Benefits of a British Passport After Brexit 2026 – British Citizenship Guide

A British passport remains highly valuable after Brexit, but British citizens no longer have automatic rights to live and work throughout the EU.

They retain the right to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions, vote in UK elections, return to the UK without immigration permission and use a British passport for international travel.

British passport holders benefit from visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to many countries, subject to each country’s entry requirements.

Brexit ended British citizens’ automatic right to live and work in EU member states, which was previously a major benefit of EU free movement.

Page Contents

• Overview on the benefits of a British passport after Brexit
• What are the benefits of a British passport after Brexit?
• How has Brexit impacted the UK passport?
• Has anything changed for British nationals living and working in Europe since Brexit?
• How long can British nationals stay in an EU country for without a visa?

You can apply for a British passport if you have British nationality, although some restrictions may apply. This may include people who are British citizens by birth or who have successfully naturalised as British citizens.

The benefits of British citizenship and of holding a passport include:

• You have the right to live and work permanently in the UK, free of immigration controls
• You may have the right to vote in UK elections, depending on the election, your age, residence and registration.
• You can generally access NHS services subject to the applicable eligibility and charging rules.
• If you are 18 or over, you may be eligible to stand for election, subject to the rules and qualifications for the office concerned.

Since 1 January 2021, British citizens no longer have automatic free-movement rights to live and work in EU member states, although short visits remain generally visa-free.

Under the new rules, when travelling to the EU, a British citizen must now ensure that their passport is:

• Valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area, with an issue date less than 10 years before arrival.
• Issued less than 10 years before the date you arrive in the Schengen area, although your passport’s expiry date can be later.

British citizens can generally visit EU and Schengen countries without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it is important to note that British citizens must provide the following when travelling to an EU port:

• Evidence of your return or onward travel may be requested by border officials when assessing your intended stay.
• Evidence of sufficient financial means to support their stay in the EU

As third-country nationals, British citizens may need to use the ‘all passports’ or other non-EU lanes when crossing EU external borders.

ETIAS is expected to begin in autumn 2026, after which British passport holders will need travel authorisation for eligible short visits to the Schengen area.

The Withdrawal Agreement protects qualifying UK nationals who were lawfully resident in an EU country before the end of the transition period. Qualifying UK nationals covered by the Withdrawal Agreement can retain their residence rights in the EU country where they live.

EUSS deadlines varied by country, and late applications can still be accepted where there are reasonable grounds for missing the relevant deadline.

Some Withdrawal Agreement residence rights can be lost after five consecutive years outside the country, depending on the person’s status and circumstances.

Some qualifying British citizens returning to the UK with eligible family members may use the EU Settlement Scheme, subject to specific relationship and residence conditions. Eligible family members may apply under the EU Settlement Scheme, with late applications potentially accepted where there are reasonable grounds.

Family members who do not qualify under the Withdrawal Agreement may need to apply under the UK’s relevant immigration rules instead.

Since the transition period ended, British citizens no longer have EU free-movement rights to live and work across EU member states. As mentioned above, UK nationals can generally visit EU and Schengen countries without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

The EU agreed to add the UK to its list of visa-exempt countries, meaning a UK citizen can stay in an EU country for up to 90 days without requiring a visa. For longer stays, however, they will be required to apply for the relevant immigration permission.

Overall, there are still many benefits of a British passport after Brexit. They allow those with UK citizenship to vote in Britain, to leave and enter the country without being subject to immigration controls, to access free healthcare, and to travel to a number of countries without requiring a visa. Passport holders with UK citizenship are still able to enjoy these advantages despite Brexit.