The UK has left the European Union

Brexit means there will be a number of changes that will affect individuals and businesses.

Advice and Guidance for Citizens

The UK and Scottish Governments, along with some other organisations, have produced advice and guidance to help citizens and businesses deal with the new arrangements following Brexit. Here are some useful links:

UK Government: Get Ready for Brexit
Scottish Government – EU Exit (Brexit)
Citizens Advice Scotland

If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen and wish to stay in the UK, you and your family will have to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021. This is a free scheme which enables EU, other EAA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK, and their family members, to obtain the status they will require in order to live and work in the UK. This includes children, non-EU family members, EU/EEA/Swiss citizens married to a British national, students, elderly and holders of a Permanent Residence Card.

Applicants for settled status need to prove their identity, show they live in the UK and declare any criminal convictions. For more information visit the links below:

Staying in the UK after it leaves the EU: Step by Step
Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme
EU Settlement Scheme: translated information materials

A charitable organisation called Settled is also helping people with applications.

As well as the advice and information from the UK Government, there is local support available to help with applications:

The ‘We are Digital’ service to assist with making online applications is available in Dundee at the Central Library in the Wellgate. Appointments must be booked by phone (call 03333 445 675) or by text message (text the word “VISA” to 07537 416 944).
Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau offer support via a national telephone helpline, online advice guide.
- For the national helpline phone 0800 916 9847 - Monday 9am - 1pm, Wednesday 1pm - 5pm and Friday 9am - 1pm.
- For the online advice guide - search for 'staying in the UK after Brexit' at citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/
- Face to face appointments are not currently possible.

The Citizens Rights Project provides FREE SUPPORT for people who require assistance with their EU Settlement Scheme application. If you need help, or if you employ, support, provide services or simply know people that might be facing barriers to apply, you can speak with their accredited advisers on 07518 926137 or info@citizensrightsproject.org. They can answer questions and/or help with applications, and can also provide language support and offer free referrals to other organisations. The Project is certified to provide EUSS advice by OISC.

The Citizens' Rights Project in conjunction with the Royal Association for Deaf People will provide clear BSL information and support to EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and their family members who need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to protect their rights and remain in the UK after Brexit.

Advice and Guidance for Businesses

Help from Scotland's Enterprise and Skills Agencies

Scotland's enterprise and skills agencies are focussed on helping businesses to operate after Brexit and maximise growth opportunities in international markets.

The first port of call for all businesses should be www.FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot/operate-after-Brexit for the latest guidance, support and advice. This includes:

Sign-up to receive the latest email updates on Operating after Brexit from www.FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot which provides the latest information for businesses.
Scottish Enterprise’s Brexit Helpline - queries from import and export documentation, tariffs, VAT to logistics. Online: Brexit Enquiry Form Telephone: 0300 303 0661, including further Brexit helplines to find information and advice on trade, sector or market issues. The UK Government has also published a full list of business actions and the relevant helplines
Further details on virtual events and webinars ensuring your business can operate after Brexit can still be accessed via www.prepareforbrexit.scot/events for the time being
New SME Brexit Support Fund from HMRC - grant of up to £2K is for small and medium-sized businesses new to importing or exporting to the EU. This grant can help adjust to new customs, rules of origin, and VAT rules. Further details via: www.customsintermediarygrant.co.uk/sme-brexit-support-fund
Frequently asked questions - search by topic to find solutions to common issues faced by Scottish businesses.
Understanding VAT after Brexit  - the rules surrounding VAT have changed. Understand how the new rules affect your business, with country-specific information and situational examples.
Everything you need to know about Rules of Origin - find out how Rules of Origin impact your business and follow a five-step process to make sure you’re following the new regulations.
Transport and logistics - how to ensure your goods get to market and you get the imports your business needs to operate after Brexit.
Key dates for companies to note in 2021 - since a trade deal has been agreed between the UK and the EU, businesses must ensure they are up to date with changing rules and regulations surrounding their business operations.

Help from the UK Government

If businesses have any queries about exporting goods to the EU, they should go to gov.uk/transition or use the following helpline numbers:

HMRC Customs & International Trade Helpline - 0300 322 9434. Opening hours here.
HMRC VAT / Imports and Exports General Enquiries - 0300 200 3700. Opening hours here.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
- Vehicle operator licensing enquiries - 0300 123 9000. Opening hours here.
- International Road Haulage Permits - 0330 678 1117. Opening hours here.
Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) - 0300 1000 313. Further details here.

Help from Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce

Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce’s International Team - Vince Mitchell, Katie Preston and Keith Harvey – are available to help any businesses needing specific local information, particularly around export documents and customs declarations.

The Chamber has launched a ChamberCustoms service.

and their series of Brexit webinars are available to watch on their YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tle31d1bRLc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwQIXTLN_N8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhZsmSj3DMA

International Trade Course

Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce is offering an International Trade Course to provide businesses with the knowledge needed to deal with customs procedures and documentation.
The course covers 6 modules, with 5 hours of content per module, so a total of 30 hours for the full course, with an optional additional 2 hour live session each month for each module. The modules are:

Customs Procedures and documentation
Incoterms ® 2020
Export Documentation
Rules of Origin
Understanding Exporting
Understanding Importing

The course can be taken at any time and you will gain a VQ Qualification on completion.

The course can be fully funded through the SME Brexit support fund.

To register interest, fill out the application form.

Customs Declaration Training Course

Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce recently launched a certified online Customs Declarations Training course to help local businesses prepare for the changes to customs processes and procedures that will come into play on 1 Jan 2021.

The course is run in conjunction with the British Chambers of Commerce and can be fully funded through HMRC grant funding.

Full information on the course is available on the Chamber’s website.

Advice and Guidance for Students

The 20,000 students who attend Dundee's two universities and further education college make up around one in seven of the population - the highest figure in Scotland. They contribute greatly to the city, culturally and economically.

We are aware that significant numbers of those students - and staff - are from non-UK EU countries, and are working closely with our colleagues in Further and Higher education regarding Brexit and the impacts it may have on them.

Eligible students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland who choose to start studying in the 2020-21 academic year will get free tuition for the duration of their course.

Students are advised to keep up to date by visiting their individual university/college websites to find news and information related to the UK’s participation in the Erasmus+ programme.

How is Dundee City Council dealing with Brexit?

The Council has established a Brexit Advisory Team to advise members on how to mitigate the impact of Brexit and take advantage of any opportunities which arise.

The Council’s spokesperson on Europe is also chairing a Cross Party Group of councillors, MSPs and MPs to monitor developments and lobby to protect the city’s interests. Issues for Dundee include:

The impact on EU citizens living and working in the city.
The ending of EU funding for projects and uncertainty about replacement funding.
Implications for the workforce of the Council and other major employer.
Impact on the local economy, including on businesses and academic institutions.
Resilience Planning in the event of a "No Deal" Brexit

You can see the updates on Brexit given to Council Committees here:

January 2021 (170KB MS Word doc)
August 2020 (282KB MS Word doc)
January 2020 (289KB PDF)
September 2019 (217KB PDF)
April 2019 (273KB PDF)
January 2019 (319KB PDF)
August 2018 (267KB PDF)
February 2018 (360KB PDF)

Travelling to Europe from 1 January 2021

Most of us aren't travelling much at the moment but, after 1 January 2021, if you do travel to Europe there are some things you need to know.

The UK has left the European Union

The UK has left the European Union container

The UK has left the European Union content

Related Links

Dundee City Council