Entry & Exit Procedures to France
Published 15:00 on 2 Sep 2024
Following our two week sail to France this year I thought that it would be helpful to pass on our experience of the 'the paperwork' and customs when following the formal procedure.
Firstly the UK Borderforce require yachtsmen leaving the UK to log in and complete an online voyage plan (https://www.spcr.homeoffice.gov.uk) stating who will be onboard, destination, date and time of arrival (within a two hour window!). Also to be filled out are date and place of arrival back to the UK(!)
Reading the yachting press and CA website beforehand confirmed that some 20 odd French marinas had now been given delegated powers from customs authority to carry out entry/exit procedures (presumably to get visiting numbers back up to previous Brexit levels). However we found this not to be the case!
We arrived in Cherbourg, this being designated as a 'Primary port'. On declaring our arrival at the marina office we were told to come back at 1800 when the local Customs Officer would arrive to stamp passports,1800 came and went, "he's now coming at 1900" we were told, 1900 came and went then, "he will be here at 1030 the following morning".
Surely enough they did arrive at 1030 to stamp our passports and take receipt of our previously completed PAF Form (Prevais Police Aux Frontiere). With passports stamped off we went sailing to St Vaast and Carentan, these both being 'Secondary ports', where enquiring in both marinas we had it confirmed that they were not empowered to provide entry/exit stamps in passports - this can only be done at 'Primary ports'! So in our case we had to sail back to Cherbourg for the exit stamp otherwise the 90 day EU rule would kick in. The lesson learned here is that if a UK flagged vessel enters a French Secondary port first, then entry procedures can be satisfied by online submission of a PAF Form, likewise for exit, there is no need for stamps in the passports. Thus, not dictating your exit by leaving from a Primary port (and waiting for the Customs Officer).
Before re-entry to the UK the skipper is required again to log into the Borderforce/HMRC website and complete the re-entry form, stating passenger details (saved from leaving), date and place of arrival, as well as a two hour window of arrival!! Online approval of transit (or not) is then given by them. Once back in the nominated port the final requirement is to phone the local customs office (Portsmouth) to obtain approval to take down the Q flag.
Was it worth it? Yes wine, cheese and oysters were definitely worth the hassle!
Ken & Janet Mizen
Last updated 13:39 on 3 September 2024