Covid & driving Germany-NL-Belgium-France-UK

[AdHa 52]

OK, this is proving to be a bit of a nightmare to organize (versus 1 year ago) to drive across to visit my ill father.

Has anyone driven from Germany to the UK going via the Netherlands, Belgium, France in the last couple of months with experiences to share?

 

I'm fully vaccinated with last Comirnaty injection more than 14 days ago with EU Covid Pass.

 

On the outbound trip from Germany to the UK it looks like I need:

- German/Dutch border: No docs for transiting through The Netherlands.

- Dutch/Belgian border: A Belgian govt sworn statement that I am only transiting through Belgium.

- Belgian/French border: French Govt sworn statement that I am only transiting through France.

- French/UK border at ferry: UK Locator Form with Day 2 PCR test code + EU Covid Pass + Negative PCR Test newer than 72 hours

- In UK on 2nd day: Submit PCR Test

 

Cheers.

[Cheekyfox 219]

Why not travel from the Hook and cut out two lots of paperwork.

[AdHa 52]

46 minutes ago, Cheekyfox said:

Why not travel from the Hook and cut out two lots of paperwork.

 

Valid point - I've done that route in the distant past and I'd prefer not to do the much longer ferry trip from the Hook to Harwich but I'm considering it again.

Main issue is Belgium. Their government websites are an inconsistent mess on transit border check requirements. I did the same trip almost exactly 1 year ago and there were no Covid checks at all anywhere - now despite all the vaccinations there are a lot more hoops than before - crazy.

[AdHa 52]

For anyone doing this - at time of writing there were no checks on the DE/NL nor NL/BE land borders.

 

There was a checkpoint on the BE/FR border but I didn't get stopped as the gendarmes were having their siesta.

 

The DFDS jobsworths were a different story... but I'm on the ferry at least.

[Cheekyfox 219]

I am glad thet all this worked out for you AdHa.

[dstanners 1,415]

On 22/09/2021, 18:08:05, AdHa said:

The DFDS jobsworths were a different story...

What did they ask for?

[AdHa 52]

On 06/10/2021, 10:13:37, dstanners said:

What did they ask for?

 

The problem I had was that on the UK Locator Form I put my departure country as Germany - the DFDS guys insisted it be France (France is/was Orange and Germany is/Was Green) as the last country I was in before arriving in the UK though you're in France about 30 minutes with no stops when driving from northern Germany. I had to leave their check-in, park up and re-do the application on my phone then present the result back to the DFDS check-in again.

So they ask to see that UK passenger locator form, proof of completed vaccination (I took my Impfausweis) and a negative Corona test result (not older than 72 hours).

 

Something else - take your car's Fahrzeugschein (Part I) and insurance because if you get stopped in Dover by UK border control they do ask if it's your vehicle and expect to see proof of ownership and your insurance green card.

 

Something else #2 - There's a form you need for France - both on the way to UK and on the way back. If you check out the DFDS website it gives a link to an English version. It's a sworn statement that you're vaccinated etc. You can fill it out and print it out beforehand. I wasn't stopped on the way into France from Belgium but I saw them checking other vehicles, so could be a random check. You will lose time at that border crossing because there are long queues there as traffic is slowed to single file and due to the random checks. French border control didn't check me at Dover either but in theory they could do.

[dstanners 1,415]

Thanks for the info @AdHa, I'm coming around to the idea of a trip back at some point, so that update is useful. 

[Cheekyfox 219]

Thanks for the feedback, I have just booked my ferry to the UK (Amsterdam-Newcastle). This is so I only need to transit the Netherlands. Planning to stay overnight on the German border and drive straight to the port.

[snowingagain 4,510]

There are posts on Twitter suggesting that some British EU residents arriving at French ports to drive home from the UK are being denied entry.  Also from Eurotunnel informing returning EU residents the same.  

 

Coronavirus - COVID-19 (eurotunnel.com)

 

Travel from the UK to France

URGENT UPDATE FOR BRITISH RESIDENTS IN EU

Following a French Government decision, on 28/12/2021, unless they hold French residency, British citizens are now considered 3rd country citizens and can no longer transit France by road to reach their country of residence in the EU.

We do our best to interpret and update this page as soon as advice from the French government changes. For the very latest advice on entering France, we recommend checking interieur.gouv.fr and uk.ambafrance.org before travel.

 

EU-based Brits can’t travel home via Eurotunnel, company warns – POLITICO

 

[Chelski 1,262]

Wow! @snowingagain

 

Safe and hopeful journey to any TTers trying to drive back home to Germany.

[Eric7 462]

28 minutes ago, snowingagain said:

There are posts on Twitter suggesting that some British EU residents arriving at French ports to drive home from the UK are being denied entry.  Also from Eurotunnel informing returning EU residents the same.  

 

Coronavirus - COVID-19 (eurotunnel.com)

 

Travel from the UK to France

URGENT UPDATE FOR BRITISH RESIDENTS IN EU

Following a French Government decision, on 28/12/2021, unless they hold French residency, British citizens are now considered 3rd country citizens and can no longer transit France by road to reach their country of residence in the EU.

We do our best to interpret and update this page as soon as advice from the French government changes. For the very latest advice on entering France, we recommend checking interieur.gouv.fr and uk.ambafrance.org before travel.

 

EU-based Brits can’t travel home via Eurotunnel, company warns – POLITICO

 

 

That's insane.

 

So, EU citizens can transit France (even if they are coming from the UK) but Brits can't.
This is heading for an escalation.

[colincostello 127]

What about train transit thru France

[colincostello 127]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I am glad I applied for an Irish passport.

[optimista 5,499]

4 hours ago, Eric7 said:

EU citizens can transit France (even if they are coming from the UK) but Brits can't.

Wrong. I took the time to read the website. 'They' (who are you quoting?) are doing their best to interpret the site... and failing miserably. You are spreading erroneous shite. Why ?

[Eric7 462]

3 hours ago, optimista said:

Wrong. I took the time to read the website. 'They' (who are you quoting?) are doing their best to interpret the site... and failing miserably. You are spreading erroneous shite. Why ?

 

Easy tiger.

I wasn't spreading anything, simply commenting on the article which @snowingagain posted.
If the article is shite (and it could well be for all I know), why don't you call out the person who posted it?
What's your problem exactly?

[colincostello 127]

I recently read that France has changed its position on this. Brits now going thru France to other EU countries where they reside will be allowed in. Yet some reports add that this is only for the festive season. Other reports say the restiction is suspended.This implies it may be reintroduced in the future. If you could be affected by any of this , I urge you to keep up to date with this.

[NorthernLight 7]

The whole thing is nothing short of a joke. 
We’re paying the price of brexit politics.

 

For this reason, I will try to avoid France when the rules finally permit us to travel to and from the UK without too much headache. I’ve been looking at the ferry from Rotterdam to Hull as an alternative. Then you’re only dealing with Germany, Netherlands and the UK.