Visiting France for the first time.... Documentation

[Firstascent2003]

Hi Guys,

I'm planning to take my Starlight to the CI's then northern France next week.

In terms of paperwork I need on board...

Insurance Docs
VHF Cert
VAT cert
Passport


Anything else I need?

Any other pitfalls I should be aware of.


Fast question... do yachts have to arrive via "a port of entry" and if so is there a published list that is easy to access?

KR

Jamie

 

[Bobc]

Boat registration document would be useful.

 

[Tranona]

Boat registration document would be useful.

Essential.

They won't be interested in VAT as UK is now a third country.

Only really interested in state of registration of boat and status of skipper and crew for Schengen purposes.

Good guide to the process in this month's PBO including current status of ports of entry and indications of procedure. Information also available from the RYA.

 

[dolabriform]

Yes, you need to arrive at a port of entry and get your passports stamped.

The RYA lists these but they may be more options depending on local rules this Summer. ( Some ports allowed entry via an online form last year, but you won't get a passport stamp )

The official Ports of Entry on the French Channel coast are (in order along the coast from east to west): Dunkirk, Calais, Dieppe, Le Havre, Honfleur, Caen/Ouistreham, Cherbourg, Carteret, Granville, St Malo, St Brieuc/Légué, and Roscoff.

 

[merjan]

My friends are about to visit France first time after the procedure has changed. I did some research ,and phoned the marinas for them as I speak French. There is supposed to be a form to be sent over (I guess to the harbour master) at least 24h before arrival. I read that that could be downloaded from the websites of the marinas (yes, strange) but the websites were down. When I called a marina at a port of entry, they asked me what pontoon we are at. I said "we aren't here yet, we need to send the form before we arrive.", and he said "well most people pick up a form from the marina office after arrival, and walk over to the harbour master". When I asked if that's the legitimate way of entry, he said "I'm not saying that".

So it might be worth looking into carefully into the immigration side of things.

 

[ashtead]

We emailed a form last year when visiting Cherbourg - the marina staff there are helpful but I think passport stamping only at 6pm and 9 am unless they actually got a scanner installed maybe?

 

[dolabriform]

We emailed a form last year when visiting Cherbourg - the marina staff there are helpful but I think passport stamping only at 6pm and 9 am unless they actually got a scanner installed maybe?

That's correct, email the form in, and make sure you take a printed copy to the Marina office when you go to get your stamp.

The police come to the marina specifically to stamp passports at 9am and 6pm each day. Outside of these times you can go to see them in their normal opening hours if you want a stamp.

We arrived at 7pm, missed the following morning 9am visit as we overslept, went shopping, and got a stamp at 6pm. They were not concerned that we waited almost 24 hours to get a stamp.

 

[ashtead]

The other approach is to go to say St Cast via Alderney and jersey and dispense with any stamping in/out (other stamp free ports exist) but st cast might be the nicest facilities. It rather depends if you want the delights of cherbourg carrefour of course as it’s restaurants have declined in recent years but those in st Cast we think match if not exceed st Malo .

 

[jamie N]

Has anyone ever been asked for an insurance document?
Edit: Just reread post#1.
Nuff said.

 

[Hoolie]

Has anyone ever been asked for an insurance document?

Everywhere we go and occasionally by the Douanes ... ...

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Has anyone ever been asked for an insurance document?
Edit: Just reread post#1.
Nuff said.

Not us. They just wanted to samp our passports and get us us to F. O. Shame as whole folder on registration insurance, vhf licence and sailing qualifications.

They dont really care about brits in boats, just dross clogging up their humdrum day

 

[Bandit]

Carteret is Straight forward as is St Cast St Quay Portrieux , Roscoff etc.

Look at the excellent Digimap.gg marinas site for info Marinas – digimap.gg it is also very good for other port information.
UK to Guernsey overnight to N brittany might be easier than Alderney and Jersey.

 

[Kwik Decision]

The other approach is to go to say St Cast via Alderney and jersey and dispense with any stamping in/out (other stamp free ports exist) but st cast might be the nicest facilities. It rather depends if you want the delights of cherbourg carrefour of course as it’s restaurants have declined in recent years but those in st Cast we think match if not exceed st Malo .

Assuming a UK passport holder, why do you believe that arriving in France via the Channel Islands absolves one of getting one's passport stamped?

 

[ashtead]

As no need to stamp in at st cast currently along with a number of other free from bother ports-it’s not the journey via the ci which adds this just a convenient stop off for many from uk .

 

[Poecheng]

Aware of visits to boats in Belgium both today and a couple of weeks ago when Belgian customs (not the passport peeps) wanted the certificate for the boat's radio equipment on board (Ofcom) and not just your personal certificate.
So in Belgium: Ships Radio Licence, Personal Radio Certificate, Yacht Registration and yacht insurance were being sought by customs.
Aware of three visits to boats by Belgian Customs in last few weeks and in each case (one of which I saw them taking diesel testing equipment with them) they did not test for red diesel.
Not intended to put anyone off visiting Belgium - quite the opposite: their officials are very pleasant and helpful overall.

 

[wonkywinch]

I'm not sure if this is useful or fully up to date?

https://royal-southern.co.uk/uploads/document/Travel-to-and-From-France-10022022_220212_155053.pdf

 

[MontyMariner]

This thread has a copy of the Cherbourg PAF form attached.
Sailing to France.

 

[franksingleton]

Yes, you need to arrive at a port of entry and get your passports stamped.

The RYA lists these but they may be more options depending on local rules this Summer. ( Some ports allowed entry via an online form last year, but you won't get a passport stamp )

The official Ports of Entry on the French Channel coast are (in order along the coast from east to west): Dunkirk, Calais, Dieppe, Le Havre, Honfleur, Caen/Ouistreham, Cherbourg, Carteret, Granville, St Malo, St Brieuc/Légué, and Roscoff.

You can now enter at more ports than you list. You have to use an online form sent to the port and the Douane. Should be easier than last year.

 

[dolabriform]

You can now enter at more ports than you list. You have to use an online form sent to the port and the Douane. Should be easier than last year.

Hi Frank

Are those additional ports able to stamp passports at the port?

 

[franksingleton]

Hi Frank

Are those additional ports able to stamp passports at the port?

From the CA, I understand, you download a form from your destination port. Complete and Email it to them 24+ hours before arrival. They forward it to a port of entry. You get a confirmation in lieu of a stamped passport. You can leave the same way. If there is a crew change, inform Douane St Brieuc. Ports are Saint-Cast,Saint-Quay, Lézardrieux, Tréguier,Trébeurden