Selling a boat to a non EU buyer

[C08]

My prospective buyer plans to sail the boat through the French Canals to the Med and EU ending up in Albania/Montenegro over perhaps 6 months. Am I correct in thinking that VAT is not payable as it is a transit not an import also that the RCD is not a requirement for an EU transit also boat built 1976. It is not my problem but I would like a "feel good" sale and would not like the seller to make a blunder.

 

[dgadee]

1976 has nothing to do with it. Would Albania not ask for import duties etc.?

 

[Tranona]

If he is non EU then he can take his boat into the EU under Temporary Admission for up to 18 months which can be renewed by leaving the EU and re-entering. Age of boat and RCD etc are irrelevant. he and the boat will be visitors and he will be subject to Schengen rules (which effectively make a 6 month continuous stay impossible) and the boat subject to the TA rules.

Not your problem once he owns the boat but it would be good for you to make him aware of the restrictions that might have an influence on his plans. Might lose you the sale, though if he realises his plans are impracticable. He might be able to get to the Med through the canals in 90 days with a few to spare, but once he has used those up he has to keep out of any EU state until his new 90/180 starts again. His boat, though can stay within his 18 months.

 

[Boathook]

I would sell the boat, and let the new owner worry about it.

 

[C08]

If he is non EU then he can take his boat into the EU under Temporary Admission for up to 18 months which can be renewed by leaving the EU and re-entering. Age of boat and RCD etc are irrelevant. he and the boat will be visitors and he will be subject to Schengen rules (which effectively make a 6 month continuous stay impossible) and the boat subject to the TA rules.

Not your problem once he owns the boat but it would be good for you to make him aware of the restrictions that might have an influence on his plans. Might lose you the sale, though if he realises his plans are impracticable. He might be able to get to the Med through the canals in 90 days with a few to spare, but once he has used those up he has to keep out of any EU state until his new 90/180 starts again. His boat, though can stay within his 18 months.

Thanks for that-so the boat can do 180 days but he can only do 90 and then has to wait 3 months to do another 90?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Thanks for that-so the boat can do 180 days but he can only do 90 and then has to wait 3 months to do another 90?

No. The boat can do 18 months in/1 day out and repeat. That's the TA rules and is EU wide. The Schengen visa (Schengen countries only - most of EU and some other countries) allows the person 90 days in from any rolling 180 day period. One arrangement of the latter is 90 in/90 out then repeat.

If the boat is in the UK and the buyer does not have UK residency or citizenship then he's limited to 180 days out of a rolling 360 similar to the Schengen 90/180 rule.

There is also a possibility of a 6 month tourist visa for France only that is in addition to the Schengen visa but there are hoops to jump through to get it.

 

[Tranona]

Aside from the EU constraints getting from the UK to Adriatic in an old boat in 6 months is ambitious and maybe not realistic to keep the boat there outside the EU. Neither Montenegro nor Albania are geared toward that kind of boat. The former is a rich persons enclave and the latte does not have much in the way of coastal attractions or infrastructure such as there is in Croatia, Turkey or Greece

 

[st599]

If the boat is in the UK and the buyer does not have UK residency or citizenship then he's limited to 180 days out of a rolling 360 similar to the Schengen 90/180 rule.

Visitors to the UK get 6 months on an ETA - they can then leave and come back - no waiting around. Do it too often and they'll say you need a real visa.

 

[st599]

Thanks for that-so the boat can do 180 days but he can only do 90 and then has to wait 3 months to do another 90?

If you look back over the last 180 days, you're allowed to be in the EU for 90 full or part days. As of October, this is now automated. The joys of the B word that we're not allowed to mention.

 

[Graham376]

T.A. As a matter of interest, has anyone been required to prove how long their boat has been in EU? We regularly sail between Portugal, Spain, Gib, Morocco and have never been asked, nor has anyone I've discussed it with. AFAIK, although people's time will be tracked, I'm not aware of any boat tracking.

 

[dgadee]

T.A. As a matter of interest, has anyone been required to prove how long their boat has been in EU? We regularly sail between Portugal, Spain, Gib, Morocco and have never been asked, nor has anyone I've discussed it with. AFAIK, although people's time will be tracked, I'm not aware of any boat tracking.

Yes, by a broker. Was selling and had loads of documentation on being Union Goods. Broker said no, must be "invoices" for customs. Rubbish, of course, but frightened off buyer and then made me rethink about selling.

With officials, we left the Tiber last Spring and anchored outside. Customs boat came alongside and spent some time working out whether we were Union Goods or within 90/180. We were they said and gave us a form. A crew member could speak good English and he suggested they were just doing a practice run for the coming season.