What I would like to know is what paperwork I will need to visit the EU (France, in particular). I know there is a plethora of information on gov.uk and the various 'Visit France' websites but there is a lot of chaff to sift through and there doesn't seem to be a clean cut, condensed version of just the bare bones of what we need (ie: visas, insurances and all the associated paperwork, spare bulbs and other bits of kit).
There is a pinned post from 2006 but maybe it would be time to get an up to date list, especially as we are now 'divorced' from the continent.
Any help and advice will be gratefully received.
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Hi,
Car documentation; mot if applicable, insurance with European cover & same for breakdown
Personal travel insurance & the uk global health card though these are personal choice.
Visa same as USA will be required but not as yet, maybe later this/next year
Red warning triangle, 2 if you’re towing
Yellow reflective vests/jacket in case of accident/breakdown
Sure there’s more 🤷🏻♀️
Fiona
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Car V5 insurance and mot docs. Driving license, passports.
Proof of covid vaccinations either on NHS app on phone or print them off.
GHIC card definitely and travel insurance, not mandatory but daft not to have it. European breakdown cover which can be part of travel insurance package.
If you have pets extra paperwork for them.
As already mentioned hi vis vests and warning triangles.
Crit air stickers are not mandatory.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
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Apple Pay works ok in France supermarkets etc. & your uk PayPal account if you want to buy anything online in France. The advice about the passport was correct. People have been refused travel to EU due to some confusion about expiry dates & issue dates. So check yours if within a few months of expiry.
Ok, thank you for the replies. The passports I was aware of, and took it as foregone conclusion that, unless one has been under a rock for the few years, it was an essential part of one's portfolio for the border authorities.
The one thing I would like clarification on is whether we need any kind of visa/green card for a short stay?
Autoroute peages have contact less pay, if it doesn't work put the card in the slot You don't need a pin. The instruction are multilingual and clear.
Don't lose your ticket!
Most fuel stations are card only. Credit and debit cards work, not prepaid ones.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
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Quote: Originally posted by Netherton on 11/8/2022
A passport issued within the previous ten years.
Previously when passport was renewed before expiry date you kept the time left on your old passport. So a passport coming up for renewal might read issue date 25/07/2012 & expiry date 16/12/2022. You now need min 3 months left on passport for travel to EU so you would think you would be ok for travel now. Not so as it is more than 10 yrs from issue date. So you would be refused entry.
This changed some while ago & for passports issued from then date of expiry will always be 10years from issue & you will lose any time left on your old passport if you renew it before before expiry.
Green cards no longer required for EU & the ETIAS visa waiver thing has not happed yet so no worries on that right now. GB is now UK so you need UK sticker or number plate indicator on car not GB.
Money thing probably just affects backpacking hippies not middle class campers I doubt. I have never been asked anything when arriving in France or Holland from ferry in last couple of years.
Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 11/8/2022
...
Proof of covid vaccinations either on NHS app on phone or print them off.
....
A word of warning! On our June trip to France, friends travelling separately to us, one of them relied on the NHS App for his proof of vaccination, at the critical moment of displaying the App data at check in, it failed! He couldn't prove his status as no backup paper copy, and they simply refused him boarding the ferry!
He couldn't travel with his group, they went without him. He had to get his App sorted, then book a foot passenger ticket to follow on a later ferry! Cost him an extra £45 for new ticket, friends had hours of waiting around for him at port in France until he arrived! All for the sake of printing a paper hard copy, or having a PDF copy on his phone - DON'T RELY SOLELY ON THE APP!
Must admit we felt slightly incredulous that he had no backup and a little smug (he is a bit of a pr*t who annoys us quite a lot! ), we had every form of proof there was, and they didn't even check ours!
All rather academic now, according to HMGOV, from 1 Aug no proof of vaccination or clear Covid tests required! But worth bearing in mind if things revert to more stringent rules.
Tedious as all the official bumf is, it's worth reading as things change and posts on forums may not give up to date advice!
As to Passport, it needs to be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’), again from HMGOV.
General advice is ORIGINAL documents are required for travel, car etc., but wise to keep photo copies safely and entirely separately in case of loss.
MOT
V5
PASSPORTS
INSURANCE FOR CAR
DRIVING LICENCE
WARNING TRIANGLE(S)
FIRST AID KIT
SPARE BULBS
UK STICKER(REG PLATE OR CAR)
HI VIS FOR ALL PASSENGERS- WITHIN EASY REACH, NOT STORED IN BOOT
IF YOU TOW A CARAVAN - PROOF OF OWNERSHIP - GOOGLE CRIS DOCS CARAVANS
IF YOU DONT HAVE THE DOCS - Register with CRIS they send an email, this will suffice until the docs come through.
I'm not sure a breathalyser is mandatory, but if you have one, make sure it's in date!
One final thing, have translated copies of paperwork (Insurance, CRIS DOCS)
Possibly all ready done on insurance certificate, mine is.
e!
It isn't mandatory to carry a first aid k it or spare bulbs, you are only legally required to carry 1 high vis vest, it may be prudent to carry the above items but it isn't a legal requirement.
Breathalysers went out long ago and CRIS will mean nothing to a French gendarme they don't have any access to the CRIS database.
saxo1
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Topic: Required paperwork to travel to the EU
via mobile 11/8/2022 at 6:44pm
), we had every form of proof there was, and they didn't even check ours!
