EU transition from January 1

Britain has now left the European Union and there are new rules for businesses and residents from January 1, 2021.

Your business, family, and personal circumstances are affected, and you are likely to have a lot of questions.

On the Government website, you can answer a few questions to get a personalised list of actions. You can also sign up for emails to get updates for what you need to do.

Complete the transition questionnaire

The new rules affect citizens, businesses and travel to the EU.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions for businesses

Frequently asked questions for residents

Changes for businesses and citizens

Check what you need to do differently if you’re:

• importing goods from the EU
• exporting goods to the EU
• moving goods to or from Northern Ireland
• travelling to the EU
• living and working in the EU
• staying in the UK if you’re an EU citizen

Get the complete list of what you need to do for you, your business and your family.

Local business advice

The Growth Hub is one of the key activities provided by the LEP and provides expert support and guidance, direct to local businesses. If you run a local business and would like to speak an expert about business planning for EU exit please contact Growth Hub for EU Transition Support.

We want to help businesses understand what the EU Exit means to them and keep business owners updated. In addition to government information,  you’ll find the latest information, advice and support available to help you prepare for the end of the transition period and beyond by taking advantage of free training courses by The East Midlands Chamber.

EU Settlement Scheme 

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK.  

Leicestershire County Council is one of the local authorities that are providing a document scanning service for people applying to the EU Settlement Scheme. 

This service is available to resident EU citizens with a valid EU passport, and to their non-EU citizen family members with a biometric residence card issued by the UK.

Read more about the Leicestershire County Council EU Settlement Scheme document scanning service

UK citizens in the EU - advice 

The Government EU Exit web pages include advice specific to where you are living in the European Union. 

Prepare for EU Exit if you live in the UK 

Visit the Government's EU Exit web pages for information on: 

• Going and being abroad
• Work
• Transport 
• Environment 
• Business and industry 
• Education, training and skills

Additional helpful resources

• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has produced a toolkit for small and medium sized businesses to help them make decisions and take actions they need to make to continue trading with the EU and the European Free Trade Association.
• EU Settlement Scheme: employer toolkit - This toolkit equips you with the right materials and information to support EU citizens to apply to stay in the UK, including a template letter to EU citizen staff, a presentation, social media images and posters, and more
• GOV.UK webinars - additional resources to support businesses through the transition period and prepare for change
• Leicester and Leicestershire Growth Hub run events to support businesses
• The Government's step-by-step Get ready for Brexit guide can help businesses prepare for the EU exit and the potential 'no deal' scenario
• The East Midlands Chamber - Business Readiness Events and Brexit Support
• Our food safety team have put together advice for the food and drink sector