Let’s take a look at how Brexit is now going to affect UK passport holders. The deal between the UK Government and the EU trade was approved by the UK Parliament on 30 December. The deal has a huge impact on what happens in 2021 and beyond. Here is an introduction on some of the things you may be wondering about right now.
Traveling as UK passport holder post Brexit
The coronavirus pandemic has had a massive impact on travel this year. But Brexit brings big changes too. Skip back to pre-Brexit (and pre-Covid life!) and UK citizens could travel, live, and work anywhere in the EU without any specific permits. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. If you are wondering how Brexit will affect your travel plans, here is a breakdown of the most important things you need to know:
A lot of travel to Europe is currently banned.
Due to the pandemic, UK citizens cannot travel to many European countries. Because of Brexit, the UK is not on the Council of the European Union’s list of exempt countries, and Brits are currently being treated like most other non-EU residents.
Flight delay compensation rules have not changed.
Although the UK is no longer part of the EU, your flight delay compensation should not change. This means that if you experience a flight delay or cancellation to or from an EU country, you will be entitled to between £110 and £540 in compensation. You can find full details in this handy Flight Delays guide.
You may face stricter border checks.
Even when Covid restrictions end, there are several changes that will take place now that the Brexit transition period has ended. UK citizens may need to show a return or onward ticket on arrival into another country. You may also to prove that you have enough money to stay. As a tourist, you will now only be able to visit most EU countries for up to 90 days in a 180 day period and you may need to obtain extra documents to work or study, or for trips lasting longer than 90 days.
Money and Savings
There are many changes taking place regarding your consumer rights. However, the banks will still protect you for up to £85,000 per person per financial institution with UK-regulated banks. Whatever happens with the banks, if the bank is UK regulated, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme will still protect you for up to £85,000 per person, per financial institution.
You can find out more about safeguarding your savings here: Are your savings safe?
If you are a UK expat living abroad in Europe, some of the major banks and credit card companies, such as Barclaycard, Halifax and Lloyds will close their accounts.
If your account closes, you should still be able to open another account with a different UK bank or a local bank instead. For more information about bank closures, you can visit More UK banks to shut British expat accounts.
We hope you find this brief overview helpful in breaking down how Brexit may affect your life. Do not forget to keep checking back to this blog for further updates.
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