Immigration and custom clearance in Northern France (questions)

[Simon.Sails]

Does anyone here have experience with (somewhat recent) immigration and custom clearance procedures in Northern France? I'm crossing the Channel from the UK, and am a Swiss (Schengen) national.

The provisional registration and radio license documents hopefully won't cause me too much trouble, and I don't have to self-quarantine now being fully vaccinated. But I couldn't really find much information online (or on noonsite) regarding the exact procedure. And, Calais or Dunkirk as port of entry?

Thanks, Simon

[goboatingnow]

As a Schengen individual you can enter anywhere you like , what nationality is the boat

Be aware that the U.K. is on the orange list so you need pcr tests and have to self quarantine for 7 days even if vaccinated ( this as of 18 July )

[Simon.Sails]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

As a Schengen individual you can enter anywhere you like , what nationality is the boat

Be aware that the U.K. is on the orange list so you need pcr tests and have to self quarantine for 7 days even if vaccinated ( this as of 18 July )

The boat has a provisional Polish registration, the final one will take another 3 weeks or so. This should be fine according to the agent, alongside the sales contract and all that. I thought even Schengen nationals need to go through a port of entry and show passports if coming from a non-Schengen country (UK).

This is my information regarding orange list countries:
I am vaccinated:
• Proof of complete vaccination (recognized vaccines
by EMA *)
• No compelling reason required (subject to the rules
additional regulations in force in the country of origin **)
• No test to present
• Not subject to 7-day self-isolation

1807_infog_deplacement_orange.pdf (French government)

[goboatingnow]

Apologies I meant to say uptil the 18 July you must present a pcr test after that date if fully vaccinated no test is required

[goboatingnow]

Sailors arriving from the UK can now enter France through any port including Fécamp. Credit: Tuul and Bruno Morandi/Alamy Stock Photo
Following Brexit, sailors arriving in France from the UK were only allowed to enter through a Port of Entry. Now entry will be allowed through any French port

Skippers arriving in France from the UK or the Channel Islands will now be able to enter the country through any port, following work by the Cruising Association (CA).

[Simon.Sails]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Sailors arriving from the UK can now enter France through any port including Fécamp. Credit: Tuul and Bruno Morandi/Alamy Stock Photo
Following Brexit, sailors arriving in France from the UK were only allowed to enter through a Port of Entry. Now entry will be allowed through any French port

Skippers arriving in France from the UK or the Channel Islands will now be able to enter the country through any port, following work by the Cruising Association (CA).

Thanks, I've read this but don't really understand how this works in practice. Do you just call the customs number and check with them regarding procedure? Not every marina port has immigration and customs office right?

Pretty new to all this.

[goboatingnow]

No. You are not required to seek formal entry into France. Typically the port will see your passports etc

Don’t Overthink it.

Apologies arriving from non Schengen

https://lehavreplaisance.com/library...2-1%285%29.pdf

Fill this out in advance and send it to a port of entry but you can sail into any French port.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

No. You are not required to seek formal entry into France. Typically the port will see your passports etc

Don’t Overthink it.

Apologies arriving from non Schengen

https://lehavreplaisance.com/library...2-1%285%29.pdf

Fill this out in advance and send it to a port of entry

Note that there is an personal insurance requirement , but again this is confusing for a Schengen citizen arriving from a third country as you don’t require that

( this form is clearly designed for U.K. citizens )

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

No. You are not required to seek formal entry into France. Typically the port will see your passports etc

Don’t Overthink it.

Apologies arriving from non Schengen

https://lehavreplaisance.com/library...2-1%285%29.pdf

Fill this out in advance and send it to a port of entry

Your post has prompted me to write to LeHarve , asking them what is the process now for Irish sailors as we are not a “ third country “ being in the EU but we are not in Schengen.

[Simon.Sails]

Sorry for the late reply, did you get any information from them?

[goboatingnow]

They replied but it didn’t make sense so I’ve asked again

The situation for U.K. non Schengen boats is clear , before you arrive fill out the form , nominate your arrival port and send the form to the LeHarve office

In the absence of any other info, Irish sailors will have to follow that procedure except that they do not have to specify a length of stay or provide insurance or financial support information. But that’s my interpretation

Ireland is going to run into lots of these issues now the U.K. has left as it’s the only EU country not in or about to be in Schengen.

[Simon.Sails]

Thanks, I didn't get an answer yet.

I'm contemplating to just send an email with the form as well (despite being a Schengen citizen) in the absence of another form and mention as much in the email. At least that way they know who I am and what boat I intend to sail to where...

[OliV59]

Isn't it too late by now?
In any case, you'll need:
-Proof of vaccination
-Personal documents
Since the 22th of July, a full vaccination course will give you the right to enter France without any sort of self isolation period. If you're not, well, then...

-Recent PCR test (48h)
-A very good reason to enter the French territory (family, work...)
-7 days of self-isolation, at an officially endorsed hotel, for example.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by OliV59

Isn't it too late by now?
In any case, you'll need:
-Proof of vaccination
-Personal documents
Since the 22th of July, a full vaccination course will give you the right to enter France without any sort of self isolation period. If you're not, well, then...

-Recent PCR test (48h)
-A very good reason to enter the French territory (family, work...)
-7 days of self-isolation, at an officially endorsed hotel, for example.

An eu citizen does not require any reason to visit France for as long as he or she likes and virtually anyone will have the EU COVID pass by now
The issue is entering from Ireland which is in the Eu bit outside Schengen.

[Simon.Sails]

So I entered France after having sent the clearance form to port authorities. But as I entered a different port (Calais instead of Boulogne-sur-Mer) because of an incoming storm, they wanted to know whether I notified them in advance.

All in all not a problem, they wanted to see my passport, covid certificate, as well as the boat registration papers and insurance.