Cruising Association welcomes easier check in/out for cruising to France

French officials have announced a new ‘protocol’ for small boats to enter France from outside of the EU.

Normally boats would have to arrive at and depart from a Port of Entry (PPF), although last year there were a few ports with a special derogation which allowed entry for a limited period.

The new ‘protocol’ will apply from 1 June 2024 and grants some 53 marinas (which are not PPFs) the rights to handle boats arriving from or departing to outside of the EU/Schengen area. Below is the list of ports included in the new protocol.

Skippers of these boats will need to email a specific completed form to the relevant port in advance of arrival or departure. These forms will then be processed by local officials, and we anticipate the stamped papers may be picked up on arrival, or emailed in the case of departure (as last year for those few ports).

Update 2 July 2024: Revised List of Pleasure Ports Under The Protocol

 

You can also view the latest information on the list of ports/marinas and download a Declarations of Arrival and Departure form from the French Douane website here.

Update 25 June 2024: Clarification of Rules Regarding Arrival and Departure

If a boat arrives in France via a PPF port it must leave via a PPF port, and passports will be stamped on arrival and departure by the Border Authorities, although the Declarations of Arrival and Departure form must still be submitted to the relevant marina authorities.

If a boat arrives in France via a non-PPF port (under the 'protocol') it should only leave by another non-PPF (protocol) port. No inspection of passports is required, as all information concerning persons on board is contained in the Declarations of Arrival and Departure submitted to the marina authorities for onward transmission to the Border Authorities.

If a boat arrives and leaves by the same non-PPF port, no inspection of passports is required for the same reasons.

In the case of a boat arriving at a non-PPF (protocol) port and the crew wishing to depart via a PPF the crew must present themselves on arrival at the port of entry associated with that non-PPF (protocol) port for passport inspection and stamping.

The Cruising Association will publish further information for our members, including a comprehensive list of the relevant ports along with the associated forms as these are announced. The CA will also provide additional advice on some of the extra considerations such as cruising onwards to other EU countries and crew changes.

Further details for the Channel area but also applicable more widely, can be viewed by members on the France - Channel - Entry Procedures and Ports of Entry.

This announcement will make cruising to and from France this summer much easier and more attractive for all. The CA and cruising community is grateful to the French authorities as well as the ports and marina officials for their work to enable this outcome.