The UK government is preparing to leave the EU.
Below is a list of key online resources that will help you better understand Brexit, its potential impact and the preparations you may have to make either before or after the UK’s departure from the EU.
General advice from government
NI Direct
Advice on how Brexit might relate to NI and people in NI with specific information on businesses and employers, transport and travel, health and social care, EU citizens, education, rights and the law, holidaying in Europe, money, benefits and pensions, agriculture and environment.
Brexit and You Leaflet
A leaflet entitled ‘Brexit and You’ will soon be delivered to all homes in Northern Ireland. This short guide provides practical advice on healthcare, transport and travel, consumers and the EU Settlement Scheme. It also has contact details for organisations providing help and support. View an interactive version of this guide or download the Brexit and You leaflet.
GOV.UK
This site offers a useful Brexit readiness tool and provides comprehensive information for businesses on many topics including exporting goods to the EU, importing goods from the EU, transporting goods by road, exporting animals or animal products, exporting services to the EU, and moving goods between Ireland and Northern Ireland. And for individuals, there’s guidance on UK nationals visiting the EU, UK nationals living in an EU country and EU citizens living in the UK.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)
Businesses within the agri-food sector can get all the latest updates on Brexit from DAERA or call its helpline.
Advice for businesses
Invest NI
Find out about the ‘Get Ready for Brexit’ clinics running across Northern Ireland. There’s also a dedicated section on Brexit FAQs, support, assessment tool, preparation grants and briefings.
NIBusinessInfo
NIBusinessInfo provides a comprehensive Brexit section, with a wealth of information tailored to the needs of specific sectors including trade, taxes, employers, transport, innovation and R&D, sales and marketing, IT, efficiency and the environment, food and drink, manufacturing and retail.
InterTradeIreland
Brexit advisory service, funding, upcoming events and a tailor-made online learning tool. Brexit planning and Brexit implementation vouchers are available for businesses to bring in expert advice. These are worth up to £2,000/£5,000 per business and applications can be made online.
NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Check out the business Brexit checklist and FAQs.
EU Settlement Scheme
In January 2019, the UK Government announced a settlement scheme for EU citizens and their families. The scheme is designed to allow most EU citizens, who started living in the UK before 31 December 2020, to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.
The deadline for applying for the settlement scheme is 31 December 2020 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Find out what you’ll need to do to stay in the UK if you or your family are from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
The Home Office has provided grant funding to community organisations providing EU settlement scheme support. These include:
Advice for the food industry
Food Standards Agency
Gain a better understanding of the steps your business may need to take in preparation for Brexit, with detailed information provided on health marks on meat, fish and dairy products, exports of products of animal origin, businesses that seek or hold authorisation for GM food or feed or animal feed additives, or export animal feed to the EU and submitting a regulated product authorisation application after Brexit.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)
Businesses within the agri-food sector can get all the latest Brexit updates from DAERA or call its helpline.
Grants
Community groups and organisations who have secured financial support from EU programmes are advised that this funding will be guaranteed by the UK government until the end of 2020.