After 31 December 2020, free movement between the UK and the EU will end, bringing changes to the way you or your employees travel to Europe from 1 January 2021.
What counts as business travel?
- Travelling for meetings and conferences
- Providing services, including with a charity
- Touring arts and music
- Taking part in a sporting event
What do I need to do if I’m travelling to EU or EFTA states?
If you are travelling to the EU or EFTA states for less than 90 in 180 days, then there may be activities that you can perform without a visa or work permit, for example going to a business meeting.
As well as actions all travellers need to take, you may also need to:
✔️ Check the entry requirements and travel advice of the country you’re visiting
✔️ If you provide any services, you may need to check your qualifications are recognised
✔️ Tell HMRC you’re working in the EU
✔️ Check if you need indemnity insurance for employees
✔️ Check you have the correct documentation to take goods to the EU
To find out if you need a visa or work permit, you will need to check the rules of the country you are travelling to.
What do I need to do if I’m travelling from the EU, EEA or Switzerland?
If you run an EU or EEA-based business, you may not need to make any changes to the way you make short-term visits to the UK for business purposes from 1 January 2021. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can continue to be able to travel to the UK for trips of any kind under six months in duration without needing a visa.
In other cases, you can check if you’ll need to apply for a visa to enter the UK for business travel.