Airport - post Brexit - do we now have to go through the NON-EU citizens queue?

[WhiskersOnCats]

Will be flying shortly, don't fly often so post Brexit, which queue should we go through? Are we still EU? As in European, or is it part of being in the EU?

Sorry if this is a dumb question that I should know the answer to! Just asking - it won't be for a couple of months.

If Brexit has happened by then you would have to go through the non-EU queue I expect.

I believe some non-EU countries such as Switzerland have treaties with the EU that mean their citizens can join the EU queues but I’m not sure what the plan is for the UK - this would probably depend on the type of Brexit deal negotiated.

So in fact not a stupid question at all and just one example of the many uncertainties facing us until we know how Brexit pans out.

Ok, I've never flown apart from being part of the EU. Maybe they just check more documents or something. If Susan from China and Karen from Japan hold us all up, I'm not going to be very happy mind!

Probably be notices up I hope for where British people should queue to save us queuing and then having to start again at the beginning of the NON-EU queue.

Ok, so I'm thinking again.

Say I'm French, flying into Gatwick. As a European, am I now going to have extra checks coming into Britain?

FGS. If your country is not in the EU, you don't stand in that queue.

@HunkyDory69 the queue you stand in won't change depending on if you have a passport issued before we leave the EU or not. You will need 6 months validity left on it when travelling, though,v so you might need to renew it earlier than you think in any case.

@WhiskersOnCats there will be loads of signs up telling UK people where to queue, I'm sure. If we're not part of the EU, you won't be able to join a queue just for EU people, but there will be something telling you which queue to use. If you can't see anything that specifically says UK, there will be booths that say something like "rest of the world" - that's the one to use, in the absence of anything else that they've set up for UK people. (It'll be slower, but there we go.) Some countries are making special UK queues - Portugal, for example - so it might not be terrible! Airports will be expecting chaos, too, so don't worry. You won't be the only one a bit unsure about what to do.

I suppose we'll have to join the Non-EU queue. I'll feel a bit sad about that.

Thanks MumInBrussels
I am hoping it will be sign-posted from this side and once I've done it going out, I'll know where to join coming back.

You’ll need to have at least 6 months left on your passport to be allowed to travel to EU in future I think.

Hunky, you should get a new passport straight away as others have said? You will need 6 months more on it. Also, if it’s more than 10 years old it won’t be valid in the EU (UK used to add up to 9 remaining months when renewing a passport).

If I was in charge there would be especially long and frustrating queues for people who voted to leave. Or they would find themselves unable to travel out of the country into EU countries - you wanted to restrict freedom of movement, after all.

"you wanted to restrict freedom of movement, after all"

Your prejudice is showing. You're ignoring the millions who voted to stay in EEC in the 1970s (how the older generation voted) and are perfectly happy with EEC- type arrangements (options 2,3, 4) but do not want to be part of the ever-closer political union that is the EU.

(I did not vote leave, but am finding the barrage of sniping and gratuitous insults to be tiresome now - fully expect to get shouted at by not agreeing with every Remain antic on MN, especially when they tend to entrench division)

Options 2 and 3 and all that's needed is to make sure airport signage is clear (wtill be able to use same channels on same terms), option 4 would require a change, I expect another queue would be needed.

I've travelled through a few borders recently. Including Heathrow. The sheer volume of signs! It's going to cost an absolute fortune. And all the paperwork!

What a waste.

If the UK has left the EU you go in the 'everybody else' queue. If you get it wrong the authorities will tell you. The only punishment for being in the wrong queue is to put you in the correct one.
Once the UK leaves a 'British' EU passport ceases to be 'EU' and I am presuming to use the EU booths you would need your EU residents permit.

In future we will also need to apply and pay for a visa waiver like we do in the US.

OP.
Ask airport staff when you get there.
I hope you and others panicking over which queue to get into ( Very British) get into the correct queue without issues.

Well at stansted the non-eu queue is shorter than the eu one, which I was stuck in for two hours last time (as can't use gates if you're travelling with children). So hopefully it will mean less queues for us! However, a massive airport like Heathrow I would think it would be different.

FGS. If your country is not in the EU, you don't stand in that queue

Not that simple, if leave with the transition arrangement, we'll still be treated as EU I suspect.

Definitely not a simple/silly question OP and at the moment we don't know the answer.

If you get it wrong the authorities will tell you.

When you get to the desk, and get sent back to join the other queue. I hope we don't hear any complaints from Leavers. I hope they tell themselves that this is what they wanted.

Where the fuck does panicking come from

I can't see any panic

Perfectly reasonable question

BTW I had something from my holiday insurance firm yesterday - all hedged about with "we don't know what will happen".

I know its a jokey thing the whole 'leavers to the back of the queue' bit

But we're not able to tell who voted that way...except for mps

And i think IF this all goes tits up it'll be a reverse woodstock...not a leave voter to be found

Disclaimer...this is light hearted. I dont want anyone to the back of the queue. With the exception of some mps

I can’t believe the stansted comment! We can organise our own borders but all British citizens will be in the same queue together so it will continue to be big. The issue will be at European airports where you will be in the Rest Of The World queue with the same restrictions and checks as Susan and Karen from China and Japan as the OP has characterised it.

The UK will be 'in' the EU until the end of a transition period if the WA is signed.