Proof of return ticket when entering Schengen area

[aturnick54]

I'm aware that this is unlikely to be asked for, but I've been thinking about this theoretically.

To enter the EU as a non-EU citizen you may be asked for proof of funds, accommodation and onward/return travel.

How would this be possible if you are transiting by car? For instance, if you are driving onward to Turkey and do not have any proof of onward or return travel. I'm not too sure what you can prove other than that you have enough money to get there.

[mmm-five]

I've never been asked anything other than rudimentary "Where are you off too?" questions.

But do you not have a return ticket for ferry/tunnel, or hotel booking in Turkey?

[Byker28i]

I cross the channel regularly, never been asked. You get your passport stamped going in and have up to 90 days travel in a 180-day period.

[aturnick54]

mmm-five said:

I've never been asked anything other than rudimentary "Where are you off too?" questions.

But do you not have a return ticket for ferry/tunnel, or hotel booking in Turkey?

I'm travelling to our family home, and booked a one way ferry so have no proof that I will return to the UK (or even leave the Schengen area).

Going via Rotterdam, I've heard they like to question a bit more than the French do. Never been asked anything before

[gotoPzero]

The only place I have ever been asked for POOT is LAX.

I have always had it, and I don't know if they look electronically, but the only place "show me" has ever been said was LA.

[captain_cynic]

mmm-five said:

I've never been asked anything other than rudimentary "Where are you off too?" questions.

But do you not have a return ticket for ferry/tunnel, or hotel booking in Turkey?

Prior to Brexit when crossing the Spanish border using my Australian passport I was asked "how long are you staying in the EU" and replied "I'm a resident of the UK". The Spanish immigration officer seemed happy with my Biometric Residency Permit (which isn't actually proof of residency... But I guess he didn't know or care).

I guess they just want some kind of proof you're not going to be staying without a visa. A hotel reservation or some other proof you're going to be in Turkey I'd guess would assuage them. A Turkish passport or visa would also fit the bill.

I don't know how far off we are from Brittons flooding across to the EU, taking their jobs and seeking asylum though so no idea how aggressively they'll be seeking any kind of proof.

Edited by captain_cynic on Wednesday 24th April 16:13

[eldar]

aturnick54 said:

I'm aware that this is unlikely to be asked for, but I've been thinking about this theoretically.

To enter the EU as a non-EU citizen you may be asked for proof of funds, accommodation and onward/return travel.

How would this be possible if you are transiting by car? For instance, if you are driving onward to Turkey and do not have any proof of onward or return travel. I'm not too sure what you can prove other than that you have enough money to get there.

Credit card, picture ID and not acting like a bellend. No problem.

[aturnick54]

captain_cynic said:

Prior to Brexit when crossing the Spanish border using my Australian passport I was asked "how long are you staying in the EU" and replied "I'm a resident of the UK". The Spanish immigration officer seemed happy with my Biometric Residency Permit (which isn't actually proof of residency... But I guess he didn't know or care).

I guess they just want some kind of proof you're not going to be staying without a visa. A hotel reservation or some other proof you're going to be in Turkey I'd guess would assuage them. A Turkish passport or visa would also fit the bill.

I don't know how far off we are from Brittons flooding across to the EU, taking their jobs and seeking asylum though so no idea how aggressively they'll be seeking any kind of proof.

Edited by captain_cynic on Wednesday 24th April 16:13

Of course I will have hotels, but I tend to book them when on the road so that I can choose when to stop driving. I do have electronic vignettes for Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria which I guess could satisfy them that I am travelling to Turkey. My passport also has plenty of Turkish stamps

I guess I just need to pray I don't get a jobsworth that thinks I'm an asylum seeker

[omniflow]

We were asked to show proof of return ticket at Hook of Holland when entering by ferry last year. The return ticket was buried somewhere in the boot as I hadn't thought I'd need it for a few weeks.

[aturnick54]

omniflow said:

We were asked to show proof of return ticket at Hook of Holland when entering by ferry last year. The return ticket was buried somewhere in the boot as I hadn't thought I'd need it for a few weeks.

What did they say?

I'm hoping they don't ask, as obviously I haven't got one.

[leyorkie]

It’s worse than that “in theory “ practice is something else.
You should prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay.
You should have a return booked.
I have a place in France and we have to apply for a visa part of the process is supplying 3 months worth of bank statements to show we have funds to cover our stay. Plus signing forms to say we will not work.
As yet I’ve not heard of any border staff enforcing these rules, however I did have my right index finger print taken last Monday as I arrived in France.

[MrBig]

eldar said:

Credit card, picture ID and not acting like a bellend. No problem.

This is PH. 2 of those things are no problem...

[aturnick54]

leyorkie said:

It’s worse than that “in theory “ practice is something else.
You should prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay.
You should have a return booked.
I have a place in France and we have to apply for a visa part of the process is supplying 3 months worth of bank statements to show we have funds to cover our stay. Plus signing forms to say we will not work.
As yet I’ve not heard of any border staff enforcing these rules, however I did have my right index finger print taken last Monday as I arrived in France.

I have a debit and credit card, sufficient for a 2 day stay. I cannot book a return as I will be staying in Turkey, and I do not need a visa for any part of the journey.

I hope having funds and saying that I'm transiting to Turkey will be enough. I'll even have a Turkish car insurance policy with me, which I don't think someone wouldn't buy for the sake of it if they had the intention of staying in the EU to leech off the state.

I've done this route a few times before, although only once post-Brexit and this was via Calais. The French never bother to enforce these rules in my experience.

[omniflow]

aturnick54 said:

What did they say?

I'm hoping they don't ask, as obviously I haven't got one.

I very much got the impression that if we couldn't prove we were planning to leave, that we couldn't come in. I didn't push it as it wasn't a problem. I presume you could book something expensive that you can cancel, and then cancel it once you're in.

I was very surprised to be asked, as I'd never been asked before. We were (and are) a married couple in late 50s, in a GT car with very little luggage space and no room for extra passengers, so unlikely to be moving lock stock and barrel into the Schengen area.

[Guyr]

My understanding is that whilst you can be asked for a proof of return it is not a formal requirement, since you could easily choose to leave the EU by ferry/car/train at any point without booking in advance. It is entirely reasonable to not have booked the return leg if for example planning a long car tour of Europe where you don't know which port you'll end up travelling back from, or whether you'll exit into a non-Schengen country in Eastern/Southern Europe as part of the trip.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry...

"As a non-EU national, if you don't fulfil the entry conditions set out in the Schengen Borders Code, an EU or Schengen country may refuse you entry. Under these rules you must have a:

valid travel document
visa (if needed, except if you hold a valid residence permit or a valid long stay visa)
justification for the purpose and specifics of your stay (including proof of sufficient financial means)"

They may ask for details of your plans, proof of finances and return plans, but it is exceptionally rare that they would. What they are looking for is a pattern of suspicious behaviour e.g. flying in on a one-way ticket, with little money would indicate the possibility of attempting to work.

Proof of funds is required and is the biggest determinant of suspicion. Sufficient money indicates a holiday, little money indicates plans to work.

Edited by Guyr on Thursday 25th April 09:32

[ferret50]

I have always booked return travel, afterall, why not? We are coming back!

My issue is when we get a breakdown whilst travelling for the ferry, the amended ferry booking is always way more than the original booked price, just why? Nothing haschanged except the date of departure!

[shirt]

gotoPzero said:

The only place I have ever been asked for POOT is LAX.

I have always had it, and I don't know if they look electronically, but the only place "show me" has ever been said was LA.

Same. Went with 2 mates and only I had the hotel booking details and immigration wouldn’t let them phone me to get them (I’d already gone through).

Never been asked for it anywhere else despite often only having a one way ticket and not knowing where I’d been booked in to stay.

I’d have thought having a car is proof of your means of exit especially as they could trace it via npr. I’d expect a check of your insurance papers tho.

[aturnick54]

omniflow said:

I very much got the impression that if we couldn't prove we were planning to leave, that we couldn't come in. I didn't push it as it wasn't a problem. I presume you could book something expensive that you can cancel, and then cancel it once you're in.

I was very surprised to be asked, as I'd never been asked before. We were (and are) a married couple in late 50s, in a GT car with very little luggage space and no room for extra passengers, so unlikely to be moving lock stock and barrel into the Schengen area.

Worst case I could book a cheap ferry from Calais or something, then cancel it. I'm hoping they will use common sense and allow me to enter though. The car will have furniture etc that I'm taking over so it's obvious I'm not entering for bad reasons

[aturnick54]

ferret50 said:

I have always booked return travel, afterall, why not? We are coming back!

My issue is when we get a breakdown whilst travelling for the ferry, the amended ferry booking is always way more than the original booked price, just why? Nothing haschanged except the date of departure!

In my case, the car is not coming back as it'll be staying in Turkey for a few months hence the one way ticket.

I do like the flexibility of not having firm plans, especially when on road trips. And as you said, they charge silly fees just to amend bookings so it wouldn't be worth booking the return yet

[aturnick54]

shirt said:

I’d have thought having a car is proof of your means of exit especially as they could trace it via npr. I’d expect a check of your insurance papers tho.

I hope so. I will have my Turkish insurance policy, copies of vignettes where needed.

My passport also has stamps from doing this journey previously, and loads of stamps for Turkey as I travel there frequently.