If you are thinking about sailing your boat into European waters there are a number of factors you need to consider which should be planned and organised in advance.
This page covers:-
1) New Border Management Initiatives (ETIAS and EES)
2) The Schengen Area, what is it and how long can you stay.
3) Temporary Importation (TI) of non-EU boats and how long you can stay before import tax is payable.
4) What certification skippers are expected to have by some countries, although not required by their home country.
5) Certification required if transiting the inland waters of Europe.
6) Regulations affecting boats permanently imported into the EU.
7) Requirements if you wish to bring your pet with you to the EU.
8) Sections with useful reports and links to other sites.
Also see our "Documents and other considerations when cruising abroad" page.
Currently, there are 27 member countries in the European Union.
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark (excluding Greenland); Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Gibraltar; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden.
The UK left the EU on 31 December 2020. This has a number of implications for UK yachtsmen who are now classed as third country citizens (non-EU). See these useful free webinar recordings by the Cruising Association on Brexit Issues for Cruisers and Crossing the Channel to France.
All pleasure craft (including EU yachts), if coming from outside the Schengen area, must officially check in or out. Entry or exit must be made at a border crossing point (or port of entry), except under certain conditions:
A pleasure boat coming from outside the area without internal border controls may, exceptionally, enter a port which is not a border crossing point. In these cases, the persons on board must notify the port authorities to be authorised to enter this port. The port authorities must report the vessel’s arrival to authorities in the nearest port designated as a border crossing point. The declaration of passengers must be handed to port authorities. This list must be made available to the border guards, at the latest upon arrival.
Likewise, if due to force majeure, the pleasure boat has to dock in a port other than a border crossing point, the port authorities must contact the authorities in the nearest port designated as a border crossing point to report the vessel’s presence. This has to be restricted to exceptional circumstances including force majeure, for example extreme weather, a medical emergency, machine breakdown or other technical problems, or involvement in search-and-rescue operations. Other exceptional circumstances could be sporting events or an exceptionally large influx of pleasure boats in a specific geographical area that makes it difficult to absorb the increase in activity at a crossing point. In all these cases, border checks will have to be conducted by authorities of the nearest border crossing point.
Note, enforcement of entry and exit rules do vary from country to country.
If moving from one EU/Schengen country to another, no border checks are required.
On departure from the EU/Schengen for a third country, departure clearance must be carried out.
It should be noted that Schengen member states can re-introduce border controls at internal borders (including sea ports) in the event of a serious threat to public policy or internal security. Countries with temporary reintroduction of border controls are monitored at this link: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/schengen-area/temporary-reintroduction-border-control_en
The European Union has two new border management initiatives that will affect travel to Europe: the Entry/Exit Systems (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
The EES scheme will connect all Schengen area frontiers to a central database. The aim is to digitise border crossings so that the comings and goings of non-EU citizens can be more closely monitored. It will help to identify suspected criminals, and to police the limit on stays of 90 days in any 180 days, which applies to non-EU citizens.
The first stage of implementing the Europe-wide entry and exit system (EES) was launched on 12 October 2025.
This means that all non-EU crew (who don’t require a visa to enter the EU) must now register their passport details, fingerprints and facial biometrics on entry and exit to/from the EU as a digital record.
While EES started on 12 October, 2025, completion is not expected until 9 April 2026. Precise details about how the system will work are still being finalised, however as this is a phased rollout over a 6-month period, some crossing points will require biometrics, while others will remain strictly analogue. Passports will continue to be scrutinised and stamped until the 180 day roll out period is complete.
Not all ports of entry will have systems in place to begin with, so handling these new immigration procedures may require some flexibility with your port of entry choice.
EES only applies to crossing the external EU borders. The system does not apply to intra-Schengen travel.
More details on what yacht crew need to watch out for, can be found in this Noonsite report.
The European Commission plans to roll out a U.S. style electronic travel authorisation system for visitors from countries that are currently not part of the EU. These visitors have been granted visa-free access to the EU and Schengen member countries through virtue of their good track record on security issues and, thus, have not been deemed as a threat to EU security. However, the EU is wanting to strengthen its border security as well as digitally screen and track travellers entering and leaving EU countries.
ETIAS has been delayed until Spring 2027 (it was due to start in Q4 of 2026).
It involves filling in an online application form, which will take approx. 20 minutes to complete, in advance of your travel to the Schengen Zone (2 weeks before), and paying a fee (similar to the US ESTA) estimated at 20 Euros. After you fill out your application online with the personal information on your passport, and answer a series of security and health-related questions, it should be approved and sent to your email address within a few hours after it is checked across security databases like Interpol and Europol. While children under the age of 18 will be required to have an ETIAS, they will not be charged the application fee.
The ETIAS will be valid for three years—or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
There are currently 60 countries that will need to apply for the ETIAS travel permit in order to visit the Schengen Zone. The ETIAS authorization is designed for short trips that can last up to 90 days.
Nationals of visa liberalization countries will continue to travel the EU without a visa but will simply be required to obtain a travel authorization via ETIAS prior to their travel.
The introduction of the ETIAS permit will not modify free transit, but it will be a mandatory requirement for entry to Europe.
The European Travel Information and Authorization System is also known in Spanish as SEIAV.
The EU has confirmed that British citizens will be eligible for ETIAS when it is launched. UK nationals do not need a visa for short stays in Europe, but an ETIAS visa waiver will be required.
ETIAS visa: how will it affect UK citizens
Key differences between ETIAS and the EES.
2) THE SCHENGEN AREAThe Schengen Area Agreement came into force in 1995. This Agreement links all member countries with a consistent visa policy and therefore a Schengen visa issued by any country under the Schengen rules will be valid for travel in all the Schengen countries. This means that one visa alone will enable the bearer to travel in all the Schengen countries.
Not all European Union countries are signatories to the Schengen Agreement.
Current members of the Schengen Area (colored blue & green) are:-
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Gibraltar, although still a British colony, joined the Schengen Area for passport-free travel on 1 January 2021, and will now be included in the Schengen Agreement between the other 26 member countries. A Schengen deal is still under negotiation and not yet fully agreed, therefore not implemented. Passport control is still carried out for air and sea arrivals.
European and Mediterranean countries not part of the Schengen Area (and useful to know for when you need to leave Schengen) are:-
There are, of course, other Mediterranean countries which are outside the Schengen Area, but which may not be safe to visit at present.
A short stay visit (whether a visa is required or not) to the Schengen Area by non-EU citizens is now defined as a total of 90 days' stay during any 180 day period.
In this instance, the word "any" means: for any 180 day period, one must not spend more than 90 days in the Schengen Area. This is typically calculated from "today" back 180 days: if you have been in the Schengen Area for 90 of those days, you will be in violation of the agreement.
See a full explanation at the European Home Affairs website. Also, see this Noonsite Report.
It is important to remember this restriction when contemplating an extended cruise in northern European waters and/or the Mediterranean if you, or a member of your crew, is a non-EU citizen.
As previously explained, the 90 days does not have to be continuous as it is a total of 90 days during any 180 day period. If you follow this link to European Home Affairs website you will find a link there to a very useful 'Short-Stay calculator' which will enable you to work out the days you can stay in the Schengen Area.
The first stage of implementing the Europe-wide entry and exit system (EES) was launched on 12 October 2025. The EES scheme will connect all Schengen area frontiers to a central database. The aim is to digitise border crossings so that the comings and goings of non-EU citizens can be more closely monitored. It will help to identify suspected criminals, and to police the limit on stays of 90 days in any 180 days, which applies to non-EU citizens. Sea borders, however, may take some time to implement EES (see further details above), and quite how this will be enforced for pleasure boat owners remains to be seen.
Non-EU yacht crew should continue with the intention to get their passports stamped on entry into Schengen (and on exit). Note, however, the Schengen border code, section 3.2.4 of ANNEX VI, (last updated 2024) states that no specific border checks need to be carried out on pleasure boats, even if coming from a non-Schengen country. Historically, this has meant that non-EU crew wanting to get their passports stamped on entry into Schengen, or on departure to prove they haven't overstayed, often find it a difficult process (unless they are leaving the boat and flying out of the EU via an airport).
Countries such as Spain and France, oftentimes will not stamp crew passports if they are remaining on board a yacht that is transiting through the country.
EES (and ETIAS) should make checking in and out of Schengen much simpler in the future. See further details above in "New Border Management Initiatives".
Currently Greece and Italy are the only 2 countries in Schengen that require a transit log for non-EU yachts. This official document does log first entry into Schengen.
Once you have entered Schengen, there is no need to check out and in again as long as you are moving between other Schengen countries. So for example, if you enter Schengen in Portugal, then visit Spain, France, Italy and Greece in your 90 days, there is no need to undertake any further clearance procedures other than those in your first country of clearance, until you clear out of Schengen in Greece.
Note: The Schengen Borders Code (SBC) provides Member States with the capability of temporarily reintroducing border control at the internal borders in the event of a serious threat to public policy or internal security. Go here to see a list of EU countries that have temporarily introduced border controls at sea borders.
The Schengen Visa has a reputation as being hard to obtain. However, in February 2020 the EU changed some of the rules to the Schengen Visa Code that regulates the issuing of visas and benefits, to try and ease the application process for travellers.
If a Schengen visa is required, then an application must be made to the Embassy or Consulate of the country where your first port of call in the EU is located. Applications should normally be made to the Embassy in your home country, so pre-planning is important as your passport will have to accompany your application. Electronic application forms are now available in most countries.
See How to Apply for a Schengen Visa.
See this Schengen Visa Application form for all the information required.
Applying for the visa once you have left your home country is very difficult indeed. Not entering the Schengen Agreement Area through the country specified on your application as your point of entry can also cause difficulties.
Travel insurance, including medical cover and repatriation, is also required when you apply for a Schengen visa.
Noonsite has investigated extensively, but currently, it is not easy to legally extend your stay for longer than a total of 90 days in any 180 day period. The EU did have plans to introduce a 'Touring Visa', however, this appears to have been shelved for now. See this EU link for the latest information on this subject.
There are active campaigns in progress to persuade national governments to create 180 day tourist visas for holiday home and boat owners, such as 180 days in Greece. The UK Cruising Association [https://www.theca.org.uk] are lobbying for a 180-day cruising visa separate from the Schengen 90-day visa with a particular focus on the Netherlands, Greece, Spain and Portugal.
For some nationalities, it is easier than others, especially if their country has a bi-lateral agreement with an EU country (more details below under "who else can stay for longer than 90 days"). Find out more at EU-Third Countries Bilateral Visa Waiver Agreements Explained.
If you have an EU passport it is of course easier to move around, however any EU nationals spending more than 90 days in the same EU country should register with the police for temporary residence. Any spouse will be issued a temporary residence card as well (whether EU or non-EU).
Some countries offer Tourist Long Stay Visas. The rules for this vary from country to country, but most limit the visa to 12 months and require evidence that you can support yourself and that you will not work. You will need to have full adequate health insurance, demonstrate adequate income, have an accommodation address (letter of support from a marina/yacht club) and show you don't have a criminal record. Some of the countries limit your stay to the one country, others allow you to move freely throughout the EU. However, you must both enter and leave from the country granting the visa. It is best to contact the embassy of the chosen country to find out details and to do so before leaving your home country as most have to be applied for from your home country before departure (and require a visit to the Embassy in person).
France has a popular long-term visa for visitors (VLS-T system) and Sweden offers a 6 month visitor's permit. The CA has an explanation of the French visa application process in a webinar available at pbo.co.uk/frenchvisa. Spain, Portugal and Greece are working towards creating long-term visitor visas, due to there being so many second home owners from the UK in these countries.
The advantage of getting one of these visas, is that your time spent in the country for which you have a long term visa, does not use up any of your Schengen allowance.
Several European countries, including Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Cyprus, and Estonia, offer digital nomad visas, allowing non-EU citizens to legally reside and work remotely from within their borders. Eligibility generally requires proof of a minimum monthly income (which varies significantly by country), private health insurance, a valid passport, and a stable remote work situation with a foreign employer or clients. Again, holding one of these visas would also not use up any of your Schengen allowance.
An EU citizen under EU rules has the right to travel together with core family members (non-EU spouse, children, dependent parents or dependent grandparents) to an EU country other than the one they are a national of. Non-EU family members must carry a valid passport at all times and, depending on the country they are from, may also have to show an entry visa at the border. But a family member of an EU citizen who has exercised the right to free movement is not bound to the limitation of stay of 90 days within 180 days. Note: if travelling with a non-EU spouse, you need to have a marriage certificate issued in the country where the passport was issued, even if the wedding took place in a different country. In addition, there are rules about how long you can stay in each EU state (normally not longer than 3 months without having to register locally). Contact EuropeDirectContactCentre@edcc.ec.europa.eu for more details.
One thing to be aware of is that if you have any type of resident's visa, you cannot use your boat in the EU unless it is VAT paid.
There are many reports on social media of cruisers using a "stamped crew list" to get around the 90-day limit in the EU. It should be noted that this loophole is for professional boat crew only and requires a seaman's book.
One way to stay longer in Europe is to make use of the countries that are not part of the Schengen Agreement (the "Schengen Shuffle"). See the list above. Since your 90 days does not have to be continuous, by ducking in and out of the Schengen Area, the 180 day period can become a moveable feast with some careful planning. Using the Short Stay Calculator on the European Home Affairs website page can help you do this.
Basically, you will have to carefully plan your trip so that you spend some time outside the Schengen Area (Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, Tunisia, Morocco, etc.) before returning to the Area to continue cruising (Greece, Italy, France, Spain etc.). It is particularly important that your movements in and out of the Schengen Area Countries are recorded (i.e. with a passport stamp), currently not so easy, although when ETIAS is introduced stamping won't be required anyway.
Malta Immigration refuse to stamp passports for crew (and they class liveaboards as crew). They only stamp the passport of passengers. Instead, they have you complete a Crew List which they stamp with the arrival date. This lack of passport stamp is used by many non-EU cruisers to "extend" time in Schengen, although should probably only be used if you are then going on to do non-Schengen time after your visit to Malta (i.e. in Tunisia, or leaving the Med).
The rules applicable to how long the boats themselves may be kept in a Schengen country depend on whether it is a member of the EU. See EU VAT/Import Duty section below for more details. Norway and Iceland are not members of the EU. See Norway Customs and Iceland Customs for more information.
In summary, a non-EU flagged boat with a non-EU skipper can remain continuously in the EU itself for up to 18 months without paying VAT and each time you leave the EU that 18-month clock re-starts.
There are many countries who are not in the European Union (EU) whose citizens can enter the EU Schengen Zone without needing a visa. Specifically, there are currently 63 countries who are not in the EU but are visa-free.
Citizens of these countries are allowed to go into countries in the Schengen Zone for business or travel purposes for up to 90 days. During these 90 days, these visitors are not allowed to work or study but can engage in business and tourism activities.
British passport holders do not - according to the EU Withdrawal Treaty - require a Schengen visa for short stays, but will need an ETIAS visa waiver from when it is introduced in 2025 (see more info. on ETIAS further down.).
Documentation required on entry includes:
Citizens, residents and their immediate family members and legal partners of the EU, Norway and Switzerland.
Nationals of countries with bilateral agreements with specific countries within the Schengen Area which pre-date the Schengen Agreement are permitted to spend up to 90 days in EACH in each of these countries with no reference to time spent in the rest of the Schengen Area.
Such bilateral agreements are known to exist with:-
List of Member States' bilateral visa waiver agreements with third countries.
It may be worth having some evidence of this ruling as not all Immigration officials are aware of these exceptions (i.e. confirmation in an e-mail from an Embassy).
Find out more at EU-Third Countries Bilateral Visa Waiver Agreements Explained.
Article 33 of the EU Visa Code: In case a visa holder who is already present on the territory of the Member States is unable to leave before the expiry of his visa for reasons of force majeure, humanitarian reasons or serious personal reasons, he should address the request for extension of the visa to the competent authorities of the Member State where he is present even if that is not the Member State whose consulate issued the visa. See Schengen Visa Info. for more information.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Burma (see Myanmar), Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Democratic Republic), Congo (Brazzaville), Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia , Fiji Islands, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgystan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldavia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Marianas (Islands), North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, São Tomé and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Samoa, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Note: This list is subject to change, see the latest list at the European Parliament website.
New EU rules on short-stay visas apply worldwide from 2 February 2020, making it easier for legitimate travelers to apply for a visa to come to Europe. These new rules only apply to travelers from all countries which need visas to travel to the EU (above). See the European Commission website for more details.
European Commission: Rules for Private Boats (FAQs)
Member States Customs Websites
Non-EU vessels which are intended for re-export may be temporarily brought into and used for private purposes in the EU, or more strictly in the "Customs territory of the Community", (which includes our territorial waters), without Customs duties or Value Added Tax (VAT) needing to be paid. But this can only be done by persons who are not EU residents - in official terms - by people who are "established outside that territory". This facility is thus NOT available to EU residents whatever their nationality.
The boats concerned have to be placed under the "temporary importation procedure" (TI) with Customs and the period of use in the EU is limited in time. When the time is up the boat has to leave, in official jargon, this period is called "the period of discharge". The re-exportation of the goods from the Customs territory of the Community is the usual way of ending or "discharging" a temporary importation procedure. If the boat does not leave before the end of that time, then Customs duty and VAT become due.
A boat is temporarily imported into the EU and not into one of the constituent Member States. Thus it can move from one Member State to another with no further Customs formalities during the 18 month period allowed.
It needs to be emphasized that the 18 month TI period only applies to privately own, non-EU yachts and sailed by non-EU owners or skippers. If an EU owner or skipper sails a non-EU registered the boat, then there is now, in practice, no period of TI.
Just crossing the frontier of the Customs territory of the Community is in general sufficient. But, you may be required to use a route specified by Customs and they may require you to make an oral or written Customs declaration. It is possible they may require the provision of some kind of security or guarantee to cover the payment of the Customs duties and VAT that become due if the boat does not leave the EU.
Only two EU countries have formal entry documentation used to track entry and exit of non-EU VAT paid yachts. Greece has the Transit Log and Italy the Constituto.
Normally, you can use the vessel in the EU for 18 months. In technical terms, the period for discharge for privately used means of sea and inland waterway transport is 18 months. This is laid down in the provisions of the EU Customs Code. If the boat is "laid up" ("put in bond") for a time the possibility exists for not counting the period of non-use (see below).
However, the total time a yacht can remain in the EU is a maximum of 24 months. The amount of paperwork required to place a boat in Customs bond and the restrictions they place on it varies from country to country.
Technically you cannot make use of the boat while it is in bond (i.e. sleep on board) and that you can only visit it to maintain it not to make improvements. That said, whether these rules are actually applied, again varies from country to country.
The short answer is 'no'.
Although the yacht itself can remain in the EU for 18 months, the skipper is bound by the Schengen visa regulations (whether or not they actually need to apply for a visa) and must leave the Schengen Area after 90 days. See the Schengen Area section for a full explanation of the rules. However, a different non-EU skipper (with the owner's permission) could take over.
Yes, as noted above, the eighteen month period may be extended for the time during which the yacht is not used. The EU Customs Code allows for this. However, the maximum overall period during which the yacht can remain in the EU is 24 months.
There is provision in EU tax law for the 18 month VAT Temporary Admission period to be extended for exceptional reasons, certainly up to 24 months. Extensions for up to the 24 month period are commonly granted where the yacht is laid up. It is recommended that approval is obtained from local customs authorities before going over the 18 month period.
In some cases it may be possible to go beyond the 24 month limit where it can be shown that there are exceptional reasons, for example to carry out running repairs necessary before the vessel can be used to leave the EU, or because border restrictions are preventing the vessel from leaving.
The best advice for people in this situation is to make contact with the VAT office in the country where the yacht is located.
Yachts may be temporarily imported for private use only. Under temporary importation, a yacht may not be hired, sold or lent to a resident of the EU. Immediate relatives of the owner may use the boat if they are resident outside of the EU. The boat may be used occasionally by an EU resident, when acting on behalf of the owner and when the owner is himself/herself in the EU.
The VAT relief also applies to the importation of spare parts and accessories to effect repairs or maintenance. This relief only applies to yachts registered outside the EU and owned by a non-EU resident. If you are shipping many items from outside the EU, it is advisable to use the services of an import agent who can deal with all the paperwork and duty calculations on your behalf.
Not if the owner is resident in the EU.
Not for UK boats that were in the EU at the end of the Transition Period on 31 December 2020. These boats are treated as EU VAT paid and therefore TI does not apply. As there is no facility to register for this status it is important that UK boats in this position have evidence of the vessel’s movements (including marina, fuel receipts and yard bills) to prove their location at the end of 2020.
Yes, you are not limited to a single period of temporary import. You can sail the yacht out of the EU and when you came back again a new period of temporary importation can begin. The Customs rules do not provide for a "minimum period" during which the goods must remain outside of the Customs territory of the EU.
Whilst it is not required to proceed to a customs office in order to make a declaration of entry, it is perhaps wise to obtain documentary evidence that time has been spent outside the EU. Leaving for a very short time and returning to the same country may be regarded as an abuse of this regulation and is best avoided.
The legal provisions on temporary importation are found in:-
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs
© European Communities, 1995-2003, 2016
Notes:
Although Gibraltar is outside the EU VAT customs area, it is part of the EU and the Temporary Importation (TI) clock for non-EU boats starts on entry to the port. Gibraltar should therefore not be relied on to re-set the TI clock.
This is the 'official' position. In practice, some Customs offices regard visiting Gibraltar as being outside the EU and regard the TI 'clock' as being re-set after a visit there.
Although part of Spain, Melilla and Ceuta are not in the Customs Territory of the EU (TAU) or the Territory of VAT application (TAIVA). This makes them a useful place to re-set the TI clock. Don't rely on these ports, however, for getting out of Schengen, as they are part of Spain and in the Schengen area and your passport will be stamped on arrival.
VAT is due:-
A VAT-paid boat can remain permanently in the EU and be sailed by anyone, whether an EU resident or not.
The amount of VAT to be paid is based on its current value. It is payable at the first port of call once the tax is due. It is, therefore, wise to consider the most advantageous country in which to import the boat. There is not so much variation in VAT rates as there used to be, so it will more likely depend on how sympathetic a valuation can be obtained and how easy the process proves to be.
All new boats should have the VAT element of the purchase price shown separately on the Bill of Sale.
Second hand Boats sold between private buyers are not subject to VAT but it is essential that proof of its VAT paid or VAT exemption status is provided. An exemption granted to boats built before 1 January 1995 and are deemed to have VAT paid status if they were in private ownership and within the EU at midnight on 31 December 1992. A mooring receipt or something similar would provide such evidence.
It is not advisable to buy a boat without this evidence unless you are prepared to pay the VAT due.
Contact a VAT Yacht Specialist for advice based on your own situation.
For a list of VAT rates applied in EU member countries see here.
For general information on VAT in the European Union see VAT - European Commission.
Links to contact information for the tax authorities and ministries of finance of EU countries can be found here.
An EU resident travelling into another EU Member State with a pleasure craft (boat), must be able to demonstrate that import duties and VAT have been paid for the pleasure boat in one of the EU countries by means of an invoice or a statement from the Customs authorities of an EU country.
Many officials in European countries expect to see some type of certificate of sailing competence even though the skipper's flag state does not require them to have one. Many charter companies will also require one. For Europe, it is particularly useful to have a European International Certificate of Competence (ICC). Montenegro, Greece, Croatia, Turkey - all ask for some sort of certificate of competence.
See Cruising Regulations: Obtaining an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) for more details.
If you sail through inland waterways in Europe, you may need an ATIS capable VHF radio with a valid ATIS code.
ATIS, (not to be confused with AIS), stands for Automatic Transmitter Identification System. This system is used on inland waterways in various countries in mainland Europe. At the end of every transmission the radio sends out a unique FFSK data signal, which contains the user or ship's unique ATIS call sign, this identifies you to marine coast stations and inland stations.
RAINWAT is the "Regional Arrangement Concerning the Radiotelephone Service on Inland Waterways" which, through the Basel Arrangement, has introduced the Automatic Transmitter Identification System (ATIS) for vessels making VHF transmissions whilst on the inland waterways of the signatory countries:
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; France; Germany; Hungary; Luxembourg; Moldova; The Netherlands; Poland; Romania; Slovakia; Switzerland; Serbia & Montenegro.
The Radio Communications authority of a boat's flag country is responsible for issuing the ATIS number which then has to be programmed into an ATIS-enabled VHF radio.
See the French Waterways website for more details.
If boating on the inland waterways of Europe (canals and rivers beyond the first sea lock), the skipper must be in possession of the CEVNI (Code Européen des Voies de Navigation Intérieure), an endorsement to their International Certificate of Competence (ICC).
Many of the canals and rivers of Europe are serious commercial highways and it is essential to be familiar with the rules and regulations which apply to boats using them.
Since 16 June 1998 all recreational craft with few exceptions, between 2.5 metres and 24 metres in length, imported into the European Economic Area (EEA) for the first time, and home-built boats if placed on the market within five years of completion, must comply with the essential requirements of the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) and must be CE marked. The EEA includes all EU countries plus Iceland and Norway
A useful website on getting a boat CE marked if importing from America is www.cemyboat.com.
Dogs, cats and ferrets moved for non-commercial purposes into an EU country from a territory or a third country other than Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, and Vatican City State, can enter through the following travellers' points designated by the EU countries where they are subjected to documentary and identity checks by the competent authorities.
See the European Commission page for a list of EU countries and territories with links to entry points (both ports and airports) with animal control. Note, in many countries the number of ports of entry with animal control are few.
EU Countries' specific health requirements for dogs, cats and ferrets can be found at this EU Commission link. On Noonsite, simply go to the country in question, click on the list icon (formalities) in the blue bar and scroll down to pet information.
Cats, dogs and ferrets coming from the UK to Europe have to follow these regulations (page 16).
In those cases where there is no European pet passport, the animals must be accompanied by:
- An animal health certificate, which must be signed by an official veterinarian of the third country, and translated according to the language of your chosen entry point into Europe; and
- Certified copies of the identification and vaccination data of the animal.
Note: Rabies vaccinations administered by a veterinary practitioner not authorized by an EU country will render the EU Pet Passport invalid for travel.
European Regulation on the movement of pet animals
In general, the EU is very pet-friendly, especially Italy.
