Non-European cruisers who want to sail into Europe’s Schengen zone countries are faced with an array of regulations and time limits. Recently, two Schengen countries, Greece and France, have made life a bit easier for visiting boats.
In Greece, after lobbying by the British Cruising Association, authorities have now relaxed the requirement for boats to check into every controlled port as they explore the country’s amazing archipelagoes.
Non-EU flagged boats, i.e. U.S., Canadian, English, etc., still are required to get a transit log when first checking in but are now free to cruise at will. Boats that can prove that the European VAT has been paid will be given a log of unlimited duration so the boat and crew can stay in Greek waters more or less indefinitely.
Non-EU flagged boats that have not paid the VAT will still receive a log but will have their duration inside the country limited to 18 months. After that, the boat will have to be out of the Schengen zone for an extended period.
In France, customs and immigration authorities have changed the process for checking into the country for non-EU flagged boats. Instead of requiring visiting boats to enter at an official port of entry, which are few and far between, boats now have 53 marinas available to them where they can check in and obtain a cruising permit.
By simplifying the checking-in process, the French authorities have relaxed the established Schengen protocols in the hope of luring more yachts to French ports going forward.
As non-EU flagged cruisers, we can only hope that this trend extends to the rest of the maritime Schengen zone countries.
For more information on non-EU flagged boats cruising to the Schengen area click here.
For an update on the new French regulations click here.
For an update on the new Greek regulations click here.
