EU Transition - Frequently asked questions for residents

Below are some frequently asked questions for residents supplied by the Government:

What is the Transition Period?

After we left the EU on 31st January, we entered into a Transition Period until 31 December 2020.

This is a period of time in which we are no longer a member of the EU but continue to be subject to EU rules and a member of the single market and customs union while the negotiations on our future relationship with the EU were taking place.

As we transition to our new relationship, our new start will involve a series of changes and opportunities for businesses.

When does it end?

The Transition Period ends on 31 December 2020. This date will not change or be extended - this is written into our laws.

Changes will therefore come into force on 1 January 2021, our new start.

Do I need to do anything?

Yes, you do. The end of the Transition Period will bring about a series of changes and opportunities for which we all need to prepare.

The UK will be leaving the single market and customs union at the end of the year.

The best way to find out what you need to do is to visit GOV.UK/transition. You can answer a few short questions and receive a personalised list of actions for you, your family and your business. You can also sign up to emails to get updates when things change.

I already did some of the actions when you asked me to prepare in the past. Do I have to do them again?

Yes - we update our guidance on a regular basis, so to ensure you know what is changing, go to GOV.UK/transition, use our Transition checker tool and make sure you are registered for updates.

What are the key actions I might need to take to prepare for the end of the Transition Period?

The actions the public and business owners need to take vary based on their circumstances. Some of the key actions include: Making sure you are ready to travel to the EU and EFTA states from 1 January 2021, for example by getting comprehensive travel insurance, ensuring your passport is valid, and checking your roaming policy with your mobile phone provider.

If you want to travel to the EU and EFTA states with your pet from 1 January 2021, contact your vet at least 4 months before you travel.

Making sure your business is ready to export or import from/to the EU, for example by getting an EU EORI number or registering with the relevant Customs Authority.

Key actions that businesses and individuals need to take before the end of the Transition Period can be found on GOV.UK/transition.

Are all the actions that businesses and individuals need to take online on GOV.UK?

Yes, we have added the key actions you can take now into one place on GOV.UK/transition. Here, you can complete the ‘Transition Checker tool’, find out actions to take and register for updates.

Additional guidance may be provided later in the year.

Do I need to do anything differently when visiting the EU?

·       Get comprehensive travel insurance for travel to the EU from January 2021 onwards.

·       Check your passport is valid for travel to the EU from 1 January 2021 and if it’s not, renew your passport to make sure you can travel as planned. Visit GOV.UK/checkpassport.

·       If you want to travel to the EU with your pet from January 2021, contact a vet at least 4 months before you travel.

·       On 1 January 2021, rules around mobile roaming in the EU will change and your mobile provider may charge you more for calls or data when abroad. Check roaming policies with your mobile provider before travelling to the EU.

I’m a UK citizen living in the EU. What do I need to do?

• Register / apply for residency in the country you currently live
• Make sure your passport is valid when applying for residency in the EU member state where you live.
• Register for healthcare in the country you currently live.
• Exchange your UK driving licence for a local one.

You can check what you specifically need to do at GOV.UK/transition. You can also sign up for ‘Living in Guide’ alerts.

I’m an EU citizen living in the UK. What do I need to do?

If you are a European Economic Area or Swiss citizen living in the UK you can apply for Settled Status from now until 30 June 2021.

The EU Settlement Scheme means you can continue to live and work in the UK. Apply now at GOV.UK/eusettledstatus.

You can check what you specifically need to do at GOV.UK/transition.

Does this apply to me if I’m living in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland?

Yes. You can check what you need to do at GOV.UK/transition.

I’m a British citizen / Irish citizen. Will my Common Travel Area rights continue after the Transition Period?

The Common Travel Area (CTA) pre-dates the UK and Ireland’s membership of the European Union and will continue after the end of the Transition Period.

The UK Government and the Irish Government are firmly committed to the continuity of the CTA.

Under the CTA British and Irish nationals have a unique status and can enjoy a range of reciprocal rights in each other’s countries.

The CTA arrangements allow both British and Irish nationals to travel freely within this special area; this will not change

Irish citizens in the UK and British citizens in Ireland have the right to work, study, and access social security and public services in each other’s countries. These rights will be maintained under the CTA.

What is the Withdrawal Agreement?

The Withdrawal Agreement sets out the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and provides for a deal on citizens’ rights. You will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement if you are a UK national lawfully residing in another EU country by the end of the Transition Period, on 31 December 2020.

The Withdrawal Agreement secures your rights and allows you to stay in the EU country where you live after 31 January 2020. You will continue to have broadly the same entitlements to work, study and access public services and benefits as before the UK left the EU.

You and your family may need to apply for a residence status to confirm that you were already resident in the EU country you live in before 31 December 2020. You will have until at least 30 June 2021 to do this.

This is a period of time in which we are no longer a member of the EU but continue to be subject to EU rules and a member of the single market and customs union while the negotiations on our future relationship with the EU were taking place.

As we transition to our new relationship, our new start will involve a series of changes and opportunities for businesses.

When does it end?

The Transition Period ends on 31 December 2020. This date will not change or be extended - this is written into our laws.

Changes will therefore come into force on 1 January 2021, our new start.

Do I need to do anything?

Yes, you do. The end of the Transition Period will bring about a series of changes and opportunities for which we all need to prepare.

The UK will be leaving the single market and customs union at the end of the year.

The best way to find out what you need to do is to visit GOV.UK/transition. You can answer a few short questions and receive a personalised list of actions for you, your family and your business. You can also sign up to emails to get updates when things change.

I already did some of the actions when you asked me to prepare in the past. Do I have to do them again?

Yes - we update our guidance on a regular basis, so to ensure you know what is changing, go to GOV.UK/transition, use our Transition checker tool and make sure you are registered for updates.

What are the key actions I might need to take to prepare for the end of the Transition Period?

The actions the public and business owners need to take vary based on their circumstances. Some of the key actions include: Making sure you are ready to travel to the EU and EFTA states from 1 January 2021, for example by getting comprehensive travel insurance, ensuring your passport is valid, and checking your roaming policy with your mobile phone provider.

If you want to travel to the EU and EFTA states with your pet from 1 January 2021, contact your vet at least 4 months before you travel.

Making sure your business is ready to export or import from/to the EU, for example by getting an EU EORI number or registering with the relevant Customs Authority.

Key actions that businesses and individuals need to take before the end of the Transition Period can be found on GOV.UK/transition.

Are all the actions that businesses and individuals need to take online on GOV.UK?

Yes, we have added the key actions you can take now into one place on GOV.UK/transition. Here, you can complete the ‘Transition Checker tool’, find out actions to take and register for updates.

Additional guidance may be provided later in the year.

Do I need to do anything differently when visiting the EU?

·       Get comprehensive travel insurance for travel to the EU from January 2021 onwards.

·       Check your passport is valid for travel to the EU from 1 January 2021 and if it’s not, renew your passport to make sure you can travel as planned. Visit GOV.UK/checkpassport.

·       If you want to travel to the EU with your pet from January 2021, contact a vet at least 4 months before you travel.

·       On 1 January 2021, rules around mobile roaming in the EU will change and your mobile provider may charge you more for calls or data when abroad. Check roaming policies with your mobile provider before travelling to the EU.

I’m a UK citizen living in the EU. What do I need to do?

·       Register / apply for residency in the country you currently live

·       Make sure your passport is valid when applying for residency in the EU member state where you live.

·       Register for healthcare in the country you currently live.

·       Exchange your UK driving licence for a local one.

You can check what you specifically need to do at GOV.UK/transition. You can also sign up for ‘Living in Guide’ alerts.

I’m an EU citizen living in the UK. What do I need to do?

If you are a European Economic Area or Swiss citizen living in the UK you can apply for Settled Status from now until 30 June 2021.

The EU Settlement Scheme means you can continue to live and work in the UK. Apply now at GOV.UK/eusettledstatus.

You can check what you specifically need to do at GOV.UK/transition.

Does this apply to me if I’m living in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland?

Yes. You can check what you need to do at GOV.UK/transition.

I’m a British citizen / Irish citizen. Will my Common Travel Area rights continue after the Transition Period?

The Common Travel Area (CTA) pre-dates the UK and Ireland’s membership of the European Union and will continue after the end of the Transition Period.

The UK Government and the Irish Government are firmly committed to the continuity of the CTA.

Under the CTA British and Irish nationals have a unique status and can enjoy a range of reciprocal rights in each other’s countries.

The CTA arrangements allow both British and Irish nationals to travel freely within this special area; this will not change

Irish citizens in the UK and British citizens in Ireland have the right to work, study, and access social security and public services in each other’s countries. These rights will be maintained under the CTA.

What is the Withdrawal Agreement?

The Withdrawal Agreement sets out the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and provides for a deal on citizens’ rights. You will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement if you are a UK national lawfully residing in another EU country by the end of the Transition Period, on 31 December 2020.

The Withdrawal Agreement secures your rights and allows you to stay in the EU country where you live after 31 January 2020. You will continue to have broadly the same entitlements to work, study and access public services and benefits as before the UK left the EU.

You and your family may need to apply for a residence status to confirm that you were already resident in the EU country you live in before 31 December 2020. You will have until at least 30 June 2021 to do this.