Hi there,
we’re planning our trip to the North Cape this summer. We bought a new vehicle for it. Unfortunately, the registration document is still being processed, and the delay seems long—I don’t think I’ll have it in time for our departure...
I have the transfer documents, insurance in my name, and all the supporting paperwork, but not the registration document. So my question is: does the ferry company require the registration document *mandatorily* when boarding in Denmark or not?
Thanks for any insights...
Hi there,
I think your question should be a bit broader than just about boarding in Denmark...
From what I understand, you’ve applied for your "carte grise" (vehicle registration certificate) through the ANTS and now have a CPI (Provisional Registration Certificate).
As far as I know, this is only valid for driving in France and for a maximum of one month.
I’ve never noticed ferry companies in France or elsewhere asking for the "carte grise". However, they do ask for the registration number (they mainly use it to check the exact dimensions of your vehicle).
That said, I’d be much more cautious when it comes to foreign authorities. You’ll be crossing Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and maybe Sweden... before reaching Norway. The chances of being asked to show your papers along the way are slim. But all it takes is one incident, an accident, or an unexpected road check...
For example, I once witnessed a personal injury accident in a tunnel in Norway: the police, who were very polite, still kept me at the scene for nearly 2 hours after I presented all the required documents.
But you can request a CPI-WW from the ANTS, which I believe is the mandatory document for your situation.
I hope you receive your "carte grise" before you leave—it would make things so much simpler and less stressful!
For me, the issue isn’t in Denmark or Norway.
It’s entirely possible—and even likely—that at the German border, they’ll ask you for a whole bunch of documents.
As it happens, under the somewhat questionable pretext of preventing illegal immigration, German police have been conducting systematic road checks for some time now, in addition to identity checks, ignoring their own exceptions.
You might, like me—a 58-year-old who’s been an advocate for Europe, who believes in its ideals, and who was at the port of Piraeus in 2015 to hear Angela Merkel’s demands—find this pretty inconvenient. But on top of that, there are other requirements in these cases, like the warning triangle and a first-aid kit that’s up to date, please.
Both are mandatory in Germany, and they’ll be requested by young officers whose grandparents traveled through France in the 80s to soak up the sun in Spain—and as far as I know, no one asked *them* for the equivalent, like yellow headlight bulbs.
That said, I’ve seen plenty of cars with WW plates (temporary registrations) in Eastern Europe, and clearly, they found a way through.
Good evening,
As far as I'm concerned, I've never been checked in Germany—neither at the border nor afterward—over the past three years (or before that). However, on two occasions, I was stopped by police when entering Denmark by ferry from Puttgarden to Rødby. (Passport check only.)
As for the first-aid kit, I thought it was only mandatory for vehicles registered in Germany...
In any case, all this should encourage Alex 76000 to make sure they have everything they need to avoid getting into a sticky situation! !
I don’t know where you’re traveling, but in the places I frequent, checks are constant and quite aggressive.
Yes, a first-aid kit is mandatory, and it must be up to date.
For German vehicles, it’s a bit of an ecological mess—throwing away a plastic box every five years with medical supplies, without any record of it ever being used meaningfully. For foreign vehicles, it just comes off as pretty rude.
The fine is a few euros, but I think it’s unlikely and baseless since it goes against the 1977 Vienna Convention.
I don’t know where you’re traveling, but in the places I frequent, checks are constant and quite aggressive.
Regarding Alex76000’s route, it’s usually entering Germany via Enschede (and Osnabrück), then either heading toward Jutland via Flensburg or taking the ferry from Puttgarden to Rødby. Same spots on the way back. But my last trips were in 2024…
The fine is just a few euros,
Okay, so that probably won’t be Alex76000’s biggest issue.
and without basis, as it contradicts the 1977 Vienna Convention.
I thought that Convention, which came into force nearly 10 years after it was signed (!), mainly covered road signs.
Regardless, nothing stops a country from having its own specific rules on certain automotive matters (for example, in Spain, you need two warning triangles), or—even more annoying in my opinion—setting its own legal blood alcohol limits for driving.
But we’re getting off-topic from the thread’s original concern.
They started a bit earlier with the Austrian border, but the real slip-up is in September 2024.
In my opinion, our friend has little chance of passing through Germany without being asked for the vehicle registration certificate, including at the checkpoint you mentioned.
A state can always refuse to honor its signature, but it doesn’t have the means to enforce this fine. Yes, Article 3 of the Vienna Convention applies.
That’s also why the Germans weren’t required to have yellow headlights to go sunbathe in Salou.
I’m crossing into Germany tomorrow, Aachen. I’ll come back and share my experience. With a bit of luck, I might even explain to them that I’ve filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding this Schengen slip-up.
So, indeed, this morning the space converted into a permanent control area at the GPS point (50°46'59.2"N 6°10'35.7"E) wasn't in service. There were already two or three vans hanging around, but at 6 a.m. on a weekday, it's a bit quieter.
Hi,
I’m back from a 3-week "Nordic" trip (June 9–29, 4,375 km): Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, and back to Belgium.
The only customs check was when leaving the Puttgarden–Rødby ferry. The vehicle in front of us, registered in Switzerland, went through without any issues, and for us, they just asked where we were headed—no document requests (for us or the car). After 2 minutes, everything was fine. Never saw another check after that, just a few speed cameras.😉
Currently, after 15 days, still no toll charges from Norway.
Same for us. We left Belgium from June 1st to July 2nd (Germany - Denmark - Sweden - Norway). Just passport control when we boarded the ferry between Kristiansand in Norway and Hirtshals in Denmark, but we were warned in advance by the company about this identity check to board.
For info, I started my travel journal here
" Fais de ta vie un rêve, et d'un rêve, une réalité" St Exupéry
I was a bit surprised that neither of us saw any fixed police checkpoints on the highway when entering Germany, even though they’re "permanent" installations. They reduce traffic to one lane and divert cars to a rest area. When entering from Austria, this can sometimes cause 5 km (3 mi) of traffic jams.
From what I’ve observed, they tend to focus on vehicles that aren’t German or from the country on the other side of the border—basically, third-country vehicles.
After that, though, you’re generally left alone, even if you’re heading to Iceland or the Faroe Islands.
Of course, occasional police checks—or very rarely, customs checks—are always possible.
As far as I'm concerned, I crossed into Germany from Belgium via the E42 highway on June 9th. No checks at all. The only sign I was in a different country was how fast some drivers were going...
Very well.
That means they’ve come to their senses.
Still, you can definitely see differences in driving styles, aside from speed.
But this ethnography of the Belgian driver would take us too far off track 😄.
Hi, the provisional certificate is only valid within French territory.
During our trip in September 2024 with our van via the road to the North Cape, we were never stopped for checks.
But at the end of September on our return, Germany was starting to implement checks at the border crossing.
Odile
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Formalités administratives › Pays-Bas / France › Paris - Île de France · 16 replies
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Hi there,
I know there are similar topics here and elsewhere, but they’re a few years old, and I need an up-to-date answer to make sure I don’t throw over 1000 € out the window. Thanks for your patience.
I’m planning a trip from France to Alberta/British Columbia, and I’m unsure about which bank card to use for the security deposit with the rental company (I’m thinking of going with AVIS).
I contacted Avis Canada, and they told me a credit card is absolutely required. I asked my bank for a credit card (a *real* credit card), but they only offered me a deferred debit card.
My question: For a rental with Avis Canada, is a Gold International Mastercard deferred debit card usable for the security deposit needed to finalize the rental? Is the "CREDIT" label enough? (Some cards say "CREDIT" and others say "CARTE DE CREDIT"—seems minor, but it’s actually a big deal in how the card works.)
I’ve seen conflicting info everywhere I look... My bank says it’s *usually* okay (the deferred debit card), while Avis Canada insists it *must* be a credit card, not debit—even when I mention the deferred debit card.
I know the whole credit card concept is already confusing, and on top of that, some sites say a deferred debit card counts as a credit card, while others say it doesn’t.
Thanks to anyone who can share a recent experience!
Have a great day
Hi there,
I’m heading to Senegal in January for a month and was wondering if I just need my French driver’s license or if I should get an international permit?
Thanks!
JL
Hi,
I’m bringing Seresta, an anxiolytic (tranquilizer) from the benzodiazepine family,
to help me sleep.
I’ll have the prescription with me.
Will this be a problem at customs, and do I need to declare it?
Same question for antibiotics?
Thanks a bunch!
I’m heading to Laos next spring, but I have a question about the Thai arrival/departure form. I’ll be flying PAR-BKK, then taking the train to Laos (so exiting Thailand), and later re-entering Thailand by train to catch my return flight. Do I need to fill out two forms in this case?
Hi there,
I have a 9-seater passenger vehicle that I use for my business in Paris, transporting people.
I’m planning to go to Algeria with my family.
The vehicle registration lists my company as the owner.
Can I get a TPD (Temporary Admission Document)?
Will I need a KBis extract or a power of attorney?!?
Thanks for your help.
Worst case, I can add my personal name as a co-owner on the registration, but that would be a real shame!
Hi,
I’m writing to ask for some info—I’ve heard that you **must** have travel insurance to land in Zanzibar.
What’s the process, and which insurance should I get?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Seb
Hi, are there any travelers who’ve recently crossed the border between Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan) and Beineu in Kazakhstan?
It was closed for a while.
Thanks for any info!
I bought a one-way flight (Ryanair) and a return flight (EasyJet) to spend a week in Morocco in April.
My passport expires 3 weeks after the return date.
Some websites say the passport must be valid for 3 months at the time of entry.
However, it will still be valid both on entry and return, but its validity will only be 1 month at the time of entry (and 3 weeks on the return date, everything prepaid).
It's an individual family trip.
The consulate can't give me an answer—they're still looking into it (really!)
Last year, we stayed for 3 months in Thailand, north of Khao Lak, and were able to benefit from the 2-month visa exemption, renewable for one month by going to Takua Pa to validate a 1-month extension (1,900 baht).
This year, it’s a disaster for us—not only were we planning a 4-month stay, adding a visa run in between (which some say is quite risky), but the law is apparently changing in the coming months with the return of the 1-month exemption (plus the usual 1-month option). So, we looked into applying for a 6-month multiple-entry visa, allowing a maximum of 60 consecutive days in Thailand. However, I can’t find anywhere the minimum time required outside Thailand between two stays—do any of you have an idea?
Thanks for the info! If you’d like tips on Khao Lak and the surrounding areas, we’ve got some experience, though things change fast!
Cheers,
Bruno.
My partner, our 8-year-old daughter, and I are going on vacation to Gex.
We’ve decided to spend one day in Switzerland and another in Italy. Will we need ID (national ID card or passport)? Do we also need ID for our daughter?
Hello,
We’ll soon be moving to Madagascar long-term.
As a French national, I need to obtain a short-stay visa that can be converted to a long-stay one. To do this, I have to send the required documents to the Madagascar embassy in Paris.
No issues with that procedure so far.
If I get this visa, once I arrive in Madagascar, I’ll need to provide the same documents to the Ministry of the Interior in Anosy. I’m trying to find an email address or website for the Ministry to check which documents I need to submit (I think they ask for additional ones).
If you have any info on this, I’d appreciate your replies.
Best regards,
M. Buisson Eric
I’d like to know if anyone has already applied for a private visa to Russia with an invitation from a Russian resident.
I traveled earlier this year with an e-visa, but since I want to stay longer, I’ll be visiting my friend who lives in eastern Russia.
For the visa application, does the invitation need to be on an official paper form issued by the Russian ministry? And most importantly, do I need to present the original for the application, or is there an electronic version that can be sent directly to the consulate in France?
Thanks for any info if you’ve gone through this process before!
I filled out the B2 form to apply for a visa, created an account on Atvis to pay the visa fees and schedule a meet-up, but every time I try to pay with my Boursobank Visa 1st card, they refuse the payment with a message telling me to check my details (address), even though everything is correct. Does anyone know why this is happening, or maybe they don’t accept Visa cards? Are you aware of this?
Thanks for your feedback!
Elisabeth
There are rumors going around about the ETA: it must absolutely be on your smartphone in the "ETA" app.
Paper documents might not be accepted.
Is this real or just a hoax?
Thanks, I’m leaving in 3 weeks. My passport is good to go and my ETA is still valid for a year, but I only printed the email I received.
Thanks everyone.
Hi there,
We need to apply for a B2 visa because we visited Iran in 2018. It currently costs $185, but they’re planning an additional $250 fee per person for the same visa—it’s been approved but not yet implemented. Does anyone know when this fee will take effect?
Thanks in advance!
Elisabeth
Hi there,
In November, we're heading off on a 4-month trip. We'll be landing in China and plan to leave the country via a land border into Vietnam.
I’ve read that China may ask for proof of exit within 30 days (flight ticket or other reservation). Since we’d be leaving by land, I’m wondering how this works in practice.
Has anyone here been in this situation recently?
Did the airline ask for an exit ticket before boarding?
Did Chinese authorities require proof upon arrival?
Is a train/bus ticket to Vietnam sufficient?
Is a cancelable or flexible reservation accepted?
Hi there,
Just a question that’s probably been asked before (though usually the other way around for my situation :))
My wife and I are heading to the US.
On her ticket, it only has her maiden name (e.g., Martine DUPOND).
On her passport, it’s written as Martine DUPOND épouse AVRY.
No issues for travel, I hope I did the right thing with the ticket?
Then for the ESTA, is just Martine DUPOND enough, or do I need to include the "épouse AVRY" part like on the passport?
Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
I’m spending a few days in San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) and would like to cross the Argentine border to make a loop toward Salta and then return to Chile to drop off the rental car.
I’ve heard that crossing the border can be tricky!
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Best regards,
Arnale
I saw on the French Embassy in Peru’s website and the Peruvian Consulate in Paris’s site that the rule is to have a passport valid for 6 months *after the arrival date* (not the return date).
I arrive in Peru on August 13, 2019 (for about twelve days), and my passport is valid until February 16, 2020.
That’s 6 months and 3 days after my arrival date in Peru. In my opinion, I’m good to go.
But could I still be denied entry if they say I don’t cover the return date or that I’m too close to the 6-month mark?
I read on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that it’s possible to apply for a temporary driving permit in China, valid for 1 month.
I’m planning to rent a car (without a driver) to explore part of the country next August, so I was wondering:
Has anyone here already gone through this process upon arrival?
How long do the formalities take on the spot?
Is it possible to handle these steps in advance, before arriving in China?
Hi there,
My departure is slowly approaching, and now that I’ve got my Russian visa sorted, I’m fine-tuning the rest of my trip to Tajikistan. Since the Tajik visa is no longer required for stays under 30 days (for French nationals), I’ll need to visit the Ministry of Interior (OVIR) to register within 10 days of entering the country. No big deal, though, since I had to go there anyway to apply for my GBAO permit. 😉 However, I’ve *seen* several reports from travelers (mostly motorized) mentioning that you need an entry permit for Kyrgyzstan, which has to be arranged in advance at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) in Dushanbe. Otherwise, you’re *stuck* at the Kyzyl-Art border (with no Wi-Fi, of course, to try and sort it out). The most recent report was from a year ago, so I’d love to know if this is still the case and if it’s indeed at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) where you need to go for this pre-authorization.
Does anyone have any recent info on this?
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Hi everyone.
I’m leaving for almost 3 months in the Philippines (11 weeks total) starting in early May.
I already have my round-trip ticket.
The problem is, I don’t have time to get a 2-month visa because the process takes nearly a month.
From what I’ve read here and there, I need a return ticket valid for less than a month when I arrive in the Philippines to prove my good faith.
After that, I can apply for a 30-day extension at the immigration office.
I’m planning to either buy a fully refundable ticket to the nearest country or a fake ticket.
For 3 months, I’ll need to extend my visa two more times before my return date to France.
My question is this:
Will immigration ask me each time I extend my visa by one month to show proof of an exit ticket matching the new visa extension date?
Is it possible to extend directly by 2 months before the initial 30 days expire?
Thanks in advance for your experiences and tips! 😊
I’ve been to Thailand several times, but it was about 20 years ago…
There’s a new system in place now, it seems.
TDAC – Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
Before arriving, I apply for a TDAC, okay.
If during my stay I cross the border to spend a few days in Malaysia and then re-enter Thailand,
do I need to submit a new TDAC application?
Do I use the same TDAC as when I first entered the country?
Or do I initially have to pay for a Thai multi-entry visa?
Thanks in advance for your insights—I can’t find the answer online.
My partner (Mexican) entered France on January 21st as a tourist. She was therefore entitled to stay for 90 days in the Schengen Area. She’ll be leaving for Mexico on April 16th, so she’ll have “used up” 86 days.
She plans to return to France on July 18th. According to the European Commission’s Schengen calculator, this new stay “may be authorized for a maximum of 90 days.” That’s not very clear ("may be," "for a maximum of").
The text of Article 6 of the European regulation (2016/399) states that for a stay planned in the territory of the Member States, not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period, one must examine "the 180-day period preceding each day of the stay." That’s not very clear either.
My partner wants to return to France for a 90-day period starting on July 18th. Is this possible?
There are two ways to look at it:
1) The first day she spent in the Schengen Area was January 21st. That day will drop out of the calculation 180 days later, on July 20th.
From July 20th, she’ll get back 1 day of possible stay; on July 22nd, 2 days; and so on. All the days from her previous stay (January 21st–April 16th) need to be outside the 180-day rolling window.
The last day of her stay was April 16th. Looking 180 days ahead, that brings us to October 13th. From that date, she’ll be able to return for a full 90 days.
2) The number of allowed days is calculated for each day of the new stay. In other words: the 180-day window is recalculated every day, not fixed at the entry date.
If she re-enters France on July 18th, she’ll only have a “credit” of 4 days. But with each day of her new stay, one day from the previous stay (January–April) will drop out of the calculation. The rolling window allows her to “replace” days from the previous stay with those of the new stay, without ever exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.
In this case, my partner could stay in France for 90 days starting on July 18th.
The Prefecture doesn’t provide any information, nor does Air France, and in the forums I’ve checked, opinions are divided. Thanks for any insights you can share!
Hello,
We’re planning to travel to Indonesia (Sulawesi with family) next July and August for a stay longer than a month (about 6 weeks).
I’ve seen that it’s possible to get a 60-day visa before departure, but I’ve also read about people having a lot of trouble getting it (some even didn’t manage and had to leave without it).
We absolutely need to have these 4 visas BEFORE leaving because once we’re in Sulawesi, I’m not sure we’ll be able to go to an embassy to request a visa extension after 30 days.
In short, how can we **100% guarantee** that we’ll get our 4 60-day visas before our trip this summer?
Hello, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026!
We’re heading back in October for a trip through Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
I have a question: for our route, we’ll need to cross the Zambia and Zimbabwe borders twice each. From experience, I know we won’t have any issues with Botswana.
But for the other two countries, I can’t find a clear answer.
All your tips are welcome!
I’m currently a student on a gap year, and I don’t plan to go back to school right away. That said, traveling really interests me. But I’ve been wondering: does being a student come with any perks when you decide to go abroad? The real question is whether I should re-enroll in a program just to keep that status without actually attending.
