EU Travel After Brexit: Visa & Stay Rules for UK Citizens (2026)

You’re at Faro airport, passport in hand, ready for a long weekend. The border officer scans your passport and frowns. “You’ve been in the Schengen Area for 88 days in the last six months,” she says. “You have two days left, not four.” Your return flight is on Thursday. You have a problem.

Since Brexit, UK citizens are third-country nationals when visiting the EU. The old days of unlimited stays are over. This guide covers the 90/180 day limit, ETIAS, passport validity, healthcare, driving, and the Common Travel Area with Ireland.

EU Travel After Brexit: What Changed for UK Citizens

Before January 1, 2021, UK citizens moved freely across the EU. You could live, work, and stay in any EU country without a visa. Brexit ended that.

UK passport holders are now classed as third-country nationals under Schengen rules — like Americans, Australians, and Canadians. You can still visit without a visa, but your stays are limited. Passport rules are stricter. Working or living in the EU needs a separate permit.

The changes affect holidays, longer trips, retirement plans, and daily things like roaming and driving. Most UK travellers won’t hit problems on a two-week break. Extended trips, frequent visits, and old habits from pre-Brexit days cause the most issues.

The 90/180 Day Rule for UK Citizens

UK citizens can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day window. This is the same rule for all visa-free visitors. The 180 days is not a fixed block — it slides forward each day.

All 29 Schengen countries share the same 90-day pool. Two weeks in Spain, a month in France, and a week in Italy all count toward your total. There is no per-country limit. Entry and exit days both count as full days. For a full breakdown of the rolling window, see our Schengen 90/180 rule guide.

Non-Schengen EU countries — Ireland, Cyprus, and some overseas territories — have their own entry rules. Days there do not count toward your Schengen total. Ireland has a separate deal through the Common Travel Area (see below).

ETIAS: The New EU Travel Authorisation

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a new rule for all visa-free travellers, including UK citizens. Once it launches, you must register online before visiting the Schengen Area.

• Cost: €7 per application (free for those under 18 or over 70)
• Validity: 3 years, or until your passport expires (whichever is sooner)
• Processing: Most are approved in minutes. Some get flagged for manual review (up to 30 days).
• Purpose: A security pre-check — it does not change the 90/180 day stay limit

ETIAS works with the new Entry/Exit System (EES). The EES records your border crossings digitally. Together, they replace passport stamps with electronic tracking. Border officers will see your remaining days on screen. This makes overstays harder to miss, but also helps you track your own time.

Passport Requirements for UK Citizens Visiting the EU

Schengen countries now apply stricter passport rules to UK holders. Two things trip people up:

• Issued within the last 10 years — Your passport’s issue date must be less than 10 years before you arrive. Extra months carried over from an old renewal do not count.
• At least 3 months left — Your passport must have 3 months left on the day you plan to leave the Schengen Area, not just when you arrive.

Before Brexit, UK passports worked for EU travel right up to the expiry date. The 10-year rule catches the most people. If you renewed early and had months added, your passport might look “valid” by HMPO standards. But a Schengen border can reject it if it was issued over 10 years ago.

Check both dates before you book flights. The UK government has a passport checker tool for EU travel. If your passport falls short, see our EU passport renewal guide for timelines and costs.

Working or Living in the EU as a UK Citizen

The 90/180 rule only covers tourism and business visits. To work, study, or live in an EU country, you need a visa or permit from that country. There is no EU-wide work visa for UK citizens.

Rules vary a lot by country. Germany has a skilled worker visa. France offers a talent passport. Spain has a digital nomad visa. Portugal has a D7 passive income visa. Each has its own criteria, timelines, and costs. In most cases, you must apply before you travel. Switching from a tourist stay to a work permit inside the country is very hard or banned.

If you lived in the EU before December 31, 2020, and got settled status under the Withdrawal Agreement, your rights are safe. These protections do not cover UK citizens who did not set up residency before that date.

UK Citizens in Ireland: The Common Travel Area

The Common Travel Area (CTA) between the UK and Ireland is older than EU membership. It was kept in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. UK and Irish citizens can still travel freely between the two countries without a passport. Carrying one for ID is still a good idea.

Under the CTA, UK citizens in Ireland can work, study, use healthcare, and vote in local elections. They get the same terms as Irish citizens. This is not an EU right — it is a UK-Ireland deal that works outside Schengen or EU law.

Important: Ireland is not in the Schengen Area. Time in Ireland does not count toward your 90-day Schengen limit. But if you fly from Ireland to a Schengen country, you go through border control on arrival. The normal rules apply.

EU Citizens Visiting the UK

The rules go both ways. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens can visit the UK for up to 6 months without a visa. This covers tourism, family visits, short business trips, or short courses. You cannot work during a visa-free visit.

The UK has launched the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. EU citizens must get an ETA before visiting the UK. It costs £10 and lasts 2 years or until your passport expires. It allows multiple visits. The online form takes minutes.

For stays over 6 months, EU citizens need a UK visa. Work, student, and family visas are offered through the UK’s points-based system.

Healthcare When Travelling in the EU

The old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for UK citizens is no longer valid. The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) has taken its place. It covers state medical care in EU countries on the same terms as locals.

• The GHIC is free and valid for 5 years
• It covers emergency and needed medical care — not planned procedures
• It does not cover flights home, private care, or non-medical costs
• Apply on the official NHS website — avoid third-party sites that charge fees

The GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. It won’t cover cancelled flights, lost bags, mountain rescue, or medical flights home. For a full look at what it covers and when it expires, read our EHIC & GHIC expiry guide.

Driving in the EU After Brexit

Most EU countries still accept a UK driving licence for short visits. But the rules are no longer the same everywhere. Some countries now ask for an International Driving Permit (IDP) along with your UK licence.

• IDP not needed: France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and most of Western Europe accept a UK photocard licence on its own
• IDP needed: Spain, Cyprus, and a few others may need an IDP — check before you go
• Cost: An IDP costs £5.50 from the Post Office and is valid for 1 year
• Green Card: No longer required for UK motorists driving in the EU (abolished 2021)

If you plan to drive often in the EU or move there, you will likely need to swap your UK licence for a local one. Rules vary by country. For UK licence renewal timelines, see our UK driving licence renewal guide.

Mobile Roaming Charges After Brexit

The EU’s “Roam Like at Home” rule no longer applies to UK mobile users. UK networks can charge for roaming in the EU. Most have brought back some form of roaming fees.

Costs vary by provider. Some include EU roaming in higher-tier plans. Others sell daily passes for £2–£5 per day. A few still offer free EU roaming but cap data (usually 5–25 GB per month).

Check your provider’s roaming policy before you go. For longer stays, a local SIM or an eSIM from a European provider is often cheaper. WiFi calling is free on most UK networks no matter where you are.