The year 2020 will go down in history due to Brexit or the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. Much has been said about the possible consequences for the economy due to commercial relations in different sectors of activity, including tourism. And it is that Spain is one of the main destinations for British tourists, while the country is also one of the great receivers of Spanish tourists . However, the conditions do not only concern this tourist flow and its impact. They can also arrive at the time of travel and in procedures as simple as having to enter the United Kingdom with a passport instead of the DNI. With Brexit, many doubts have been opened in this regard. And, here we are going to clear them so that, if you have to travel there, you know how to do it.
Trip
Although Brexit has occurred, Spanish citizens can continue to travel to the United Kingdom. And, furthermore, the good news in all this mess is that nothing will change until December 31 of this year because both the United Kingdom and the European Union open a transition period.
This means that, when traveling to the United Kingdom, the documents you will need are the same . In this way, Spaniards who travel to this country will not need a visa to go on vacation or enjoy short stays.
It will be enough with the National Identity Document in force, it being expected that this document will be accepted at least until the year 2021. In addition, you can also enter with the biometric passport if you have one, being possible to use the electronic passport doors to access the UK in a faster way.
And another license that generates many doubts with Brexit is driving . And more or less the same thing happens with the DNI. This transitional period has been established, so that non-British driving license holders can continue driving without the need for an international driving license .
And what about the health card and medical care? The answer is also very similar. In this case, the European Health Insurance Card remains valid until at least 2021 . Nor will the persons covered by the citizens’ rights agreements concluded with Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland be altered for the time being.
However, although this health card is accepted, it must be clear that it is not the same as travel insurance , and it is advisable to travel to the country with both options .
Routes
Brexit has also not introduced changes in terms of the different means of transport and their trips. Thus, it is possible to travel between the United Kingdom and the European Union -in this case Spain-, with flights that have already been scheduled, trains or ferries, among other options.
Reservations through companies and travel agencies do not have to be altered throughout this year 2020 because that transitional period that we have already commented with the documentation also opens here.
Telephony
And, if there is something that generates many doubts when traveling to the United Kingdom, it is everything related to mobile phones and data. Calls , text messages and mobile data will cost the same in the United Kingdom as in Spain as long as you have a SIM card issued by a mobile phone operator from a country of the European Union or the European Economic Area.
Pets
In the case of traveling with pets, the current rules are maintained. Thus, you can enter the United Kingdom with a valid passport for pets from the European Union.