Will Brexit affect my motorcycle touring plans for riding in Europe?
Now the UK General Election is over, it looks almost certain the UK will leave the European Union and like many, here at Tour1 we have considered how that might affect our motorcycle touring plans for riding in Europe in the future. We have set out the results of our research here.
So what happens next with Brexit? Now the Conservative party have a significant majority in the House of Commons, it is highly likely that the UK Parliament will pass the PM’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill and the UK will leave the European Union on 31 January 2020. That is the working assumption this article is based upon. Of course, there is an outside possibility that the UK will still crash out of the EU without a deal, but that is now considered unlikely.
Given the recent highly-charged political situation both in the UK and in its ongoing relationship with the EU, it has been almost impossible to cut through the various opposing unclear positions (because politicians always tell the truth, right?) to discover what the future will actually be regarding certain topics, including traveling to Europe from the UK, but the situation is slowly becoming clearer.
For a long time, what travel arrangements would apply to those Brits wishing to travel to Europe were very uncertain, but that uncertainty is slowly lifting.
So, we have tried to set out here what is now likely to happen regarding future travel arrangements into the EU area. The simple summary is you have nothing to worry about, but you need to understand how things will change.
PASSPORTS
For Brits.
Given the UK leaves with a deal, this means Brits are likely to be able to continue to use your existing EU style passport but you should have at least 6 months remaining on your passport when you travel. If you don’t have at least six months left before your passports expires, we suggest you renew it well in advance of travelling to an EU country.
Going forward, when you renew your existing EU style passport, you will now be issued with a new UK passport.
In future, when entering the EU area, you might now get your passport stamped. That hasn’t happened for Brits for a very long time, so it may take slightly longer entering the EU area. Additionally, after you get your new UK passport, you will probably be required to join the ‘non-EU Passports’ immigration queue.
Crossing country borders within the EU will not change, as nobody needs to show their passports when doing this.
For non-Brits.
Nothing will likely change from the current arrangements. Your passport already faces slightly more checking that a British passport, for example may be asked a couple of questions about your reasons for travelling to Europe and you are very likely to get a stamp in your passport.
Crossing country borders within the EU will not change, as nobody needs to show their passports when doing this.
VISAS (NOW AND AFTER 2021…..
For Brits.
Currently, as a member of the EU, Brits do not need a visa to travel into the EU area. Given the UK leaves with a deal, in the short-term that is unlikely to change.
However, the EU plans to introduce a scheme called ETIAS which stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. Planned to be in place by 2021, the ETIAS system will act in a similar way to the ESTA system for Brits entering the USA.
ETIAS will allow people from certain countries to apply online and be pre-approved for travel to the EU. The UK will be one of these countries. An ETIAS will cost about €7 and will likely last for 3 years. Further information about this will be issued by the EU next year, but in the meantime, provisional information can be found here.
For non-Brits.
In the short-term, nothing will likely change from the current arrangements.
Currently, visitors to the EU area from some countries can travel without a visa. Examples are the USA, Australia, New Zealand etc.
Visitors from other countries are required to obtain a Schengen visa before traveling to the UK. Examples are Thailand, Indonesia etc.
Before 2021, nothing will change.
However, the EU plans to introduce a scheme called ETIAS which stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. Planned to be in place by 2021, the ETIAS system will act in a similar way to the ESTA system for visitors entering the USA.
ETIAS will allow people from certain countries to apply online and be pre-approved for travel to the EU. This webpage gives details of those countries that will be able to travel to the EU with a simple ETIAS.
Put in simple terms, if you can travel visa-free now, after 2021 you will need to get an ETIAS before you travel. If you need a Schengen visa now, after 2021 you will still need a Schengen visa.
DRIVING LICENCES….
For Brits.
This is not so clear.
You currently use an EU style driving licence with the blue flag in the top left corner on the front. This will have to change to a UK driving licence, but it is not clear by when. If Brexit happens on 31 January 2020, the EU are likely to impose a date by which these must be changed and your guess when this would be is as good as anyone else’s. We imagine something like 3 years will be chosen, but we await with interest when that might be.
There was talk that International Driving Permits may be required for Brits to drive / ride in Europe, but as the UK are very likely to leave with a deal, these will not be required.
For non-Brits.
This will not change from the current requirements. If you currently need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Europe, that requirement will remain. If you do not need an IDP, that will remain to be the case.
HEALTH INSURANCE….
For Brits
Again, this is not yet clear.
As a Brit, you are currently entitled to free healthcare in the EU providing you carry a EHIC card. Often you don’t need to actually show your EHIC card, but it is always best to carry one when travelling in the EU. 27 million have been issued to UK citizens.
Boris Johnson’s revised withdrawal agreement sets out a transition period (once the UK has left) to allow more time for negotiations on the future UK-EU relationship. This period is due to last until 31 December 2020 (and could be extended by one or two years) and during this time all EU law would continue to apply in the UK. That would mean during the transition period, Brits would have the same rights and guarantees as before – including the use of EHIC cards and free healthcare in the EU.
It is not clear what will be negotiated during that transition period that will apply thereafter, but we anticipate an agreement will be put in place where UK citizens will continue to get free healthcare in the EU providing the UK grants the same to all EU citizens visiting the UK. We have to wait and see.
In all cases, we suggest that Brits traveling to the EU on one of our tours takes out travel insurance that covers any medical costs anyway.
For non-Brits
Nothing will change. If you are an EU citizen, you need do nothing. If you are from a non EU country, you should always take out travel insurance that covers any medical costs for the period you are in Europe.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS….
For Brits
In June 2017 the European Union scrapped additional charges for roaming on smartphones when you travel to another EU country. Roaming is when you use your mobile phone abroad. Since 2017, UK consumers have, within reason, been able to use the minutes, texts and data included on their mobile phone tariffs when travelling in the EU. When the UK leaves the EU, UK consumers will no longer be covered by these laws and the mobile phone service providers could raise their rates for using a British mobile phone in Europe. The mobile phone service providers have said they currently have no plans to do this, but do we believe them?
Regarding other documents to carry after Brexit, the same laws will apply to Brits riding in Europe, in that you must always carry your insurance details and you V5 registration document with you at all times. This will not change.
For non Brits
You are not covered by the existing laws that cover EU citizens in respect of the mobile phone roaming charges mentioned above, so you will continue with the existing arrangements / costs imposed by your mobile phone service provider.
If you come to Europe and rent a motorcycle, you will continue to need to always arry your rental agreement with you when riding.