February 7, 2020
The United Kingdom (UK) is now officially out of the European Union (EU). Both sides had agreed to a Withdrawal Agreement that sets the conditions of the UK's exit. This agreement came into force on January 31, 2020.
The Agreement states that the UK shall be bound by the obligations stemming from agreements with international partners, such as Canada, during the post-Brexit transition period that is expected to last until December 31, 2020, with a possibility of being extended by one or two years.
As a result, the European Union will interpret its agreements with Canada as applying to the United Kingdom for the duration of this transition period.
Canada has also agreed, through a decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to continue to interpret its agreements with the European Union as applying to the United Kingdom for the duration of the transition period as defined in the Withdrawal Agreement.
Agreements concluded by Canada with the European Union, with Member States acting on behalf of the European Union, and with the European Union and its Member States acting jointly shall continue to apply to the United Kingdom for the duration of the transition period.
This includes the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Canadian travellers should also not experience any changes in travel to and from the U.K.