Sailing to France
by CA Channel Section
Introduction
The CA provides members with a comprehensive range of information to assist in navigating the entry requirements of commonly visited countries. With the UK no longer part of the EU, various procedures must be adhered to. The processes are generally clearer these days, so don’t let the bureaucracy put you off sailing to and in the EU. We hope you find the following non-member pages useful.
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Disclaimer: Any advice has been prepared voluntarily by the Cruising Association, its members and others and they and it have tried to ensure that the contents are accurate. However, the Cruising Association, its employees, contributors and relevant members shall not be liable for any loss, damage or inconvenience of any kind howsoever arising in connection with the use of and/or reliance on such advice, save to the extent required by applicable law.
Entering and leaving the UK requires processes which were once the form C1331 but now the online Pleasure Craft Report (sPCR) process.
Being a part of the EU and Schengen area provides defined and automatic visiting rights for EU citizens and citizens of a number of other countries.
UK citizens, under the Brexit agreement, may visit for 90 days in a rolling 180 day period.
Citizens of other non-Schengen countries are advised to check on the French government web site for information on conditions for their entry.
Those wishing to stay in France over 90 days in 180 will need to apply for and receive a long stay visa or one of the residency options.
St Vaast - Bob Garrett
Channel France - Official Ports of Entry
France has a list of designated Ports of Entry (Points de Passage Frontalier or PPF) at which there are Offices (either the Police Aux Frontières (PaF) or Douane/Customs) to complete these processes with you.
There are also other ports which have special procedures for managing entry and exit as set out further down the page. Some Ports of Entry may also offer the facility to check-in/out by email forms. Note that with a single exception this page only covers those ports in the Channel area. In 2026 some PPFs are now able to offer either the simplified check-in/out via the 'protocol' process or the full check-in/out where passport details are checked by officials. It is your choice which option to select but if you choose the full process on entry then the same must be done on departure at the same port or another PPF. If you choose the 'protocol' process then the same process must be used for departure at the same port or another 'protocol' port.
Channel France - Other Ports
As of 1st June 2024 the French government has introduced a new "protocol" to permit the reception of boats from outside of the Schengen area at an additional 53 marinas which are not Ports of Entry (PPFs).
Listed below are the ports (in order along the coast starting in the east) which are PPFs or are offering the 'protocol' service. The precise process varies from port to port and is shared between CA members on this page. Non-members are recommended to check the port/marina's website for details.
To take advantage of this 'protocol' process you must download the relevant form for the port/marina, complete the details on the form and email it back to the address or addresses on the form. This must be done at least 24 hours before arrival or departure, or if the passage is less than 24 hours when departing the previous port.
There is a standard template form produced as a pdf which marinas may add the relevant email addresses to. However, this form is difficult to fill in without special software so the CA has made a pdf form from this which should be acceptable. French officials have also produced an odt (open document text) file which may be used.
For the latest information on 'protocol' ports and processes see this news story.
List of Ports: (unless otherwise stated these are ports operating the 'protocol': Dunkirk (PPF) , Calais (PPF and protocol port), Boulogne (a PPF yet without any staff to process entry/exit, but now a 'protocol' port), Dieppe (PPF), Fécamp, Le Havre (PPF), Honfleur (PPF), Deauville-Trouville, Dives sur Mer, Caen-Ouistreham (PPF), Courseulles-Sur-Mer, Port en Bessin, Grandcamp-Maisy, Carentan, St Vaast, Cherbourg (PPF and protocol port), Diélette, Carteret (PPF and 'protocol' port, Granville (PPF), St Malo (PPF) , Plouer-sur-Rance, St Cast (le Guido), St Brieuc/Légué (PPF), Binic, St Quay Portrieux, Paimpol, Lézardrieux, Pontrieux, Tréguier, Perros-Guirec, Trébeurden, Morlaix, Roscoff (PPF), L’Aber-Wrac’h.
Carteret - Steve Lacey
Crew Changes
Extra considerations are necessary where you may be entering and leaving France with different crew; for example some crew leaving or arriving by ferry because of crew changes.
In the case of individual crew changes there are no complications if both arrival and departure of the individual and the boat are via the full process at a PPF (which might be sea or air) because individual passports are checked. However, if arrival or departure of the boat is to be via a 'protocol' process then extra processes are required.
Etretat - Bob Garrett
Cruising Onwards
If cruising on to other countries from France you must check in at a PPF using the full process as only such an entry will be recognised by other countries.
Q Flag Use
Note also that while it is common international practice to fly a Q (yellow) flag until cleared for entry, we are advised that in France this is only necessary if you have goods to declare.
See also