Brexit & travel to the EU

I am sure that we all obviously know the answer already that the UK is outside the European Union and has been out of the EU since January 2020 & the end of the transition period on 31st December 2020. Especially until 31st December last year, UK citizens continued the EU freedom of movement. 🇪🇺

This infographic photo that I attached shows the difference between pre Brexit and post Brexit since British citizens are no longer EU citizens (despite the identity remains European except EU passport holders). 🇬🇧🇪🇺

From Spain 2018 to France 2019, I am glad that I visited two European nations before Brexit as a Brit as I visited Barcelona & Paris (visa free under EU freedom of movement as EU citizen = no passport stamp) for holiday visits. 🇬🇧🇪🇺🇪🇸🇫🇷

Next time when I eventually go to mainland Europe, there will be passport stamp in any EU member state when I visit and that there will still be visa free travel: up to 90 days (3 months which is limited) except there wouldn’t be any special benefits for UK travellers. Knowing the EU free movement is unlimited, visa free travel is not unlimited. It is limited either 90 days (3 months) or 180 days (6 months). The UK is a third country meaning Brits (myself included) will be treated like non European nationals like Japanese, Chinese, Canadians, Indians, Singaporeans, Australians, Americans, etc. We the Brits are third country nationals not EU citizens (not anymore). That means work permits especially if any nationals wants to reside via studying, retiring or working in the EU for more than 3 months. 

Example: February 2020 Colin Browning who was in Amsterdam airport in Holland, tweets by saying “this isn’t the Brexit I voted for” 🇬🇧 google.co.uk 

The Brexiteer who voted for the UK to be out of the European Union 5 years ago in the Brexit referendum, was complaining that he waited nearly 1 hours in non EU immigration gates. It is clear to me that the leavers didn’t really understood what voting for Brexit would exactly mean for the United Kingdom especially in terms to going to continental Europe for holiday/vacation visit, work and study. 

Even Sky News Anchor tweets on Twitter with the example of EU immigration queues in Portuguese airport Showing the selfishness and ignorance of Brexit voters who voted for Brexit in the name of “sovereignty” & taking back control” of everything including immigration borders. Well Brexit means British nationals having to wait in longer queues at EU airports and same goes to EU citizens in British airports. 

So I do not want to hear any contradictions or lies from Brexiteers who claims that they “didn’t voted for this or that” regarding travel to EU27 (27 member states of the European Union). Knowing Brexit does represent consequences and loss opportunities for UK citizens. Knowing there is no anymore special benefits for travellers from Britain. 

And very soon at some point by the end of next year 2022, there will be American/ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) style visa wavier travel system in the EU. It will be called European Travel Information and Authorisation (ETIAS). schengenvisainfo.com 

The visa waiver fee will be €7 (£6) for every single non EU countries including Great Britain. etiasvisa.com google.co.uk In fact, I knew it is coming since 2016. independent.co.uk google.co.uk So another reason why Brexit is the disadvantage for all British citizens regardless they voted in the referendum 5 years ago. 

So that is the clear difference between visiting Europe pre Brexit (UK when it was inside the EU) and post Brexit (outside the EU).