Foreign flagged Entry - Exit requirements for pleasure craft to UK

[Star-Lord]

What are the Foreign flagged Entry - Exit requirements for pleasure craft to UK? If re flagging from British to Polish (purchased in UK) - UK citizen. Does the normal letter ned to be sent? TIA.

 

[st599]

Which letter? And what's the VAT status?

It's all done via a website.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Here are the rules ...

Sailing a pleasure craft within UK waters

Simply re-flagging the vessel will change nothing in terms of location or import/VAT status - so there is no requirement to do any exit/entry. You will need a UK courtesy flag though which should be flown on the the starboard side, top flag under the first cross-tree.

It would be a good idea to inform your insurance company too.

If you leave the UK and return then the requirements for your Polish flagged vessel are exactly the same as the requirements for a UK flagged vessel if the crew are all UK citizens. Border force might however be more interested in your boat if it doesn't have a UK ensign.

Entry and exit formalities | boating abroad | RYA

 

[Tranona]

What are the Foreign flagged Entry - Exit requirements for pleasure craft to UK? If re flagging from British to Polish (purchased in UK) - UK citizen. Does the normal letter ned to be sent? TIA.

Why do you want to change from British registration to Polish? as already suggested it makes no difference to the formalities for entering another state.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Why do you want to change from British registration to Polish? as already suggested it makes no difference to the formalities for entering another state.

Polish registration is a once only registration and does not require any renewal like most others

 

[RupertW]

Why do you want to change from British registration to Polish? as already suggested it makes no difference to the formalities for entering another state.

It shouldn’t do but lots of evidence that Greece sees UK flagged flagged boats as non-EU and so won’t recogpine VAT status. Spain also gets mentioned.

 

[Tranona]

It shouldn’t do but lots of evidence that Greece sees UK flagged flagged boats as non-EU and so won’t recogpine VAT status. Spain also gets mentioned.

The Greek issues are being slowly but surely resolved thanks to the CA. The specific issue there is with UK boats that acquired their EU VAT status under the withdrawal agreement, but the OPs boat seems to be UK VAT paid.

The OP was asking about entry into the UK specifically - and everywhere else (just about) Polish registration of a UK VAT paid boat owned by a UK citizen is more likely to raise questions. The OP does not say where he is resident which may (or may not!) have some bearing on the issue although ownership does not affect the boat's VAT status.

 

[Star-Lord]

The Greek issues are being slowly but surely resolved thanks to the CA. The specific issue there is with UK boats that acquired their EU VAT status under the withdrawal agreement, but the OPs boat seems to be UK VAT paid.

The OP was asking about entry into the UK specifically - and everywhere else (just about) Polish registration of a UK VAT paid boat owned by a UK citizen is more likely to raise questions. The OP does not say where he is resident which may (or may not!) have some bearing on the issue although ownership does not affect the boat's VAT status.

I was just thinking about formalities with a foreign flagged vessel as I've only sailed a British one. I have an Irish passport and the reason for going Polish is it's easy - and it will be kept in France and EU VAT will be paid in France. And if I popped back - I would just declare myself at a marina. But I hear on the way out you need to write a letter and post it! And say that you are leaving UK waters and give your destination. Is that the same for foreign flagged vessels as well? And Irish passport holders? They have to post a letter? Obv a nice problem to have

 

[st599]

I was just thinking about formalities with a foreign flagged vessel as I've only sailed a British one. I have an Irish passport and the reason for going Polish is it's easy - and it will be kept in France and EU VAT will be paid in France. And if I popped back - I would just declare myself at a marina. But I hear on the way out you need to write a letter and post it! And say that you are leaving UK waters and give your destination. Is that the same for foreign flagged vessels as well? And Irish passport holders? They have to post a letter? Obv a nice problem to have

It's now online.

 

[doug748]

I was just thinking about formalities with a foreign flagged vessel as I've only sailed a British one. I have an Irish passport and the reason for going Polish is it's easy - and it will be kept in France and EU VAT will be paid in France. And if I popped back - I would just declare myself at a marina. But I hear on the way out you need to write a letter and post it! And say that you are leaving UK waters and give your destination. Is that the same for foreign flagged vessels as well? And Irish passport holders? They have to post a letter? Obv a nice problem to have

As already mentioned, if you live in the UK, just nipping back for a visit is going to need some thinking about.

.

 

[st599]

If you're a UK resident, if you bring the boat in to the UK, VAT will be due. And at the time of import it has to meet current RCR regulations on things like engine emmissions.

 

[Tranona]

I was just thinking about formalities with a foreign flagged vessel as I've only sailed a British one. I have an Irish passport and the reason for going Polish is it's easy - and it will be kept in France and EU VAT will be paid in France. And if I popped back - I would just declare myself at a marina. But I hear on the way out you need to write a letter and post it! And say that you are leaving UK waters and give your destination. Is that the same for foreign flagged vessels as well? And Irish passport holders? They have to post a letter? Obv a nice problem to have

This is a very different scenario(s) from your original post. You are now saying that the boat will be EU VAT paid so NOT bought in the UK and now you are an Irish (EU) citizen rather than a UK citizen - but still do not say where you are resident. Post#3 gave you a link to the government guidance for sailing a pleasure boat into the UK. You notify customs, and declare yourself, crew and your boat and they and Border Force will determine what you and your boat's rights are.

The rules are pretty straightforward. As an Irish citizen there are no restrictions on entry, stay or residence. For the boat - if it is EU VAT paid and you are resident in the EU, including Ireland you are entitled to bring the boat in under temporary admission. If you are resident in the UK (independent of your citizenship) the boat will be subject to VAT on entry and you will be responsible for payment. It will almost certainly need (re)certification. There are other possible exemptions, but from what you say (or can be deduced) you are unlikely to qualify. If the boat is UK VAT paid and you bought it in the UK before taking it out, you can bring it back in without any restrictions while it is in your ownership. You can also use it in the EU under their temporary admission rules. All this is independent of the flag of registry. People are governed by Immigration rules and boats by VAT rules.

In all of these scenarios there is no benefit of Polish registration and if you qualify to have British registration for your boat then it is far and away the best way to go - even if the boat is based in the EU and EU VAT paid. You may of course be qualified to have Irish registration, but this is a more tortuous route than British and no advantage for international travel.

 

[PWLS08]

As already mentioned, if you live in the UK, just nipping back for a visit is going to need some thinking about.

.

He isn't a UK resident unless it's changed of late, see his very good series of videos on YT.

 

[Star-Lord]

Many thx for everyone’s input.