Brexit And Passports

[smurfchops]

Will our British passports still be valid until the date stated on them? I think I read somewhere (maybe here) about someone having to renew her passport earlier....

[theshedman]

Yes is the simple answer but if you got it before the old one ran out and had the time left added on to the new one then that doesn't count so it only runs for the ten years from when you bought it and not any extra that would have been added on to the end.

[Buenchico]

To travel to the EU/EEA/Switzerland now (which is where most people from the UK take their holidays), you need to first ensure that it will have a minimum of six months validity on it on the date that you'll be travelling AND that it will be less than ten years old. As your passport will probably be stamped, both on entry and on exit, it might also be wise to check that there's sufficient blank space in it for those stamps.

On arrival in an EU country, you might be required to prove that you've got a return ticket (or a ticket for onward travel to a different country). You might also be required to prove that you've got enough money for your stay.

(Obviously, those rules don't apply to entry into Ireland, where a separate travel agreement is in place).

https://www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein

[Jackdaw33]

How do you prove you've got enough money for your stay unless you are carrying wads of cash?

[Buenchico]

^^^ Possibly by opening the online banking app on your phone, to display the balance of your account, Jack.

[Jackdaw33]

And if you haven't got a smartphone?

[Buenchico]

^^^ Take a recent bank statement with you?

Many countries around the world have a 'proof of sufficient funds' entry rule but, to the best of my knowledge, none of them routinely apply it to people who are clearly short-stay tourists. It might still be best to be prepared to prove that you've got enough money available though, just to be on he safe side!

[theshedman]

Also to go to the EU you may soon need an ETIAS which stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System.

[Buenchico]

^^^ I was also going to mention the ETIAS scheme,that comes into effect next year but all reference to it have now disappeared from the Gov.uk website and the UK is no longer on the list of relevant countries on the ETIAS site. Perhaps a travel agreement has been reached between the EU and the UK?

[KARL]

For the avoidance of misunderstanding: UK passport holders now have increased restrictions on their length of stay within the EU (i.e. reduced usefulness of the passport). Now they can only stay within Schengen for a total of 90 days in any 180 day period. Previously it was up to 180 days per year in a single stretch (same annual total but up to all of it at any time within the 365 days). A calculator is available here https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/content/visa-calculator_en

[bluemoon1]

Why can't you just turn up on a beach and claim asylum?