brussels from january 1 british and eu citizens will be confronted with the reality of brexit as the transition period ends and borders done away with decades ago returnfrom that date britons will be treated by the eu as third country nationals no longer enjoying freedom of movement to work study or retire across the european union and associated statesbritain in turn will process eu nationals at its borders as it does other nonuk passport holderseu citizens proving residence in britain or britons already living in a european union country before the end of this year will theoretically retain their rights under a withdrawal agreement struck in late 2019tourists will see some immediate changes apart from the evolving coronavirus restrictions already crimping travel but both sides have agreed that travel will be visafree as long as the other side keeps it that waybut the eu will stop british passports being used in its automated egates potentially meaning longer queues at manned passport boothsbritons must hold passports still valid for at least six months and will be limited to eu stays of 90 days in a rolling 180day periodthey will also need to show travel insurance coverage sufficient funds and a return ticket on requesteuropeans entering britain can use a national id card until october after which only passports will be accepted for stays of up to six monthseu passport holders will be able to continue using british egates under current guidancethose with criminal records may be banned and noneuropean family members of a european may need a visa depending on nationalitythe uk treats irish citizens separately from other eu nationals under a bilateral arrangement dating back nearly a century that allows continued freedom of movement between britain and irelandeuropeans will be able to keep using eu pet passports as long as rabies vaccines are up to dateborder control for business travellers is one of myriad issues yet to be worked out between the eu and the ukin the eu britons attending conferences or meetings likely will be exempt from visas where they do not receive payment or provide serviceshowever for other uk business travellers including posted workers and the selfemployed a visa andor a work permit may be imposed in line with each individual eu countrys lawsthere will also be tax and social security considerationscertain services or company ownership in those countries may be offlimits to noneu citizens or residents or those lacking national licences and customs declarations may be needed for goods carried inwithout an euuk deal britain will likely apply its current rules for those coming from favoured nations meaning a visa needed for work but not for short stays to attend a conference or trainingthose same rules would require eu citizens with a job offer to prove englishlanguage skills and a minimum salary dependent on whether the position is skilled 26500 pounds equivalent to 29600 euros or 35000 or a shortage occupation 20480 pounds 22800 eurosfrom january eu students going to britain will need a