Five things we ALL need to check before travelling to Europe

Check your passport is valid

Make sure your passport is valid for travel to Europe from January 1, 2021 – and if it’s not, renew it to make sure you can travel as planned. To check yours meets the requirements, visit gov. uk/ check passport.

2 Get travel insurance that covers your healthcare

Make sure you get travel insurance with healthcare cover for travel to the EU. Be aware also that your European Health Insurance Card may not be valid from January 1, 2021.

It’s important that you get travel insurance that has the right cover for your needs, particularly if you have a preexisting medical condition. Visit gov. uk/ guidance/ foreign- travelinsurance to check what your travel insurance should cover.

Be sure you have the right driving documents

You might need an international driving permit to drive in some countries. If you’re taking your own vehicle, you might also need a ‘ green card’ or valid proof of insurance and a GB sticker.

Check roaming charges with your phone operator

On January 1, rules around mobile roaming in the EU will change, and your mobile provider may charge you more for calls or data when abroad. Check roaming policies with your mobile provider before travelling to the EU.

A new law means that you’re protected from getting mobile data charges above £ 45 without your knowing. Once you reach £ 45, you need to opt in to spend more so that you can continue using the internet while you’re abroad. Your phone operator will tell you how you can do this.

5 Keep up with the latest information and advice

Always check and follow the latest official travel advice, including up- to- date information around coronavirus, at gov. uk/ foreign- travel- advice.