French boat registration

[Picazx]

Hello, as a brit with a brexit Carte de Sejour, I am looking at buying a boat in France. I find there is a clause related to registration which stipulates at least half ownership by a French NATIONAL or company. This seems to effectively exclude me from owning a boat in France. Required to do so by residence and excluded f by nationality. Does anyone have direct experience of French registration? Thanks

 

[Bouba]

Hello, as a brit with a brexit Carte de Sejour, I am looking at buying a boat in France. I find there is a clause related to registration which stipulates at least half ownership by a French NATIONAL or company. This seems to effectively exclude me from owning a boat in France. Required to do so by residence and excluded f by nationality. Does anyone have direct experience of French registration? Thanks

I have also the same legal status as you...I have registered four boats that I can recall...there has never been a problem

 

[Picazx]

Hi Bouba, Thanks for that. Can you confirm that you have done it post Brexit? Thanks

 

[Bouba]

Hi Bouba, Thanks for that. Can you confirm that you have done it post Brexit? Thanks

You mean after the withdrawal agreement...2020ish...no, unfortunately I haven’t....all my boats have been older than that

 

[owen-cox]

I also have a post brexit carte de sejour and registered my beneteau that i bought on french flag in france. I sent off a copy of my carte de sejour, proof of address (electricity bill) and that was it. I think it was even free to do. No problem at all and no difference from a french national. Im actually sat on the boat now in les sables d’olonne. Bon chance. Just do it.

 

[Picazx]

That sounds good enough to make me go ahead on that point at least. The boat only has an acte de francisation and no other proof of VAT. According to the owner, it is impossible to get this on a non VAT payed boat and while I think this might work for France the RYA are telling me I need more for other countries. It's an old boat so if there is a record of registration before 1992 (I think) I might be all right. Any comments on this?

 

[owen-cox]

That sounds good enough to make me go ahead on that point at least. The boat only has an acte de francisation and no other proof of VAT. According to the owner, it is impossible to get this on a non VAT payed boat and while I think this might work for France the RYA are telling me I need more for other countries. It's an old boat so if there is a record of registration before 1992 (I think) I might be all right. Any comments on this?

For the acte de francisation to be issued it has to have had VAT paid I believe. Unless it was a company that owned it but then
the french authorities would not allow it to be transferred to a private owner if it was not VAT paid. I got the broker to do all the paperwork and they did it free of charge. All simple. I have a bill of sale and in the paperwork i have a copy of the original sales invoice from beneteau as well. But i do believe the acte is proof that VAT status is correct and so no further proof should be required.

 

[owen-cox]

For the acte de francisation to be issued it has to have had VAT paid I believe. Unless it was a company that owned it but then
the french authorities would not allow it to be transferred to a private owner if it was not VAT paid. I got the broker to do all the paperwork and they did it free of charge. All simple. I have a bill of sale and in the paperwork i have a copy of the original sales invoice from beneteau as well. But i do believe the acte is proof that VAT status is correct and so no further proof should be required.

One thing I did also find was that insurance companies wanted to see french qualifications for the owner and rather than go down this route and argue the side i went to my local AXA agent who insured it easily.

 

[Bouba]

One thing I did also find was that insurance companies wanted to see french qualifications for the owner and rather than go down this route and argue the side i went to my local AXA agent who insured it easily.

I think that anybody who resides here should get qualified locally.....the wife has the Côtier and I have the Hauturière

 

[Roberto]

That sounds good enough to make me go ahead on that point at least. The boat only has an acte de francisation and no other proof of VAT. According to the owner, it is impossible to get this on a non VAT payed boat and while I think this might work for France the RYA are telling me I need more for other countries. It's an old boat so if there is a record of registration before 1992 (I think) I might be all right. Any comments on this?

Boat registration is now handled by Affaires Maritimes, earlier it was mainly the Douanes. With your "acte de francisation" you can ask the Douanes office for a "quitus fiscal", it's the VAT paid proof document, should you need it outside France.

 

[Picazx]

Ok thanks all that's very useful

 

[DownWest]

Just helping reg a Mobo (20ft with OB) and the papers look the same as the ones for a car. Part filled in by the existing owner, the other by the buyer.

Also reging a home built sailing boat. That was easy (2007) just fill in a form, promise not to sell it for five years and they handed you the carte. Now, loads of papers to fill in and boxes to tick about equipement and safety features ( e.g. means of getting back on board if freeboard over 'X' antislip on decks) But first one went through OK and quickly. Free too (20ft)
No licence required if primary motivation is sail. Insurance required, but don't think that has to included in the forms.

 

[owen-cox]

I also have a post brexit carte de sejour and registered my beneteau that i bought on french flag in france. I sent off a copy of my carte de sejour, proof of address (electricity bill) and that was it. I think it was even free to do. No problem at all and no difference from a french national. Im actually sat on the boat now in les sables d’olonne. Bon chance. Just do it.

I just want to clarify this comment. I bought the boat after brexit but after a bit of research I have found that it is not possible for a UK citizen to register a boat under French flag unless they have a withdrawal agreement carte de sejour. I do have one so anyone who came after brexit cannot register a boat on french flag without having a european citizen (or UK citizen with brexit carte de sejour) as a 50% owner. The EU citizen does not even have to live in france. But UK citizens without a withdrawal agreement carte de sejour cannot register it in their own name so anyone who moved to france after brexit will not be able to register a boat in their name solely.

 

[Picazx]

I just want to clarify this comment. I bought the boat after brexit but after a bit of research I have found that it is not possible for a UK citizen to register a boat under French flag unless they have a withdrawal agreement carte de sejour. I do have one so anyone who came after brexit cannot register a boat on french flag without having a european citizen (or UK citizen with brexit carte de sejour) as a 50% owner. The EU citizen does not even have to live in france. But UK citizens without a withdrawal agreement carte de sejour cannot register it in their own name so anyone who moved to france after brexit will not be able to register a boat in their name solely.

Thatks for that. Thankfully I do have the Brexit card. What a mess!

 

[Wigir]

Thatks for that. Thankfully I do have the Brexit card. What a mess!

Hi,
I'm in the process of purchasing a yacht in France. I also have a Brexit carte de séjour. Can you confirm that you were finally able to register your boat in France?
Thanks

 

[Bouba]

Hi,
I'm in the process of purchasing a yacht in France. I also have a Brexit carte de séjour. Can you confirm that you were finally able to register your boat in France?
Thanks

I did it before Brexit....a total of five times....and your status hasn’t changed with your CdS. You should have no problem. If it’s a UK boat that you are buying don’t forget to have it removed from the Small Ships register....also get your French radio license available on the internet.
And I could be wrong, because I’m a serial motorboat owner, but are sailboats actually registered at all ?....there are no numbers on sailboats like you see on every motorboat

 

[Wigir]

Many thanks for your response. French yachts are indeed registered, and have a certificate of registration. The transfer of ownership seems similar to that of a car - the current owner cedes ownership and obtains a "code de cession" which the new owner then uses to transfer ownership to their own name.

 

[Wigir]

I did it before Brexit....a total of five times....and your status hasn’t changed with your CdS. You should have no problem. If it’s a UK boat that you are buying don’t forget to have it removed from the Small Ships register....also get your French radio license available on the internet.
And I could be wrong, because I’m a serial motorboat owner, but are sailboats actually registered at all ?....there are no numbers on sailboats like you see on every motorboat

Many thanks for your response. French yachts are indeed registered, and have a certificate of registration. The transfer of ownership seems similar to that of a car - the current owner cedes ownership and obtains a "code de cession" which the new owner then uses to transfer ownership to their own name.

 

[Picazx]

Unfortunately I can't as I was forced to move back to the UK before getting the boat.
All I can say is I think you will be OK with the Brexit CDS as it has special properties.

 

[Bouba]

Unfortunately I can't as I was forced to move back to the UK before getting the boat.
All I can say is I think you will be OK with the Brexit CDS as it has special properties.

The French immigration officer at the channel tunnel called them...’magic cards’