The RYA would be pleased to receive reports of your experiences by email to cruising@rya.org.uk.

Taking your boat to France

Regulations, procedures and paperwork requirements for UK residents cruising to France on a privately owned UK registered boat

This information is for people sailing or motoring to France on their boat, and provides answers to common questions. It is not intended as a comprehensive guide. If you are towing a boat to France you can read about trailing/towing a boat here.

Documents to carry onboard

If you’re taking your boat to France, you must carry its registration certificate on board to demonstrate which flag state has responsibility for the vessel. If you’re registered on the UK Small Ship’s Register (Part III of the UK Ship Register), this will have been issued digitally. In the UK, a digital copy of a registration certificate or a printed copy of the registration certificate is considered the “original” copy. There is also a QR code on the digital certificate that authorities can scan to check registration.

It's also a good idea to carry additional evidence of ownership such as a bill of sale, especially if the boat is registered on the UK Small Ships Register (Part III). 

Document checklist

Vessel:

• Registration document
• Proof of ownership
• Ship radio licence
• Insurance documents
• Proof of VAT paid or deemed paid (for return to the UK)
• Voyage log
• Letter of permission from owner if you are borrowing the boat

Skipper and or crew:

• Evidence of competence (certificates)
• Authority to operate maritime radio
• Passport or other recognised travel document
• GHIC
• Travel/medical insurance paperwork

Find more information on paperwork requirements for UK flagged pleasure vessels cruising abroad.

Regulations

When you are in a different country’s waters, you must comply with that country’s regulations for foreign-flagged vessels as well as with the vessel’s flag state regulations. This mean that, if your boat is UK registered, you need to comply with both UK regulations and French regulations for foreign-flagged boats.

Regulations vary between countries, and even between local areas in the same country. They can cover taxes, documentation, equipment and qualifications or certificates. It’s important to check the local regulations before you visit. Non-compliance can result in significant fines.

Qualification and certificates

French regulations require skippers of visiting foreign-flagged boats to hold the boating qualifications or certificates required by their flag state. In practice, this means that if your boat is UK-registered and under 24m in length, or under 80 GT, there is no qualification requirement for French coastal waters. However, local interpretation can vary, and we recommend, particularly if cruising in the Mediterranean, to take any current certificates with you. Find out about validity of RYA certificates abroad.

On inland waterways, if your boat is less than 20m in length, we recommend carrying an ICC * (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft) validated for inland. This should show that you have sufficient knowledge of traffic regulations, buoyage, signage, and signals on European inland waterways (CEVNI rules). The ICC may not be sufficient for vessels over 20m in length

*While the ICC isn’t formally accepted in France, it’s widely recognised as evidence of competence.

Equipment

The RYA has previously sought legal advice on how French domestic equipment and manning rules apply to UK registered vessels visiting France. The conclusion was that it remains unclear and the best option for the owner/skipper of a foreign-flagged recreational boat in French waters is to endeavour to comply the French domestic rules relevant to their area of operation. 

There is a useful pdf summary (in French) of the equipment requirements under Division 240 for sea going vessels. This includes some recent changes and clarifications introduced in October 2024.

RYA Members can read Visiting France – a constitutional conundrum for a more detailed explanation of the application of French law to foreign-flagged vessels.

Waste water

The French tourism code requires all boats, with toilets, constructed after 2008 to be fitted with a holding tank or treatment system if they want to enter French river ports, sea ports, moorings or anchorages. In return, French ports and marinas should provide waste water disposal facilities.

Discharge of black, grey or bilge water is forbidden in French ports and within 3 miles of the French shore. Treated black water can be discharged beyond 3 miles if the boat is travelling at a minimum of 4 knots.

Pleasure boats under 20m could be subject to a fine of up to 4000 euros for disposing of any waste, not just waste water, in the sea.

Boats are also not allowed to discharge wate water into canals and rivers. Pump out facilities are few and far between and discreet overboard discharging has previously been tolerated, but this is not desirable and may change.

Red diesel

It is unlawful in France to buy, or use marked ‘red’ diesel for propelling a private pleasure craft.

Reporting your departure from the UK

If you leave the UK on a pleasure craft, you must report your departure to Border Force and HMRC. The easiest way to do this is to submit a pleasure craft report. This report includes details of your voyage plan and the people and goods on board.

Clearing immigration and customs in France

When you arrive in France from the UK, or another non-Schengen country, you will be subject to border checks. You can arrive at an official border crossing point (point de passage frontalier– PPF) or at one of 53 approved non-PPF marinas under a new system introduced in 2024.

You will need to complete a border control declaration form and email or hand it in to the port office. For non-PPF ports you should do this at the latest 24 hours before arrival, or when you leave your home (or other non-Schengen) port.

For PPF ports you can complete or hand in the form on arrival, but it’s better to send it in advance by email if possible.

Details of border crossing points, as well as downloadable entry/exit declaration forms, are available from French Customs. You might also be able to find entry/exit forms on individual marina websites.

Note: Procedures can vary between different ports of entry and different marinas, so it’s always worth checking ahead with the port office or marina where you plan to arrive or depart.

Arriving at a PPF port

Immigration at PPF ports is controlled by either French Customs (Douane) or Border Police (Police aux Frontières – PAF).

When you arrive at a PPF port, the skipper and all crew should report to the border control authorities. You'll need the completed ‘entry’ declaration form as well as passports and your boat registration document. You may need to book an appointment in busy months.

Bear in mind that the PAF or Douane office may not be near the marina. It’s also worth checking opening hours. In busy marinas, the border authorities might make visits to the marina for immigration and customs clearance.

Importantly, if you enter France (or wider Schengen area) at an official border crossing point, you must 'check out’ from an official border crossing point so that you have the corresponding entry and exit stamps in your passport/s.

Arriving at a non-PPF marina

Note: France introduced the non-PPF system in 2024. The information here is our current understanding. The entry and exit forms and procedures may evolve, including with the planned (but currently delayed) introduction of the Europe-wide entry and exit system (EES). Exact procedures may also vary depending on the marina.

If you plan to arrive in France at one of the 53 approved non-PPF marinas you will need to submit a border control declaration form in advance to the marina. They will send it on to the associated PPF office to be recorded and stamped. Your passports will not be inspected or stamped.

French Customs provides a list of approved non-PPF marinas and associated PPF offices. Marinas often have their own border control declaration forms (normally published on their website) but you can also download a standard form from French Customs.

If you enter France at a non-PPF marina, you should ‘check out’ from a non-PPF marina by handing in an ‘exit’ declaration form to the marina office.

Importantly, if any of your crew members plan to travel home by ferry, plane, or train, they will need to have had their passport stamped at an official PPF office. Similarly, if you intend to leave from a PPF (official border crossing) port, all crew will need to present their passports to the PPF office associated with the Marina, and you will not be able to use the entry/exit form method. You should consider arriving first at the associated PPF port before proceeding to your chosen marina.

Customs formalities

When you enter at either a PPF (official border crossing point) or non-PPF port, our understanding is that you don’t need to fly your yellow Q flag unless you have items to declare.

Check what flags to fly when entering or leaving a foreign port

According to European Commission information, if you’re entering France under the terms of Temporary Admission (where you undertake to ‘re-export’ your boat within 18 months) the act of crossing the frontier of the customs territory of the EU is generally all that is needed for your boat to be placed under temporary admission. Read more about this in our information on entry and exit formalities for cruising in Europe.

If you are in any doubt about the customs status of your boat or need to declare it, or any items onboard, contact French customs for clarification.

Departing France

Departing France for another EU/Schengen country

If you plan to cruise to another Schengen area country, you may want to check in to France at an official port of entry so that you have a stamp in your passport/s, rather than on a form which may not be recognised outside France. This will also simplify your eventual exit, meaning that you can exit the EU/Schengen Area under the standard process from another EU country.

Departing France for the UK

When you leave France to return to the UK, how you ‘check out’ will depend on the type of port you entered through. If you are leaving from a PPF port, all the crew must get their passports stamped on exit. If you are leaving from a non-PPF marina, you will need to hand or send in a completed border control ‘exit’ declaration form which will then be stamped and returned.

As for any arrival into the UK, you must inform Border Force and HMRC. You can do this by submitting a pleasure craft report. You should also fly your yellow Q flag when you arrive in UK waters.

Note: If you plan to return via the Channel Islands, you should submit a pleasure craft report for the crossing from the Channel Islands to the UK.

Read about standard Entry and Exit formalities for cruising in Europe.

Inland waterways

The use of CEVNI signage is an indicator that waters are classified as inland. The first obstacle to navigation for seagoing ships is often where inland waters begin. This can be a lock, a bridge or a tidal barrage. On smaller rivers however, the limit of the inland waters is taken to be the mouth. There are of course exceptions so if in doubt check with the local Harbour Master.

Vessels longer than 20m

If you navigate inland waterways on a boat longer than 20m, you must carry the general police regulations for inland navigation (RGPNI) as well as the police special regulations for the waterways you are using:

• Préfet du Rhône
• Préfet de Saône-et-Loire
• Préfet de la Drôme
• Préfet du Gard

You can store these documents electronically, as long as you can access them any time.

Smaller vessels

If you are in a smaller vessel, it’s a good idea to carry a copy of the French regulations or CEVNI for reference.

Preparing to navigate French rivers

Voies Navigables de France is an excellent source of information on river services, navigation conditions and the state of the river network. You can buy your vignette (pleasure craft sticker) through the website and access the Navi (navigation) app.

VHF regulations

France is a signatory to RAINWAT (Regional Arrangement Concerning the Radiotelephone Service on Inland Waterways). If you use a portable of fixed VHF radio on inland waterways, it must be ATIS (Automatic Transmitter Identification System) enabled and you must comply with RIANWAT requirements.

Pets

If you’re planning to take a pet to France on you boat with you, it will need to comply with French health requirements as well as UK requirements for your return. Importantly, you must bring a dog, cat or ferret back to the UK through an approved travel route.

 

Disclaimer

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information the RYA provides relating to boating abroad, no responsibility is accepted for the results of any errors or omissions. 

Some regulations are applied more strictly than others and local interpretation may be more, or less, rigid than stated. When visiting, if you find that regulations or practices differ from those described or if you find yourself thinking "I wonder if the RYA is aware of this?" please email your experiences to cruising@rya.org.uk.