How to Cruise In Europe After BREXIT

As the end of the BREXIT transition period looms over as European Union citizens, there is an increased focus among cruisers whose vessels are based in European Union countries.

Once the United Kingdom finally leaves the European Union, United Kingdom citizens lose their automatic right to free movement and to live and work wherever they choose in the European Union. These pleasures will now impact those who keep their yachts and other boats in other European Union countries.

The secession also has tax implications for boats; as part of the European Union, citizens enjoyed the customs union where no tax barriers existed.

For most United Kingdom tourists, the new limits do not affect their ability to take regular European Union holidays.

But for those who are accustomed to spending several months out on their boats in the Mediterranean, or those who have cast off for a longer term cruise, it needs careful consideration.

Even though new regulations will impact people and their properties, the two are regarded entirely separately. People are covered by immigration rules and boats are governed by customs rules.

IMMIGRATION

European Union countries are both individually and collectively responsible for the immigration status of all non-European Union citizens.

European Union-wide travel is governed by the Schengen Agreement, which allows 90 days of travel in every 180-day period.

United Kingdom visitors do not require a visa, but must still comply with this rule, which runs on a rolling basis, so for each day you spend in the Schengen area you must count back 180 days and ensure that you have not been there longer than 90 days.

Over-staying is a serious matter and is likely to incur severe fines. Visitors can only spend a longer time in any particular country if they have the correct paperwork.

CUSTOMS

The main rules for boats are limited to the tax statuses of the vessel. In this manner, any non-European Union vessel may be temporarily imported (TI) by a non-European Union national for a period of up to 18 months before becoming liable to pay VAT.

Most countries will issue a ‘transit log’ to be kept with the vessel while it is in that country. This ‘transit log’ must be stamped on leaving the country and a new one obtained at the next country’s port of entry. At the end of the period the vessel must leave the European Union or pay VAT.

Leaving the European Union will automatically restart a vessel’s VAT clock. The period which you must leave for can be as short as one night.

However, on re-entry to the European Union, a new 18-month period of temporary importation starts on a new transit log.