Last Updated on May 6, 2026 by Colin Le Conte
Latest information by port
With the go live of EES in April, there has been a lot of confusion about the processes at each port.
I am collating information from fellow boaters on their experience, together with the date. If you have visited a port on the DigimapMarinas list, since the start of EES, please do send a note to me at marinas@digimap.gg
| Date | Port | Information | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 May 2026 | Carteret | Send forms to marina office, they will forward on to douane, douane will acknowledge receipt quickly. No stamped forms or person to meet. Hand written forms not accepted. | Damon, Matthew, Linda |
| 02 May 2026 | Cherbourg | Just customs forms, sent to the port, the port then forward them to customs. You may or may not hear back from them. No biometrics no hassle. All very pleasant and willing to help. The port is trying to make it as easy as possible for everyone. Easier than previous years. | Neil, Steve |
| 01 May 2026 | Granville | The document you attached is still valid. Boaters can still submit their forms without going to the immigration office at the ferry terminal. | Colin, Douane, Matthew |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Paimpol | We visited Paimpol for 4 nights, I emailed marina and customs as usual before arrival , didn’t get any acknowledgment from either. Did same on departure, followed up with email to marina requesting stamped exit form which was sent within a couple of hours. | Bernard |
| 02 May 2026 | Saint Cast | We submitted our forms by email 24 hours before departure. The form, stamped by customs, was then available for collection from the port office. They printed out a copy for our records. So very easy and the same as last year. | Damon |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Saint Malo | Send forms in using new form to the 2 email addresses. Visit douane at office on Digimap website and full EES procedure | Ben |
| 25 Apr 2026 | Saint Quay | Send in forms like normal. But if you try checking out at a ferry terminal or airport, it may not work | Ben |
2026
Updated 6th May 2026
National Protocol
Keith Martin, our main contact in France has today reported “Following discussions with the French Customs Authorities and the French Border Police (PAF), it has been decided that the existing Protocol covering arrivals and departures from French marinas will remain in place at least until the end of 2026.
You will be notified should there be any changes in the meantime to this decision.”
The French government departments EES is now live (EU’s Entry/Exit System) . This means non-EU nationals will have fingerprints and photos taken at borders for short stays, replacing the stamping of Passports.
The first time you arrive in the Schengen area, (First Time Registration) you will have the full biometrics (facial image and fingerprints) in order to create your EES file. On subsequent arrivals or departures, our understanding is that facial recognition will normally be used.
Please also note your passport must:
- have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago, making it invalid for entry to the Schengen area.
- have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)
At present there is no change to the protocol.
Visitors to Saint Malo (a Port of Entry) on their boat on 15th April 2026 confirmed that on arrival at the Douane office, fingerprints and photos were taken of people who were not on the EES system and facial recognition used for the people who were already on the system. This replaced the stamping of the passport.
Until notified otherwise, we continue to work under the existing Protocol for non Port of Entry marinas.
The special protocols should remain for the marinas (send the form in by email) in 2026. You still cannot mix the two i.e. you can’t arrive at a PPF and leave at a non PPF marina. There is talk of the non PPF marinas typing the details from your form into the EES, which makes sense, but this is to be confirmed.
Pets
On 22nd April 2026, the rules for pets from the Channel Islands into the EU have changed. I can only refer you to the official information.
https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-an-eu-country
Granville / Normandy
I asked Granville Douane what their arrangements are following the introduction of EES.
I have today (29th April 2026) received the following response (translated).
“The old document you attached is still valid. They can still submit their forms without going to the immigration office at the ferry terminal.
Regional Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes of Caen
External Customs Surveillance Brigade of Granville”
30th May 2024
We are delighted to announce the new arrangements now in place. Please see the following Official Press release
Communiqué press_english version
Thank you to the French authorities as well as the ports and marina officials who worked so hard to introduce these new rules.
The PPF they refer to are the official Ports of Entry. The new rules are for non-PF marinas. In the past, you had to go to a PPF marina first (with a few exceptions) and now that has all changed for the better.
This is the form that needs to be completed. I am not sure it is the final version of the form but is the one that Treguier kindly provided. I suggest you contact the marina you will be visiting for their version of the form.
Word version (.docx file) Annexe-1-Formulaire-declaratif
Word version (open .odt file) Annexe 1 – Formulaire déclaratif
PDF version (may not be editable for some users) Annexe-1-Formulaire-declaratif
PDF version (I had done some work to turn it into a form, not sure how well it will work) Annexe-1-Formulaire-declaratif editable
The new arrangements will no doubt raise some questions and I have started a Question and Answers section below
Please email marinas@digimap.gg with any updates that would be useful to fellow boaters, including photos.
25th June 2024 update
Publication of the National and Local Protocols has provoked a number of queries that have required further clarification from the Steering and Information Section (CRPC) of the Regional Customs Authority in Brittany
We have been able to obtain clarification on certain points, and the more important of these are given hereunder :
- If a boat arrives in France via a non-PPF port (see Annexe 2 below) it should only leave by another non-PPF port. No inspection of passports is required, as all information concerning persons on board is contained in the Declarations of Arrival and Departure submitted to the marina authorities for onward transmission to the Border Authorities.
- If a boat arrives and leaves by the same non-PPF port, no inspection of passports is required for the same reasons as given in 1)
- If a boat arrives in France via a PPF port (see Annexe 3) it must leave via a PPF port, and passports will be stamped on arrival and departure by the Border Authorities, although Declarations of Arrival and Departure must still be submitted to the relevant marina authorities.
In the event that a boat arrives in France via a non-PPF port with the intention of leaving France via a PPF port, be warned that all those on board must present themselves ON ARRIVAL to the PPF port to which the non-PPF port is attached to have their passports stamped. For example as Brest is the PPF for L’Aber Wrac’h and L’Aber Wrac’h is the entry port into France, the boat should proceed initially to Brest before continuing to L’Aber Wrac’h.
When planning a cruise this requirement must be taken into account to avoid any delays or misunderstandings.
I trust this helps those planning to sail to France this season. We understand that the Regional Authorities in Brittany will collate all such enquiries and present them to the national authorities, authors of the Protocols, at the end of the season, to see if any changes to the Protocols need to be addressed.
Cordially,
Keith Martin
Question: Which are the marinas under this new arrangement?
Answer: This is the list of the marinas – Annexe 2 – Liste ports de plaisance éligibles rev
PPF Ports of Enrtry
Question: How does this affect the existing official Ports of Entry?
Answer: It would appear for all marinas you need to send in your form in advance
If the marina has a customs office, for example, Roscoff, Le Légué (Saint Brieuc), Saint Malo, they will stamp your passport
If the marina does not have a customs office – for which these new rules apply. They will make your stamped form available for you at the marina or send it to you. Please do remember to retain your stamped form.