Are arrivals being asked for qualifying proofs?

[sciac2001]

A recently introduced Schengen rule requires 3rd country arrivals to prove where they will be staying, how long they intend to stay and then show that they have sufficient funds for their stay in the zone.
Many motorhomers will not have made concrete plans when they arrive and just tour and overnight wherever they end up and are authorised to do so, including of course unsupervised and unbookable aires.

Are these motorhomers being asked the above?

Santander or Bilbao are of special interest to me as I would like to compare enforcement there with the Gib/Spain border, where British passport holding expatriates (who do not yet qualify for full Gibraltar ID cards) are being turned away if they want to day-visit the local Spanish hinterland.

Personally I think its (yet) another specific anti-Gib maneuvre (which they can legally impose under the authority of the new rules) and I am interested in any consistencies at the other direct entry points.

 

[MisterB]

Last time I travelled into mainland Europe via Hook of Holland, we were asked where we were going, how long for etc. we didn't feel as though we were being questioned ..... It was all very informal

 

[Kups]

You'll be lucky to get grunt out of most French border police. They're only interested in finding a space in the passport to stamp.

 

[sciac2001]

Last time I travelled into mainland Europe via Hook of Holland, we were asked where we were going, how long for etc. we didn't feel as though we were being questioned ..... It was all very informal

Thanks.
Did they insist on seeing proof of hotel or campsite bookings etc?
They do here and they are also looking to see if the bookings have been paid so that a reservation that can be cancelled when through the border cannot be used.

 

[MisterB]

Thanks.
Did they insist on seeing proof of hotel or campsite bookings etc?
They do here and they are also looking to see if the bookings have been paid so that a reservation that can be cancelled when through the border cannot be used.

no, we didnt have any plans at all and told them so .... there was no fuss at all, a smile and a wave and off we went - the only thing i woud add is that we did have a return booking ..

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[sciac2001]

no, we didnt have any plans at all and told them so .... there was no fuss at all, a smile and a wave and off we went - the only thing i woud add is that we did have a return booking ..

Thanks again.
Sorry to be pedantic but did they ask to see the return ticket?

 

[Brains]

Thanks again.
Sorry to be pedantic but did they ask to see the return ticket?

We also went via Hoek of Holland.
They knew the date of our return.
I presume ANPR is very easy to match to the ticket.

 

[jongood]

I can't remember the last time we bought a return ticket for ferry/tunnel. I agree with the previous post that the only thing on the French customs officers mind seems to be the faff of stamping the passport.

I suspect its a tool in the box to be used when the officer is suspicious of the travellers intentions.

 

[sciac2001]

We also went via Hoek of Holland.
They knew the date of our return.
I presume ANPR is very easy to match to the ticket.

Possibly, but thats not what they are doing here where the same tech is available to them.
Here, they are wanting to see physical proof of bookings etc.

 

[The Wino]

A recently introduced Schengen rule requires 3rd country arrivals to prove where they will be staying, how long they intend to stay and then show that they have sufficient funds for their stay in the zone.
Many motorhomers will not have made concrete plans when they arrive and just tour and overnight wherever they end up and are authorised to do so, including of course unsupervised and unbookable aires.

Are these motorhomers being asked the above?

Santander or Bilbao are of special interest to me as I would like to compare enforcement there with the Gib/Spain border, where British passport holding expatriates (who do not yet qualify for full Gibraltar ID cards) are being turned away if they want to day-visit the local Spanish hinterland.

Personally I think its (yet) another specific anti-Gib maneuvre (which they can legally impose under the authority of the new rules) and I am interested in any consistencies at the other direct entry points.

I thought in effect the Schengen border was going to be set at the entry to Gibraltar so from there it was possible to freely enter and return. Didn't it ever get agreed?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[sciac2001]

I thought in effect the Schengen border was going to be set at the entry to Gibraltar so from there it was possible to freely enter and return. Didn't it ever get agreed?

Negotiations are ongoing. During the negotiations, Gibraltar Red ID card holders can enter Spain without passport stamping or probiding reasons for entry.
The British expats who do not yet qualify for a Red ID card are issued Blue cards -which is a Gib-only registration card - which entitle them to Gib health etc.
Spanish border police do not recognise these blue cards - they are not travel docs - and are regarded as outside of any potential agreement during the negotiations.
If an agreement is reached, then you are correct, the Schengen border starts at the airport or port and all who are already resident in Gib will have freedom of movement as there will not be a land border.
Although everyone in authority is confident of reaching a deal, I am not as confident. Spain, contrary to the initial treaty framework as drawn up at the start of negotiations continually make additional demands which are of course rejected.
Interesting times ahead. Not least for the economy and well/being of the surrounding area of southern Andalucia.

 

[Pugsy]

As you asked about Santander I thought I would post.I entered Spain on 4th Jan at Santander for a 3 month trip and the only questions they asked me were what have you got in the back of the van and do you have any pets? No interest in anything else.

 

[sciac2001]

As you asked about Santander I thought I would post.I entered Spain on 4th Jan at Santander for a 3 month trip and the only questions they asked me were what have you got in the back of the van and do you have any pets? No interest in anything else.

Thank you.
From what I’m gathering, my belief that only Gib based Brits are being targetted appears to be the case.
Let’s see if more comments back that up or not.

 

[gus-lopez]

Possibly, but thats not what they are doing here where the same tech is available to them.
Here, they are wanting to see physical proof of bookings etc.

They are doing it purely to aggravate & inconvenience . Nothing else.Look at the various posts on here from MH's who have been stopped on the way out & ****ed about Carpmart being one.

 

[Lenny HB]

show that they have sufficient funds for their stay in the zone.

No change there that as always been the case when traveling to mainland Europe and most other countries.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Carpmart]

They are doing it purely to aggravate & inconvenience . Nothing else.Look at the various posts on here from MH's who have been stopped on the way out & ****ed about Carpmart being one.

Yes I concur, it’s just to ‘flex’ their muscles…

 

[nicholsong]

A recently introduced Schengen rule requires 3rd country arrivals to prove where they will be staying, how long they intend to stay and then show that they have sufficient funds for their stay in the zone.
Many motorhomers will not have made concrete plans when they arrive and just tour and overnight wherever they end up and are authorised to do so, including of course unsupervised and unbookable aires.

Are these motorhomers being asked the above?

Santander or Bilbao are of special interest to me as I would like to compare enforcement there with the Gib/Spain border, where British passport holding expatriates (who do not yet qualify for full Gibraltar ID cards) are being turned away if they want to day-visit the local Spanish hinterland.

Personally I think its (yet) another specific anti-Gib maneuvre (which they can legally impose under the authority of the new rules) and I am interested in any consistencies at the other direct entry points.

Do the French require you to have sufficient funds for all of Schengen, all of EU or just France?

What business is it of theirs if you run out of funds in Hungary?

What proof do they want? I would be reluctant to show my bank statements with account details on, nor my credit cards with account number and CCV number.

Could be a nice little earner for a 'bent' official, especially if they are wearing a body camera.

 

[Minxy]

Do the French require you to have sufficient funds for all of Schengen, all of EU or just France?

We've never been asked but in theory we could be.

What business is it of theirs if you run out of funds in Hungary?

The issue is if you run out of cash in France then they would have to deal with you and they don't want to have to do that nor fund your stay there. Just because you say you're going to Hungary doesn't mean you will. No different to say going to America from the UK, if you can't show sufficient funds you won't be allowed in.

What proof do they want? I would be reluctant to show my bank statements with account details on, nor my credit cards with account number and CCV number.

I'd just bring my bank accounts up on my phone and show them the balances, showing the account numbers doesn't actually make much difference nowadays. As for a credit card, it doesn't prove anything as you could have a very low credit limit on it so I doubt if they'd be interested in it, if it was the only access to funds you had then you could show your account on line and the credit limit, as this wouldn't give the full card number nor CCV it wouldn't compromise you.

Could be a nice little earner for a 'bent' official, especially if they are wearing a body camera.

No need to show your card, I wouldn't but show them my on-line account.

 

[Lenny HB]

Do the French require you to have sufficient funds for all of Schengen, all of EU or just France?

Each country requires you to have sufficient funds for the stay, nothing has changed it has always been the case.

Interestingly Thailand has a requirement of 10,000 Baht per person or 20,000 Baht per family, until two or three years ago it had to be cash. The only people they used to check were the young backpackers. We didn't even know about it.

 

[The Wino]

Negotiations are ongoing. During the negotiations, Gibraltar Red ID card holders can enter Spain without passport stamping or probiding reasons for entry.
The British expats who do not yet qualify for a Red ID card are issued Blue cards -which is a Gib-only registration card - which entitle them to Gib health etc.
Spanish border police do not recognise these blue cards - they are not travel docs - and are regarded as outside of any potential agreement during the negotiations.
If an agreement is reached, then you are correct, the Schengen border starts at the airport or port and all who are already resident in Gib will have freedom of movement as there will not be a land border.
Although everyone in authority is confident of reaching a deal, I am not as confident. Spain, contrary to the initial treaty framework as drawn up at the start of negotiations continually make additional demands which are of course rejected.
Interesting times ahead. Not least for the economy and well/being of the surrounding area of southern Andalucia.

I've got no idea what red id cards and blue ones are but when I see a thread about other countries picking on us I'm immediately a sceptic. What are the red and blue id cards for and why don't they just issue everyone with a red one?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

I've got no idea what red id cards and blue ones are but when I see a thread about other countries picking on us I'm immediately a sceptic. What are the red and blue id cards for and why don't they just issue everyone with a red one?

They're not 'picking' on us, Gibraltar is a British overseas territory and not in the EU or Schengen so it's no different to any other country that's not in the EU or Schengen, meet the entry criteria or you won't be allowed in. Obviously being Gibraltar it likely affects more UK nationals than other countries.

They can't have the red cards as they don't qualify for one yet, once they do they'll get one, other countries have similar restrictions for 'newer' residents.

 

[sciac2001]

Do the French require you to have sufficient funds for all of Schengen, all of EU or just France?

What business is it of theirs if you run out of funds in Hungary?

What proof do they want? I would be reluctant to show my bank statements with account details on, nor my credit cards with account number and CCV number.

Could be a nice little earner for a 'bent' official, especially if they are wearing a body camera.

Exactly. Nowhere else do they seem to be doing it.
This reinforces my belief that it is purely a Gib issue to mess the Brits living here about by our lovely neighbours.

 

[sciac2001]

Posters are missing my point.

I am not questioning why they are doing it. The rule for 3rd country residents is there.
My point is that it seems that it is only being observed on the Gib border.

I only wanted clarification if it is happening at other direct entry points.

My original post quite clearly asks that question.

 

[bobandjanie]

Yesterday a Spanish lady that had been back to Spain for Christmas/ New Year was denied the right to enter the UK at Luton airport even though she lives in the UK, has a job a dog and car there and was protected under the withdrawal agreement.

We get asked with our British passport and Permanent residence card for Spain when crossing into the UK, the purpose of our visit and how long we are staying, we have one stamp entering France who wasn't interested in our cards and she said she stamps any passport that's not French. Bob.

 

[nicholsong]

I just wanted to know people's experience of what, when asked, has satisfied the sufficient funds criteria, and for what periods if one says one does not know how long one is staying.

Out of devilment I would be tempted proffer my UK passport and to give some cheeky answers. If they were not satisfied I could then produce my Polish Residency Card. Oh naughty!!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[sciac2001]

I just wanted to know people's experience of what, when asked, has satisfied the sufficient funds criteria, and for what periods if one says one does not know how long one is staying.

Out of devilment I would be tempted proffer my UK passport and to give some cheeky answers. If they were not satisfied I could then produce my Polish Residency Card. Oh naughty!!

Its looking like this would only happen on the Gib border.

 

[nicholsong]

Yesterday a Spanish lady that had been back to Spain for Christmas/ New Year was denied the right to enter the UK at Luton airport even though she lives in the UK, has a job a dog and car there and was protected under the withdrawal agreement.

We get asked with our British passport and Permanent residence card for Spain when crossing into the UK, the purpose of our visit and how long we are staying, we have one stamp entering France who wasn't interested in our cards and she said she stamps any passport that's not French. Bob.

Bob

Have I understood this correctly? You are a UK Citizen and UK immigration aked how long you were staying and for a Spanish residence card? Maybe that was because you were driving a Spanish registered vehicle and they wished to advise you about re-registration after 6 months, although that is a customs not Immigration matter.

I am also interested that the French lady would not accept your Spanish residence cards, is that correct? I can understand that she has instructions to stamp any non-French passport, even if that instruction is wrong. I assume you did give her your passports.

I wonder what happens if one insists on entry based only an EU residence card?

I suspect the training has not yet caught up with the law, especially in respect of UK Citizens resident in EU prior to Brexit, or ones like me who got residency under the Withdrawal Agreement and my ID states 'Art 50 TUE'.

Hopefully by the next time I exit and re-enter EU/Schengen the officers will have caught up with the rules.

 

[nicholsong]

Its looking like this would only happen on the Gib border

Which bit are you referring to?

Surely the Spanish border police would not ask about funds if one were travelling to Spain for lunch?

 

[sciac2001]

Which bit are you referring to?

Surely the Spanish border police would not ask about funds if one were travelling to Spain for lunch?

Thats exactly what they are asking….. and ONLY after you can prove that you hold a hotel (or equivalent) booking.

In effect, no Brits are being allowed in from Gib to spend a day in Spain either shopping or eating. Hence the real concerns of their own commerce.

 

[nicholsong]

Thats exactly what they are asking….. and ONLY after you can prove that you hold a hotel (or equivalent) booking.

In effect, no Brits are being allowed in from Gib to spend a day in Spain either shopping or eating. Hence the real concerns of their own commerce.

So why is that the only EU border where the authorities are enforcing that restriction.

What are the EU doing about it?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}