lustyd
Well-known member
I think the theory is that if you’re doing that then drive to the PAF port and check in
Visiting France - an update
- Thread starter Bobc
- Start date
Oyster 49
New member
Reading this thread with interest as I'm doing my homework before heading to (Hopefully) Cherbourg, Ouistreham and Dieppe before heading back north to Ramsgate. 2 sail training boats with a combined 24 on board, 18 of which are young people. Its very confusing to say the least.
Questions:
1. If I am checked in via email at Cherbourg, am I then free to sail anywhere until we depart French waters for the UK? Probably from Dieppe.
2. Who do I have to email the forms to?
3. Do I still have to get passports stamped in at Cherbourg and out at Dieppe? If so where do I get the info as to where/how to do this? I'd be happy to avoid having to get 24 passports stamped.
So far this seems to be pretty definitive: Vous naviguez en provenance ou à destination d’un pays non-membre de l’espace Schengen I'm planning to use the forms located at this link via email.
Questions:
1. If I am checked in via email at Cherbourg, am I then free to sail anywhere until we depart French waters for the UK? Probably from Dieppe.
2. Who do I have to email the forms to?
3. Do I still have to get passports stamped in at Cherbourg and out at Dieppe? If so where do I get the info as to where/how to do this? I'd be happy to avoid having to get 24 passports stamped.
So far this seems to be pretty definitive: Vous naviguez en provenance ou à destination d’un pays non-membre de l’espace Schengen I'm planning to use the forms located at this link via email.
ashtead
Well-known member
Looks to me like you mail a form and wait until to 1030 am local time when hopefully the passport stamping man turns up at marina office then 24 on board all line up have a little stamp applied . I would mail the marina office though as they have a fact sheet. They are very helpful and fluent in process . If you are not going to be there at 1030 there is another stamping ceremony at the marina office by way of a second chance. You could of course have a trek to the stamp office at any time I have read.
Once all the stamps achieved(it’s much like getting a stamp at a national trust property but less fun for the youngsters) you need to plan the process for your exit stamps at Dieppe so I would mail them. I have never have tried exiting dieppe . You could of course avoid Cherbourg and try for a free entry port travelling to say st cast etc .
Once all the stamps achieved(it’s much like getting a stamp at a national trust property but less fun for the youngsters) you need to plan the process for your exit stamps at Dieppe so I would mail them. I have never have tried exiting dieppe . You could of course avoid Cherbourg and try for a free entry port travelling to say st cast etc .
Poecheng
Well-known member
Probably repeating wot @ashtead has written but:
1. At Cherbourg, it is a PAF port and you cannot just check in by mailing the form (it is not part of the informal system). You must get all passports stamped and all persons must be present ; the skipper cannot just take everyone's passport (see below). You are free to sail anywhere in France or Schengen but must get passports stamped on the way out. If in France, that means departing from either Cherbourg or another main PAF port - you cannot mix and match the formal/informal ports when entering and leaving but can do what you want in the middle.
2. Email: the form itself shows the email to send it to but it is out of date and the correct email to send it to is dipn50-paf-cic@interieur.gouv.fr
2. The PAF apparently arrive at the marina office at 10.30 for stamping. When we were there they were not doing the 6pm version as staff had been pulled away to Paris for the Olympics but that may have changed.
We arrived in the evening (from recollection it was after any 6.30pm stamping that might have existed), rang the PAF who said to come to them with our passports. The PAF is on the other side of the harbour and its What Three Words address (its entrance door) is /// charge.fans.cherub. It is about 10-15 mins walk depending on where you are in the marina. It wouldn't be easy herding that many young people around the (very large) harbour and up the back streets when everyone is tired but it does give you a feel for the place.
I would be tempted to ring the marina now and find out if the 6pm is still happening - marina staff are very helpful and speak English. If it is not happening, I might be tempted to anchor in the inner harbour (so you have far more of an excuse for not ringing the PAF on arrival) then get into the marina itself bright and early and be ready for stamping at 1030hrs CEST
3. PAF staff very pleasant and easy to deal with. We arrived in the evening, rang them and they required us to come to them for stamping passports. Stamped us out c.9pm night before we actually left - I put on the form we were leaving 5am THey are a 24hrs office.
Their form is a bit unwieldy and I would send your crew list as a separate sheet organised in the same way as that section on the main form (really the same info as you need to set out to the UK Border Force before leaving). I converted it to Word to work with but it was still difficult.
1. At Cherbourg, it is a PAF port and you cannot just check in by mailing the form (it is not part of the informal system). You must get all passports stamped and all persons must be present ; the skipper cannot just take everyone's passport (see below). You are free to sail anywhere in France or Schengen but must get passports stamped on the way out. If in France, that means departing from either Cherbourg or another main PAF port - you cannot mix and match the formal/informal ports when entering and leaving but can do what you want in the middle.
2. Email: the form itself shows the email to send it to but it is out of date and the correct email to send it to is dipn50-paf-cic@interieur.gouv.fr
2. The PAF apparently arrive at the marina office at 10.30 for stamping. When we were there they were not doing the 6pm version as staff had been pulled away to Paris for the Olympics but that may have changed.
We arrived in the evening (from recollection it was after any 6.30pm stamping that might have existed), rang the PAF who said to come to them with our passports. The PAF is on the other side of the harbour and its What Three Words address (its entrance door) is /// charge.fans.cherub. It is about 10-15 mins walk depending on where you are in the marina. It wouldn't be easy herding that many young people around the (very large) harbour and up the back streets when everyone is tired but it does give you a feel for the place.
I would be tempted to ring the marina now and find out if the 6pm is still happening - marina staff are very helpful and speak English. If it is not happening, I might be tempted to anchor in the inner harbour (so you have far more of an excuse for not ringing the PAF on arrival) then get into the marina itself bright and early and be ready for stamping at 1030hrs CEST
3. PAF staff very pleasant and easy to deal with. We arrived in the evening, rang them and they required us to come to them for stamping passports. Stamped us out c.9pm night before we actually left - I put on the form we were leaving 5am
THey are a 24hrs office.Their form is a bit unwieldy and I would send your crew list as a separate sheet organised in the same way as that section on the main form (really the same info as you need to set out to the UK Border Force before leaving). I converted it to Word to work with but it was still difficult.
lustyd
Well-known member
The above posts give you the answer of checking in fully.
It's also worth mentioning that your situation is not a private cruising vessel. I would be very surprised if the email system covers commercial sailing or bringing young people into the country who are not your own so if plans change I recommend seeking advice before assuming you can arrive at a non-PAF port and use the new procedure.
st599
Well-known member
Also remember, to take someone under 18 out of the UK requires permission from both parents.
ashtead
Well-known member
I wonder if a sail to jersey and a stay there then a trip to st cast might be simpler. The real issue for the youngster is making sure each one gets an exit stamp of course but that risk is avoided if entering via st cast as they can all offload and go to the beach,hire bikes and enjoy the experience without this tedious process for them.
lustyd
Well-known member
Are you sure that commercial trips can do this?
st599
Well-known member
The email system can only be used by pleasure vessels, and that term is strictly defined in law. I don't think the vessel counts.
John_Silver
Well-known member
Back in May, I was stamping out of Cherbourg at the same time as TS Royalist. The Police aux Frontieres stamped the whole crew of cadets out, during their normal morning session, in the Capitainerie. No problem, with the numbers.
Oyster 49
New member
So, I’m even more confused now. Do I have to email the forms? Or do I just get stamped in at Cherbourg at 1030?
Can we then stamp out of Dieppe? Or Ouistreham if we decide to head north early?
Where do I find step by step clear information?
Plan B is to go to Alderney and avoid France, which is a shame, but if they are going to make things difficult…
Can we then stamp out of Dieppe? Or Ouistreham if we decide to head north early?
Where do I find step by step clear information?
Plan B is to go to Alderney and avoid France, which is a shame, but if they are going to make things difficult…
Oyster 49
New member
As an aside having to wait after arriving fairly late the night before until 1030 is not good if we have to sail to Ouistreham which is 75 miles. 10 hours on a good day with the best tide. Do the French actually want people to visit them?
John_Silver
Well-known member
The main PAF office is open 24/7…..About 10-15 mins from the marina. Across the swing bridge, as if heading for Carrefour. But go left, instead of right.
To me, the French seem to be bending over backwards, to help visiting Brits out. In the case of Cherbourg, PAF coming to the marina, to simplify stamp in /out. Also, with the introduction of the ‘local check in’ for short stay visitors (not available from other Schengen states). As well as the standard Schengen stamp in. In addition to offering a long stay tourist visa (not available in other Schengen signatories , bar Sweden).
But maybe I just need my first pot of coffee of the day.
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ashtead
Well-known member
Cherbourg marina has a link to form you e mail . Once tied up assuming pontoon is one linked to shore lead your band of youngsters on an evening sightseeing tour to the stamp office . Being youngsters you can rely on their mobile phones to find the location of the 24/7 stamping location . Then they are free to discover whatever delights carrefour shopping centre has at that hour. I’m sure the stamp office are able to cope with all your crew. Maybe issue a map to each crew member and create your own treasure hunt around streets of cherbourg on way to stamp office to create some interest for them. 
John_Silver
Well-known member
I work on the principal that anywhere there is a ferry port, there are people able to stamp my passport. Though you will need to walk round to the Gare Maritime to find them. Has worked for me, since B day.
That is a 10 min stroll in Dieppe. Which I use often. And requires no forms. Just show up with your passport(s). Ask at the ticket desk. The staff will attract the attention of the PAF.
Ouistreham has ferries. But I tend to flit from Honfleur to St Vaast without going in there. So not sure how convenient the ferry berth is to the marina….
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wonkywinch
Well-known member
As there seem to be circular discussions about sources of information, here are the one's I'm aware of. I expect some will be gathering/copying info from each other.
https://www.theca.org.uk/france-channel-ports-of-entry
Marinas – digimap.gg
France | boating abroad | RYA
Revised Entry to France - 2024 (Updated 25th June 2024)
https://www.theca.org.uk/france-channel-ports-of-entry
Marinas – digimap.gg
France | boating abroad | RYA
Revised Entry to France - 2024 (Updated 25th June 2024)
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st599
Well-known member
I think we British voted to make it difficult, the French are going out of their way to make it as easy as possible.
wonkywinch
Well-known member
Hey, don't include me in the "we ... voted"
Oyster 49
New member
So, going back to basics, if I email the forms to Cherbourg marina, do I still have to get passports stamped? If so whats the point of the new forms process?
John_Silver
Well-known member
If you are eligible to use the email system, you do not need your passport(s) stamped. As you suggest, that is the whole point of having it.
BUT you can only leave via another port operating the ‘local’ system. Therefore worth checking, with your list of likely departure ports, that they do. (More reliable than a published list, in a moving situation, I’ve found through COVID and then B word).
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