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Original poster

No Brits in France from Saturday

59 replies

QuentininQuarantino · 16/12/2021 08:52

France has just announced that they’re closing their external border (ie - to us!) from Saturday, and Brits won’t be able to enter France without a “force majeure”

Lots of people had plans to go to France or through France.

OP posts:
Missatkins · 16/12/2021 09:35

Nick Ferrari has just confirmed this on LBC

marcopront · 16/12/2021 09:43

Does anyone know what this means if we are in transit?

MissAmbrosia · 16/12/2021 12:00

Transit less than 24 hours is supposed to be OK.

Molly499 · 16/12/2021 17:33

A word of caution to anyone who is going to France, friends travelled this morning via Euro tunnel and had all food and presents confiscated as they are no longer allowed, this included the banana in the snack bag! Seems very over the top.

notimagain · 16/12/2021 17:42

@Molly499

A word of caution to anyone who is going to France, friends travelled this morning via Euro tunnel and had all food and presents confiscated as they are no longer allowed, this included the banana in the snack bag! Seems very over the top.
Were they aware of customs requirements which TBF haven’t changed recently

W. e.f. from 1 Jan you are taking a chance trying to import food stuffs, especially meat and dairy…..

The checking hasn’t been too heavy so far but when it happens it is thorough….though so far nothing like as thorough Shock as has been seen going into the States or Australia.

borntobequiet · 16/12/2021 17:57

@Molly499

A word of caution to anyone who is going to France, friends travelled this morning via Euro tunnel and had all food and presents confiscated as they are no longer allowed, this included the banana in the snack bag! Seems very over the top.
We’re now a third country thanks to Brexit, so this is what happens.

The statement in the thread title is quite simply untrue.

Dumbledoresgirl · 16/12/2021 18:01

Can anyone help me make sense of this. My dd is living in France this academic year as part of her degree. Due to come home for Christmas tomorrow. Would she be able to return after Christmas or not? There is a vague reference to students but she is not there in an official student capacity, ie studying. She is working.

notimagain · 16/12/2021 18:03

If it helps:

www.angloinfo.com/how-to/france/moving/french-customs-regulations

Gifts/goods purchased could be an issue if somebody is carrying particularly expensive presents.

Gretaburley · 16/12/2021 18:10

@Molly499

A word of caution to anyone who is going to France, friends travelled this morning via Euro tunnel and had all food and presents confiscated as they are no longer allowed, this included the banana in the snack bag! Seems very over the top.
There's absolutely no reason for French customs to take anything other than meat and dairy!

Lots of Brits are complaining to the Douanes about the added customs costs demanded by delivery couriers and La Poste when it's not warranted.
Unfortunately many customs officers don't understand the new rules.

Molly499 · 16/12/2021 18:20

Just because the customers officers don’t understand the rules it does not stop them confiscating goods. It’s a tough call when you are about to cross the channel, hand them over or turn around and go home.

NarcissaMalfoysManicure · 16/12/2021 18:22

The fact that people assumed travelling to anywhere at any time this year would go smoothly astounds me. I’ve got family in two countries other than here, we haven’t booked anything as it’s too risky.

notimagain · 16/12/2021 18:27

@Molly499

Just because the customers officers don’t understand the rules it does not stop them confiscating goods. It’s a tough call when you are about to cross the channel, hand them over or turn around and go home.
Worldwide customs can be interesting and I’d be very careful of saying they can’t do X, Y or Z……

Looking at the incident in question I’d agree it doesn’t look as if the banana should have been impounded but OTOH with prices these days it would be very easy for anybody with a generous nature to break the value based allowance on goods/gifts…

Then the choice would be pay the duty, or hand the goods over, or turn back for the UK if that option was available.

Amberflames · 16/12/2021 18:35

@NarcissaMalfoysManicure

The fact that people assumed travelling to anywhere at any time this year would go smoothly astounds me. I’ve got family in two countries other than here, we haven’t booked anything as it’s too risky.
Plenty of people have travelled at various times this year with no issue. One thing is for certain, you definitely aren’t going anywhere if you don’t book anything.
Deisogn · 16/12/2021 18:36

It's "no brits", it's no third country nationals which of course includes Britain post brexit.

Bloomsburyreader · 16/12/2021 18:47

We travelled this morning. We were supposed to travel tomorrow but spotted an article that France were considering upping restrictions for Brits so changed ferry to today. We didn't realise about the changed rules about meat and fish and even though we were chosen for a security check with camera under the car etc they didn't ask to see inside our cool box so everything came with us! We'll see what happens with skiing now, hope we are still allowed to buy passes!

MissAmbrosia · 16/12/2021 22:07

Taking food and drink into EU countries

"You can no longer take products of animal origin, such as any food or drink contain meat or dairy, or plants and plant products into the EU in your luggage, vehicle, or person. There are certain exemptions to this rule for quantities of powdered infant milk, infant food, confectionary, specialised foods and pet feed. If your item is not exempt, please consume or dispose of these items before reaching the EU border, otherwise you may be fined or prosecuted by the EU."

MissAmbrosia · 16/12/2021 22:11

I'm just trying to find the rules that might cover presents. Basically anything coming in to EU now needs a customs declaration - as mentioned above it has caused complete havoc with post and presents sent by post from UK in to EU countries. I've told my family never to send anything. The limit is quite small - about 40 GBP I think - before charges. I guess the same applies if you have a car loaded with expensive items.

MissAmbrosia · 16/12/2021 22:11

This is the joy that it is Brexit!

notimagain · 17/12/2021 07:19

@MissAmbrosia

I'm just trying to find the rules that might cover presents. Basically anything coming in to EU now needs a customs declaration - as mentioned above it has caused complete havoc with post and presents sent by post from UK in to EU countries. I've told my family never to send anything. The limit is quite small - about 40 GBP I think - before charges. I guess the same applies if you have a car loaded with expensive items.
If you carrying the item rather than posting it then you get quite a generous personal allowance, value-based, for gifts/goods. The amount varies slightly depending on your mode of travel.

However what some travellers seem to be unaware of is there is now a limit. An expensive tablet or camera, or several presents can very quickly take you through it.

Not sure if the following site is up to date so caveat emptor but it gives some indication of the allowed amounts..

www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/volume-and-value-based-customs-and-tax-allowances

MissAmbrosia · 17/12/2021 11:39

Blimey - that's not very high at all! I know there have been discussions on my local expat FB groups about being very careful travelling with expensive items - phones, tablets, bikes etc - that if buying something in UK to take it out of the box, carrying receipts to show it's something you've had ages.....I haven't been to UK to since this all came into place but it could potentially be an issue - some phones cost more than the allowance all by themselves!

notimagain · 17/12/2021 12:06

The goods/gifts limits for entering the UK have never been great either…, it’s just that until we left the EU/Customs Union it was fairly irrelevant to most people, unless they were planning on a shopping trip to the States or bringing lots of presents back from somewhere very sunny.

Traveling with new or newish kit, even for personal use, could always potentially lead to long discussions with customs if you were traveling outside the EU especially if you hadn’t kept receipts.

MissAmbrosia · 17/12/2021 18:36

This is turning into a nightmare for people I know in Belgium as it seems you can't even transit France unless you are an EU national/resident. At least not by car. Plane or Eurostar still OK. Lots of plans ruined. Message here is that Boris caused this by speaking of the "tidalwave of Omicron infections" and then didn't actual do anything.

MissAmbrosia · 17/12/2021 19:31

I see they also announced that their Pass Sanitaire, which includes the option of a negative test, will become a Vaccine Pass - as they will not allow the unvaccinated to put others at risk. They are not just posturing against the British, obviously.

freckles20 · 18/12/2021 01:48

@MissAmbrosia thank you for this- please may I double check that the implications of this are that a 14 year old with only one vaccine cannot travel to France after these restrictions?

My son isn't eligible for a second jab for ages.

I absolutely accept that France can set whatever rules it sees as appropriate, I'm just trying to work out if he definitely can't go so I can request a credit note, or date change from our accommodation ....