Changes for EU / EEA / Swiss Citizens

Unless you are an Irish citizen – for which there is no change whatsoever due to the longstanding Common Travel Area agreement – there will be some differences once international travel returns for those wishing to enter the UK. The main questions include:

• Do I need a visa?
• Can I continue to travel with a national ID card?
• Do I need to fill in an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before my journey?
• Can I still bring personal goods into the UK?
• Can I still bring my pet into the UK?
• Do I need a international driving permit (IDP)?
• Do I need health insurance?

Do I need a visa?

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can travel for holidays and short trips (up to six months) without needing a visa.

If you a travelling for business purposes, you will be able to stay in most circumstances for up to six months and participate in a wide range of activities including business-related activities such as meetings, events and conferences. However, if you wish to work for a UK company, act as a self-employed person or study in the UK a visa will be required.

Full information specific to your nationality and entrance requirements can be found on the Government website.

Can I continue to travel with a national ID card?

Except in the limited circumstances outlined below, national identity cards will not be acceptable from 1st October 2021 and all visitors will require a valid passport for entry to the UK. The passport has to be valid for the duration of your visit, and there is no current requirement for the passport to be valid for a specified period from arrival (such as six months).

A national identity card will be valid until at least 31 December 2025 if one of the following limited circumstances applies:

• You have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme;
• You have an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit;
• You have a frontier worker permit;
• You are an S2 Healthcare Visitor;
• You are a Swiss Service Provider.

Do I need to fill in an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before my journey?

The UK Government is introducing a requirement to have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) by 2025, however there is no requirement for pre-travel authorisation at the current time.

This will be implemented in a phased manner, and we will provide further information once the requirements are confirmed.

Can I still bring personal goods into the UK?

There are now additional restrictions on what items can be brought into the UK. Full guidance can be found on the official government website.

Can I still bring my pet into to the UK?

There has been no amendment to the existing provisions for the transit of pets into the UK. A pet cat, dog or ferret can be brought into the country as long as the following documentation is provided:

• Documentation confirming the pet has been microchipped;
• A valid pet passport or health certificate;
• Confirmation that the pet has been vaccinated against rabies (and blood test dependent upon country of issue);
• Dogs usually have to have to undertake tapeworm treatment.

If the above is not complied with, entrance will be denied and/or quarantine of up to four months will be required.

The complete rules for pets entering England, Scotland and Wales can be found here. Alas, there are different requirements for Northern Ireland which are outlined here.

Do I need an international driving permit (IDP)?

There has been no amendments and non-UK citizens can continue to drive in the United Kingdom with a valid driving licence issued and there is no requirement to have an international driving permit.

If you intend to drive your own vehicle, you must ensure that you carry an insurance green card or proof of insurance.

Do I need health insurance?

Visitors to the UK from an EU country who fall ill or have a medical emergency during their temporary stay in England, can continue to use a valid EHIC issued by their home country to access healthcare (or valid Norwegian passport if applicable). However, this does not cover all eventualities and we strongly recommend that you have full health insurance for the duration of your visit.

Healthcare is a devolved issue, and different guidance applies depending on which country you require healthcare assistance.

• For England, the information can be found here
• For Scotland, the information can be found here
• For Wales, the information can be found here
• For Northern Ireland, the information can be found here

Whilst this information is correct as per April 2021, we strongly suggest that the official UK Government website is checked prior to commencing travel in the event of any additional requirements.