THE PAIN-FREE POST-BREXIT

In 2021, things have changed for those who love to caravan abroad. Here’s our guide to minimising any disruption to your plans for European tours

Touring in Europe is sensational, but in these early months of the UK’s full Brexit withdrawal, travel abroad seems to have become more troublesome and (literally) more taxing.

Much of this is down to Covid-19, but for those wishing to tour in Europe during the summer and beyond, some of the rules and regulations have changed, particularly for passports, health cover and travel insurance, driving abroad and pet travel.

This article outlines the changes and how you can minimise their effect, to guarantee continued harmonious holidays in the sun.

Passports

British passports no longer offer the same unfettered access to the 27 EU countries that they provided before Brexit.

This means that you should check the validity of your passport on the Government website (gov.uk/check-a-passport-traveleurope) – it might need to be renewed six months earlier than you planned.

You should also bring yourself up to speed with the latest passport regulations.

You must have at least six months left on your passport to travel to EU countries, plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This rule does not apply for travelling to Ireland, where you may continue to use any passport that is valid for the length of your stay.

These changes will affect many people, and there could be a rush to renew when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, so check your passport in good time, and allow yourself two months to get it renewed.

It costs £75.50 to renew or replace your passport if you apply online (the speediest option), or £85 if you fill in and post a paper form. Children’s passports cost £49, but only last for five years. A (more expensive) express service is available in emergencies.