Driving to/through France from UK right now

[ScotHill]

Amateurish said:

It's ambiguous language.

It is, The Independent agrees with the wider definition though: "Nationals of other EU countries, plus partners and children, are allowed to transit through France to the country of which they are nationals (or to their main residence if it is in a different European Union nation)."

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advi...

[Alex@POD]

Amateurish said:

It's ambiguous language.

it does make sense when you think of examples, eg if you're Polish, you're allowed to travel to your residence in France, your residence in Italy, or Poland.

[tommobot]

Rushjob said:

Actually it is, as that is a common right that has been upheld in the travel restrictions throughout the EU during Covid since day 1.



If you are European Union nationals or equivalents, as well as their partners (spouses, civil partners or cohabiters) and children

AND

with their main residence in France

OR

transiting through France to their main residence in a European Union country or equivalent country

OR

the country of which they are nationals.

If it was written somewhere I'd agree, but we obviously no offence intended... but we can hardly rock up to the border and say some bloke on PH said it was OK so let us past please...

In our sitiuation, as noted before it becomes silly in the Mrs tommobot is italian, her passport expired last year, ID card in the summer, Italian driving licnce replaced with UK... To old jonny border guard, how can you acutally 'prove' someone is Italian... Oh well, hopefully we will go in February instead next year.

[Rushjob]

tommobot said:

If it was written somewhere I'd agree, but we obviously no offence intended... but we can hardly rock up to the border and say some bloke on PH said it was OK so let us past please...

You were given a link to the requisite bit ( in english ) of the current French Government rules yesterday to help you, so yes, it is written somewhere, and someone on the internet now appreciates that they probably wasted their time trying to help you................

[EdJ]

Did anyone make it to France over Christmas? Looks like the rules just got tightened further, although I can't understand whether this is Covid related, or just broader Brexit related bloody mindedness:

https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/travelling-with-us/l...

[Chris Stott]

Entirely political.

[Driller]

Agree that it’s political and perfectly stupid.

Has anyone seen the English equivalent of the « motif impérieux » (over riding reasons) for people coming to the U.K.? It seems to me that on the U.K. side the rules have been relaxed (countries removed from the red list) and I can’t find any rules in English limiting people coming into the U.K.

I have no problem getting back to France as I live here but it’s looking complicated especially for my wife and child to be able to come over to the U.K. with me.

[Shnozz]

Seeing quite a few British registered cars in the Costa Blanca and wondering how many have ferry/tunnel crossings booked and can’t delay returning for either 90 day post brexit limits or for work etc.

You’d be pissed off if you have to fork out for a Spain/U.K. ferry and that’s assuming there is availability on those routes from Bilbao or Santander.

[Chris Stott]

France have removed the restriction now.

Macron is a complete .

[EdJ]

Chris Stott said:

France have removed the restriction now.

Macron is a complete .

Just the transit restriction, right? So it doesn't impact the majority of us who just want to travel there (and spend money etc).

Agreed about Macron.

[Chris Stott]

Yes, just the transit restriction.

Couple of neighbours of mine here in southern Spain drove to the Uk for Christmas (have their dog with them)… ended up having to book a ferry to Santander from Southern Ireland to get back to Spain… only for Macron to change the rules again.

fking ridiculous behaviour.

[Driller]

Just bumping this thread up as there are quite a few folk here going in the France UK direction ie towards Dover.

Any idea what the delays are like in this direction?

[Tyre Smoke]

Driller said:

Just bumping this thread up as there are quite a few folk here going in the France UK direction ie towards Dover.

Any idea what the delays are like in this direction?

Six hour delays at Dover being blamed on the French understaffing the customs posts. No idea what the other direction is like, no problem I would think.

[Last Visit]

Feel sorry for those caught up in it. Im doing the journey in a just over a week by which time I hope they've got their st together.

[leyorkie]

Would think that this problem will arrive at the French side when everybody is returning after a week or two it’s mainly volume and stamping passports. The delays were foreseeable but could have been handled better.
I’m travelling back next week but through Eurotunnel which has not been affected to the same extent

[andy43]

Tyre Smoke said:

Driller said:

Just bumping this thread up as there are quite a few folk here going in the France UK direction ie towards Dover.

Any idea what the delays are like in this direction?

Six hour delays at Dover being blamed on the French understaffing the customs posts. No idea what the other direction is like, no problem I would think.

We’re currently in Portugal via eurotunnel. Haven’t seen anything on the news on UK bound traffic at all. I found this on the eurotunnel website showing when their peak days are in each direction - eg next week to Folkestone isn’t classed as peak
https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/tickets-and-fares/ty...
I’d imagine the ferries are similar so if you’re Folkestone bound on a non peak day it may be ok.
Famous last words…

[Driller]

Thanks for the info, I agree that any news on going in the U.K. direction is very sparse.

Hopefully it’s a question of no news is good news.

Looks pretty rough for those going to Calais from Dover.

[RizzoTheRat]

Last Visit said:

Feel sorry for those caught up in it. Im doing the journey in a just over a week by which time I hope they've got their st together.

I'm hoping a big part of the problem is due to the schools breaking up last week and loads of people travelling. We're on the Dover-Dunkirk ferry on Tuesday so hoping it's died down by then.

[Driller]

Tyre Smoke said:

Driller said:

Just bumping this thread up as there are quite a few folk here going in the France UK direction ie towards Dover.

Any idea what the delays are like in this direction?

Six hour delays at Dover being blamed on the French understaffing the customs posts. No idea what the other direction is like, no problem I would think.

MP for Calais saying there are simply not enough French customs posts allocated on the English side and that the port of Dover needs expansion to be able to cater for more.

He said all French custom posts were full.

[Boringvolvodriver]

Driller said:

Tyre Smoke said:

Driller said:

Just bumping this thread up as there are quite a few folk here going in the France UK direction ie towards Dover.

Any idea what the delays are like in this direction?

Six hour delays at Dover being blamed on the French understaffing the customs posts. No idea what the other direction is like, no problem I would think.

MP for Calais saying there are simply not enough French customs posts allocated on the English side and that the port of Dover needs expansion to be able to cater for more.

He said all French custom posts were full.

Saw something that linked to an article in the FT that the Uk declined an offer to spend £33m on doubling the capacity of French passport checks in Do we back in December 2020………….

I guess it takes longer to check the passports and stamp them all than it did in pre Brexit Days. I also imagine the traffic in 2020 and 2021 will have been a lot less as well given all the restrictions then.

Fairly predictable that we will blame ghe French and the French will blame us whilst the truth may be somewhere in the middle.

Still not good if you are stuck in the queue though