What changed after Brexit? The UK’s departure from the European Union altered arrangements for trade, travel, citizens’ rights, Northern Ireland and many other areas.
Some changes began when the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. Others took effect when the transition period ended on 31 December 2020 and the new UK–EU relationship began on 1 January 2021.
The effects have been felt across trade, travel, work, citizens’ rights, Northern Ireland, research, energy, fisheries and many other areas of everyday life.
What Changed After Brexit at a Glance
Four of the most significant practical changes are summarised below.
Trade & Goods
New customs procedures and rules of origin changed how goods move between Great Britain and the EU.
Travel & Movement
Free movement ended, changing the rules for travel, longer stays, work and study between the UK and EU.
Work & Citizens' Rights
Brexit changed the rules for working, studying and residence, while the Withdrawal Agreement protects many people who were already living across the UK–EU divide.
UK–EU Cooperation
The UK and EU continue to cooperate through agreements covering trade, research, energy, fisheries, Northern Ireland and other areas.
What Is Brexit?
Brexit is the commonly used term for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU). The word combines “Britain” and “exit”.
On 23 June 2016, the UK held a referendum in which a majority of those who voted supported leaving the European Union. After several years of negotiations, the UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020.
A transition period then continued until 31 December 2020. During that period, most EU rules continued to apply in the UK. On 1 January 2021, the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement began applying provisionally, establishing the basis for the new relationship alongside the Withdrawal Agreement.
Sources: House of Commons Library — Brexit Timeline | European Commission — EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
How Did Brexit Come About?
The United Kingdom’s relationship with European integration began long before the Brexit referendum. On 1 January 1973, the UK joined the European Economic Community (EEC), commonly known as the Common Market.
Membership remained politically debated. In June 1975, the UK held its first nationwide referendum, asking voters whether the country should remain in the European Community. Of those who voted, 67.2% supported continued membership, while 32.8% voted to leave.
Over the following decades, European integration deepened. The Single European Act, which entered into force in 1987, aimed to complete the European single market.
The Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force on 1 November 1993, formally created the European Union and expanded cooperation into areas including foreign and security policy and justice