Driving to France

[Asmith61]

We are driving to France at October half term. (Euro Disney) I heard somewhere that a visa is required now ?
Any info gratefully received.

[2112]

All you need to know is here - https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe/driving-in-France

As far as I am aware a visa system (a bit like the USA's ESTA sytem that you apply online for) will come in at some point but it seems to be having some issues. Might be 2025?

[Asmith61]

Thank you 2112 👍

[Barbel Mick]

If you mean the CRIT’Air sticker then it's very easy to get one. It's all done on line.
It's less than £5 inc post & it lasts the lifetime of the vehicle.
Last year when we went to France (on the bike) we had no intention of going anywhere near a city, but for the cost it was a no-brainer. Just in case & all that. 
https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/

[StromGeeza]

ETIAS system not operational yet- here's the info from the bouche de cheval:

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en
 

[Asmith61]

Thank you  StromGeeza  and Barbel Mick I will take a look 👍

[Joe Rocket]

Crit'Air is required inside the A86 autoroute around Paris, 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday. Disneyland is a way outside so unless you want to visit Paris itself then not necessary. (If you did I'd recommend public transport anyway.....) 

[Asmith61]

 Thank you Joe Rocket 😃

My brother in law will be travelling in to Paris so I will get him to apply for crit’ Air 👍

[Asmith61]

Just checked my passport and it runs out March 25.  And we go to France on the 26th October 24. My wife is doing her nut as she thinks there has to be at least 6 months on your passport before you can travel.  Any advice would be very helpful please.

[Rusty Nuts]

I'd get a replacement ordered. Rather urgently. Or contact the Passport Office via webchat or phone and get proper advice, rather than us lot.

[Asmith61]

That is excellent advice I will ring the passport office tomorrow.
Cheers Rusty 👍

[UK_Vstrom650]

Up to three weeks to get a passport or you can get one faster by paying a premium.

https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently

UK Government can't advise on whether the French Immigration Control will admit you without six months on your passport, but given the requirement is to have six months you'd be best off complying with that rather than risk being turned back.

[Asmith61]

Thank you for your reply UK_Vstrom650.
I will ring the passport office tomorrow and see what they say and go from there. 👍

[Joe Rocket]

As UK_Vstrom650 says, don't take the risque. Technically it's as long as 90 days in 180 maximum but I had heard a minimum of 6 months on a UK passport.

[Rixington43]

The rule is that your passport must have 3 months remaining on the date you exit the EU to return to the UK. The 6 month rule is a belt and braces as you're technically allowed to travel to the EU for 90 days (or 3 months) without a VISA and so having 6 months remaining on departure covers all bases. 6 months was latched on to by the media as it sounded worse obviously;)
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-nationals/index_en.htm
ETIAS won't come in until next year (at the earliest, but it's been delayed about 50 million times already).
ESS arrives in November for anyone interested but not relevant for your October Trip.

* Your passport must also be less than 10yrs old. There is a weird loophole around passports issued before 2018 whereby your passport could have 3 months remaining but ALSO be over 10yrs old. It's a stupidly small number of cases but it's been in the press recently.

[Joe Rocket]

 

I didn't want to ruffle the feathers of Brexit (or those who voted for it) but you are now back to where I was 30 years ago when I first settled in France! Progress eh.........? 

 

[Rusty Nuts]

Plus ça change .......


How did you get on, ASmith?

[Asmith61]

Thank you for your replies. Joe Rocket and Rixington43 very useful information 👍

I did ring the passport office this morning and finally got to speak to a human being 🤣
I explained my situation and was told he could not help me. But did say if you go to GOV.UK and type in the country you are visiting it will be up to date information on how many months is needed on your passport.
And this is exactly the same information that was on your post so again thank you both very much 👍

[Asmith61]

Sorry Rusty Nuts 🤣 the posts must have crossed over in the Air 🤣
Please see reply on how I got on 👍