Cherbourg (in)formalities experience

[Fizzing]

Not sure where best to post this..I will also add it to the St Malo formalities thread.
I have been in communication with the Harbourmaster at Tréguier.
Today he has confirmed that you can enter France in Tréguier provided that you make an appointment with Douane/Customs to stamp your passports at the customs office in Plérin (next to Saint Brieuc). However, before this you must complete the “preavis” (attached) 48 hours before your arrival, and then make an appointment with Douane/Customs. When you arrive in Tréguier, he suggests you rent a car to go to Plérin which is 35 miles/50 minutes distant.
All of which makes Roscoff (a “port of entry”) a more attractive option for crossing to northern Brittany and then heading off to cruise southern Brittany!

 

[ashtead]

I rather suspect by the time we reach July there will be a steady stream of stamping paper ongoing at cherbourg - I wonder what happens to those unable to get an exit stamp though?

 

[dslittle]

I rather suspect by the time we reach July there will be a steady stream of stamping paper ongoing at cherbourg - I wonder what happens to those unable to get an exit stamp though?

I might well find out shortly.

We ‘checked out’ of France from Roscoff. All very straightforward in that the Douane were slightly unsure how to deal with us walking up to one of the booths as a UK ferry was coming in but very amiable. Eventually one of them walked us to a booth and asked his colleague to book us out and stamp my friend’s passport. He duly did and it was only as we walked away that my friend checked his stamp - it was an arrivals stamp!!! It was then that I heard the word ‘merde’ for the first time since leaving school…

His colleague then got into a car and returned five minutes later with a departure stamp (obviously from the Departure booths). A quick squiggle on the arrivals stamp and a new departure stamp later we were free to leave. I did ask if the computer had been updated and I was told that all was well (I didn’t see them do anything else). As I have a Carte de Séjour, my passport wasn’t stamped.

It will be interesting to see what happens when I return in July!!!

 

[Fizzing]

I rather suspect by the time we reach July there will be a steady stream of stamping paper ongoing at cherbourg - I wonder what happens to those unable to get an exit stamp though?

Your 90 day "Schengen Clock" keeps running until you officially leave...so if you travel to Schengen agin you may find you will be turned away at the border....or airport ..no passport stamp means no evidence of leaving the EU/Schengen!

 

[lustyd]

More likely it would lead to a very dull conversation, a couple of wasted hours, and finding evidence you did actually leave. Your credit card statement being the simplest, it would show you living a life elsewhere even if you didn't have an email with ferry tickets or similar. I don't think border control are quite as hard line as they're made out to be (outside the US, where they absolutely are!).

 

[DJE]

Mistakes will happen. A friend flew to Hamburg on a scheduled flight, picked up a boat and sailed it down to Calais. Went to clear out and found that he didn't have an arrival stamp. So they are going to have to accept supporting evidence in some cases.

I suspect it is going to be another one like proof of boat VAT status where the Brits obsess about it and the French aren't bothered.

 

[st599]

Mistakes will happen. A friend flew to Hamburg on a scheduled flight, picked up a boat and sailed it down to Calais. Went to clear out and found that he didn't have an arrival stamp. So they are going to have to accept supporting evidence in some cases.

I suspect it is going to be another one like proof of boat VAT status where the Brits obsess about it and the French aren't bothered.

The passport stamps are only an interim solution. From autumn it's automated - you check in and out via a biometric terminal and the overstay is caluclated centrally.

 

[lustyd]

I can't imagine the introduction of the terminals will signal immediate replacement of common sense at borders, there will still be border officials capable of conversations. Those conversations might become harder, but realistically it can't become that black and white.

 

[Sea Devil]

Just going through this thread and in post #11 I scanned the QR code and looked at the form. There is no mention of insurance certificates. Whereas in the English version of the form ,the PAF from Le Havre, it requests insurance details (for the people, not the boat). Obviously "going abroad" requires holiday insurance, even just for a weekend. Does everyone do it (and any recommendations?) Just curious as the liklihood of me getting accross in my own boat remains somewhat low......although I am thinking about it, so there is hope

Almost every marina in the world requires 3rd party boat insurance - I travel a lot and don't bother with health or travel insurance except for the USA where going into hospital without insurance could bankrupt me! The EU countries do not care if you have personal insurance or not - it's your risk

 

[st599]

The EU countries do not care if you have personal insurance or not - it's your risk

It's now a condition of entry for 3rd Country nationals. I've been checked on my last 3 work trips to Germany.

 

[Tranona]

It's now a condition of entry for 3rd Country nationals. I've been checked on my last 3 work trips to Germany.

Only if you are applying for or have a Schengen visa, not if you are a tourist. The GHIC gives basic health cover, although of course many visitors also take out travel insurance.

 

[st599]

Only if you are applying for or have a Schengen visa, not if you are a tourist. The GHIC gives basic health cover, although of course many visitors also take out travel insurance.

It doesn't cover repatriation which is a requirement in some EU states.

 

[Tranona]

It doesn't cover repatriation which is a requirement in some EU states.

Do you have a reference for this, and which states require tourists to have repatriation insurance?

 

[DJE]

Update from the Cruising Association.

 

[ashtead]

Thank you for sharing - the Solent/Alderney/jersey/st cast route looks increasingly attractive.

 

[st599]

Do you have a reference for this, and which states require tourists to have repatriation insurance?

Nope, other than being asked for it in Germany and Austria

 

[Tranona]

Nope, other than being asked for it in Germany and Austria

The context would be helpful because AFAIK there are no European/EU states which require health insurance from visitors, although some require it for non citizen residents, those with work permits and those, for example in France who apply for extended visas. The terms of the withdrawal agreement retained the rights for basic state provided healthcare for for visitors as existed before, but not obviously for those living and working in the EU where individual states have their own rules.

Just for information I have travelled all over the world over the last 60+ years both for work and pleasure and have never once been asked for evidence of travel or health insurance, although of course I often did have cover. However never bothered in Europe as the EHIC was OK, although never needed it. My daughter did when studying and working in France and required some fairly serious surgery. All covered by EHIC except a nominal fee.