Heads up regarding UK visitors
Discussion
I have shamelessly copied this from a Twitter thread. Despite some disagreeing, the author could back up all his statements.Of course, whether the rules will be followed we don't know, as it says, you may be asked for this. It'll be a good idea for gite owners to send a printable receipt for accommodation (with siret) to their guests and bring to their notice the possible requirement to present it, and for those hosting friends to dig further to see if the attestation d'accueil is required in practice. Of course, a gite owner can easily issue an accommodation receipt to family or friend visits......
If anyone can provide evidence that refutes this I shall be delighted. My advice is to search official French websites, rather than journals, comment etc
.
At the border, you may be asked for three pieces of information:
1. Motive for your stay in France, ie:
- for tourism: a hotel or other accommodation reservation
- in the absence of a hotel reservation, the traveller has to prove that he possesses means of living of at least 120€ per day – see point 2, documents from a travel agency;
- for a professional visit: letter from the employer, invitation from a French firm or org;
- for a private visit for example to visit and stay with a friend: “attestation d'accueil” delivered by the “mairie” (more on this below)
2. Means of living (cash, traveller's cheques, valid international credit card) along with an insurance certificate covering all medical, hospital and funeral expenses, which may be incurred during the entire period of your stay in France, inc medical repatriation costs;
3. Guarantees of return: return ticket.
Just to remind you, these are standard rules for third-country nationals and nothing particularly to do with Brits.
So, about the “attestation d'accueil”. Here are the rules: https://service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F...
Basically, if you are staying with friends, you need to be registered with the town hall of the commune that you will be staying at PRIOR TO ENTERING THE COUNTRY.
The person housing you will need to provide a chunk of information (including proof of ownership of the property, proof of residence at the address, ID documents, proof of revenue, commit to supporting you financially if required and so on). There is a 30€ fee.
The relevant town hall can take up to one month to respond.
The applicant will be issued with a certificate which they will then need to send to you for you to be able to enter the country.
I repeat what I say in the title, this is a heads up in case you have missed it.
If anyone can provide evidence that refutes this I shall be delighted. My advice is to search official French websites, rather than journals, comment etc
.
At the border, you may be asked for three pieces of information:
1. Motive for your stay in France, ie:
- for tourism: a hotel or other accommodation reservation
- in the absence of a hotel reservation, the traveller has to prove that he possesses means of living of at least 120€ per day – see point 2, documents from a travel agency;
- for a professional visit: letter from the employer, invitation from a French firm or org;
- for a private visit for example to visit and stay with a friend: “attestation d'accueil” delivered by the “mairie” (more on this below)
2. Means of living (cash, traveller's cheques, valid international credit card) along with an insurance certificate covering all medical, hospital and funeral expenses, which may be incurred during the entire period of your stay in France, inc medical repatriation costs;
3. Guarantees of return: return ticket.
Just to remind you, these are standard rules for third-country nationals and nothing particularly to do with Brits.
So, about the “attestation d'accueil”. Here are the rules: https://service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F...
Basically, if you are staying with friends, you need to be registered with the town hall of the commune that you will be staying at PRIOR TO ENTERING THE COUNTRY.
The person housing you will need to provide a chunk of information (including proof of ownership of the property, proof of residence at the address, ID documents, proof of revenue, commit to supporting you financially if required and so on). There is a 30€ fee.
The relevant town hall can take up to one month to respond.
The applicant will be issued with a certificate which they will then need to send to you for you to be able to enter the country.
I repeat what I say in the title, this is a heads up in case you have missed it.
Edited by Fatt McMissile on Sunday 16th May 10:19
abzmike said:
Lots of countries round the world require you to have in hand proof of funds (credit card usually acceptable) return or onward travel tickets and/or accommodation booking. Can’t recall being asked to show them, except when entering the US.
But you just know that there's going to be numerous Sun / Mail / Mirror front pages of compo faced Brits complaining " Brexit ruined my holiday abroad" 
Ref Para 2 possession of a GHIC is sufficient.
France is the most visited country in Europe and many people pass through it to an onward destination within the EU. i feel sure if you arriving in a tatty van with a mattress in the back then you can expect to be queried,
But if you are disembarking from a Brittany Ferry in August with a couple of bikes strapped to the back of your shiny new SUV, I would expect to get waived through.
Turkeys usually don't vote for Christmas. Now a flight from Rabat or Algiers into Roissy will be a completely different kettle of fish.
France is the most visited country in Europe and many people pass through it to an onward destination within the EU. i feel sure if you arriving in a tatty van with a mattress in the back then you can expect to be queried,
But if you are disembarking from a Brittany Ferry in August with a couple of bikes strapped to the back of your shiny new SUV, I would expect to get waived through.
Turkeys usually don't vote for Christmas. Now a flight from Rabat or Algiers into Roissy will be a completely different kettle of fish.
jeez....
i was given the opportunity 2 weeks ago to sell our house to a French couple who have sold their home a few doors away but still have land at the side of ours....given all the hoops we'll be jumping through soon i maybe should have said yes
there is some serious paperwork to sort out for every visit now, i fear my grass may be like Jumanji soon
i was given the opportunity 2 weeks ago to sell our house to a French couple who have sold their home a few doors away but still have land at the side of ours....given all the hoops we'll be jumping through soon i maybe should have said yes
there is some serious paperwork to sort out for every visit now, i fear my grass may be like Jumanji soon
yes i understand that, just venting at no one in particular, getting annoyed at the amount of other things to remember before i can travel 
no doubt at some point we'll come across BiB who want every little bit of paper present and correct
be nice just to be able to jump in the car with car papers, Wallet, Passport and keys, book a ferry and say right i'm on my way
no doubt at some point we'll come across BiB who want every little bit of paper present and correct
be nice just to be able to jump in the car with car papers, Wallet, Passport and keys, book a ferry and say right i'm on my way
https://www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-ice...
Current government advice, it's not onerous, just common sense.
Current government advice, it's not onerous, just common sense.
rdjohn said:
https://www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-ice...
Current government advice, it's not onerous, just common sense.
Am I missing something though Rodger? Where does it say a GHIC will suffice?Current government advice, it's not onerous, just common sense.
It seems,to me,that the GHIC may be of some help but as with the EHIC it's not going to get you back to Blighty without some sort of hefty hospital bill.
Can I presume that a traveling Brit resident won't be able leave the UK without insurance proof?
Magooagain said:
Am I missing something though Rodger? Where does it say a GHIC will suffice?
It seems,to me,that the GHIC may be of some help but as with the EHIC it's not going to get you back to Blighty without some sort of hefty hospital bill.
Can I presume that a traveling Brit resident won't be able leave the UK without insurance proof?
I think if you are young and fit and were happy travelling to the EU with a EHIC, then my feeling is that nothing has changed with a GHIC.It seems,to me,that the GHIC may be of some help but as with the EHIC it's not going to get you back to Blighty without some sort of hefty hospital bill.
Can I presume that a traveling Brit resident won't be able leave the UK without insurance proof?
If you felt less confident and wanted to take out extra cover for repatriation lost cases etc, then also, nothing much has changes.
I found out last year that my French CEAM only covered about 50% of the costs of falling ill in Spain. Assuming that it did, i did not inform my VISA travel insurance that i might want to claim, and so could not, when i knew the full story. I have never thought of travelling to the US , or Asia without a high level of travel cover. Stuff does happen and there has never been GHIC cover
The key point is that Brexit has made some changes and if you are a glass half empty person you might think that they are massive. I prefer my glass half full - at least.
https://www.ghic---healthcard.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQo...
It seems to me it would be unwise to travel without a travel insurance.
It seems to me it would be unwise to travel without a travel insurance.
My girlfriend is a French national... we're planning to go to see her parents for the first time since covid kicked off in July, (after cancelling our Christmas trip, and the rescheduled trip in April).
So i guess we need the certificate from the mayor?
He French friends circulated some information on this... and I took it as a British newspaper taking a technicality and making a story of it.... but inguess if no alternative arrangement is made we better get the process started on the certificate?
So i guess we need the certificate from the mayor?
He French friends circulated some information on this... and I took it as a British newspaper taking a technicality and making a story of it.... but inguess if no alternative arrangement is made we better get the process started on the certificate?
We have had guests from USA, Australia and NZ. They have never been hassled or asked for additional documentation, so it should be the same for visiting Brits.
Your partner has a right to visit the country of her birth. Perhaps her parents could write you an invoice for 50 centimes per night to overcome your concerns.
The same headlines are appearing in Spain yet the reality is that their Government are desperate to get their holiday season underway by inviting Brits to arrive by the planeloads, against Boris’s wishes.
Your partner has a right to visit the country of her birth. Perhaps her parents could write you an invoice for 50 centimes per night to overcome your concerns.
The same headlines are appearing in Spain yet the reality is that their Government are desperate to get their holiday season underway by inviting Brits to arrive by the planeloads, against Boris’s wishes.
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