19 Feb ABTA The Travel Association – Operational Bulletin

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated the travel advice for a number of countries with updates to the Safety & Security (Road travel), Entry Requirements and Health sections – editorial amendments to add existing information on travel if the UK leaves the EU with a deal  The relevant extracts of the advice are below for your reference:

Safety & Security
Licences and documents
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.
If there’s no deal, you will need to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) to be able to drive in some European countries as a visitor after the UK has left. Check this guidance page for full information. You should also check guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit for information on other additional documents you may need to carry.

Entry Requirements
Passport validity
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, the rules on travel will stay the same until 31 December 2020.
If there’s no deal, the rules for travel to most countries in Europe will change when the UK has left. Check your passport will still be valid for your trip.

Visas
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, the rules on travel will stay the same until 31 December 2020.
If there’s no deal, the rules for travelling or working in Europe will change when the UK has left:

• You should not need a visa for short trips. The European Commission has proposed that British Citizens would be able to visit countries in the Schengen area or elsewhere in the EU for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.
• If you’re travelling to Belgium, previous visits to the Schengen area within the 180 days before your date of travel would count against the 90-day limit, but trips to other EU countries outside the Schengen area (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania) would not. The 90-day visa-free period would not entitle you to work – most countries will require a visa and work permit. You may also need to get a visa before you travel if you’re planning to stay longer than 90 days, or your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit. You should check with the Belgian Embassy what type of visa, if any, you will need.
• On arrival in the Schengen area, you may be asked to confirm that you have sufficient funds available for the duration of your stay. As non-EEA nationals, different border control checks will apply, and you may also be asked to show a return or onward ticket. UK nationals would not have an ongoing right to use the separate lanes provided for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals.

Health

Healthcare
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, the rules on travel will stay the same until 31 December 2020.
If there’s no deal, access to healthcare for British nationals travelling or living in the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland will change when the UK has left. More information about healthcare for UK nationals living in and visiting Belgium is available on the NHS website.
You should still get a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. UK-issued EHICs remain valid, but this will change if there’s no deal.