It’s hard to imagine travelling to the EU as the pandemic remains a risk. Travellers who do not yet have double vaccination are required to take COVID tests. They are also required to self-isolate depending on their destination. The UK frequently updates the quarantine-free travel list for EU countries. Countries on the red travel list will require a quarantine hotel booking and a location form to be filled by each passenger. Green list countries will also require you to quarantine if you are notified by the NHS Test & Trace app. So, understandably, travel to the EU is falling at the bottom of the to-do list for now.
But, there will be a time when fully vaccinated travellers will be free to go abroad without additional quarantine and tests required. Granted, we can’t expect it to happen anytime soon. However, by the end of 2021 or the start of 2022, travel could return to more manageable processes. And you will be contemplating spending Christmas in Italy or the Easter half term in France. How can British families handle EU holidays?
Yes, you can travel without a VISA
There are so many fantastic destinations in the EU; it can be tough to make the best pick for your family. Some destinations, however, such as Portugal and Spain, offer family-friendly settings where you can avoid the crowd. Flight connections with Spain used to be plentiful before the pandemic. Things might have changed since then, so it’s worth aiming for a country that’s easy to access for British travellers. The good news is that you will be able to enter your holiday destination without additional paperwork once pandemic anxiety fades. Indeed, there is no need for a VISA for the time being. However, keep your eyes open for new announcements about the ETIAS visas for EU trips.
Can we get an EU passport?
If you have not needed to change your passport since Brexit, it probably still states that you’re an EU citizen. Unfortunately, this won’t fool the staff at the passport control. There were talks about allowing British citizen to maintain their EU connection if they wanted to, but these were never turned into concrete actions. Yet, there are ways you can obtain EU citizenship. The easiest approach would be to know how to get Irish citizenship based on your ancestry. Did you know that if one of your grandparents was Irish, you can apply to become an Irish citizen of the Republic of Ireland? It’s good news because the Republic is still part of the EU, so you could get an EU passport.
Without living in the EU, options are limited. But Malta offers a unique citizenship by investment programme. Unfortunately, it’s the kind of option that’s only viable if you happen to win the lottery. You will need to make an investment in the height of 600,000 EUROS to the country. You also need to own a property in Malta and make a donation to one of the approved non-profit organisations in the country. You’re buying your EU passport at a hefty cost.
Ready to plan your next EU trip? Don’t let administrative hurdles stop you. Travel preparations will indeed change. But they do not make your EU holidays impossible.
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