Can I use my passport after Brexit and will I need a visa to travel to Europe?

On January 31st, the UK left the European Union, but what does this mean for British passport holders?

Travel firms are insisting that “everything will remain the same” for holidaymakers after Brexit.

Warnings were issued in 2019 about potential restrictions for foreign travel in the event of the UK withdrawing from the EU without an agreement.

These included passports needing to be valid for six months after the end of trips and passengers not being allowed to use border queues designated for EU passport holders.

Mark Tanzer, chief executive of travel trade organisation Abta, said that the transition period means there will be no changes until the end of 2020.

He said: “Travellers will still be able to use their UK passport at EU gates at border check points for now, at least until the end of December 2020.

“Also, holidaymakers and business travellers won’t need to have six months left on their passports to travel to the EU.

“Passports do however need to be valid for the whole of any trip.”

A survey of 2,004 UK adults commissioned by the ferry industry earlier this month indicated that more than two-thirds of people (68 per cent) were not sure what changes will apply for travel to EU countries after Brexit, with 30 per cent incorrectly believing they would need a visa.

Trade organisation Discover Ferries director Emma Batchelor said: “It is clear that there is a lot of confusion around travel to EU countries this year, resulting in many people delaying their holiday plans.

“I would therefore like to reassure anyone looking to travel by ferry this year that there are no changes. All valid passports, EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) cards and pet passports will still be authorised for travel to the EU and there will not be any new requirement for visas to Europe or passports to travel to the British Isles.”

A spokesman for Airlines UK, which represents UK-based carriers, said inbound and outbound flights will continue as normal during the implementation period.