sailing from Turkey to UK - any issues to watch out for

[superboots]

After over 16 years in the Med I am returning with my yacht to the UK. The yacht - UK made and registered in 1983- was tax paid although I do not have the original invoice to show it but I have kept a copy of my exit paper from UK. We will check out of Turkey and then enter the EU in Greece with a possibility of leaving EU for Tunisia and Gibraltar so re-entering EU in either Spain or Portugal and then proceed along Atlantic coasts to UK. I am fully insurd. My crew, 3 are UK citizens and 1 is a Turkish citizen (with visas for all countries on the way). I am wondering what I can expect from officials etc. and what I should do when entering and leaving and equipment reuirements

 

[macd]

You're right to investigate this in advance. You don't mention how long you/your boat have been out of the EU, but this could be critical if it amounts to re-importing the boat. There's a host of UK govt information about this, such as: http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...rtyType=document&id=HMCE_CL_000282#P128_14369
Note section 8.1
This page could also help: http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kb5/hmrc/forms/view.page?record=xNgbQZ0N91s&formId=99
It may be worth Googling for more.

Tranona's the man for this sort of stuff; with any luck he'll be along in a while.
Good luck.

 

[superboots]

Boat has been frequently in and out of the EU during this time - trips to Greece about every other year. Always checked in officially although doubt if I have kept all the paperwork.

 

[MASH]

Well, your check in to the EU will be no different to what you've done before and you presumably had no problems then so its unlikely you'll get any this time, and once you're in that's it until you check back in after leaving the EU again but its the same procedure. Stay in the EU and there is no more immigration. I certainly wouldn't risk actually telling them you're keeping the boat permanently in the EU, its none of their business anyway. It seems to be extremely rare for VAT status to be queried anywhere so I don't think you need worry. Anyway, if you are really unfortunate you'll just end up paying it, simple as that - you know the rules...in theory there is a very small risk but its extremely rare. As far as the UK is concerned your boat is indistinguishable from any other on the water and anyway they really aren't interested in arguments over VAT on small yachts - alienating the yachting community for a few bob is hardly in their interests.
There seem to be all sorts of strange things going on in Portuguese waters re (probably illegally imposed) compliance with national regulations on safety equipment - other threads on here discuss that.

Enjoy the trip!

 

[macd]

Boat has been frequently in and out of the EU during this time - trips to Greece about every other year. Always checked in officially although doubt if I have kept all the paperwork.

Then it may be a moot point whether it was exported from the EU at all. Even if it was:

If you are moving your normal home from a non-EU country to an EU country, including the UK, you may import your vessel free of customs duty and VAT providing that you:

have lived outside the EU for a continuous period of at least 12 months, and
have possessed and used the vessel outside the EU for at least 6 months prior to importation, and
did not get the vessel under a duty/tax free scheme (see below), and
declare the vessel to an officer, and
will keep the vessel in the EU for private use, and
do not sell, lend, hire out or otherwise dispose of the vessel in the EU within 12 months of importation unless you notify the Personal Transport Unit first, on 01304 664171, and duty and VAT is paid on disposal.

All that and more from: http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...CE_CL_000289&propertyType=document#P134_16687

As to on-the-ground realities, you need look no further than Mash's post above.

 

[Just Cruising]

we have friends who have been down this route.............check into Greece and stay in the EU, if you dont have the VAT proof an invoice suffices in most cases. Stay away from Portugal as they were the only ones who asked an got funny however they took the copy of the original invoice as enough proof. If you cant find the original then you may need to substitute one. Dont tell them it has been out of the EU in Turkey and have as much of the Greek paperwork to hand in a folder from your visits there. You can always fall back on the Greek admin enforcement being an indicator of their ability to stay in the euro etc. I have always worked on 'say nothing, pay nothing and step over the dead whilst avoiding court'.

We have friends who are non VAT paid and they have had no problem anywhere south of the atlantic coasts of Portugal.

Hope all goes well.

 

[macd]

Another thought, Superboots:
your boat could qualify as 'deemed VAT paid' by virtue of its age. The requirements are:
private pleasure craft that were built/in use prior to 1st January 1985 and were in the EU on 31st December 1992.
Acceptable evidence for the first condition is a marine survey, Part 1 registration, insurance certificate or similar;
for the second condition a marina/berthing receipt will do.
It's probably a long-shot that you have such documents (although you might have Photoshop...)
Other than a lack of documents, the only thing that might foul this up is if the boat changed hands outside the EU, which seems not to be the case.

Incidentally, although the Portuguese authorities can be a bit picky, Just Cruising's concern, whilst real enough, is perhaps over-stated. It may have happened but I've certainly never heard of a UK-flagged vessel being busted for VAT in Portuguese waters.

To summarise:
1. if you do nothing , you're probably OK due to your flits in and out of Greece;
2,. your boat might qualify as 'deemed VAT paid, anyway;
3. If you go through channels, as a returning EU citizen you'll probably find you can you can import your boat free of duty and VAT.

 

[jimbaerselman]

You should have no difficulties.

On customs matters, your boat would only have lost "VAT paid" status if it had been outside the EU for longer than 3 years consecutively. There's no reason for anyone to think that has been the case. You will find that VAT paid status is only queried if the boat is registered outside the EU, and is being used by an EU resident.

On immigration matters, your Turkish crew mate should be given a Schengen visa entry stamp when entering Greece. That will allow them 90 days within the Schengen region during the next 180 days. Check if they already have a Schengen stamp and have already used up any days . . .

Without a Schengen entry stamp your crew member will be fined (for illegal entry) if they attempt to leave Schengen zone by air or ferry. So make sure they're always checked in at a port of entry, and checked out if you head for a non-Schengen country. The Greeks quite often will tell you it's not necessary to have a stamp - but that's only true if the crew member never leaves the boat!

This stuff is all covered in mind boggling detail on http://jimbsail.info/going-foreign and the pages that leads to.