How To Avoid Brexit Dampening Your Life Plans

When the United Kingdom momentously voted to leave the European Union in 2016, many of us were oblivious to the degree that the new rules would impose on freedoms to work and travel in Europe.

Our Time for Life Correspondent, Sharon Cain - whose life plan with photographer, Steve Hare, included extended periods of motor homing in Europe after giving up full-time work - shares how it is possible to dodge Brexit restrictions and avoid heavy fines and possible deportation.

Best Laid Plans …

As a couple who are great believers in creating life plans, we had long dreamt, pre-Brexit, of heading to the sun and new cultures to escape harsh English winters – even more so having moved near the bracing Northumberland coast.

However, the 2016 referendum saw 51.9% of voters opting to leave the EU – prompting wide ranging political and economic challenges.

It was only in the months leading to Brexit ‘D Day’ on December 31, 2020 - in a brutal year fraught with the horrendous global Covid pandemic - that the repercussions of this pivotal development became apparent.

Having previously been able to enjoy unlimited travel in Europe - all this changed dramatically overnight.

Rules and Red Tape

Since January 1, 2021, Brits can only stay 90 days within any 180-day period within the Schengen zone - an area comprising 26 European countries with free movement of people and no border controls.

The Schengen zone is not the same as the EU as there are countries in the EU which are not in the Schengen zone - and vice versa.

Five countries initially drew up an agreement to form the zone in the Luxembourg village of Schengen on the banks of the Moselle in 1985.

The agreement has since expanded to twenty-six countries spanning an area of more than 1.6 million miles.

They include popular destinations like France from where our European journeys usually start after embarking on ferries from the South of England – along with Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

Those outside the ‘big hitters’ include Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia - and the stunning principality of Liechtenstein (in the Schengen zone but not the EU) - which we explored on our current road trip.

One of the world’s smallest countries nestled between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein’s royal family live in its fairy tale castle, and throw a party every year for the country’s 39,000 residents.

Located on the Rhine, its backdrop is breathtaking.

The momentous Brexit developments presented us, and countless others, with a minefield of challenges at a time when we were ready to step back from long working weeks and constant deadlines.

Excluding our current explorations, our trips since January 2021 have understandably entailed meticulous planning to ensure we did not exceed our 90-day limitation.

Every day we spend in the Schengen zone is recorded - our passports have never been so closely scrutinised at ferry ports, the channel tunnel, and airports.

Although 11 weeks may sound a long stretch, by the time we had crossed the channel and put some miles on the clock, it felt like we had just stated to immerse ourselves in a new country and culture when it was time to dash back.

We had also not accounted for setbacks such as contracting Covid in Portugal in autumn 2021, wiping out one third of the trip.

In Or Out? Schengen Shuffle

Before setting off again in September this year for a major trip across a dozen countries we had cracked how we could embark on our biggest adventure to date - without the ignominy of being deported back to England with our travelholic golden retriever.

The solution is ‘The Schengen Shuffle’ – not a new dance style but a way of satiating our travel lust and thirst for new cultures over a nine-month period.

Doing The Schengen Shuffle means we can travel in countries which are not included in the Schengen zone agreement - and possibly stay in each country for around 90 days at a time.

This was the perfect formula as the countries include Ireland - an EU member which is not in the Schengen zone.

Our ambitious adventure took off in Dublin from where, after the obligatory pint of Guinness or two, we embarked on the iconic Wild Atlantic Way coastal route.

Stretching 1,600 glorious miles, we wound our way down the west coast amid crashing waves, winds, gales - and the occasional ray of sunshine - to the finish at the picture postcard town of Kinsale in County Cork.

Other non-Schengen countries we are taking advantage of include Croatia - where we are currently touring leisurely after a mad dash through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Italy.

A magnificent country on less than four million people and magnificently located on the Adriatic sea, we have fallen in love with Croatia’s culture, climate and warmth and hospitality of its people.

The country’s islands are pure paradise and at least 10% of the country is made up of eight national parks, eleven nature parks and two nature reserves.

Other non-Schengen countries which are next on our itinerary are Montenegro, Turkey, and Cyprus.

As you would expect, there are limitations and visa requirements involved – and which vary across non-Schengen countries.

For example, you can enter Croatia with a valid UK passport with more than six months to run and stay for 90 days in any 180 days. These are different allowances than the 90 in 180-day Schengen zone restrictions.

Does all this sound complicated and confusing?

It certainly is - and we are learning more how it works as we venture further outside our comfort zone into the great unknown!

You can find out more about restrictions and requirements on this government website.