Check, Change, Go: Preparing for End of the Transition Period

The UK has left the EU, and the transition period after Brexit comes to an end this year. Take action now to get ready for new rules from January 2021.

You can use a straightforward checker tool at gov.uk/transition which quickly identifies the necessary next steps your business needs to take.

The actions people and business owners need to take vary based on their circumstances. They include:

– Making sure you are ready to travel to Europe from 1 January 2021, for example by getting comprehensive travel insurance, ensuring your passport is valid, and checking your roaming policy with your mobile phone provider.

– If you want to travel to Europe with your pet from 1 January 2021, contact your vet at least 4 months before you travel.

– Making sure your business is ready to export or import from/to the EU, for example by getting an EU EORI number or registering with the relevant Customs Authority.

Details of the key actions that businesses and individuals need to take before the end of the transition period can be found on gov.uk/transition.

Border Operating Model

The Border Operating Model provides clarity and certainty for the border industry and businesses, including technical detail on how the border with the EU will work after the transition period and the actions that traders, hauliers, ports and carriers need to take. It covers all of the processes and systems, across all government departments, that will be used at the border. It provides clarity on the end to end journey for moving goods across the border – with information about controlled goods and new government systems that will support trade.

To help businesses prepare for these changes and continue to trade, guides on how to import and export goods are available in the form of a ‘journey’, so that you can clearly see every step you need to take to ensure that your goods are transported successfully.