LONDON (AP) – So far, the vast majority of UK and EU citizens have not felt the reality of Brexit. Although the UK left the European Union on Jan. 31, it will follow the rules of the bloc until the end of this year as part of a transition period to the new economic relationship.
That is all about to change.
On January 1, Britain will begin its new, more distant relationship with the EU after nearly five decades of closer economic, cultural and social integration.
The change for Britain’s economy and people is the most dramatic since World War II, certainly more so than when the country joined the then European Economic Community in 1973.
“It’s a much bigger shock to our economic system and it will happen instantly,” said Anand Menon, UK director in a Changing Europe think tank and professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King’s College London.
“You suddenly wake up in a new world at the beginning of January.”
Here are some of the changes in movement that people will feel almost overnight.
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WHAT IS CHANGING?
While the coronavirus pandemic has led to a collapse in the number of people traveling between Britain and the EU, the end of freedom of movement from January 1 will be the most tangible Brexit consequence yet.
According to the divorce agreement the two parties signed on December 24, the roughly 1 million British citizens legally residing in the EU will have broadly the same rights as they currently have. The same is true for more than 3 million EU citizens living in the UK
But British citizens will no longer automatically have the right to live and work in the EU and vice versa. People who want to cross the border to settle will have to follow immigration rules and face other red tape, such as ensuring their qualifications are recognized.
The exception is people moving between the UK and Ireland, who have a separate common travel area.
For many in the EU, the freedom to travel, study and live anywhere in the 27-country bloc is one of the most attractive aspects of European integration.
Still, some in Britain and other parts of Western Europe became more skeptical about freedom of movement after several former communist nations in Eastern Europe joined the EU in 2004 and many of their citizens moved to the UK and other wealthier countries to work. Immigration concerns were a major factor in the UK’s Brexit vote in 2016. On January 1, the consequences of that decision will become clear to both British and European citizens.
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WHAT ARE THE NEW TRAVEL RULES?
While travel for holidays remains visa-free, UK nationals are only allowed to spend 90 days out of 180 in the EU, while the UK will allow European citizens up to six consecutive months.
For retired British citizens used to spending more than three months in their second home on Spain’s sun-drenched Costa del Sol, the change may come as a shock. British travelers in Europe will also need to have a minimum of six months on their passport and have their own travel insurance. Britons will no longer get the European Health Insurance Card, which guarantees access to medical care throughout the block, but the UK says it is setting up a replacement system to allow British visitors to the block and EU citizens visiting Britain still have medical coverage.
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WHAT ABOUT PETS?
For UK citizens who are used to taking their dog, cat or ferret on holiday in Europe every summer, the situation will get more complicated as Britain will no longer be part of the EU’s pet passport scheme – although the agreement will avoids tedious, months-long procedures that some feared. British pet owners must have their animal microchipped and vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before departure and receive an animal health certificate from a veterinarian no later than 10 days before departure.
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DOES DRIVING BECOME A JOY?
The deal means that British drivers do not need an international driver’s license when crossing the Channel. British drivers can travel in the EU with their UK driver’s license and insurance, as long as they have proof that they are insured in the form of a “green card”.
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WHAT ABOUT WORKING?
The end of freedom of movement will have major consequences for hiring at all ends of the labor market.
For example, a newly graduated British citizen vacationing in the Greek Islands cannot walk to a beach bar and look for part-time work without the necessary visa. The same goes for European citizens arriving in the UK. They can’t come to a sandwich shop like Pret a Manger to look for work without the necessary documentation.
Larger companies will also find it much more difficult and expensive to hire people from the other side. The deal includes amenities to enable contractors and business travelers to take short work trips without a visa.
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