Leaving EU

[Paul Weston]

Does anyone know how to deal with the issue of passport stamps when leaving an EU country (specifically France)? I am intending to travel to France by air, and then return by boat. My passport will be stamped on arrival and a record made, but if I leave by boat I will not have a stamp on my passport, or a record kept of my departure from the EU. This means that the 90 day maximum stay in the EU will be exceeded quickly, even though I am back in the UK.

 

[Ningaloo]

You must leave from a recognised port of entry (essentially the ferry ports) and seek out the immigration office there. They will stamp your passport. Most marinas in ports of entry will point you in the right direction.
I went through this the opposite way around (sail to St Malo and flight back from Brest).

 

[stevejacobs]

We sailed from Gosport to St Vaast two weeks ago, before leaving we notified the PAF of our intentions, they asked us to phone when we arrived, which we did. They drove round from Cherbourg to stamp our passports and check Covid paperwork. (two days after we arrived) They asked us to notify them the day before we are planning to leave and they will come to us and stamp our passports. Whilst at St Vaast another boat arrived from Gosport and the procedure was the same. We are now in Carteret, if we leave from here to Gosport they will come from Cherbourg to stamp our passports. I must point out that this is my own personal experience in the last two weeks (left Gosport on August 20th) of travelling to Normandy, other French regions may differ and others may have a different experience.

 

[Paul Weston]

Thanks very much for your post - could you tell me what the PAF is?

 

[stevejacobs]

Sorry, Police Aux Frontieres. (+33 2 33 88 72 70) I found them very helpful, I attach the notice form you need to send as well

 

[Lightwave395]

If you're further west, I travelled to Roscoff by ferry and eventually returned there by boat, got my Covid test from a travelling nurse in Roscoff (free at the time, I believe you may have to pay now) marina and my exit stamp from the Brittany ferries terminal next door. The marina office said if I phone the PAF I may be waiting a couple of days whereas walking around to the terminal when the ferry came in it was instant.

 

[Paul Weston]

Thanks - very useful