France - Clearance
Notice April 2022: Russian flagged or registered yachts are not permitted to enter any ports in France. See news item for details.
PORTS OF ENTRY
Ports of Entry in France are known as PPFs. The majority of PPFs are commercial ports where officials are present because of cross-border ferry traffic. This means that officials tend to be located some distance from marinas and in some PPFs clearance can take a little time. There are of course a number of PPFs where officials do make scheduled visits to marinas to assist with clearance (normally during the summer season in ports which are frequently used by recreational craft).
In Brittany and Normandy (NW France) it is now possible for pleasure boats coming from a port outside Schengen area to arrive at and leave directly an unofficial border crossing point, with just a simple online form to be filled in and sent prior to arrival and departure (see details below).
In all other parts of France, excluding force majeure, boats can no longer call at a non-PPF (Port of Entry) and proceed on land to a PPF for customs checks. Boat AND crew must call at the PPF in question.
Important Note: With the introduction of the Europe-wide entry and exit system (EES) (now delayed until 2024), biometric data will need to be recorded on entry and exit for third country travelers. While this negates the need to have passports stamped, it will require a visit to an official office at a port of entry, therefore flexible clearance at marinas may no longer be possible once it is implemented. It is not yet known how rigidly EES will be enforced for pleasure boat users.
To see all the ports of entry in France, click on the anchor icon in the blue bar near the top of the page and select the region of France you are interested in.
ARRIVAL PROCEDURES
Arriving in France from within Europe:
EU boats (on which VAT has been paid or which are exempt) and EU crew coming from another EU country do not have to clear with the authorities.
Non-EU boats with non-EU crew coming from another EU country should visit the Border Police (Police Aux Frontières – PAF) and Customs (Douane) on arrival, however, will likely not be required to show any paperwork and the crew will just be reminded to be aware of their time spent in Schengen.
Arriving in France from a Third Country (non-Schengen)
All boats coming from a third country (both EU and non-EU yachts) should proceed as follows:
General Process:
- The “Q” flag need not be flown unless you have items to declare on arrival.
- On arrival in France the captain should report to the local Border Police (Police Aux Frontières – PAF) and possibly Customs (Douane) at a Port of Entry with the ship’s registration papers and passports. In some places, officials will visit the boat on arrival. Customs may also inspect yachts up to 12 miles off the coast.
- The port captain should be contacted immediately on arrival in a marina or port, and he will call the authorities. Alternatively, the skipper should phone the Customs office himself.
- Be aware that many offices (PAF or Douane) are not close to the marinas nor open 24 hours or regular hours.
- In some ports, officials will visit the boat (whether from the EU or not), as soon as it docks and inspects all documents (passports, boat documents, Certificates of Competence etc.) They may also inspect the equipment on board.
- Note – even if you have sent a pre-arrival form for Normandy/Brittany – you still need to visit the above offices on arrival in the port of entry – for now.
While the above process should be followed, you may find in some ports that Customs won’t want to see any paperwork and will just remind
See pre-arrival information below if entering France in Normandy or Brittany.
Normandy and Brittany:
If arriving in France from outside Schengen on the French Channel Coast (Normandy and Brittany) it is possible to submit international clearance in advance, by filling in an online form and sending it via e-mail to the chosen port of entry.
Brittany
The official Ports of Entry on the French Channel coast are (in order along the coast from east to west): Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne, Dieppe, Le Havre, Honfleur, Caen/Ouistreham, Cherbourg, Carteret, Granville, St Malo, St Brieuc/Légué, and Roscoff.
Skippers must use the PREAVIS-immigration form which must be completed and sent prior to arrival (24 hours or for shorter passages before departure from the previous port, or 48 hours if a weekend). This form for a number of the above ports can be found on the Les Ports de la Manche website. If your chosen port does not have such a ‘Preavis Immigration’ form, then you will need to select another arrival port which either has such a form or is an actual Port of Entry. The same process applies to departure.
On arrival, if you have not previously received a reply to your email, call the named local Port of Entry Border Police/Customs to ask for advice. They may then visit you onboard.
French Officials normally announce a derogation for the non-PPF ports of St Cast, St Quay, Lézardrieux, Tréguier, and Trébeurden in Brittany to act as temporary Ports of Entry for the period 1st June to 30th September. All skippers need to do is complete the online declaration of arrival form (the same form for departure), which can be found on the relevant marina website, and e-mail it to the marina office at least 24 hours in advance of arrival (or departure). A clearance certificate can be collected from the marina office on arrival, and on departure will be emailed to you.
This form of clearance permits sailing in Brittany, but for further cruising elsewhere in France or beyond to other Schengen countries will require clearance from an official port of entry. See the details on the port of St Cast website.
Normandy
La Manche and Le Calvados Customs have simplified procedures for unofficial border crossing points. It is now possible for pleasure boats coming from a port outside Schengen area to arrive at and leave directly an unofficial border crossing point. This rule applies to:
IN LA MANCHE : Port-Bail, Barfleur, Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue.
Les Ports de la Manche website with links to forms.
IN LE CALVADOS : Deauville-Trouville, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Dives/Mer – Cabourg – Houlgate, Grandcamp-Maisy, Isigny/Mer, Port-en-Bessin.
Ports du Calvados website – once registered you can complete all forms online.
Skippers must e-mail the completed form to the Harbour office 24 hrs before arriving and just before departure in case of a less 24 hrs stay (for longer stays, 24hrs minimum). The form will then be transmitted by the harbor office to Port Authorities and Customs.
As with Brittany, this form of clearance permits sailing in Normandy, but for further cruising elsewhere in France or beyond to other Schengen countries will require clearance from an official port of entry.
DOMESTIC CRUISING
If the correct entry procedures are followed, non-EU visitors can then visit other French ports without further checks.
French Waterways: Fees, Rules and Regulations
DEPARTURE
EU Boats:
An EU boat with all EU citizens on board going to another EU country does not need to officially clear out.
If leaving the EU, then the skipper should the check local regulations and, if possible, obtain a ‘zarpe’ or other official clearance document, to show that they legally left their previous destination when arriving in a new country. This is normally issued by Customs.
Non-EU Boats:
A non-EU boat leaving France for another Schengen country, assuming the correct arrival procedure has been followed, can visit other ports in other Schengen countries without any further checks.
A non-EU boat leaving France and leaving Schengen, must complete a departure declaration and report to Customs at an official port of entry/departure (PPF), so that their movement out of the Schengen Area has been recorded. Any non-EU crew should report to passport control when leaving the Schengen Area and get their passports stamped.
If departing from Normandy/Brittany, the departure declaration can be found online on the port website.
Be advised that it might not be easy to obtain a zarpe/departure document or be able to locate the necessary officials.
For more details about clearing-into France with a pleasure boat go to https://www.douane.gouv.fr/particuliers/vous-naviguez
Useful Document by the CA: Entering and Leaving France
Last updated: May 2023
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We entered France from Italy at Nice. Nice Harbor and there is a Douane (customs) office across the street. We rang the bell and someone came to help us. They did not want to inspect our US flagged boat or even see our registration. They did ask if we were stamped into the Schengen zone (we were) and if we were aware of the 90/180 day limit for US passports (we are). So far a non-event with no paperwork or inspection.
The Cruising Association report that the French Channel port of Boulogne is claiming to no longer be a port of entry as they have no offi-cials locally to process arrivals and departures and warn that some arrivals have been recom-mended to travel by train to Calais for processing. See their useful guidance on entering and leaving France at https://www.theca.org.uk/news/entering-leaving-france-for-cruisers.
Northern French regions are continuing to make entry from outside Schengen easier (in particular for UK yachts post-Brexit). Following on from Brittany, Normandy (specifically La Manche and Le Calvados Cus-toms) have now made it possible for pleasure boats coming from a port outside Schengen area to arrive at and leave directly an unofficial border crossing point, with just a simple online form to be filled in and sent prior to arrival and departure. See the Formalities section for more details (go to hamburger menu).
On Thursday 23 September, 2011, the Orca Iberica group confirmed there was an interaction in French waters. This means that at least one of the interacting groups is in that area, so please be cautious if you are sailing in the French Atlantic coasts, as well as in the Portuguese, and northern Spain, as the rest of the groups may still be in the area, or are in migration at the moment.
See https://www.orcaiberica.org/ for more info.
If when My wife and l fly into Corsica to join our boat which has been stored there and we are required to self isolate for a set number of days will the authorities allow us to do this on the boat after it has been launched and berthed in Bastia marina ?
Any advice or experience of this issue would be appreciated.
I recommend you speak with Bastia Marina – I am sure you are not the first owners flying back to their boats.
Kerry Kunz
May 07/21
I have a Canadian flagged sailboat which is presently under a temporary import. The boat was delivered in La Rochelle France in September of last year. I have sailed from La Rochelle to Spain to Portugal, Spain Med and then France Med where I am now (Nice). I have been contacted by the Navy and told that non Schengen flagged vessel cannot stop in French (Med) waters and must transit through French Med waters expeditiously. I have the printed “ARRETE PREFECTORAL” #238/2020 dated 30 November 2020. You are not permitted to anchor and can only enter a port for a specific reason such as needed repairs etc. The ports/marinas however are no enforcing this rule or they maybe unaware of it. No date has been given when these rules will be relaxed.
“Orcastrait” Bavaria C45
Thanks Kerry – The ARRETE PREFECTORAL” #238/2020 dated 30 November 2020 was recently replaced on May 12 2021 by this new one : ARRETE PREFECTORAL” #090/2021 dated 12 May 2021. The important paragraphs concerning navigation and entry into French waters for foreign pleasure craft are as you say:
– Any vessel flying a foreign flag is authorized to exercise its right of innocent passage in order to cross, continuously and rapidly, the French territorial sea or to join the high seas.
– The vessel is also allowed to join:
– its home port when located on the French Mediterranean coast.
– a shipyard subject to having a repair contract with it.
While waiting to enter the port or shipyard, the vessel can stop or anchor, along the French Mediterranean coast, after having informed the maritime authority (semaphore) or obtained the authorization to anchor in accordance with the regulations of the prefectural decree nr 155/2016 of June 24, 2016.
Our thanks to the OCC Port Officer in Marseille for confirming this and sending a translation.
DEAR ALL
In November 2020 a storm hit the region of Cannes, thousands of trees came down with the flood, most were stranded on the beaches but a lot are still drifting in the sea.
On 28.11.20 we were sailing from PALMA to PORT NAPOLEON. We could avoid trees and all kind of debris during the day, slaloming, but during the night…
We struck a floating tree (and got a big dent in our bow).
Be careful this winter in the Med – Keep a Sharp Lookout!!
Dirk Mertens
S/V EULALA – LAGOON 52
The prefectural degree seems to have been published and seems to say it’s ok to sail into France
https://www.premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/navigation-de-plaisance-et-loisirs-nautiques-en-mediterranee
When traveling from the Canaries to the Netherlands in april 2020, I have the experience that France allowes yachts in transit to seek shelter for bad weather at anchor, but forbids the passengers to go ashore. Contact the coastguard with your intentions.
Hello
I am a new Zealander about to pick up my new catamaran from La Rochelle.
I will be equipping it with dive compressor . electric bikes.paddle boards etc
Then departing to Portugal and med.
Can I claim vat on my purchases and how ?
I have reviewed tax site info but still confused as to if I have to be a non resident company gst registered or individual. Also are these purchases different from what is classified as tourist purchases as defined on sites I have researched.
Any help most appreciated.
cheers Ian
Hi Ian,
This site seems to explain pretty clearly what you can and can’t do – https://www.lisbonguru.com/how-to-claim-vat-refund-lisbon-portugal/
Hope that helps,
Sue
We visited Corsica in May and attempted to clear in at Porto-Vecchio. We were told there that the only ports of entry in Corsica are Ajaccio and Bastia.
Rick
Ocean Dream
New restrictions 2018 around Corsica?
Some large special purpose yellow buoys have appeared around 300m or more across bays and previous anchorages north of Bastia. I get the impression from a call made and looking at a French gov website that this is a general approach around Corsica, and starting June 2018. Has anyone else found this happening around the island?
Posted elsewhere on the site by Jim Norris:
We are in Malta on the way from Greece to the French canals.
We went to the French embassy here to see about long-term visas for France. Here is the official email answer.
Concerning your question about Schengen Visas:
– Further to the French-Canadian Agreements on 06-17 April 1950, all Canadian nationals are allowed to stay in France during 3 months without any Visa, independently of previous stays already done in other countries of the Schengen area.
Martine RIGAUD-BUSUTTIL
Service Consulaire/ VISAS
AMBASSADE de FRANCE
130 Melita Street
VALLETTA VLT 1123
TEL (00356) 2248 0600
So it appears us Canuks at least can get 180 days (actually more as it says 3 months).
As a newcomer to Noonsite I would like to add up to ports & good sailing ground the area around Port Vendres, where the Pyrenees mountains drop into the Mediterranean; Sun, Wind,& wild scenery as well as a Good way of life (food, hiking, anchorages …).
In addition to one port? Canet en Roussillon (1300 berths, quays for repairs) with outstanding facilities for drydocking & repairs, with lifts from 30 to 200 Tons capacity (monohulls as well as catamarans) & loads of workshops & suppliers for all work related to sailing. The proximity of the city of Perpignan with even more industrial capacity helps keep prices low (not cut-throat as often encountered with Shipchandlers). I warmly recommend the services & will happily help out if wishing for more information.
SV Désirade VIII – soon (9/11/2017) to cast off to South Atlantic.
For anyone who plans to travel through the inland waterways from or to the Mediterranean, you can download the e-pilot we wrote about our route from Amsterdam to the Med in 2015, updated with info from fellow cruisers we launched version 2.0 last month. Go to http://www.e-pilots.net for the latest edition.
Posted on behalf of Mark & Lisa Powell
A warning to non-EU cruisers in the Med.
We would like to pass on our experience yesterday with French customs. As the website correctly states, non-EU registered boats may remain in EU waters for 18 months before payment of VAT is required. We entered the EU last July, after crossing the Atlantic in May and then spending some time in Portugal and “resetting the clock” in Gibraltar in July. Therefore, the boat could stay in the EU until Jan 2017 without paying VAT. However, before returning the US for the winter, we obtained a “Precinto” (6-month customs bond) in Spain. This basically put the boat in bond while we went back to the U.S. for 6 months. Our understanding was that this Precinto would stop the Temporary Importation (TI) clock for 6 months, effectively extending our time to 24 months in EU waters before VAT payment is required.
Yesterday, while motoring along the south coast of France (near Bandol/Toulon), we were approached and boarded by French customs. Because out boat has only been in EU waters for since last July (13.5 months), they were very cordial and we had no problems. We also showed them our Precinto from Spain. They were completely unfamiliar with this document. I also showed them the paragraph in the IMRAY cruising guide describing the customs bond and 6-month extension. In no uncertain terms, they told us that France does not provide such extensions and that they would not recognize or honor this Precinto from Spain. They kindly suggested that we sail to Tunisia for a day to “reset the clock” before our 18-month deadline in Jan 2017.
Posted on behalf of Alison Spinney, SY ChaliVentures III (USA)
Ports we visited in 2013, EAST COAST: From South to North
Note: We have a 12m boat.
Port Rondinara – JUNE
Stayed here for 6 nights waiting for a Mistral to pass. Good protection, but not from the East! Very crowded with charter boats and flotillas from Sardinia.
Solinzara – JUNE
38€/night. Laundromat and Carrefour just up the street. Lots of restaurants. WIFI!
Port de Taverna/Campoloro – JUNE
37€/night. Just an overnight. There was a small convenience store, But they had WIFI!
Bastia-Port Toga – JUNE
35€/night. We had wanted to go into the Vieux port of Bastia, but they were doing some construction and it was very tight maneuvering. Also at the end of the outer breakwater, there were hordes of teenagers, and it just didn’t seem very secure. So we bailed and went into Port Toga instead. They had WIFI. Directly across the street was a FABULOUS Géant Casino. 2 blocks away was a self-serve Laundromat. The girls in the office directed me to a dry cleaning service that cost a fortune which was just across the street from the marina next to the Geant Casino. We LIKED Bastia. It’s pretty small, so things were pretty close.