Return Ferry Bookings
We are off to France soon but have seen mention that proof of return ferry/tunnel booking dates have to be shown on entry to France - have any recent travellers experienced this? As with many previous occasions, we have only booked the outward journey because we don't have any set plans on return time (five to six weeks usually).
Any shared recent experiences welcome!
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Brittany Ferries website says if you are unsure of your return date book an outward single and book the homeward journey later.
If you are using a different ferry company or the tunnel you can check with them.
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I read an article this week, which i cant find now, that said new rules to be introduced 2023 would include, return ticket or sufficient funds to fund return ticket, address of where you were staying e.g. hotel, campsite, if staying with friends or relatives their address, i think this was for the whole of the EU not just France
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We had a return Eurotunnel but were never asked (although Eurotunnel have the details of course). We always seem to change the return but the cost is small. I assumed it would be cheaper to book and change rather than buy a separate single return.
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Yes your right, now that we are viewed as a 'Third' country the rules state that a return ticket and sufficient funds (Spain say 75€ per day) are required. The chance of being asked I would imagine are slim but that's the new rules.
Also worth mentioning, some insurance companies now state that a return ticket has to be purchased prior to departure, if you don't and something goes wrong then the insurance might be invalid. I know my holiday insurance states that.
We always purchase a ticket that can be amended (for a fee) should we change our plans.
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French government website actually says you should have “a return ticket or the financial means to acquire one at the envisaged return date”.
That covers people who don’t decide in advance which route they will come back as well as on which date.
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Looks like this could be another issue that creates worry but in reality never rears its head.
We traveled to France in June and returned from Holland in July, so not a 'return' but two singles however, we were not asked, and never have been, for any evidence as mentioned.
Indeed, have only ever been asked for passports.
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IMO the chances of being asked at a ferry port or tunnel when you are in a leisure vehicle would be very slim.
Like most of these things that have come to light since Brexit it seems to be focused on the airports. Maybe they don't want folk going over there (mainly Spain) on a single ticket then running our of money/accommodation and becoming a problem by sleeping rough.
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Thanks for your experiences/thoughts everyone.
I think I'll stick with the original (one-way) plan. Like Tammygirl, I hardly think caravanners/motorhomers are targets for this sort of request. Also buoyed by Eurotraveller's French government quote "return ticket OR financial means" - so how do we cover that one, sportsbag full of used euro notes? Ha!
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As with above replies - we have recently returned from 3 weeks in France. We were not asked for proof of return ticket, nor were we asked to provide proof of our covid vaccinations. No one checked whether we had any foodstuffs in the van either. Apart from passport stamping at Ouistreham, all seemed as normal pre brexit.
Its difficult see how anyone could provide proof of "sufficient funds" unless we are expected to carry €000's in cash, which I assume no one does.
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Not sure how that carries any proof either. What is the limit on the card? What is the spendable balance? How much have you got in your bank account?
Absolute nonsense dreamed up by jobsworths Brussels and Whitehall bureaucrats with nothing better to do and no idea of the real world.
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I can’t see checks as particularly likely, folk turning up with expensive MH’s and caravan rigs are likely to want to bring them back. However, I assume if there was any question they could run a credit check on you or your OH, in the same way as happens if you want to take out a loan.
If they wanted to know where we are stopping it would prove more difficult. I wonder which one of the 20 sites / Aires we hadn’t yet decided to stop on they would accept.😂0
