Bosses at a Lichfield travel agent say people need to be aware of what Brexit will mean for their future trips abroad.
Talks are continuing between the British Government and the EU in an attempt to strike a trade deal.
But regardless of any agreement, Nathan Collins, from RB Collection in Boley Park, said travellers would face changes from 1st January.
“With the news coverage focussing on the global pandemic, little has been said about some important changes to travel requirements for British passport holders post-Brexit in 2021.
“From 1st January there are a number of important changes taking place that everyone needs to be aware of, even if you don’t plan on travelling to the EU until later in the year.”
Nathan Collins
RB Collection has highlighted some of the key issues travellers need to be aware of in 2021:
Travel Insurance
“Not an exciting topic, but really important. Insurance providers should publish their post-Brexit travel policy and we suggest you check this and make yourself aware of any changes to your policy. At the end of the day you get what you pay for so do read cover levels carefully, so you are confident you understand what situations you are and are not covered for.”
Passports
“This is most important for any holiday you have booked to depart during the whole of 2021. We advise you check your issue date as early as possible and then check your expiry date. Should your expiry date be more than 10 years after your issue date, you need to be aware that EU members may use 10 years after issue as your new expiry date, not the actual expiry date on the passport.
“Prior to Brexit, if you renewed your passport early, any lost months would be added to your new passport. This is no longer the case, and in fact the EU may no longer recognise any of these additional months.
“More importantly, the EU now requires you to have a minimum of 6 months validity on your passport when you travel. Therefore, you need to check the issue date, add 10 years and then ensure you have six months remaining for your holiday date. It is admittedly confusing but important to grasp. You can read more about this here.
“If travelling to Ireland, the above doesn’t apply. You will just need to ensure your passport is valid for the duration of your stay.”
EHIC
“These will no longer be valid after 31st December 2020. Therefore, it is vital to ensure you have a good level of medical cover on your insurance policy. For those with pre-existing medical conditions do ensure your policy covers these as many of the cheaper options have a lot of exclusions.”
Entering other countries
“Depending on the member state, you may notice a few changes such as having to use different lanes at passport control. You may also be asked to prove a return ticket and that you have enough money for your stay. These are similar requirements to when entering the USA for example so frequent travellers will be used to such requests, albeit not to the EU.”
Visas
“For short holiday trips there is no visa requirement to enter the EU from 2021 (up to 90 days in a 180-day period). There are different rules for Croatia, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria and for those working or studying. These are subject to change, so we always suggest checking the FCDO page for the specific destination before you travel..
“Travel to Ireland will not change – work is permitted without a visa for example.”
Driving in Europe
“If you plan to drive to Europe, you will need a ‘green card’ to prove insurance and a GB sticker for your vehicle. You may also require an international driving permit for some countries (not Ireland). This information is due to be updated and so do refer to the Government page here.
“You will still need to carry your UK driving license with you in addition to any additional documents.
“When hiring a car, remember to check if you need a DVLA ‘check code’ also.”
Consumer rights for delays and cancellations
“These are unchanged and so the rules regarding compensation for cancelled flights etc will continue.”
Mobile phone roaming charges
“This is still a grey area. The Government’s official info states this may change’. There is a new law which means there is a cap at £45 for roaming charges to protect users, however we suggest you check with your provider before traveling for the latest information. the hope is providers will continue EU roaming as an inclusion in packages which will be great news.”
Protection against holiday company failure
“We always advise against booking bits and pieces of a holiday yourself as you may end up having little or no financial protection at all. This is especially important going forward as we have heard some real horror stories this year.
“Always book an ATOL protected holiday and ensure you receive a copy of your ATOL Certificate when you hand over any money and check the details carefully. This cover will continue after 1st January 2021.”
Pet Travel
“Unfortunately, Pet Passports are no longer valid from 1st January 2021. There is a new process which takes 4 months, read more here.”
More travel information and advice is available on the RB Collection website.
