Maybe no entry to France for UK citizens after 31 Dec because of high infection rate in UK

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I was wondering what happens if you roll off a ferry/train after 8pm and are trying to get to a favourite overnight Aire or truckstop in France?
All a bit academic unless the FCO remove the current travel advice against all but essential travel to EU countries, which effectivly renders one's travel insurance null & void. CB.
 
Hello everybody. I am a new to the Forum but we have been motorhoming around 11 years. Mainly in Eastern Europe and Greece.

For the last few days I have been trying to make sense of the travel arrangements for next year. We all know that after 31 December, the UK will no longer be part of the EU, so we become subject to new rules.

I have looked at the regulations that will affect fellow motorhomers travelling to the EU.

One proviso… I am not an expert so please check everything yourself.

PASSPORT AND/OR VISA
Your current passport will be valid as long as:
  • It is less than 10 years old
  • And has six months left before it runs out
If you're a tourist, you'll be able to travel to most EU countries - plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein - without a visa.

You'll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

Fortunately for my partner and I the rules for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are different. You could make a 90-day trip to any of them and still not use up your 90-day allowance for other EU countries. That means we can visit our favourite country Greece for 90 days, then tour Bulgaria and Romania before entering the Schengen zone again in Hungary to visit our family for 90 days.

TRAVEL 2022 ONWARDS
From 2022, UK nationals (and others) will have to pay for a visa-waiver scheme in order to visit many European countries. This sounds to be even more EU bureaucracy. It will be called European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). They say it is to strengthen security of travel to the Schengen area under visa-free arrangements.

So before you travel you must apply online, providing personal data, passport details, the country of the first-intended stay, questions relating to criminal records, presence in conflict zones, orders to leave the territory of a member state. They claim that this will only take 10 minutes of your time.

You must then pay a fee of €7.00

The application process also looks at the database of SIS, VIS, Europol, SLTD & TDAWN, EURODAC etc. If there is a hit a manual check will be carried out. The response to most applicants will be within minutes, they say.
If you pass all this you will be given an ETIAS travel authorisation valid for 3 years.

The carrier for your trip (air, land and sea) will check that you can travel. Once at a Schengen border there will be an identity check and the guard will check you have a valid ETIAS authorisation.

The border guard has the final say!

HEALTH
When you arrange your travel insurance you should make sure it has health cover.

The EHIC card covered pre-existing medical conditions, but some travel insurance policies don't. The government says it is “particularly important” for affected people to get the right cover.

When you arrive in an EU country (except Ireland) be prepared to show your return ticket. You could be asked to show you have enough money for your stay. How this works when you have no fixed date to return I do not know. Also most of us travel with plastic and do not carry hundreds of Pounds/Euros in cash. Do they want to see a bank statement?

MOBILE PHONE
The four main UK operators have said they have no plans to reintroduce roaming fees.

DRIVING
You'll need to take your driving licence, your log book (V5C) and valid insurance documents. I would also carry a valid MOT certificate. Slovenia was very keen to see mine a few year ago.

GREEN CARD
Some time ago the government's advice was: "You should plan to carry one for the vehicle you're driving in the EU and EEA, including in Ireland, from 1 January 2021.”

Separate green cards are needed for trailers and caravans.

This can be interesting when the insurer issues a white document containing all the necessary data but NOT a green piece of paper.

Check with your insurer before travel.

INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT (IDP)
It has been touted that we will need an IDP when travelling in Europe.

Correction 8 December: A previous version of this story said UK nationals would NOT need International Driving Permits in EU countries from 1 January next year. In fact, talks are still ongoing on this issue.

However the Government’s own website lists the following countries and the type of Green Card you may or may not need.

Generally speaking the “major” countries of the EU do not require an IDP.

The following do require you to have an IDP:
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Russia, San Marino, Turkey and Vatican City.

Note that anything can change so you are advised to subscribe to GOV.UK for updates:
https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?topic=/transition
 
Krumpli said:
Hello everybody. I am a new to the Forum but we have been motorhoming around 11 years. Mainly in Eastern Europe and Greece.

For the last few days I have been trying to make sense of the travel arrangements for next year. We all know that after 31 December, the UK will no longer be part of the EU, so we become subject to new rules.

I have looked at the regulations that will affect fellow motorhomers travelling to the EU.

One proviso… I am not an expert so please check everything yourself.

PASSPORT AND/OR VISA
Your current passport will be valid as long as:
  • It is less than 10 years old
  • And has six months left before it runs out
If you're a tourist, you'll be able to travel to most EU countries - plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein - without a visa.

You'll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

Fortunately for my partner and I the rules for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are different. You could make a 90-day trip to any of them and still not use up your 90-day allowance for other EU countries. That means we can visit our favourite country Greece for 90 days, then tour Bulgaria and Romania before entering the Schengen zone again in Hungary to visit our family for 90 days.

TRAVEL 2022 ONWARDS
From 2022, UK nationals (and others) will have to pay for a visa-waiver scheme in order to visit many European countries. This sounds to be even more EU bureaucracy. It will be called European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). They say it is to strengthen security of travel to the Schengen area under visa-free arrangements.

So before you travel you must apply online, providing personal data, passport details, the country of the first-intended stay, questions relating to criminal records, presence in conflict zones, orders to leave the territory of a member state. They claim that this will only take 10 minutes of your time.

You must then pay a fee of €7.00

The application process also looks at the database of SIS, VIS, Europol, SLTD & TDAWN, EURODAC etc. If there is a hit a manual check will be carried out. The response to most applicants will be within minutes, they say.
If you pass all this you will be given an ETIAS travel authorisation valid for 3 years.

The carrier for your trip (air, land and sea) will check that you can travel. Once at a Schengen border there will be an identity check and the guard will check you have a valid ETIAS authorisation.

The border guard has the final say!

HEALTH
When you arrange your travel insurance you should make sure it has health cover.

The EHIC card covered pre-existing medical conditions, but some travel insurance policies don't. The government says it is “particularly important” for affected people to get the right cover.

When you arrive in an EU country (except Ireland) be prepared to show your return ticket. You could be asked to show you have enough money for your stay. How this works when you have no fixed date to return I do not know. Also most of us travel with plastic and do not carry hundreds of Pounds/Euros in cash. Do they want to see a bank statement?

MOBILE PHONE
The four main UK operators have said they have no plans to reintroduce roaming fees.

DRIVING
You'll need to take your driving licence, your log book (V5C) and valid insurance documents. I would also carry a valid MOT certificate. Slovenia was very keen to see mine a few year ago.

GREEN CARD
Some time ago the government's advice was: "You should plan to carry one for the vehicle you're driving in the EU and EEA, including in Ireland, from 1 January 2021.”

Separate green cards are needed for trailers and caravans.

This can be interesting when the insurer issues a white document containing all the necessary data but NOT a green piece of paper.

Check with your insurer before travel.

INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT (IDP)
It has been touted that we will need an IDP when travelling in Europe.

Correction 8 December: A previous version of this story said UK nationals would NOT need International Driving Permits in EU countries from 1 January next year. In fact, talks are still ongoing on this issue.

However the Government’s own website lists the following countries and the type of Green Card you may or may not need.

Generally speaking the “major” countries of the EU do not require an IDP.

The following do require you to have an IDP:
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Russia, San Marino, Turkey and Vatican City.

Note that anything can change so you are advised to subscribe to GOV.UK for updates:
https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?topic=/transition
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum but all the things you mention have been on the forums almost constantly!!!!
 
Krumpli said:
Hello everybody. I am a new to the Forum but we have been motorhoming around 11 years. Mainly in Eastern Europe and Greece.

For the last few days I have been trying to make sense of the travel arrangements for next year. We all know that after 31 December, the UK will no longer be part of the EU, so we become subject to new rules.

I have looked at the regulations that will affect fellow motorhomers travelling to the EU.

One proviso… I am not an expert so please check everything yourself.

PASSPORT AND/OR VISA
Your current passport will be valid as long as:
  • It is less than 10 years old
  • And has six months left before it runs out
If you're a tourist, you'll be able to travel to most EU countries - plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein - without a visa.

You'll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

Fortunately for my partner and I the rules for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are different. You could make a 90-day trip to any of them and still not use up your 90-day allowance for other EU countries. That means we can visit our favourite country Greece for 90 days, then tour Bulgaria and Romania before entering the Schengen zone again in Hungary to visit our family for 90 days.

TRAVEL 2022 ONWARDS
From 2022, UK nationals (and others) will have to pay for a visa-waiver scheme in order to visit many European countries. This sounds to be even more EU bureaucracy. It will be called European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). They say it is to strengthen security of travel to the Schengen area under visa-free arrangements.

So before you travel you must apply online, providing personal data, passport details, the country of the first-intended stay, questions relating to criminal records, presence in conflict zones, orders to leave the territory of a member state. They claim that this will only take 10 minutes of your time.

You must then pay a fee of €7.00

The application process also looks at the database of SIS, VIS, Europol, SLTD & TDAWN, EURODAC etc. If there is a hit a manual check will be carried out. The response to most applicants will be within minutes, they say.
If you pass all this you will be given an ETIAS travel authorisation valid for 3 years.

The carrier for your trip (air, land and sea) will check that you can travel. Once at a Schengen border there will be an identity check and the guard will check you have a valid ETIAS authorisation.

The border guard has the final say!

HEALTH
When you arrange your travel insurance you should make sure it has health cover.

The EHIC card covered pre-existing medical conditions, but some travel insurance policies don't. The government says it is “particularly important” for affected people to get the right cover.

When you arrive in an EU country (except Ireland) be prepared to show your return ticket. You could be asked to show you have enough money for your stay. How this works when you have no fixed date to return I do not know. Also most of us travel with plastic and do not carry hundreds of Pounds/Euros in cash. Do they want to see a bank statement?

MOBILE PHONE
The four main UK operators have said they have no plans to reintroduce roaming fees.

DRIVING
You'll need to take your driving licence, your log book (V5C) and valid insurance documents. I would also carry a valid MOT certificate. Slovenia was very keen to see mine a few year ago.

GREEN CARD
Some time ago the government's advice was: "You should plan to carry one for the vehicle you're driving in the EU and EEA, including in Ireland, from 1 January 2021.”

Separate green cards are needed for trailers and caravans.

This can be interesting when the insurer issues a white document containing all the necessary data but NOT a green piece of paper.

Check with your insurer before travel.

INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT (IDP)
It has been touted that we will need an IDP when travelling in Europe.

Correction 8 December: A previous version of this story said UK nationals would NOT need International Driving Permits in EU countries from 1 January next year. In fact, talks are still ongoing on this issue.

However the Government’s own website lists the following countries and the type of Green Card you may or may not need.

Generally speaking the “major” countries of the EU do not require an IDP.

The following do require you to have an IDP:
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Russia, San Marino, Turkey and Vatican City.

Note that anything can change so you are advised to subscribe to GOV.UK for updates:
https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?topic=/transition
Click to expand...
Thank you. Though it has probably all been mentioned before in the forum, it was helpful to read it all in one place! Welcome to to the Fun!
 
Scattycat said:
No you're not!
If you speak to most French folks (except Parisians, 'cause they're not really French), you'll find they think the UK were mad to vote leave. They, like the Dutch, Spanish and many others think that the UK had one of the best seals within the EU.
Oh, I could go on but life is too short and I have a nearly full glass of Merlot looking at me and it needs to be savoured, slowly
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I think we will be better off apart for us travelling, I have the faith! You see others will break away, Metal runs the EU Macron is not doing the French any favours , but , history will tell.

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Krumpli said:
Sorry if everyone knew all this. I thought I was helping. It certainly helped me to get it all in one place.

Cheers
Click to expand...
Don't worry, there's a whole spectrum on here. Nothing wrong with a bit of repetition although there are still a few who don't think the restrictions will happen or if they do, will apply to them.

Just a thought, you talked of touring Romania and Bulgaria before returning for another 90 days. I assume you appreciate you would have to be in those countries for 90 days? They are countries I would like to visit but I'm not sure I could spend 90 days there. Medical insurance for such an extended period outside the UK might also be expensive, if obtainable at all, once the EHIC busrts into flames at the end of this year.
 
Cheshirecat57 said:
Fly
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Being on a MH forum I never gave that a thought. :giggler: As an aside spain changed its pcr requirement to a blood plasma test due to complaints but by all accounts it doesn't appear to be available in the UK?
ChesterB said:
I was wondering what happens if you roll off a ferry/train after 8pm and are trying to get to a favourite overnight Aire or truckstop in France?
Click to expand...
You have until the curfew time to find a stopping place.
 
gus-lopez said:
Being on a MH forum I never gave that a thought. :giggler: As an aside spain changed its pcr requirement to a blood plasma test due to complaints but by all accounts it doesn't appear to be available in the UK?

You have until the curfew time to find a stopping place.
Click to expand...
We wouldnt consider travel to Europe until Covid is over ( over as we know it today) 👍
 
DBK said:
Just a thought, you talked of touring Romania and Bulgaria before returning for another 90 days. I assume you appreciate you would have to be in those countries for 90 days? They are countries I would like to visit but I'm not sure I could spend 90 days there.
Click to expand...
Actually, that's not the case, DBK. When you step out of the area, each day you're out knocks a day off from the start when you first entered Schengen. Thus, if you slip into Romania for 14 days, that knocks 14 days off the total time spent in Schengen and you could return to the area and spend another fortnight there.

Rather difficult to explain, I'm afraid., but I'm sure you get the gist....

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emjaiuk said:
Of course. Anyone with a grain of common sense will realise that EU politicians can't allow a member state to leave and be better off outside without risking a flood of of leave applications. We even saw a FREXIT sign the last time we were in France.
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Not a great advertisement for being a member is it
 
Pete5996 said:
Actually, that's not the case, DBK. When you step out of the area, each day you're out knocks a day off from the start when you first entered Schengen. Thus, if you slip into Romania for 14 days, that knocks 14 days off the total time spent in Schengen and you could return to the area and spend another fortnight there.

Rather difficult to explain, I'm afraid., but I'm sure you get the gist....
Click to expand...
Not if your first visit used up all your 90 days, which was what I was replying to. Once you have done 90 days in Schengen you have to stay out for a full 90 days before you can return. You can't do 90 days, nip into Romania for a couple of weeks then return because you would immediately have exceeded the 90 days in 180 days rule.
 
DBK said:
Not if your first visit used up all your 90 days, which was what I was replying to. Once you have done 90 days in Schengen you have to stay out for a full 90 days before you can return. You can't do 90 days, nip into Romania for a couple of weeks then return because you would immediately have exceeded the 90 days in 180 days rule.
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I stand corrected, DBK, you are right. I'd read that counting backwards 90 days from your stay was the solution and clearly didn't understand it. I've always been better at English than maths.....:blusher:
 
Why are they waiting in till the 31st. Is that significant do you think ?

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Thanks I appreciate the positive comments.
Yes, we know we would have to spend 90 days in Romania and Bulgaria. It would also be possible to fit Turkey into the equation as the three are contiguous.
We have travelled a lot in Romania and Turkey. Not too much in Bulgaria. In 2013 we spent three months touring just Turkey and it was wonderful (http://bessyonthemove.weebly.com/turkey-2013.html).
Northern Romania is also very attractive. I always comment it's a bit like Austria without all the concrete. Romania is also good for my partner and I as they speak Hungarian.
You are correct about healthcare in those countries. Good insurance could be vital.
 
The Wino said:
After the transition period why should they let us in if they don't want to?. Were not then any longer in the EU in any way so what's wrong with them deciding to let us in or not in just the same way as any other country.
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Will it be reciprocated? Might be interesting?
 
Cheshirecat57 said:
I have MASSIVE faith in the free market, and I cannot see anytime soon ( post Covid of course) that SPAIN dont want my English pounds,
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I'm sure you're correct and the Spanish economy is counting on that jug of sangria you might buy in Benidorm. They might even exchange a Euro for 5 of your English pounds by the time Doris and his crew of idiots have finished. :LOL:
 
Parapilot said:
I'm sure you're correct and the Spanish economy is counting on that jug of sangria you might buy in Benidorm. They might even exchange a Euro for 5 of your English pounds by the time Doris and his crew of idiots have finished. :LOL:
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Ironic that you dont agree with my point, but express it in a political jab at the Prime Minister
No matter, this thread too divisive now...

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Krumpli said:
Thanks I appreciate the positive comments.
Yes, we know we would have to spend 90 days in Romania and Bulgaria. It would also be possible to fit Turkey into the equation as the three are contiguous.
We have travelled a lot in Romania and Turkey. Not too much in Bulgaria. In 2013 we spent three months touring just Turkey and it was wonderful (http://bessyonthemove.weebly.com/turkey-2013.html).
Northern Romania is also very attractive. I always comment it's a bit like Austria without all the concrete. Romania is also good for my partner and I as they speak Hungarian.
You are correct about healthcare in those countries. Good insurance could be vital.
Click to expand...
Exactly my plan for next year 👍 i reckon its very easy to spend 3 months in greece then 1 month each in turkey, Bulgaria and Romania....i plan to explore a bit of each on my return trip home this year
Greece has currently slipped in to first place above Spain of my favourite locations...even if the weather might be a bit cooler.

P.s my travel insurance for this 6 month trip cost me a grand total of £89 but ive no prexsisting conditions including europhobia and covers emergency covid care and repatriation 👍
 
Northernraider said:
Exactly my plan for next year 👍 i reckon its very easy to spend 3 months in greece then 1 month each in turkey, Bulgaria and Romania....i plan to explore a bit of each on my return trip home this year
Greece has currently slipped in to first place above Spain of my favourite locations...even if the weather might be a bit cooler.

P.s my travel insurance for this 6 month trip cost me a grand total of £89 but ive no prexsisting conditions including europhobia and covers emergency covid care and repatriation 👍
Click to expand...
Who are you insured with and will they insure older persons without too much of a penalty loading? TIA

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