cr uising abr o ad after brexit F
or all the confusion surrounding Brexit, one thing is clear: the UK has now left the EU. Our new status as a ‘third country’ is going to have significant effects on everyone sailing in foreign waters, whether your boat is based in the UK or elsewhere. And although the principles of the new arrangement are clear enough, the practical interpretation of many new rules remains uncertain, so we’re keen to hear from members about their own experiences. But in the meantime, here are some of the main areas to be aware of, from VAT to taking your pet on holiday…
VAT: Entering the UK? You may need to pay
The RYA estimates that up to 33,000 British people who go boating in Europe could be affected by customs and VAT charges that would be applied to them retrospectively. Previously, recreational boat owners had
the right to buy and keep their boats anywhere in the EU, as long as the VAT was paid. (It’s always been the case that if you take your boat out of the EU for three years or more, you may have to pay VAT again.) Boats are treated as goods by HMRC, and now that the UK has left the EU, bringing your boat into the UK from the EU is now counted as an import – and therefore is subject to VAT and import duty on its current value. The timing of the UK’s departure from the EU further complicates the situation: the continuing Covid-19 restrictions and bad weather have prevented some people from returning their boats to the UK. ‘These are ordinary people
Stuart Carruthers, RYA’s Cruising Manager. ‘Negotiations continue, but it’s really important that boat owners understand this major change – we can no longer move freely, and you could find yourself with a hefty VAT bill.’
Visa-free travel: limited time in the Schengen Area
“UK passport holders don’t need a visa for short visits to
who, as UK nationals and residents, have followed the rules and used freedoms that were available to them while the UK was part of the EU,’ says
If you want to stay in the EU for more than 90 days continuously then you’ll need a visa.
the schengen area but will be subject to time limits”
While VAT affects the movement of goods, the Schengen agreement covers the movement of citizens, and means that 26 European countries don’t carry out passport checks at their internal borders. (It’s worth noting that the Schengen Area covers most of Europe but is not the same as the EU – for example, Norway and Switzerland are in Schengen but not the EU, while Croatia and Bulgaria are in the EU but not Schengen.) Following Brexit, UK passport holders will not need a visa for short visits to the Schengen Area, but will be subject to time limits –
you can stay for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. However, after that period expires you will be required to apply for a visa for the specific
Be prepared for a VAT bill if you’re bringing an EU-moored boat to the UK for the first time.
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Photos: iWeb Travel / Christian Musat / Alamy Stock Photo / Belter Z / Gary Le Feuvre / Getty Images
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