Since Brexit there has been widespread confusion over the rules, including some major media outlets failing to provide details. I’ve been traveling professionally for over a decade and have found the rules they can even confuse airport and border personnel.
Regular tourists and business travelers living outside the EU and Schengen
They must use the area or line that says “All passports”. This will likely cover 99% of all UK nationals traveling to EU countries, as the vast majority are non-residents.
subtle nuances
Usually, airport staff will direct you to the passport line based solely on your nationality. For most people, that’s enough. but there are also many people who do not fit the criteria of nationality in general.
The official rules are clear and unambiguous
Schengen Border Code, Regulation (EU) 2016/399which has undergone slight modifications since then, establishing relative norms which line should people use.
The important part to remember is in chapter 10 – Separate paths and information on signposts. It covers almost every case imaginable.
In particular, section 2 mentions this key clause:
“…Recipients of the right to move freely under Union law have the right to use the roads indicated by the markings in Part A (“EU, EEA, CH”) of Appendix III.”
British residents in the EU and Schengen
This is where things get tricky. Your type of residence is important.
UK residents living in the EU prior to Brexit and benefiting from the Withdrawal Agreement – including family members.
As stated in article 14 of the Withdrawal Agreement, the main underlying principle of the Withdrawal Agreement is British nationals living in the EU prior to Brexit still benefit from the right of entry and exit in accordance with the Free Movement Directive (2004/38/EC) and are therefore allowed to use the EU passport line.
As a recipient of the Withdrawal Agreement living in the EU, I have exercised this right at many other EU/Schengen border crossings by showing my UK passport and EU residence card. Border agents also may not stamp your passport, although this can happen occasionally. The seal will have no significant effect.
And furthermore, if you have relatives living with you and also benefiting from the Withdrawal Agreement, You can also use the line area for EU passports.
Non-EU family members of EU citizens, including Withdrawal Agreement family members
If you are a UK citizen holding a residence card as a “Union Family Member”, then you are entitled to use the line designated for “EU passport”«, because by definition, he is treated as a recipient of the Directive of Free Movement. (Ref. article 3 of Directive 2004/38/EC and article 2, paragraph 5, letter a), Regulation (EU) 2016/399)
“Entrepreneur. Internet fanatic. Certified zombie scholar. Friendly troublemaker. Bacon expert.”
