Arriving and leaving: immigration, customs and Schengen
1The lesson in plain words
Check two borders: Schengen for people and the EU customs territory for goods. Customs formalities can apply even within Schengen.
Two different areas
Schengen is about people: routine immigration checks normally do not apply between its members. The EU customs territory is about goods, including your boat. They are not the same. Ireland and Cyprus are in the EU but not in Schengen; Norway, Iceland and Switzerland are in Schengen but not in the EU. The UK is in neither.
Inside Schengen
On a voyage wholly between Schengen ports, pleasure-boat passengers normally have no immigration border check and may use a port that is not a border crossing point. Authorities may still make checks. This exemption concerns people: crossing the EU customs boundary, including from Norway, can still require customs formalities. The pleasure-boat rules are in the Schengen Borders Code, Annex VI, 3.2.4–3.2.6.
Arriving from outside
From a non-Schengen country, normally enter a port that is a border crossing point and report to the border police at once. Hand over the list of persons on board (crew list). Only exceptionally, with permission from the port authority, may you enter another port. Keep a copy of the list with the boat's papers throughout your stay.
The new EU systems
EES, the Entry/Exit System, records eligible non-EU short-stay visitors at participating countries' external borders. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are excluded; EEA means European Economic Area. Holders of participating countries' residence permits or long-stay visas are generally excluded. EES replaces passport stamps, collecting a photo and, where required, fingerprints. EES has been fully operational since 10 April 2026; check current arrival guidance. The usual short-stay limit is 90 days in any 180. ETIAS is a planned travel authorisation for eligible visa-free visitors; check its launch status before sailing.
Leaving
When you leave Schengen for a non-Schengen country, clear out at a border crossing point so your exit is recorded. Leaving without it can make you look like an overstayer the next time you arrive.
2Key data
- Schengen, not EU
- Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein
- EU, not Schengen
- Ireland, Cyprus
- Usual short-stay limit
- 90 days in any 180 days; exemptions and other rights may apply
- EES
- Eligible non-EU short-stay visitors; replaces passport stamps
- Rule for pleasure boats
- Schengen Borders Code, Annex VI, 3.2.4–3.2.6
3Key points
- 1
Schengen is about people; the EU customs territory is about goods. They differ.
- 2
Between Schengen ports, routine immigration checks normally do not apply; other checks remain possible.
- 3
From outside Schengen: border crossing point and crew list; keep a copy with the boat's papers throughout your stay.
- 4
EES records eligible non-EU short-stay visitors; EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and other exempt travellers are excluded.
- 5
The usual Schengen short-stay limit is 90 days in any 180; exemptions and other rights may apply.
4Frequent mistakes
Wrong: Schengen and the EU are the same thing.
Right: They overlap but differ. Norway is in Schengen but not the EU; Ireland is in the EU but not Schengen.
Wrong: Arriving from outside, you can anchor in any bay and clear in later.
Right: Go first to a port that is a border crossing point, unless the port authority authorises an exception.
Wrong: Time spent living aboard does not count towards the 90 days.
Right: For visitors subject to the short-stay limit, days on board in Schengen waters count like days ashore.
5Practice case & exam keys
You sail from Montenegro to Croatia, then Italy, with a friend subject to EES. A marina that is not a border crossing point offers a berth and suggests clearing in tomorrow. You have no exceptional permission. What do you do?
Show the answer
Use a designated Croatian border crossing point first; the berth offer is not permission to clear in later. Submit the crew list, clear immigration and customs, and keep a copy aboard. Your eligible friend is recorded in EES. The onward trip to Italy normally needs no immigration border check, though other checks remain possible.
Exam keys
- Schengen (people) and the EU customs territory (goods) are different.
- Between Schengen ports: normally no immigration border check; other checks remain possible.
- From outside: border crossing point, crew list and retained copy, immigration and customs; clear out on departure.
- EES: fully operational since 10 April 2026 for eligible visitors. Usual short stay: 90/180.
Finish this unit
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