Jersey boat, Jersey crew, how long can I stay in Europe

[blampied]

Hi Formites
Getting worried. How long can we legally stay in Europe.
Have seen mention of 90 day limits for non EU citizens.
(Jersey is not in the EU, but has a connection through the UK)
I should have looked into this before I left last year.

Boat is registered in Jersey (boat is VAT paid) me and wife are both Jersey born.
We are retired (didn't pay VAT on the wife)
Spent last year travelling down through French canals to Med. (the French don't appear to count boats in and out)
Have now run out of France and our next port will take us into Spain.
We are hoping to spend this winter living on the boat in Spain, before heading back to Jersey next year.

Any advise welcome.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Ok you need to check this out , is your passport endorsed , if so you may have a problem , I think it depend if you have family in the Uk , if you your self have lived in the UK last five years ? Of if you have relations still living in the UK , if it not endorsed , you should be ok , but you really best to ask the passport office to be sure

 

[blampied]

Ok you need to check this out , is your passport endorsed , if so you may have a problem , I think it depend if you have family in the Uk , if you your self have lived in the UK last five years ? Of if you have relations still living in the UK , if it not endorsed , you should be ok , but you really best to ask the passport office to be sure

Ah I know what you mean,
That's a relief, our passports are the full ones, (my mother was English and wife's father a Jock) so hopefully we are ok.
There would have been no point in going into Spain to spend our pensioner pounds if we couldn't stay more than 90 days, would not have been long enough to over winter there.
Thank you

 

[JVL]

You will be fine with endorsed passport but expect hassle from the vat hunters being Jersey registered they just assume your boat is vat not payed when the see your registered port! Speaking from experience once you have been checked and cleared in each country they leave you alone ( I assume you must be entered onto a database ) keep your vat paid receipt handy

John

 

[blampied]

Thanks John

 

[macd]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if the boat has been 'exported' to Jersey then VAT would be due again on importation back to the EU, whether or not it's been paid before*. The fact of its Jersey registration is neither here not there (since it could be Jersey-registered without ever having been there), except that, as others have written, it might tend to bring up red flags. However, if inspected, it may be that your evidence of initial VAT-payment would satisfy the official; but maybe not, if he's clued-up.

If you want a quieter life, UK SSR registration would be preferable: it's cheap, simple, and can be done on-line. There's a "UK" residence requirement, but this may include the CIs. (It certainly includes the Isle of Man, which is also a Crown Protectorate.) Then go through your paperwork for anything indicating the boat's been exported to/based extensively in Jersey and bin it (or hide it, at least).

* "Temporary importation" is, however, allowed for a vessel owned by a non-EU resident. If I remember correctly the time limit for this is 18 months. However, as suggested, UK registration might give officials less reason to question the vessel.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Getting worried. How long can we legally stay in Europe.
Have seen mention of 90 day limits for non EU citizens.

To be pedantic, "people who do not have the right to reside in an EU country" are limited by the visas they are give on entry - to Schengen, or to individual countries.

Right of residence, or right of abode, is noted in your passport - either in the "notes" section, or by a visa issued for work, study or whatever.

People with the right of abode in most EU countries may travel, live and work anywhere in the EU, subject to registering their presence on some countries. Exceptions for some East European countries.

Boat is registered in Jersey (boat is VAT paid)

Where it's registered doesn't matter.

me and wife are both Jersey born.
We are retired (didn't pay VAT on the wife)

Well, if she's a chattel , she'll only be allowed in EU for 18 months at a time. And if she gives you a pick-a-back, she could be classifed as a "Means of Transport" (MoT). In which case, if you had the right of EU residence, you'd not be allowed to use her until VAT was paid. So, best not to declare her as a chattel.

Spent last year travelling down through French canals to Med. (the French don't appear to count boats in and out)
Have now run out of France and our next port will take us into Spain.

The Breton French, and the canal people, are very easy going on boats which are obviously tourists.

Seriously though, if you're VAT paid, you're bullet proof. But if and when your boat changes hands, make sure you do it while the boat is within EU territory. That way, it keeps its VAT paid status.

Lots more on this subject in http://www.jimbsail.info/going-foreign/docs-and-VAT

 

[macd]

Seriously though, if you're VAT paid, you're bullet proof. But if and when your boat changes hands, make sure you do it while the boat is within EU territory. That way, it keeps its VAT paid status.

But JIm, surely if it's been "permanently exported"* from the EU (to Jersey) it's already lost it's VAT-paid status. Hence the subterfuge I mentioned above.

* as defined by the VAT man.

 

[blampied]

Thank you I thought that was the case!

 

[blampied]

Now in Spain

Ok we have arrived in Spain Port Roses.
All so far gone very smoothly, 2 port officials very polite directed us where to moor took our lines for us helped us moor up. (Can't remember the last time any port official turned up or took our lines in France)
Handed us a customs form to fill in, advised no need to visit Customs office they will pass on the details for us.
All very relaxed and someone on nearby boat advises customs here are very relaxed and he would be supprized if they even visited us.

Thank you everyone for your advice
Paul

 

[Tranona]

But JIm, surely if it's been "permanently exported"* from the EU (to Jersey) it's already lost it's VAT-paid status. Hence the subterfuge I mentioned above.

* as defined by the VAT man.

Not necessarily. It may potentially do if it never enters the EU after 3 years away and definitely if it changes hands in the CIs. However, given the proximity of France (and UK) to CIs it is not difficult to ensure that it is somewhere in the EU every 3 years. Some UK resident owners keep their boats in the CIs for convenience or cost and they would not want to lose the status so no doubt are aware of this requirement. CI residents buying VAT paid boats in the EU should also make themselves aware of the rules.