2012.
Brexit has been progressing since 2016 when a referendum vote took place, with 52% voting to leave and 48% voting to stay. The formal withdrawal process began in 2017.
Due to extremely strong opinions and feelings around the matter, leading to a complete deadlock in the UK parliament, the departure was not finalized until January of 2020.
The division over Brexit has a lot to do with age - a majority of young voters vehemently opposed Brexit while older voters tended to agree with withdrawal.
What Happens Now?
The transition period during which Britain will be renegotiating trade agreements and establishing other new policies and laws (such as remaining tied to European standards on labor and environmental initiatives), ends on December 31s, 2020.
If Britain has a need to extend this deadline, they must do so by June. Any new rules, laws, or policies will take effect January 1, 2021.
There are many complexities to Brexit and the changes it will incur - most are still not fully understood; the effects have yet to trickle down to all facets of British society.
What Does Brexit Mean for American Travelers?
With all the complexity surrounding Brexit, there is one question that has everyone in a tizzy. How does Brexit affect travel?
We’re here to help answer this and hopefully lay some of your concerns to rest.
1. Visas
There is no change to the visa policy for US citizens traveling to the UK. You may travel for up to 6 months in the UK without a visa. If you plan to visit EU countries as well, be sure to check the specific country’s visa policy.
2. Passports
There is nothing different that American travelers need to do regarding passports (other than continuing to need one for international travel that is valid for at least 6 months after the date of travel).
UK citizens, however are understandably flustered about the conflicting reports concerning the need to replace their passports in the wake of Brexit.
Here’s the latest: as of February 12th, 2020 multiple reports confirm that new Brexit passports will be available as early as March 2021. Some UK passport holders may face some frustrating red tape after the January 1, 2021 due to expiration dates on old passports.
3. Currency
No changes will be made to British currency. They will still use the pound. Because of Brexit, the value of the British pound has gone down significantly, the lowest it has been in almost three decades. So for American travelers, this is a great time to visit the UK.
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