Buying a yacht post Brexit in Greece

[Tamer11]

As a UK resident I am looking at buying a Yacht in Greece. Once purchased I will transfer it to the British flag, put it on the UK SSR and insure it through a UK insurance company with the boat operating in the Med. Can anyone provide their personal experience of doing this post Brexit, any hacks or advice or good English speaking surveyors/lawyers?

 

[Tranona]

Doubt many people have done it yet - after all 2 months, no travel and middle of winter! Anyway do not see any problems. Are you buying privately? from a UK owner or an EU based one, or ex charter?. The formalities of getting title, deregistering etc vary depending on the seller. In some ways buying ex charter is easiest as they are geared up for dealing with this. Here are some Greece based surveyors who will be acceptable to your UK insurer
ydsa.co.uk/find/surveyors/?newSearch=1&region=2&region2=85&SelectedIWG=0&mater=0&text=&SelectedLYG=0&showAll=true#searchBox

 

[Tamer11]

......thank's for the reply, yes all private, we want to keep it there as long as possible in Greece so will look at taking it to Albania every 180 days (bloody Brexit) Has anybody any experience of the Temporary Import licence in Greece as I understand it, it works a bit differently to the rest of Europe!!! Thanks for the link

 

[st599]

......thank's for the reply, yes all private, we want to keep it there as long as possible in Greece so will look at taking it to Albania every 180 days (bloody Brexit) Has anybody any experience of the Temporary Import licence in Greece as I understand it, it works a bit differently to the rest of Europe!!! Thanks for the link

Why every 180 days? Would you not need to leave Greece every 90 days and stay out for 90 days?

 

[Tamer11]

....meant to say the boat every 180 days (less time on the hard)

 

[Tranona]

......thank's for the reply, yes all private, we want to keep it there as long as possible in Greece so will look at taking it to Albania every 180 days (bloody Brexit) Has anybody any experience of the Temporary Import licence in Greece as I understand it, it works a bit differently to the rest of Europe!!! Thanks for the link

The boat is no problem as it will be EU VAT paid if it was in Greece on 31/12/2020. So no need to take it out of the EU at all - even if you do you can go in and out under the Returned Goods rules. It is UK residents who have the limitation as persons under Schengen rules. Just make sure you have documentation that clearly shows it is EU VAT paid as quite likely with a British registration you may be questioned. Suggest you join the Cruising Association as they are the best source of reliable information on keeping your boat in Greece.

 

[Tamer11]

....thank you Tranona I will definitely join the Cruising Association also I will have a look at the Returned Goods rules. I am aware of Schengen rules and need to know more about owning a boat

 

[Whiterose]

Go to Croatia...boats not the problem ..UK passport holder is..Schengen 90 out of 180 days .If you went aboard for three months returned to UK for 3 months ..you couldn’t then return to Greece.You could leave it a month then return for a month etc...gets quite complicated ..takes way from the “ Fancy going to boat for a few weeks” ..

 

[Tranona]

....thank you Tranona I will definitely join the Cruising Association also I will have a look at the Returned Goods rules. I am aware of Schengen rules and need to know more about owning a boat

With RGR it only becomes relevant if you leave the EU, say to go to Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, but you have 3 years to return so in reality it is not an issue. Croatia is in the EU for VAT purposes, but not currently in Schengen.

Provided you have no intention of bringing the boat to the UK there are no downsides to buying and keeping a boat that is EU VAT paid in Greece.