From Erasmus to airport e-gates: What new UK-EU deal means for Czechia

A new trade agreement between the EU and UK promises to reshape key aspects of life for Czechs looking to travel, study, or do business with the UK, British citizens living in Czechia, and people from the UK who want to visit Czechia.

In a move set to benefit students and young professionals, the UK and EU have agreed in principle to reinstate youth mobility schemes, allowing individuals under a new “youth experience” programme to work, study, volunteer, au pair, or travel for extended periods. The scheme would be "capped and time-limited", the government said.

While specific details, including the visa duration, are pending, the agreement marks a significant shift after years of restricted access post-Brexit.

Critically for Czech students and universities, the deal includes a commitment to explore UK participation in the Erasmus+ programme, potentially restoring access to British universities. British students, in turn, would gain new opportunities to study at institutions across the EU, including in Czechia.

“The specific terms of this association, including mutually agreed financial terms, should be determined... to ensure a fair balance,” the joint communique stated. Discussions over funding remain unresolved.

Under the new agreement, British holidaymakers will be able to use e-gates at more European airports, including those in Prague (among the most popular European destinations for Brits).

British citizens traveling to Czechia, however, will have to wait a little while for faster airport entry. Implementation is not expected before 2026, pending the rollout of the EU’s new travel authorization system.

Currently, e-gate use remains limited to select countries such as Portugal, Spain, and parts of France.

The agreement also brings relief to Czech exporters and importers of agricultural goods. Under the new terms, health and safety checks on products such as fresh meat, vegetables, dairy, and timber will be significantly reduced or eliminated.

This change is expected to lower costs and streamline cross-border trade for small and medium-sized businesses in Czechia and the UK.

Since Brexit, producers on both sides have been burdened by costly sanitary and phytosanitary checks. The deal stops short of full customs union membership but signals a thaw in previously rigid trading conditions.

While not comprehensive, the deal represents a partial reset in EU-UK relations. For Czechs and Britons alike, it could mean smoother travel, greater academic collaboration, and revitalized trade across the Channel.