It is the owners/person in charge’s responsibility to ensure that the correct procedures are followed. JOG take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information and only offer it as a guide. Requirements change often and this should not be a substitute for official information.

The following papers are required to be carried on board:

More details can be found on the RYA website.

You should check that all crew have passports that meet the following two requirements:

They should be less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)

They should be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

Non UK citizen may have additional visa requirements.

GHIC (or EHIC) and insurance cover for medical care abroad and repatriation to the UK. You can apply for a GHIC here. 

The British government still advises you to take out travel insurance that includes healthcare. The GHIC will not cover you for private medical healthcare or other costs, such as repatriation.

From 1 August 2022, all COVID-19 travel restrictions for travellers to France have been lifted.

As of February 2022 there are no Covid 19 restrictions or checks. 

You should not fly the Q flag unless you have something to declare.

French Immigration requirements are changing. Currently, Le Havre have a new on-line form for completion which will allow UK boats to proceed direct to any Le Havre local port under their local jurisdiction. Download form here

This does not yet extend to other major ports, such as Cherbourg, but is being progressively rolled out. 

See the section at the bottom for Guidance specifically for Cherbourg & Deauville.

Note, this advice is the same for passages to France or the Channel Islands as your will be leaving UK territorial waters in order to reach one of the Channel Islands.

The newly launched single Pleasure Craft Reporting (sPCR) online platform – www.spcr.homeoffice.gov.uk – is now the preferred option for reporting journeys for anyone leaving or entering the UK. This includes sailing from or to the Channel Islands and Ireland, as well as those sailing to or from other EU countries and the rest of the world.

The newly launched single Pleasure Craft Reporting (sPCR) online platform – www.spcr.homeoffice.gov.uk – is now the preferred option for reporting journeys for anyone leaving or entering the UK. This includes sailing from or to the Channel Islands and Ireland, as well as those sailing to or from other EU countries and the rest of the world.

You must fly the yellow ‘Q’ flag as soon as you enter UK waters (the 12 mile limit).

Do not take down the flag until you have finished reporting to the customs authorities. If you do not comply you will be liable to a penalty.

If you have used the new online platform, you are not required to contact Yacht Line on arrival.

More detailed information can be found here

You will need to complete a PAF form. Download here. You are advised to print this and bring it with you in hardcopy for the border police. Whilst the form suggests that you can email it to [email protected] our past experience has been that the Boarder Force have not had access to this inbox and resulting in you completing a hardcopy one anyway! 

The UN LOC CODE for Cherbourg is FRCER. (Used on the C1331 form)

The Border Police will be at the Marina Reception at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day to stamp your and your crew passports. If you can’t make it to one of these slots, you can call them on +33 (0)2 33 88 72 20 or directly go to their office located 27, rue Dom Pedro, which is a 20 min walk from the marina. The marina reception staff can help with contacting the Border Police if needed. You only need to stamp in and out of France in your first and last port of call.

See Below for directions to the Cherbourg Immigrations office.

  You know you are there when you see this….

You should enter the harbour with your Q Flag displayed. The harbour master will meet you and give you an arrivals form to complete and instruct you when to remove your Q Flag.

Note: You are still required to follow the guidance for departing and arriving in the UK when leaving and arriving at your home port as your journey is considered to have left the UK, Alderney is not part of the UK but an independent British Crown Protectorate. The UN LOCODE code for Alderney is GGY.

Each skipper will be required to complete a simplified form prior to racing and submit this to [email protected].

Your name and address in box 1
Your Boat name in 2 a)

Date, Your name and your signature in box 6

Download Here

JOG will submit this information to the authorities on your behalf and crew are not expected to have to visit an immigrations office on arrival or departure.

The UN LOC CODE for Deauville is FR DOL. (Used on the C1331 form)

The Cherbourg form is also in use for St Vaast. You will need to complete the PAF form. Download here.

However, this needs to be sent to two email addresses as follows 24hrs before your planned arrival:

Email the form to both of these email addresses:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Once again, we recommend that you have a hard copy as well.  We are informed that the Immigration Authorities may attend to stamp passports, there are and no further requirements to entering or leaving.

The UN LOC CODE for St Vaast is FRVH2. (Used on the C1331 form)