UK Boat Registration for EU Sailing

[PetrichorKev]

Hello, hoping that someone could help me clear up this query.
I am a UK passport holder, my wife has Norwegian. If we registered our boat (currently in Istanbul) under a UK Red Ensign would there be restrictions for our EU/Med sailing?
To me it seems that we would fine for 18 months, though having to carry a TA. However, a registration agent is telling me I would be restricted to how long the boat could be in each country?

Thanks

[Anders]

If it's not EU VAT paid it does not matter where you register it you will still be fine for 18 months.The boat should be fine but you are not supposed to stay in any country more than 3 months.
If you want to register it on the SSR you're supposed you to be resident in the UK and I believe they check the address of the card you pay with. Part 1 is fine.

[PetrichorKev]

Thanks for the information. Seems the only issue is the payment. It would be with an Australian credit card so that makes it liable for scrutiny. I believe that keeping it Polish (current registration) is less of an issue with that.

[goboatingnow]

The three month restriction applies to the crew. The boat is excerpted from EU vat for 18 months from the date it first entered the waters of the Customs union

You in the other hand are limited to 90 days out of 180 in TOTAL of all countries in the Schengen Agreement.

The flag registrations make no difference

[PetrichorKev]

That's right. Should have got that Norwegian passport. Life would have been simpler.

The only differences and considerations between Poland and UK registry, as I see it, are;
The price of registration (minor difference)
Speed of registration (minor difference)
UK is 5 years as opposed to lifetime for Poland

Unless I am missing something critical.....

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by PetrichorKev

That's right. Should have got that Norwegian passport. Life would have been simpler.

The only differences and considerations between Poland and UK registry, as I see it, are;
The price of registration (minor difference)
Speed of registration (minor difference)
UK is 5 years as opposed to lifetime for Poland

Unless I am missing something critical.....

Price of registration is very different..
SSR = €40 for 5 yrs..
UK Pt 1 €170 and €80 every 5 yrs to renew.
Polish = €449-€649 depending on who does it and size of boat. good value if keeping boat for rest of your life..

[PetrichorKev]

Hey boatman61,
I was looking at a generic boat registration site and getting roughly similar price for both the Polish and the UK.

Can only see us sailing for 5 years, so might not be such an issue......

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by PetrichorKev

Hey boatman61,
I was looking at a generic boat registration site and getting roughly similar price for both the Polish and the UK.

Can only see us sailing for 5 years, so might not be such an issue......

Polish registration is actually very cheap if you understand polish and have a polish address. The agencies charge €400-600 to provide that service.

If you qualify for SSR ( ie you are resident in the U.K. ) then that would be fine.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by PetrichorKev

That's right. Should have got that Norwegian passport. Life would have been

Not sure that's a problem. My British wife could travel with me indefinitely in Schengen since I'm still an EU citizen. Norway is in Schengen and I would expect that would be treated the same.

[PetrichorKev]

This is the issue for those of us not in the marriage boat yet

Glad to hear that it is easy enough for you both

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Anders

Not sure that's a problem. My British wife could travel with me indefinitely in Schengen since I'm still an EU citizen. Norway is in Schengen and I would expect that would be treated the same.

Be aware that if you spouse exceeds 90 days with you she may have apply for residency permits in the countries you are visiting

Non EU Spouse of a EU citizen has 90 days but after that is subject to local rules many of which require her to apply for a residency permit.

The system is not well suited to travelling around

[Tupaia]

Originally Posted by boatman61

SSR = €40 for 5 yrs..
UK Pt 1 €170 and €80 every 5 yrs to renew.

SSR requires you to be UK TAX resident, note changes in the wording, that in theory would leave you open to world wide taxation by HMRC.


UK Part 1 would require a Tonnage survey that is quite expensive.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

SSR requires you to be UK TAX resident, note changes in the wording, that in theory would leave you open to world wide taxation by HMRC.


UK Part 1 would require a Tonnage survey that is quite expensive.

Ssr requires you to be established in the U.K. this is not quite the same as “ tax resident “

[Tupaia]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Ssr requires you to be established in the U.K. this is not quite the same as “ tax resident “

"What is the criteria to register my boat in the UK?


The vessel is under 24 metres Length Overall (LOA).
You are ordinarily resident in the UK for 185 days in a 12-month period."


This grey area was removed when HMRC introduced automatic residency / non residency tests.

[Rapanui]

Going back to the OPs original question, the country of registration has no relevance to the Free Circulation (VAT status) of the boat in the EU. Any registration can be used. What counts is the tax status of the boat and that the owner is not resident in the EU.
SSR is cheap and easy to do online and the certificate is emailed. I know of Aussies with British Passports who have done this. From memory, you might need a UK address, but not sure if that is used.
18 month Temporary Importation for the boat is no biggy, at least in Croatia. You take the boat out to 12nm limit, take a photo of the chart plotter screen and report back to the harbour master.