Visiting France - an update

[lustyd]

Not sure it's up to you to trust them or not

The document just describes how to check the passport is genuine. If I trust and know someone I don’t need to do that part.
If I don’t know someone I might find that doc useful to verify it’s not a fake passport with genuine details.

 

[bluerm166]

If Guernseyman refers in #120 to the new scheme for pre arrival notification to French Marinas (non PPF) then I would agree with Mike Bz in that this creative scheme is limited to France and a check out by the same method is required.Plus a new formal schengen entry to any further schengen state.Otherwise the Schengen system is blown by the french local workaround.
Since the guidance refers to entering France from any 'third country' it seems , if you have subsequently been to further schengen states and entered formally (there is no other way short of a visa), that if you return to France for convenience on the way back you must do so via a PPF and a stamp,rather than clear out previously ,say in Belgium, and then rely again on the simpler marina system in France.

 

[MontyMariner]

For anyone's information, I arrived at St Cast yesterday evening, I had not mailed a PAF, this morning I took a hard copy to the marina office, they faxed it over to the Customs. Office staff said it would get stamped and faxed back, I can pick it up tomorrow.

 

[lustyd]

They still have a fax machine?!

 

[Leslie frank]

You normally can't check out of France to go to say Belgium. They expect you to leave the Schengen zone after checking out. EES is meant to be clever enough to show the Belgium authorities when you checked in irrespective of which Schengen country you did it in. At the moment its all a but hit and miss and depends to a large degree on the mood of the official on the day.

 

[MontyMariner]

They still have a fax machine?!

I use the term loosely
Went to the office today, collected my stamped PAF.
I asked if I could send the leaving PAF direct to customs via email, answer - No, I have to email it to the marina office who then forward it to customs. They stamp it and return it to the marina office who will then email it to me if I have already left.
There's burocracy for you.

 

[Laser310]

I have a bit of a different situation than discussed in this thread.

I will fly to France, from the USA, and go through immigration at CDG. I am not sure if I will use my US or British passport, or whether it matters.

I will make my way to Brittany, where I will join a group of 5 or so Frenchmen for a cruise to the Scily Isles. I think we will depart from Crouesty, but that will not be our last port of call in France - I am not sure now what it will be. For the Frenchmen, it doesn't matter - right?

Generally, the plan is for us to leave from Crouesty, stop one or two places still in France, then cross to Scily, spend a few days in the Scily Islands, and then return to France at some as yet unknown port.

both the last port of call in France on departure, and the first port of call in France on return, as well as the dates, will be weather dependent.

Questions:

1) What do I (British/American) need to do to leave France by yacht if I haven't entered by yacht?

2) what do I need to do to enter the UK in Scily Islands from France with a British passport? Nothing, I hope.

Returning

3) what do i need to do to leave Scily with my British passport? - Nothing, right?

4) what do I need to do to re-enter France at an as yet unknown port in France?

Plan B

Can I just pretend I never left France? I mean just depart without doing anything official, and then just return without doing anything official?

thanks

 

[DJE]

2) what do I need to do to enter the UK in Scily Islands from France with a British passport? Nothing, I hope.

Returning

3) what do i need to do to leave Scily with my British passport? - Nothing, right?

No such luck. You must do this!

 

[st599]

I have a bit of a different situation than discussed in this thread.

I will fly to France, from the USA, and go through immigration at CDG. I am not sure if I will use my US or British passport, or whether it matters.

I will make my way to Brittany, where I will join a group of 5 or so Frenchmen for a cruise to the Scily Isles. I think we will depart from Crouesty, but that will not be our last port of call in France - I am not sure now what it will be. For the Frenchmen, it doesn't matter - right?

Generally, the plan is for us to leave from Crouesty, stop one or two places still in France, then cross to Scily, spend a few days in the Scily Islands, and then return to France at some as yet unknown port.

both the last port of call in France on departure, and the first port of call in France on return, as well as the dates, will be weather dependent.

Questions:

1) What do I (British/American) need to do to leave France by yacht if I haven't entered by yacht?

2) what do I need to do to enter the UK in Scily Islands from France with a British passport? Nothing, I hope.

Returning

3) what do i need to do to leave Scily with my British passport? - Nothing, right?

4) what do I need to do to re-enter France at an as yet unknown port in France?

Plan B

Can I just pretend I never left France? I mean just depart without doing anything official, and then just return without doing anything official?

thanks

1) As you've arrived at an official port of entry, you have to exit via an official port of entry and get stamped out - Brest is probably the closest to Crouesty, or Roscoff.
2) Fill out the online Small Craft Report and wait for the non-UK passports to be checked
3) Fill out the online Small Craft Report
4) Enter at an official port of entry and get stamped back in. Then you have the correct stamp to exit again.

 

[st599]

Also, as of yesterday, your French mates need a ETA visa waiver to enter the UK.

 

[Laser310]

No such luck. You must do this!

i was asking about me as an individual, not the boat or the other sailors - as a British citizen, I don't need to do anything - right?

unless i missed something in that link.

 

[Laser310]

Also, as of yesterday, your French mates need a ETA visa waiver to enter the UK.

they are working on it

 

[DJE]

i was asking about me as an individual, not the boat or the other sailors - as a British citizen, I don't need to do anything - right?

unless i missed something in that link.

You must provide your passport details to the skipper for inclusion in the crew list. He is responsible for checking them and obtaining any necessary approvals.

 

[st599]

i was asking about me as an individual, not the boat or the other sailors - as a British citizen, I don't need to do anything - right?

unless i missed something in that link.

Not sure what being British has to do with it - all people heading in to the UK by yacht have to use the godawful online app.

 

[Daydream believer]

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.

Bit more than 10 mins from the marina berth. I got a taxi ( I have walked it in the past so know better) & had him wait (15 euros return inc tip) whilst someone found an officer to stamp my passport which took quite a while. But you are right. No forms or emails etc, Just passport.
I stamped out, having stamped in at Ostend- August 2024

 

[John_Silver]

Bit more than 10 mins from the marina berth. I got a taxi ( I have walked it in the past so know better) & had him wait (15 euros return inc tip) whilst someone found an officer to stamp my passport which took quite a while. But you are right. No forms or emails etc, Just passport.
I stamped out, having stamped in at Ostend- August 2024

If the forecast holds, will be setting off on Monday. Will get the stopwatch out, for the walk round the Dieppe quayside

 

[Daydream believer]

If the forecast holds, will be setting off on Monday. Will get the stopwatch out, for the walk round the Dieppe quayside

Start & finish from the visitors berths. Do not forget you have to get back.
No running.
One foot on the ground at all times , otherwise you will be disqualified.
If the bridge is open for a ship, that is your hard luck.

 

[Laser310]

I have described my situation in post 127 above.

I am now of the opinion that to do this legally, i must get stamped out at an official port of entry, because i will have entered at one:CDG

Brest is the nearest such office.

but what If we don't want to stop at Brest? the other guys are french, and they can just check out online.

can i rent a car, or whatever, and get myself to Brest a day or two before we leave, and take care of it?

Would i need all the yacht documents ?

 

[doug748]

As you intend to visit several French ports before leaving for Scilly then I would plan a last stop in Brest (in which case there is no problem) or Morgat, Camaret or L'Aberwrach - the latter three have easy transport links to Brest for you to visit and sign out. L'Aberwrach is particularly sensible stopover for the trip in any case.

Visit the customs the day before you intended departure (on no account talk about a couple of days) but if you are delayed I would not panic, I doubt anyone will know or care.

I always take every scrap of documentation I can think of - but hide it until asked for.

.

 

[Laser310]

As you intend to visit several French ports before leaving for Scilly then I would plan a last stop in Brest (in which case there is no problem) or Morgat, Camaret or L'Aberwrach - the latter three have easy transport links to Brest for you to visit and sign out. L'Aberwrach is particularly sensible stopover for the trip in any case.

Visit the customs the day before you intended departure (on no account talk about a couple of days) but if you are delayed I would not panic, I doubt anyone will know or care.

I always take every scrap of documentation I can think of - but hide it until asked for.

.

Sorry to be so dense about this....

Yes;I could travel by train, or whatever, from one of those ports to Brest.

My understanding is that the French citizens on board could, if i were not present, clear out of France (and back in) very simply on line.

Do you think they can still do this even if I have to go to Brest?

In other words; does my presence on the boat make it complicated for everyone on the boat, because everyone on the boat has to clear out together?