T STILL remains unclear
if British passport holders
will have to start applying
for Schengen visas if the
UK leaves the EU without a
deal on March 29. However,
in preparation for a no-deal
Brexit, the UK government
is advising clients travelling
on British passports to
Schengen countries after
March 30 to ensure their
passports are valid for at
least six months from the
date of arrival in the EU.
British High Commission
in Pretoria regional
communications manager,
Glyn Cartmell, says details
can only be worked out
once a decision on Brexit
has been made. He advises
travel agents to monitor the
UK Government website
(www.gov.uk), where any
changes and travel advice
will be posted.
The UK Government
has issued an advisory of
possible implications in the
event of a no-deal Brexit.
Should this happen, British
nationals will no longer be
able to travel unhindered
to the EU. This means their
passports must:
have been issued within
the last 10 years on
the date of arrival in a
Schengen country, and
be valid for at least three
months on the date of
intended departure from
the last Schengen country
visited. As ‘third country’
nationals can remain in
the Schengen area for 90
days, this means a British
passport must be valid
for at least six months on
the date of arrival in the
Schengen area.
These rules will apply for
travel to Austria, Belgium,
the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, The
Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and
Switzerland.
Travel to Ireland will be
subject to separate Common
Travel Area arrangements,
which will remain the same
after the UK leaves the
EU. For travel to countries
that are in the EU but
not in the Schengen area
(Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus
and Romania), UK passport
holders will have to check
their entry requirements.
The UK Government has
also advised that British
passport holders may need
an international driving
permit to drive in the EU
after Brexit.
As TNW went to print,
the British Parliament
roundly rejected Prime
Minister Theresa May’s
current withdrawal deal
with the EU, triggering
a vote of no confidence
against her government,
with commentators warning
a no-deal scenario could
spell catastrophe for the UK
economy.
Brexit – implications for UK passport holder
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