Brexit – The transition period

The United Kingdom (UK) ended its EU membership on 31 January 2020 and is now in a transition period until the end of 2020 while the UK and EU negotiate additional arrangements.

The current rules on trade, travel and business for the UK and EU will continue to apply during the transition period. You, your family or your business can take some actions now to prepare for 2021. Here we have highlighted some of the key links based on the questions that we have been asked.

Page contents

• Advice for residents
• Advice for businesses
• Advice for people with a passport from an EU country who wish to continue to live and work in the UK
• Your rights and how to apply for settled and pre-settled status
• Use our android app to prove your identity
• Advice for UK citizens who want to live and work in EU countries

Advice for residents

Travelling to EU countries  will require additional preparation in terms of travel documents for you and your pets, health care, mobile roaming charges and driving permits. 

Check what you need to do when going to the EU .

Advice for businesses

Trading with the EU

Guidance on trading with the EU for businesses:

• If you move goods into or out of the EU, you must get an EORI number
• Find out how to get an export health certificate to export animals and animal products from the UK on get an export health certificate
• Guidance for exporters, official vets and health inspectors can be found on how to register for export health certificate (EHC)
• Download the Government Export Health Certificates new rules leaflet (PDF, 358KB)
• You should also decide how you want to make customs declarations and whether you need to deal with customs for you
• Learn more about trading with the EU from 1 January 2020 on Help and support if your business trades with the EU
• What you need to do to prepare your food and drink business for 1 January 2021 can be found on prepare your food and drink business

Products and guidance for business

HMRC is creating a series of short videos aimed at helping those businesses brand new to
customs.

• What is Customs?
• What you need to know to bring goods into the UK?
• What you need to do to send goods out of the UK?

And recently published updated guidance on how to pay less or no duty on goods you store,
process, repair or temporarily use

Duty Free

The Government has recently announced that British passengers travelling to EU countries
will be able to take advantage of duty-free shopping from January 2021, bringing our
approach to the EU in line with the rest of the world.

GOV.UK – Duty free extended to the EU from January 2021

Advice for people with a passport from an EU country who wish to continue to live and work in the UK

Check if you need to apply to the settlement scheme if you or your family hold a passport from an EU member state or from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

Check what you need to do to stay in the UK 

Your rights and how to apply for settled and pre-settled status

If you are an EU citizen or a family member of an EU citizen, you will may need to apply if you want to stay in the UK after 30 June 2021.

This includes if you are married to a British citizen.

For more information on this process go to GOV.UK – Settled status for EU citizens and families .

Use our android app to prove your identity

If you are applying for settled or pre-settled status and you are not able to access an android app to prove your identity, you can book an appointment with us to help you do this part of your application. We can use the app to scan your document details and take your photo, saving you time entering the details into the form.

The fee for this service is £14. The fee must be paid at the time of booking and is non-refundable. To book an appointment please contact the Register Office, Knoll Street, Cleethorpes on 01472 326295 option 3.

You will need to bring your current valid biometric EU, EEA or Swiss passport, or a valid Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) for family members of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. You will also need a mobile phone that can receive text messages or a device that can receive email.

EU Settlement Scheme Privacy Policy (PDF, 296KB)

Terms and conditions for EU Settlement Scheme (PDF, 6KB)

Advice for UK citizens who want to live and work in EU countries

Living and working in an EU country depends on the rules in that country.

You may need to register or apply for residency. You should check that you’re covered for healthcare.

You may also need to exchange your UK driving licence for a licence issued by the EU country where you live.

Check what you must do in the country where you live