If ‘Leave’ wins in Brexit referendum, Australians may need extra visa to visit UK

The impact of the European Union’s Brexit Referendum on Aussies goes beyond the Australian dollar. Although latest partial result shows the “Remain” votes – which logged a huge victory in Wandsworth, London with 75 percent – slightly ahead, a “Leave” win would possibly require a visa to UK and make trips to the US more expensive for Australian travelers.

The Evening Standard reports that based on an exclusive Ipsos MORI survey, 52 percent of Brits want to remain with the EU. But the daily points out it is a weak four-point lead possibly affected by the heavy rain in London, a key target area for “Remain” votes as the bad weather threatened to dampen turnout.

However, the researchers say 12 percent of people they surveyed said they could still change their minds hours before casting this ballots. The Australian reports that outside Wandsworth, which heavily voted in favor of “Remain,” it dominated voting in Scotland, while across Britain it still remains a neck-and-neck contest.

Although like Wandsworth, Oxford heavily favoured to stay in the regional bloc, Sir Vince Cable, former Liberal Democratic business secretary, says the “Leave” apparently is increasing and it could be a signal for the nation to think of the political and economic consequences of their decision, BBC reports. So far, 217 areas of 382 are in, with 69 opting to “Remain” and 148 to “Leave.” But latest total votes show 51.5 percent favour leaving.

With the referendum results, the sterling dipped to a 31-year-low on Friday on news of the “Leave” votes leading. It dropped to $1.50 below $1.35 to record one of the largest one-day falls in the history of the British currency, reports Daily Mail.

If the “Leave” wins, the Australian dollar would likely strengthen against the sterling but lose momentum against the greenback. Craig James, senior economist of CommSec, forecasts the Aussie dollar would fall 2.5 percent against the US dollar but gain more than 8 percent against the pound. James says despite dire predictions by the Bank of England that leaving the EU would lead UK to a recession, European and British tourists would still visit Australia and vice-versa.

However, David Beirman, tourism lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney says it could mean Aussies traveling to the UK may need an extra visa. Beirman points out that entering Britain, under EU rules, gives Aussie travelers access to all the EU nations. However, “If Brexit does occur, all that will mean is you’ll have a special stamp for coming into the UK and another stamp for EU countries,” he says.

But a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman cautions against speculation on the outcome of the EU referendum and its impact on Australian travelers.

VIDEO: Markets gyrate as Brexit vote count continues