Will Brits really need proof of a return ticket in order to enter France?

Local France

3 days ago

Reporting in the UK press states that British travellers to France 'will need to show medical insurance and proof of a return ticket' from October.
While most tourists typically book their return trip in advance, other travellers, including those on family visits or second-home owners, may prefer to keep things more flexible and only book their return trip a few days in advance. The plethora of travel options between the UK and France - including the Eurostar, cross-Channel ferries and the Eurotunnel - mean that many people don't feel the need to book too far in advance.
But will these travel patterns have to change soon?
There are two things to look at here - existing rules for non-EU citizens, and the upcoming changes due to the EU's new EES biometric passport checks.
Advertisement
Existing rules
- it's in fact already the case that French border guards can ask Brits to show proof of their accommodation in France, proof of their financial means, proof of a return travel ticket and proof of medical cover.
These questions can be asked of any non-EU travellers entering France, so they have applied to Brits since the end of the Brexit transition period on January 1st 2021.
In practice it's rare for British travellers to be asked for this type of proof, although it does happen sometimes. Especially in the early days after the end of the Brexit transition period, UK travellers were sometimes asked for proof of a hotel booking or a return travel ticket.
Second-home owners can show proof of their address in France in lieu of a hotel booking, but people who are staying with friends are technically
required to show an
Attestation d'acceuil
(although in practice it's rare for this to be requested).
People who don't have proof of accommodation in France or a set return date can instead show financial proof, indicating that they have enough money to support themselves during their stay and enough money to buy a return ticket. The guideline amount for people who don't have accommodation sorted is €120 per person per day - full details
here
.
When it comes to medical cover, the EHIC or GHIC is sufficient for Brits, private medical insurance is not required (although medical/travel insurance is a good idea, because the GHIC will not cover all of your medical expenses if you fall sick, especially if you require repatriation).
READ ALSO
:
Health insurance in France: What are the requirements for visitors and residents?
While all this can technically be requested, in practice at present the vast majority of Brits travelling into France will only be asked to show their passport (and residency permit/visa if applicable).
So what's changing?
In a word, EES. (OK, that's actually an acronym, but whatever).
The EU's new biometric passport checks, known as the Exit & Entry System, are
due to come into effect from October 12th
.
Advertisement
The system is now set for a phased introduction over a six-month period, and the start date has already been postponed several times, so the October 12th date may change.
In brief, EES is an enhanced passport check requiring biometric data including fingerprints and facial scans. It does not actually change any immigration rules, but standardises their application and will
make it hard to over-stay the 90-day limit
.
It applies to non-EU citizens (so yes, that's Brits) who are crossing an EU external border - that means it would apply on a UK-France trip but wouldn't be used on a journey from Germany to France.
Brits who are resident in France, or those with a visa, are exempt from EES.
You can read a full explanation of what it all means
HERE
.
Once EES comes into effect, those passengers who don't fall into the exempt category will have to complete 'pre-registration' the first time they cross an EU external border.
Advertisement
This must be done at the port/airport/station; it cannot be done in advance, and involves the passenger having to give biometric details like fingerprints and fill out a questionnaire. The exact method of doing this varies depending on the type of transport - the Port of Dover says it will use an iPad passed around car passengers while Eurotunnel says it will have special kiosks for passengers to fill out their details.
This pre-registration only has to be done once, on subsequent trips passengers will simply pass through the automated passport gates.
At present, we do not have a precise list of the questions that people will be asked on the pre-registration form, although we know that it will include things like the purpose of your trip, how long you intend to stay and where you intend to stay.
It's not clear whether supporting documents (eg a return ticket) will be required, although all the guidance from the European Commission suggests that this will be a simple online questionnaire.
So what does this have to do with return tickets?
This line appears to have come from Luke Petherbridge, the director of public affairs at the British travel body Abta, who says: "More people are going to be asked these questions in the future than were in the past because most EES checks will be done at a kiosk".
However, he added that: "If you were to answer these questions in a way that you know isn't aligned with what they are looking for, you would be sent to a border guard. You wouldn't necessarily be denied entry."
It's important to stress that EES doesn't actually change any of the rules for entry to the EU, it just makes the process more standardised than the current, rather haphazard, one.
The strictest reading of entry rules is that people must have proof of either a return ticket or the financial means to buy one - this can include a bank account with sufficient funds.
For at least the first six months of EES, ports and airports are allowed to suspend checks on some travellers if there is a risk of queues - something that is a particular concern at the busy UK-France border.
You can find all the latest details on EES
here
.