However you feel about Brexit, it has potentially thrown up some new challenges for British cruising yachtsmen sailing to France. There were worries that red tape and unworkable rules would spell the end of the cross channel hop.
Initially, after Brexit, it was proposed that boats that arrived from the UK would have to enter France through a limited number of Ports of Entry – which are usually large ferry ports, but thanks to sterling work done by the Cruising Association, rules have been clarified, common sense has prevailed and processes simplified. You can now enter through any port. However, there are a few rules you need to follow when Sailing to France. Because we’ve enjoyed freedom of movement for so long, this can seem like a lot of hassle. But it is fairly straightforward. Everything we’ve heard suggests the French Authorities are happy to welcome UK sailors back into their ports.
Here is a 5 point checklist to help you get organised and to demonstrate it’s actually pretty straightforward Sailing to France and encourage you to enjoy a trip across the channel.
1. Download the Preavis Immigration/Notice of Immigration form in advance. Look on your destination port’s website for the form. Here are the links for Cherbourg and Le Havre.
British sailors must complete this form – they should be completed and emailed prior to arrival. Give 24 hours notice of arrival, 48 hours at the weekends. Apparently, there are shortages in immigration staff to deal with all this extra work – so do give notice of arrival.
2. On arrival the boat captain must contact the Police Aux Frontières to register the boat and crew. And to get the crew passports stamped. You may need to attend the office, the Cherbourg office is a 15-minute stroll, or they may well come to the boat.
3. Remember to complete the process again on leaving France this time you must download the Declaration of Departure from the Port’s website. Staff shortages may result in them stamping your passport ahead of your day of departure.
4. Countries in the Schengen area permit citizens from visa-free third countries to stay a maximum of 90 days in any rolling 180 day period without a national visa. So if you fail to officially leave, the meter will still be running on your 90-day allowance. If you wish to stay longer in an EU country longer, you can apply for a visa for a specific country.
5. Don’t worry in extreme situations – severe weather, vessel issues etc…. these entry requirements can be overridden. Contact the harbourmaster for permission to enter.
What is the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area signifies a zone where 26 European countries, abolished their internal borders, for the free movement of people. It includes most of the EU Countries; Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus are looking to join soon, so keep an eye out. Third-country nationals (as a UK Citizen that is you) are permitted to spend 90 days within a 180 day period in the Schengen without a visa. Some EU countries, like Ireland, have opted out of the Schengen Agreement, so will not count towards your 90 days.
• If you have a visa/ residence permit for a country in the zone, these do not count towards your 90 days allowed in the Schengen area.
• As a UK resident, you are a third-country national. You declare arrival and departure into the Schengen zone, not to each port within the Schengen area, as long as it is within your 90 days allowance. Third-country nationals are permitted to spend 90 days within a 180 day period in the Schengen without a visa.
• Do not be tempted to overstay, it won’t go unnoticed and could result in a fine, deportation and or entry ban.
• Saint-Cast and Saint Quay have been given special dispensation between 1 June 2022 and 30th September 2022 to permit arrivals and departures without passports being stamped. Passport stamps are moving toward electronic stamps, so you may not need to present to receive a passport stamp in the near future.
• From 1 June 2022 to 30 September 2022 visitors arriving at the ports of Saint-Cast and Saint Quay by sea from outside the EU may submit a ‘Preavis Immigration’/Notice of Arrival form to avoid the need for passports to be stamped. The form must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of arrival or for shorter passages before departure from the previous port. The same process applies to departure. Find out more here.
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/new-eu-system-that-replaces-passport-stamps-to-start-operating-by-2022/
• By next year there will be procedures for obtaining an ETIAS (European Travel and Information Authorization) for UK citizens wanting to travel to the Schengen Area. This will involve going online to the ETIAS website (which hasn’t been launched yet) and completing a simple application form. The fee will be about 7 euros and will be similar to an application form for a short term visa to the USA. We’ll update this blog when the ETIAS is introduced.
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/what-brits-must-know-about-eus-e7-entry-authorization-that-becomes-effective-on-may-2023/
Channel Hops with First Class Sailing
Our weekend Channel Hops offer you the opportunity to build sea miles towards your Yachtmaster Offshore whilst gaining experience of sailing to France – including night sailing.
You will get open sea experience along with experience of crossing the shipping lanes at night and by day. There is also the opportunity for 2 people – one on the outbound trip and one on the return to have a go at skippering a passage over 60 nautical miles. The trips are done over a weekend leaving Friday night from Southampton and arriving back either Sunday or Monday depending on which trip you choose. We have a number of Channel Hops available over the coming months so click here for more details and to book your place.
Links
Cherbourg
https://www.digimap.gg/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Formulaire-PAF-plaisanciers-britanniques-Cherbourg.pdf
Le Havre
https://lehavreplaisance.com/library/file/PAF-le-Havre-Immigration-Form.%20anglais%20odt%202-1%285%29.pdf
https://www.port-armor.com/public/uploads/2022/06/Formulaire-de-preavis-1.pdf
