“Teething issues” with Brexit in addition to the persevering with pandemic have posed points for Britons making an attempt to enter EU international locations. Travellers heading for Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden have been held up at borders following the UK’s departure from the one market.
Various passengers have been stopped at Heathrow Airport as they tried to board an Iberia airline flight to Spain after being instructed they didn’t have the right proof of residency.
The Spanish embassy in London acknowledged there had been “issues for British nationals resident in Spain” and reiterated that each pre and post-Brexit residence documentation could possibly be used.
In the meantime, police within the Netherlands confirmed that 10 Britons have been refused entry into the nation.
Frist Lieutenant Mike Hofman, from the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee pressure, instructed the PA information company: “British residents are not topic to EU guidelines now that Brexit has began and as a result of corona they’re solely allowed to enter the Netherlands whether it is strictly needed.”
Various Britons who reside in Sweden have been additionally refused entry to the nation.
British ambassador to Sweden Judith Gough mentioned she was “very involved” to listen to of UK nationals being refused entry to the Scandinavian nation.
She mentioned: “It’s clear that there have been teething issues with the brand new system over the weekend, and we’re asking the Swedish authorities to offer higher readability and consistency for UK nationals, who want to return residence to Sweden.”
The diplomat mentioned the British embassy in Stockholm has been in common contact with Swedish authorities over the past week and requested that any coronavirus restrictions be “clear, well-communicated and applicable”.
The Overseas, Commonwealth and Improvement Workplace (FCDO) confirmed that UK nationals ought to be capable to enter EU international locations with out a visa underneath the Withdrawal Settlement.
Their spokesperson mentioned: “Nonetheless, particular restrictions could also be in place as a response to the coronavirus pandemic which supersede this.
“UK nationals, and their relations, who’re resident within the EU, and maintain a residence allow, a certificates of software, or a doc figuring out them as a frontier employee, shouldn’t be topic to Covid-19-specific EU journey restrictions.
“Nonetheless, member states could require them to self-isolate or comparable on arrival, supplied in addition they require the identical of their very own nationals.
“The UK authorities is working carefully with the EU and member states to make sure the phrases of the Withdrawal Settlement function accurately and constantly on the border.”