France reminds residents of the United Kingdom (UK) to check their French residency cards or documents.
This will be crucial when the European Union (EU) launches its new border check system.
British nationals living in France must secure the correct residency documents to be exempt from the new border checks, the Entry-Exit System (EES).
This includes getting the proper récépissé, or a receipt slip, issued during the French residency card application process.
Officials stressed that the correct wording on the receipt slip is essential for UK nationals protected by the Withdrawal Agreement.
It allows Brits living in France and French living in the UK at the end of the Brexit transition period to enjoy equal rights with local citizens.
It also permits UK citizens who are legal residents of France to avoid unnecessary border checks when traveling between the UK and the EU.
Without this, they could be subjected to regulations intended for non-EU citizens or residents when the EES launches in November.
This includes the 90/180-day rule, which limits third-country nationals’ short stays in the Schengen Zone.
The correct wording on the receipt slip matters
The French Interior Ministry has clarified that the receipt slip must reference the Withdrawal Agreement, as reported by The Connexion.
It should read: “A demandé la délivrance d’un titre de séjour de five [or ten] ans portant la mention ‘accord de retrait du Royaume-Uni de l’UE.“
Translated in English, it states: “Requested the issuance of a five [or ten] year residence permit marked ‘UK Withdrawal Agreement from the EU.”
The ministry has instructed all prefectures to provide these correctly worded receipt slips once a person’s application dossier is complete.
It also informed the European Commission that the receipt slip be included among the valid French residency cards and documents.
This means valid receipt slip holders can travel freely within the Schengen Area without being subject to immigration controls.
This includes the 90/180-day rule, which states that non-EU citizens should stay within the Schengen Area for only 90 days out of every 180-day period.
Minors without their own French residency cards need a DCEM
Children under 18 who are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement and are traveling with their parents are usually exempt from new EES border checks.
However, minors without their own French residency card could still have their passports stamped when entering or leaving France.
This raises a potential complication that can compromise a child’s stay in the Schengen Area.
French authorities had advised parents to carry proof of relationship with the child in case border officials ask for it. One such proof is a livret de famille.
A livret de famille, or “family booklet,” is a formal record that proves an individual’s identity and the relationship between family members.
Additionally, officials recommend that kids traveling alone carry a Document de Circulation pour Étranger Mineur (DCEM).
While not mandatory, a DCEM confirms a child’s residency status in France and helps prevent potential issues when the child reenters the country.
The DCEM is initially issued as a PDF document with a QR code. However, official sites say parents must still collect the physical card from local prefectures.
The impact of EES on travel between the UK and France
The EES border check system modernizes immigration controls on non-EU citizens entering and leaving the Schengen Zone.
It digitally records travelers’ biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial scans, as well as entry and exit dates.
The new automated system essentially replaces passport stamping, aiming to streamline immigration controls and improve border security.
This means stricter enforcement of the 90/180-day rule for non-EU citizens, including tourists and second-home owners.
Those with long-stay visas and valid EU residency documents are exempt from EES checks. This includes UK citizens with valid French residency cards and documents.
They will be free to come and go between the UK and France without biometric checks and short-stay rule limitations.
Still, any oversight or misunderstanding at the border, such as having a passport stamped incorrectly, could cause confusion.
Border officials could subject them to immigration controls and EES checks, which can potentially cause significant delays.
What travelers need to know moving forward
The EES will eventually speed up travel as frequent travelers’ biometric data will already be stored in the system.
However, during the initial rollout, experts predict the EES could cause longer wait times as border guards adapt to the new procedures.
Long queues and lengthy delays may be worse at juxtaposed borders where EU border officials perform checks on UK soil.
This includes the Port of Dover in Kent, The Channel Tunnel in Folkestone, and the Eurostar at St. Pancras in London.
The correct receipt slip, a livre de famille, and DCEM can help those protected by the Withdrawal Agreement pass through the border smoothly.
This makes it even more vital for UK citizens to apply for a French residency card. Those who have applied must also ensure that they have the correct documents.
Not having the proper paperwork could cause simple delays at the border or wrong accusations of overstaying.
The latter could result in potential fines or future travel restrictions, such as a ban on entering the Schengen Zone.