Most EU, EEA and Swiss citizens (‘EEA citizens’) will be unable to enter the UK using a national identity card from 1 October 2021.
This announcement was made by the Government last year. Unsurprisingly, given the focus on health related border measures as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it has not received the attention needed. Especially given that it is estimated that around 30% of EEA citizens travel on national identity cards instead of passports.
The Government’s website confirms that:
‘You will not be able to use an EU, EEA or Swiss national ID card to enter the UK from 1 October 2021 unless you:
- have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit
- have a frontier worker permit
- are an S2 Healthcare Visitor
- are a Swiss Service Provider
In these cases, you can continue to use your national ID card to enter the UK until at least 31 December 2025.’
Through the various Home Office stakeholder groups members of our team sit on, we have already started to seek further exceptions. We will keep our website up to date with progress.
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