A summary of requirements for UK visitors to France following the Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement  in effect from 1st January 2021.
The purpose here is to summarise the affected issues. There will be gaps and inacccuracies and the postion will change . Therefore the offical website https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021   and others herein linked must be checked prior to travel.  Information updated as of 6th january 2021
 

UK passport holders

• Visa-free travel has been agreed for short visits .
• UK passports will be accepted as long as they have validity for at least six months before they run out.
• UK passport holders can make many short visits or one long visit to France and most other EU countries as long as they do not stay in total more than 90 days in any 6 month period. This is a ‘rolling’ 180 days so the calculation is made with regard to stay/s in the previous 180 days at any date. 
• It will no longer be possible to use EU fast-track passport control and customs lanes.
• Also it might be necessary to show onward or return tickets and evidence of sufficient financial resources for the stay.
• From some time in 2022 a new ETIAS or waiver of visa form will be required costing 7€ - similar to the current USA ESTA form and lasting for 3 years.

Customs checks

• The UK/EU Trade and Cooperation agreement states that  ‘personal effects (all articles, new or used, which a traveller may reasonably require for his or her personal use during the journey, taking into account all the circumstances of the journey, but excluding any goods imported for commercial purposes)’  should not be subject to duties, taxes or economic restrictions.

       ……….on entry into France

• Goods do not have to be declared or duties paid (customs and VAT) on entry to France provided their total value and quantity is within the limits as outlined on the website     https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/volume-and-value-based-customs-and-tax-allowances
• Limits on the quantity of alcohol in particular that a UK traveller can bring into France are lower  e.g 4 litres wine, 16 litres beer, 200 cigarettes .  
• The overall market value of other goods (i.e. purchases and gifts) cannot exceed 430€ per adult arriving by plane or ferry and 300€ per adult arriving by car or train. Under 15s have an allowance of 150€.
• Any item whose value exceeds the limit must be declared and will be subject to the amount of value added tax (VAT) and customs duties that would usually apply.

        ……….on return to the UK

• Goods do not have to be declared or duties paid (customs and VAT) on entry to the UK provided their total value and quantity is within the limits as outlined  on website https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-tax-on-goods-you-bring-into-the-uk/where-goods-bought . This website also provides an online customs declaration tool.
• The value of other goods before custom or declaration or duties are required is £390 per adult.
• The limits on the quantity of alcohol that can be brought back to the UK are 18 litres (2 cases) of wine, 42 litres of beer and 4 litres of spirits or 9 litres of fortified wines. There are also tobacco product limits e.g. 200 cigarettes.
• Any item whose value exceeds the limit must be declared and will be subject to the amount of value added tax (VAT) and customs duties that would usually apply.

 
Duty free shopping 

• UK travellers will be able to buy duty-free alcohol and tobacco products in ports, airports and terminals and on ships, planes and eurostar.

 
Taking food and drink into EU countries

• UK travellers are not able to take meat or dairy products into EU countries.
• There are exceptions, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons, but conditions apply to these exemptions.
• Limited quantities of fruit and vegetables as well as eggs, egg products, honey and fish and fish products are allowed
• For best advice see     https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/animalproducts/personal_imports_en

 
Taking food and drink for personal consumption or use back to the UK

• Travellers can bring: meat, dairy and other animal products, for example, fish, eggs and honey
• Travellers can bring in any plant food products as long as they’re free from pests and diseases

 
Taking plants and plant material into EU countries

• All living plant material – entire plants, fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, seeds, tubers -  in passengers’ personal luggage are prohibited from entry into the EU territory, unless accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin.

 
Taking plants and plant material into the UK

• Controls on plants and plant products will be phased in in 2021.
• Passengers will need phytosanitary certificates from the country of origin for:
  • high-priority plants, which includes plants for planting, from 1 January 2021
  • all other regulated plants and plant products from April 2021

 
Pet passports

• An animal health certificate (AHC) is now required instead of an EU pet passport. The AHC confirms the pet is microchipped and vaccinated against rabies.
• It has to be obtained no more than 10 days prior to travel and is then valid for 4 months.

 
Travel Insurance

• It is not a legal requirement that a traveller buys insurance when visiting the EU, but policies can be obtained for reasonable cost and cover health risks and other possible losses.

 
Compensation for flight delays and holiday cancellation

• Compensation will be available as before, now under UK law, for 3 hour plus delays or cancellation due to the airline’s fault (in practice however  it has never been that straightforward) .
• EU travel firms selling package holidays or linked travel arrangements  targeted at UK customers will also have to provide compensation in the event of insolvency.
• Using a credit card for purchases can also provide compensation

 
Medical cover

• A UK citizen can use their current European health insurance card (EHIC) until its expiry date. As before it provides emergency and necessary state healthcare for the period of stay in the end at the same costs as residents incur; and even planned medical treatment (if pre-authorised at the UK end).
• The UK will start to issue new Ghic (Global) cards instead, but the advice is that, as before, it is necessary also to have travel insurance for such as mountain rescue or being flown back to the UK for treatment.

Driving

• The UK driving licence will continue to be valid in the EU but those holding the older paper licenses may have to obtain an international driving permit (IDP) from the Post Office- cost £5.50 and lasting 3 years.
• A green card is currently required from your insurer if you are taking your own car or other vehicle (eg trailer) abroad – to prove you have the necessary minimum insurance cover. Normally these are free or at low cost and last the period of the insurance cover.
• The following should be carried in the vehicle and be available for police or other  inspection-, green card and certificate of UK car insurance, driving license, vehicle log book with current  UK address (V5C),  warning triangle and reflective jackets for all passengers for use in a breakdown. 
• Headlamp converters are compulsory to prevent dazzling drivers coming the other way and a GB sticker displayed by rear plate of vehicle

 
Motoring offences

• Since 2017 the French authorities have had access to the UK’s DVLA system and issue penalties generated by speed cameras or for other offences to the UK owner and address. Very large numbers of UK drivers have been fined for speed camera offences although the UK does not pursue fines for EU drivers penalised while driving in the UK.
• This data exchange will continue??
•  French speed cameras give a leeway of only 5% over the speed limit,. The basic speeding fine in France is 135 euros, 90€ if paid within 15days and 375€ if paid after 45 days.

 
Mobile roaming

• It is now possible for mobile providers to reintroduce roaming charges although the four main operators have said they have no plans to bring back roaming charges in the short term and indeed some offer free roaming anyway outside the EU.
• UK law now includes a £45 cap on monthly data usage to protect travellers from huge unexpected bills.

 
Media streaming services

• Sky customers and those for other online video, music and entertainment services in the UK will no longer be able to stream programmes while  in EU .
• It may be possible to download shows before leaving the UK to watch offline at a later date.