Driving to and from France/UK
Jul 25th 2022, 3:07 pm
#17
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: France
Posts: 862
Re: Driving to and from France/UK
I can answer your specific query as a UK resident with Irish passport and a UK passport holder spouse. who have crossed the channel several times recently.
The UK passport is stamped on entry and exit from France but the Irish passport is not.
The UK passport holder can remain in France with the EU spouse as long as they remain together. Should the EU passport holder leave the Uk spouse alone in France then the 90/180 starts at that point i.e. original stay + 90/180 but proving continuity may be a problem.
Remember Schengen rules also apply if internal borders are crossed.
The UK passport is stamped on entry and exit from France but the Irish passport is not.
The UK passport holder can remain in France with the EU spouse as long as they remain together. Should the EU passport holder leave the Uk spouse alone in France then the 90/180 starts at that point i.e. original stay + 90/180 but proving continuity may be a problem.
Remember Schengen rules also apply if internal borders are crossed.
That’s my situation too.
Have you had occasion yet to test the rule? ie has your spouse tried to re-enter France (with you) after having already clocked up 90 days in the last 180?
Just curious to see how well the rule is observed in practice.
Jul 25th 2022, 5:58 pm
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: Dépt 61
Posts: 5,254
Re: Driving to and from France/UK
I thought we were talking about the procedure when you cross the border?
If they are checking passenger manifests back over 180 days for every UK passport holder who crosses the border, no wonder there are long queues...
Jul 25th 2022, 7:08 pm
#19
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Driving to and from France/UK
If the French have arriving passenger manifests (which would be available moments after each ferry sets sail, then all the French would need to do is run the names and idntifying information through the French residence database to flag any non-residents on the ferry who appear to be in violation of residency laws. All French immigration officers would then need to do is identify those individuals after they come off the ferry to enter France - I'm not talking about real-time database seaches as each person hands over their passport! Though if that is what the Fench are actually do then it would explain delays.
I could see that this would probably flag people driving through France to their home in other countries, such as Spain, Portugla and Italy, so they would be checked and presumably sent on their way.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jul 25th 2022 at 7:12 pm.
Jul 26th 2022, 6:39 am
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: Dépt 61
Posts: 5,254
Re: Driving to and from France/UK
Yes if an issue arises then immigration can quite easily check a person's movements.
But from the point of view of what to expect when you arrive at the border, I think the only situation where a stamp in a passport is likely to cause an issue is if a person with no residence rights is exiting Schengen and the last stamp in their passport is an entry stamp more than 3 months ago.
But from the point of view of what to expect when you arrive at the border, I think the only situation where a stamp in a passport is likely to cause an issue is if a person with no residence rights is exiting Schengen and the last stamp in their passport is an entry stamp more than 3 months ago.
