Another clearing in, clearing out question...

[alexincornwall]

We’re in the early stages of planning a little jaunt next June/early July which, for a variety of reasons, will probably take the following format:

Falmouth – Scillies – A Coruña – Brest – Falmouth

Obviously Covid, Orca, and weather dependent.

Admittedly I’ve not done a huge amount of research yet but hoped somebody could offer some opinions on the following:

Does Spain, like France, require a specific port of entry for clearing in? If so, is A Coruña a designated port? Presumably this could be done at the airport if required.

I’m assuming that we would be free to leave Spain and clear out in Brest, ahead of the homeward channel passage? I’m guessing that by doing it that way we’d be obligated to stop in France to have our passports stamped. Perhaps it would be a safer bet to clear out in Spain and then clear in (and out), again in Brest on the off chance that we reverted to a straight line passage home again?

Any ideas?

 

[Sandy]

I can't answer your question directly, but if it was me I'd be clearing out of Spain and thus stopping the clock for the days you were on passage. It also gives you the flexibility of the direct passage to Falmouth.

 

[KompetentKrew]

Does Spain, like France, require a specific port of entry for clearing in? If so, is A Coruña a designated port? Presumably this could be done at the airport if required.

See second section ("Clearance") on this page: La Coruna | Noonsite

 

[alexincornwall]

See second section ("Clearance") on this page: La Coruna | Noonsite

Thank you very much.

 

[Ningaloo]

In my experience (St Malo, Palma de Mallorca, Cagliari) you need to go to the ferry ports where the appropriate police will at least have some idea what is required.
You will need all ships papers, insurance, crew list and log of previous ports.

 

[Bathdave]

In my experience (St Malo, Palma de Mallorca, Cagliari) you need to go to the ferry ports where the appropriate police will at least have some idea what is required.
You will need all ships papers, insurance, crew list and log of previous ports.

I can only speak for France, but you do not need all those papers…only a pre-completed French ‘pre-Avis Douane - Immigration’ form is required

 

[Slowboat35]

What does happen of you leave a foreign port intending to sail to another but for whatever reason decide to head for UK instead.
Would this cause problems? It could be for very good reason.

 

[geem]

I can't guess what might be needed next year but certainly officials in both Spain and Portugal were not very interested in us this year. Based on what I have experienced this year I would be tempted next year to fill in no forms, visit no officials and get no stamps in my passport.

 

[Bathdave]

What does happen of you leave a foreign port intending to sail to another but for whatever reason decide to head for UK instead.
Would this cause problems? It could be for very good reason.

Yes …reason isn’t really relevant to border officials ..until you check out, you’re in.

as I understand it it is a paper based system at the moment, relying on physical stamps in passport, but next year it will be a Schengen wide real time IT system

 

[st599]

What does happen of you leave a foreign port intending to sail to another but for whatever reason decide to head for UK instead.
Would this cause problems? It could be for very good reason.

As my first boss shouted at me the first time I didn't get a Carnet stamp due to Customs being closed, it's up to you to sort out your entry and exit stamps no matter how inconvenient. As of next year it's automated, so you'd end up with an overstayer flag which can lead to a 2 year entry ban to the EU.

 

[[3889]]

I can't guess what might be needed next year but certainly officials in both Spain and Portugal were not very interested in us this year. Based on what I have experienced this year I would be tempted next year to fill in no forms, visit no officials and get no stamps in my passport.

My experience also in France and Spain. Customs check in Muros raised no questions over my unstamped passport. I hadn't been ashore but was anchored for repairs so technically required a stamp. Also sailed into Calais from UK on a Saturday. Police aux Frontiers were closed for weekend and I had a flight out booked on the Sunday. No questions asked at airport. Whether that changes with the (purported) introduction of ETIAS next year is to be seen.

 

[geem]

My experience also in France and Spain. Customs check in Muros raised no questions over my unstamped passport. I hadn't been ashore but was anchored for repairs so technically required a stamp. Also sailed into Calais from UK on a Saturday. Police aux Frontiers were closed for weekend and I had a flight out booked on the Sunday. No questions asked at airport. Whether that changes with the (purported) introduction of ETIAS next year is to be seen.

Having experienced some of the Portuguese bureaucracy first hand trying to sort residency, I can't see a EU wide coordinated system landing anytime soon. The Portuguese immigration authority, SEF have been sacked by the government for raging incompetence. There is not yet a replacement. They have 50,000 application backlog. Can you see them seamlessly joining a EU wide system and it working? Why would they want to enforce something that penalizes them financially? They are crying out for tourism.

 

[Ningaloo]

As my first boss shouted at me the first time I didn't get a Carnet stamp due to Customs being closed, it's up to you to sort out your entry and exit stamps no matter how inconvenient. As of next year it's automated, so you'd end up with an overstayer flag which can lead to a 2 year entry ban to the EU.

This is the view that I have taken. If you are entering or leaving EU by ferry or flight you will almost certainly get your passport scanned. If you are leaving and don't have an entry scan I think questions might be asked.
I sailed to France and triggered 90 days then left Mallorca to exit EU with a couple of days to spare. My passport allows me a further 90 days in Italy, so I re-entered EU there (but only permitted to stay in Italy) and left by plane.
Entering France was reasonably easy but leaving Spain much more difficult to find the appropriate office. And I don't even want to think about the hassles in Italy! Probably spent half a day sorting out each entry/exit.
For me, with my boat (which is my European home) in EU, the risk of getting an overstay entered against my passport is not worth taking.

 

[sailaboutvic]

If NW Spain and France is any thing like the Med part of the same countries I would check out in Spain and leaving it as that unless boarded.
As said you then have other option.
In my own experiences they not been bothered the three times we been stop .
But hey as they say, pay your money and take your chance .