How can I ensure my trip to the UK will not have to be cancelled because of Brexit?

3/11/2019 6:05:36 PM

While visa regulations can change quickly, particularly as an emergency measure, it is unlikely that a new visa requirement for Polish nationals will be introduced without a long notice period. Meanwhile, the UK government has repeatedly stated that nationals of EU countries will not require visas to visit the UK, unless their own government were to suddenly introduce the same for UK nationals visiting their country.

3/11/2019 2:58:53 AM

According to this piece, written by a staffer at the House of Commons Library, the Immigration Bill currently passing through the House of Commons will repeal the existing EU legislation on a date to be decided by regulation (i.e. when the Home Secretary decides to do so).

It also says that the new immigration arrangements will be decided and implemented by regulation under the Immigration Act 1971 – i.e. according to the whim of the Home Secretary.

Whilst government white papers do talk about implementation and transition periods from 29th March until 2020 or January 2021, there is very little detail on how the new immigration rules will work as related to EU visitors, except for a short section that suggests that EU nationals will be treated as non-visa nationals (like US nationals at present) and will not need a visa to visit the UK.

In short, the new regulations will be announced by the Home Secretary in due course, and EU citizens should expect to be able to visit the UK visa-free.

There are caveats, however.

  • It’s not at all clear what will happen in the period from 29th March
    to the end of any implementation period.
  • Since immigration policy is
    implemented by regulation it can change at the whim of the government
    at any time.
  • Spain is making trouble over Gibraltar that could result
    in UK citizens needing a visa to visit the EU. In this case it’s
    likely that EU visitors to Britain will also need visas.
3/12/2019 8:11:39 PM

While there is a huge level of uncertainty about what will happen after Brexit, or even if Brexit will actually occur, guidance for people visiting the UK after Brexit (thanks @MichaelHampton) would indicate that visa free entry for citizens of an EU country (and Switzerland) is built into British law, and not dependent on EU membership. In other words an exit from the EU, whatever the circumstances, does not automatically revoke the visa free rules. They would have to be specifically repealed by Parliament.

This means that you will still be allowed to enter the UK after Brexit unless the British Parliament passes rules to say you cannot. If that were to happen you would hear about it. The likelihood of it happening within the next few months is very small, and the likelihood of it taking effect in the next few months even smaller.

Most travel insurances have specific exclusions against covering ‘government action’. The only thing you could reasonably do to protect yourself against the (very small) chance that Britain votes to prevent foreigners visiting is to buy an insurance that allows you to cancel “for any reason”.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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