Inland waterways france

fisherman

fisherman

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What are the pitfalls with owning a boat for holidaying on the French canals/rivers? Would be leaving it at marinas/yards between trips. Say, 25ft-30ft.
 
As I understand it you'd be better buying one there to avoid it having to leave the EU for a day after 18 months as would be the case with a UK boat. If you did that & subsequently brought it back to UK you'd pay VAT though. Usual post B****t caveats re 90/180 Schengen stays but it's easy to get a longer visa for France according to others' reports on here apparently. I think it's a lovely idea if you can live with the restrictions and compared to UK marina prices very good value indeed.

Grehan's web site has lots of info...
 
What sort of boat, I guess not a barge given the length you specify! Unless the rules have changed you pay on LxB, a steel mobo would be good, it will take the knocks from the learners on holiday boats, they aren't called bumper boats for nothing, but if plastic don't be tempted by anything with a big engine, it would be a waste.
 
There is a licence fee (Vignette) which is available either short term for visitors or annual. Best to have an ICC with the CEVNI endorsement. Loads of information about the canals either on line or many books. Very few boats that small - why would you want a cramped boat? Look at the hire boats which will give you a good idea what sort of boats are suitable. Many retired hire boats available.. For obvious reasons the more southern parts of the system are the most popular.
 
If a couple, a 25-30 foot boat should be entirely adequate! Many hire craft are larger because they base their earnings on accommodating 4/6/8 people.
 
CEVNI is pretty easy to do online - google for cheapest provider of access to the RYA testing system because it varies. The RYA CEVNI book has all the info needed, have it by your side when you do the test itself but you will need to have read it and inwardly digested some of it because it is timed. Or at least was when I did it a couple of years ago, and you get two or three goes, can't quite remember...
 
V1701 said:
Usual post B****t caveats re 90/180 Schengen stays but it's easy to get a longer visa for France...
Click to expand...

It's possible - I wouldn't say it's easy. Up to 6 months is easier. Between 6 months and 1 year (the maximum tourist visa length) you have to show evidence of health insurance (be sitting down when you get a quote for that) and you also become tax resident. This means that your boat will become liable to VAT if you are using the temporary admission scheme, unless it's already EU VAT paid.

Also, for any length visa, you have to show that you either have pre-booked accommodation to cover your stay or have funds available amounting to €120 per day per person. That's €44k per person for a year.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
It's possible - I wouldn't say it's easy. Up to 6 months is easier. Between 6 months and 1 year (the maximum tourist visa length) you have to show evidence of health insurance (be sitting down when you get a quote for that) and you also become tax resident. This means that your boat will become liable to VAT if you are using the temporary admission scheme, unless it's already EU VAT paid.

Also, for any length visa, you have to show that you either have pre-booked accommodation to cover your stay or have funds available amounting to €120 per day per person. That's €44k per person for a year.
Click to expand...
Surely his "pre-booked accommodation" will be the boat - or are the authorities not that logical?
 
The following link suggests that a camper van is acceptable as an address together with campsites bookings:
Extended Euro-tour over 90 days in 180
I don't see why a boat with a berth wouldn't be treated the same.

AngusMcDoon said:
Also, for any length visa, you have to show that you either have pre-booked accommodation to cover your stay or have funds available amounting to €120 per day per person. That's €44k per person for a year.
Click to expand...
Means of Subsistence - How much money do you need for a Schengen Visa
As the European Commission specifies, any foreigner seeking to enter France, since 19 June 2014, when applying for France Visa must be able attesting to the France Embassy or Consulate possessing the daily money amount of 120€ if holding no proof of prepaid accommodation. If the applicant has a prepaid hotel, then this amount reduces to 65€/daily for the period of covered hotel accommodation, while the rest is 120€. Also, in case the applicant proofs cheaper forms of accommodation the amount decreases to 32.25€/ day.
Click to expand...
It would be calculated over a period of 6 months (the length of the visa), not 12, and so it could be as 'little' as EUR 5,805 per person as opposed to the EUR 44,000 suggested above. I think a credit card with a satisfactory credit limit may be sufficient (it is for Schengen).
 
syvictoria said:
The following link suggests that a camper van is acceptable as an address together with campsites bookings:
I don't see why a boat with a berth wouldn't be treated the same.
Click to expand...

My source of information is a written response in a letter to a series of written questions I sent by post to the French Embassy in London. I asked if a boat moving through the canals in France with no pre-bookings counts as pre-booked accommodation, and the answer was no. I didn't ask about a boat with a pre-booked berth, or a camper van, or campsites.

syvictoria said:
It would be calculated over a period of 6 months (the length of the visa), not 12, and so it could be as 'little' as EUR 5,805 per person as opposed to the EUR 44,000 suggested above.
Click to expand...

A French tourist visa can be up to 12 months long, which is why I stated €44k per year. It would be less for 6 months given that the rate is quoted per day. That rate, as stated in the letter from them, is €120 per person per day on a boat without pre-bookings.

syvictoria said:
I think a credit card with a satisfactory credit limit may be sufficient (it is for Schengen).
Click to expand...

I asked if a bank statement would be sufficient evidence of funds and the response was yes if it is a printed one from the bank and less than 3 months old. I didn't ask about credit cards as I don't have anywhere near the credit limit needed. The Schengen visa rules are different from the French tourist visa rules as the tourist visa is administered by the French government, so I don't know if a credit card is sufficient, or how you'd demonstrate evidence if it was.

The information I've posted here is from my enquiry with the embassy. It wasn't difficult to get my questions answered. If anyone wants chapter and verse on their own questions I suggest they write to the embassy too.
 
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AngusMcDoon said:
My source of information is a written response in a letter to a series of written questions I sent by post to the French Embassy in London. I asked if a boat moving through the canals in France with no pre-bookings counts as pre-booked accommodation, and the answer was no. I didn't ask about a boat with a pre-booked berth, or a camper van, or campsites.



A French tourist visa can be up to 12 months long, which is why I stated €44k per year. It would be less for 6 months given that the rate is quoted per day. That rate, as stated in the letter from them, is €120 per person per day on a boat without pre-bookings.



I asked if a bank statement would be sufficient evidence of funds and the response was yes if it is a printed one from the bank and less than 3 months old. I didn't ask about credit cards as I don't have anywhere near the credit limit needed. The Schengen visa rules are different from the French tourist visa rules as the tourist visa is administered by the French government, so I don't know if a credit card is sufficient, or how you'd demonstrate evidence if it was.

The information I've posted here is from my enquiry with the embassy. It wasn't difficult to get my questions answered. If anyone wants chapter and verse on their own questions I suggest they write to the embassy too.
Click to expand...

I didn't actually deny any of your information. I was simply trying to point out that you were potentially painting a very bleak picture. I'm not surprised that having no berth(s) booked presents a problem (unfortunately). There is then no address, and in theory the boat could be fictional or not in France at all! The OP states that he would be leaving the boat in a marina between visits and so he may likely have a contract that overlaps his time on board.

It's also worth reiterating that if anyone stays in France for more than 183 days, then they risk becoming a tax resident (and/or losing residency elsewhere).
 
syvictoria said:
It's also worth reiterating that if anyone stays in France for more than 183 days, then they risk becoming a tax resident (and/or losing residency elsewhere).
Click to expand...

I expect that the above, leading to a non EU VAT paid boat being subject to French VAT on day 184, will mean that few will take advantage of a tourist visa longer than 183 days.

Regarding what funds the OP has to demonstrate as having available in his circumstances, I'd suggest that the OP writes a letter to the French embassy requesting a written reply. A letter on French government headed paper may hold some sway with officials on arrival.

French Embassy
58 Knightsbridge
LONDON SW1X 7JT
 
I will be buying in France, so ?VAT no issue? I will be visiting less than 180 days pa, a few weeks at a time.....suppose maybe 6x4 weeks. If I stray over that 24 weeks I expect the authorities will leap out of the canalside bushes and surround me wearing balaclavas with sten guns spitting death......won't they??
 
fisherman said:
If I stray over that 24 weeks I expect the authorities will leap out of the canalside bushes and surround me wearing balaclavas with sten guns spitting death......won't they??
Click to expand...

Yep, that's how it used to be with the long term staying climbers in Chamonix in the early 70s.

I believe shortly we will have electronic visas that will log you into and out of Schengen, like ESTA does in the States. I guess any over stay will result in a Penalty Notice being similarly issued automatically.
 
fisherman said:
I will be buying in France, so ?VAT no issue?
Click to expand...

Hopefully not.

fisherman said:
I will be visiting less than 180 days pa, a few weeks at a time.....suppose maybe 6x4 weeks. If I stray over that 24 weeks I expect the authorities will leap out of the canalside bushes and surround me wearing balaclavas with sten guns spitting death......won't they??
Click to expand...

If you stay in the 90/180 limits no visa required either.
 
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