The UK has left the EU. Check the new rules which came into force from January 2021 and how this may affect you.
The government’s website gives full details of the changes and what businesses and citizens need to do.
The government has also published details of how new borders will operate.
If you or your family are from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland you may need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.
Please apply as soon as possible as COVID-19 means it is taking longer to process applications.
Applications for settled status must be made online. You can book to use a computer free of charge at our libraries.
The government has translated the information about the settlement scheme into every EU language. See the GOV.UK site for the translations.
It has also provided videos in different languages.
Citizen’s Advice has useful information about the EU settlement scheme and immigration on its website.
You can get free help and advice from Salford Citizen’s Advice or any other branch of Citizen’s Advice across Greater Manchester.
Call Salford on 0808 278 7802. Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm (they can call you back if you are worried about the cost) or email them 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These services provide the same level of support as their face to face services.
Due to COVID-19 they can only provide a very limited drop-in service at Eccles and Walkden and a limited number of face to face appointments. Priority will go to people who can only get help by visiting the office. Please phone for details.
Walkden Gateway, 2 Smith Street, Walkden, M28 3EZ between 10am and 2pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Eccles Gateway Centre, 28 Barton Lane, Eccles. M30 0TU, between 10am and 2pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
You can also get free help and advice from Europia – a charity dedicated to supporting European expats.
Please call 0333 3058 570 or email support@europia.org.uk. Where possible all contacts will be done over the phone, through video calling or via e-mail.
Or find more local and regional organisations to help - go to the GOV.UK website and enter your postcode.
Travel to EU countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein has changed from 1 January 2021. Please also check any Covid-19 related travel restrictions or requirements before travelling.
Extra requirements apply if you are travelling on business. Business travel includes activities such as travelling for meetings and conferences, providing services including with a charity and touring art and music.
Check your phone
The guarantee of free mobile phone roaming throughout the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway has ended.
Check with your phone operator to find out about any roaming charges which come into play.
The process for importing goods from the EU or exporting goods to the EU has changed. Please check regularly in case the information changes.
The Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub which supports business across the city region has information and advisors available to provide help.
From 11 March the government has set out a new timetable for introducing import border control processes. Please visit Brexit transition for full details.
It will now introduce full border control processes on 1 January 2022, six months later than originally planned. This will provide businesses with further time to prepare for changes at the border and minimise disruption.
The revised timetable includes:
If the UK leaves without a deal, Salford City Council’s regulatory services officers can support certain food and drink exporters.
Experienced inspection officers can sign Export Health Certificates (EHCs) to assure the destination authorities that the products meet UK and EU food safety requirements as a minimum, as well as any additional conditions required.
Inspections/checks will be required to verify the requirements of the certificate have been met and this will be at a cost of £79 per hour.
Please note that for certain EHCs for products of animal origin, e.g. fishery products being exported to China, Salford City Council cannot provide this service as signing officials must be included on a list held by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Please check before contacting Salford City Council.
To request an EHC please email Environmental Health EnvironmentalHealth@salford.gov.uk
People coming to work in the UK will need to meet certain requirements under the new points based immigration system.
Sadly uncertain times can lead to community tensions but Salford is proud of the wide range of people who make up our amazing city.
Differing views on leaving the EU mean the potential for causing upset and distress is high. Please be kind and respectful of others at all times.
Racist and hateful speech and hate crime has no place in Salford and there is support available if necessary. If you experience or witness hate crime please report it so you can get support and perhaps help prevent it happening to others.
Salford City Council is prepared to respond if any of the speculation about emergencies or problems turns into reality. It’s all part of the council’s planning and readiness to deal with a wide range of emergency situations, many of which, fortunately, never arise.
This page was last updated on 15 March 2021