Thoughts on crossing eu borders by boat without a passport?

[protestandsurvive]

Having extensively cruised the uk, inland and coastal, I have been thinking a bit lately and looking into leaving for warmer climates.. boats so nearly ready. Haven't currently got a passport, my dog hasn't either, boats also not registered (not a requirement in the uk but is in some countries). Seriously debating just going without documents given the fact that we've left the eu and it's a pain in the ass to get everything in order now, including visa fees and stuff to travel within europe.

What do you think would happen if I was stopped? I'd likely be crossing to belgium first, probably heading through the canals to the med, then further south from there...

Likelihood of having the boat siezed or being jailed? I would of thought unlikely?

Interested to hear thoughts...

 

[Roboman]

Personally I wouldn't risk it. The channel is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, so certainly you will be noticed. On top of that, all the migrant crossings mean that many eyes are on the water. You could get lucky though, idk....

 

[Colinleath]

Maybe look up the story of the youngest person to solo circumnavigate, Laura Dekker. Ok nevermind, it's not relevant. She sailed from the Netherlands to England. And probably had a passport.

I'd guess that at every port the captain will want your passport and boat registration (even in the canals?) If you can avoid overnighting at a port ever it might be possible.

One of my friends was initially trying to leave the US without passport and sail to Oman (i believe) but he ended up getting the passport first. And he made it eventually via sail and overland transport.

I for one wouldn't want to try. It's not like you're simply crossing and then ditching the boat and disappearing into Schengen. Especially in the canals it's basically like you're on a road with a license plate. (Or without one!)

But i don't know for sure. I've bicycled the canals across France a few times and in places there are possibly abandoned, probably unregistered derelict barges. . . But they're not going anywhere.

As for what happens if caught, I imagine they impound the boat and send you back to England. That's just a guess.

From personal experience doing things where I'm afraid of being caught is far less relaxing than otherwise. But that's my own temperament. Others get off on that sort of thing.

 

[Aleksi]

Whatever guys.
I bough a dirt cheap Halcyon 27 in UK, sailed her across the channel to France right during the pandemic lockdown and Brexit time, without having yet any official boat papers.
My way of doing always been to let the administration deal with the situation I present to them, while Im having a cup of coffee down below. Funny enough, most of the time, you do what the fuck you want, if you decide to do so.
Why the fuck are we even speaking about migrants, Laura Dekker and bicycles ?
@Colinleath "From personal experience doing things where I'm afraid of being caught is far less relaxing than otherwise"
Well that is some sort of opinion. I feel the exact opposite way, once I step outside the legal boundaries, being caught isn't a worry anymore, and freedom has a very different taste. One that very few people really know about.

 

[Colinleath]

Sounds like you already know, more or less then, didn't mean to pour cold water on the adventure though I suppose I was.

On the plus side, France along with Catalonia seem to me to be the most free countries in Europe (and less rule-bound than England). So possibly any officials you encounter won't care.

if you already crossed and were fine then the canals should be fine also.

And if your losses are minimal if you do get stopped then why not? Worst case you just start over and figure out the bureaucracy or some other way around it.

 

[BoardedUp]

Without a passport you can't do much. But if you're traveling by boat, I don't think anyone is going to bat an eye when you arrive at a port. They might just ask you to pay for the spot.

 

[RoadFlower33]

I haven't looked up the particular laws but I was told once that if you port a boat you have 90 days without a passport. Though this was an old timer and its probably not relevant anymore. I never needed to know.

 

[The Drifter]

Maybe unlikely but if you do get caught, you will probably be sent to a detention centre and deported and banned from the EU for 3 years or more, is it worth it?

 

[searover]

Old thread, but I was curious.

"The crime of Irregular entry to Belgium can lead to imprisonment of 8 days to 3 months and with a fine of € 26 to € 200." You can declare the entry of your pleasure craft here. No doubt they still insist you carry a passport.

source: "Annex: EU Member States’ legislation on irregular entry and stay, as well as facilitation of irregular entry and stay" and police.be

 

[kuu]

Also curious how this went if you went through with it protestandsurvive

I long for a world without passports. Borders are so icky.

 

[sabineee]

Having extensively cruised the uk, inland and coastal, I have been thinking a bit lately and looking into leaving for warmer climates.. boats so nearly ready. Haven't currently got a passport, my dog hasn't either, boats also not registered (not a requirement in the uk but is in some countries). Seriously debating just going without documents given the fact that we've left the eu and it's a pain in the ass to get everything in order now, including visa fees and stuff to travel within europe.

What do you think would happen if I was stopped? I'd likely be crossing to belgium first, probably heading through the canals to the med, then further south from there...

Likelihood of having the boat siezed or being jailed? I would of thought unlikely?

Interested to hear thoughts...

I'm in Central EU. Grew up in the Balkans, expect HEAVY push back on most borders that are either crossing into sovereign territory. For eg. the passing between Bulgaria from turkey or Greece is heavily armed. Personally, I'd consider you getting in touch with some squats/social centers for advice and a group called No Name Kitchen if you attempt to do anything. Especially the last group because they offer all sorts of medical and legal help (if you need it)