What are your plans for next year?

[John_Silver]

The form didn't seem to be actually in use yet when I left Roscoff on June 30th ?

That's what I'd heard too. Good to have on the ground confirmation. I'm thinking that best option is to go in via a ferry port, with the ferry terminal not too distant from the marina, for a first attempt...... As has been said, Brits were thin on the ground, even in 2020 - I only saw 4 red dusters all summer. Sounds like visiting Brits were even rarer this year. So port authorities probably aren't going to have had much practice, in handling non-Schengen boats, at the start of next season, in the smaller ports.

On the Visa front, found this interesting update on the CA website. Apparently the French & Swedish 6 month 'in country' Visas (they are currently the only Schengen countries offering them) do not count against your Schengen 90/180 day allowance. Which opens up the possibility of a 9 month Schengen Cruise....... Down the French coast (on a 6 month Visa) and then into the Rias, on the Schengen allowance. OR up to and return from Sweden, using the Schengen allowance, with a summer in Sweden on the 'in country' visa.......

 

[Lightwave395]

That's what I'd heard too. Good to have on the ground confirmation. I'm thinking that best option is to go in via a ferry port, with the ferry terminal not too distant from the marina, for a first attempt......

That's exactly what I did at Roscoff, walked to the ferry terminal next door to the marina and a nice Brittany Ferries lady took me through to the PAF office for an exit stamp. Didn't seem to be any issues as to when I left, I actually walked into Roscoff for lunch before casting off later that afternoon

 

[syvictoria]

On the Visa front, found this interesting update on the CA website. Apparently the French & Swedish 6 month 'in country' Visas (they are currently the only Schengen countries offering them) do not count against your Schengen 90/180 day allowance. Which opens up the possibility of a 9 month Schengen Cruise....... Down the French coast (on a 6 month Visa) and then into the Rias, on the Schengen allowance. OR up to and return from Sweden, using the Schengen allowance, with a summer in Sweden on the 'in country' visa.......

I believe (although I could be wrong) that the 6 month visa will only be granted once the applicant has used their 90/180 allowance (it's essentially an extension). The visa also has to be applied for from outside of France/Sweden.

 

[John_Silver]

I believe (although I could be wrong) that the 6 month visa will only be granted once the applicant has used their 90/180 allowance (it's essentially an extension). The visa also has to be applied for from outside of France/Sweden.

Only really looked into the French one. Definitely requires application to be made prior to arrival. But no requirement stated, that I can see on the Wizard, regarding using the Schengen days first. When I answered the triage questions, on the application site, it asked duration of stay , with a choice of ‘up to 3 months‘, ‘3-6 months‘, ‘over 6 months. ‘If I entered ‘under 3, ‘ it told me that no Visa was required. If I entered ‘3-6, ‘it told me to apply for a 6 month Visa. Which suggests to me that it is available without having to exhaust the 90 day allowance. What makes you suspect that the standard Schengen allowance had to be exhausted prior to application?
As I say can’t speak for the Swedish Visa process.

 

[TiggerToo]

Main elements seem to be proof of medical insurance, including death and repatriation cover (so an in date EHIC isn't sufficient), proof of funds in the bank and a £90 application charge. I'm getting my application in the post as soon as my renewed passport arrives.

Oh gosh. Brilliant this "B" thing, innit? So much better than FOM.

 

[Kelpie]

Oh gosh. Brilliant this "B" thing, innit? So much better than FOM.

Quiet at the back there. With petrol now at £2.68 a litre nobody can afford a yacht anymore, so the problem will fix itself one way or the other!

 

[syvictoria]

Only really looked into the French one. Definitely requires application to be made prior to arrival. But no requirement stated, that I can see on the Wizard, regarding using the Schengen days first. When I answered the triage questions, on the application site, it asked duration of stay , with a choice of ‘up to 3 months‘, ‘3-6 months‘, ‘over 6 months. ‘If I entered ‘under 3, ‘ it told me that no Visa was required. If I entered ‘3-6, ‘it told me to apply for a 6 month Visa. Which suggests to me that it is available without having to exhaust the 90 day allowance. What makes you suspect that the standard Schengen allowance had to be exhausted prior to application?
As I say can’t speak for the Swedish Visa process.

I'm sorry, I think I must have been confusing this with something else, as I can't now find any reference to having to use your 90 days first. I had thought that I recalled this coming to light in another thread here regarding French long stay visas (there have been several other threads regarding the visas since B).

Sorry again for providing false info!

 

[John_Silver]

I'm sorry, I think I must have been confusing this with something else, as I can't now find any reference to having to use your 90 days first. I had thought that I recalled this coming to light in another thread here regarding French long stay visas (there have been several other threads regarding the visas since B).

Sorry again for providing false info!

Well, I’m guilty too. As Lightwave pointed out, an EHIC / GHIC does cover the medical insurance side, for a 6 month (but not an over 6 month visa). No additional insurance, as I incorrectly stated earlier, required. Confused? You soon will be!

Sometimes, though, things sound more complicated than they really are. Hoping that’s the case here.

If the price of regaining access to the pleasures of Brittany and the Vendée is filling out a form, stumping up £90, and arriving at/departing from a restricted list of ports…..those pleasures are well worth that price, to me. As to how we came to lose our unfettered right of access…..”we are where we are.”

 

[Lightwave395]

We're still in the planning stage but subject to the small print we'd think to go in late April, sail off south and back for up to 3 months, return to UK, get a 6 month visa going back to boat September for a couple more months then again after Xmas when she comes out of the water.
We're also exploring the possibility of sailing down to the Ria's so I assume we'd have to start with the visa to meander down there and save the 90/180 to use after checking out of France into Spain.
I think until some of us apply and get one of the French visas we probably won't know the exact rules, Has anyone else found any confirmation that the 6 month visa is 'in', stay for up to 6 months and then 'out' or can it be used as multiple entry for a cumulative total of 6 months ?

 

[LadyInBed]

This site appears to have useful info
Applying for a Spanish Visa in the United Kingdom - Spain VISA UK
Schengen Visa Types & Validity, Duration of Stay, 90/180 Rule & Visa Sticker