What are the Brexit passport rules?

If you’re traveling to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein after 1 January 2021, there are some new Brexit passport rules to take into account. Firstly, your British passport will need to have at least six months left on it before it expires. And second, it must have been issued less than nine years and six months ago.

Do I need to get a new passport after Brexit?

Not necessarily. If you have an old burgundy passport that has at least six months left on it – and was issued less than nine and a half years ago – then you’re good to travel throughout the EU. But if your passport is too old or has less than six months left to go, then you’ll need to apply for a new, blue passport. You can use the UK government Passport Checker to see whether your passport is still valid.

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

If you’re only planning a short holiday, you won’t need a visa to travel to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The general rule is that you can stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.

However, it’s important to bear in mind that the 26 countries in the Schengen area (including France, Spain, and Germany) essentially count as one country. If you visit Spain for 14 days and then go to France for 14 days a couple of months later, the number of days is added together. That means your total will be 28 days in the Schengen area, rather than 14 in each country.

If you’re planning to stay for longer than 90 days, or if you’re traveling for business or study, then you may require a visa. Check the Foreign Office Travel Advice page for more details on the Brexit passport rules for each country.

Until da next Tyme