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
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
A little update driven by my personal news.
Regarding the first-aid kit, you're right; under the Vienna Convention, German authorities can't require drivers of vehicles registered in European countries that don’t mandate it—like France—to carry a first-aid kit or a warning triangle.
The question was raised and addressed a long time ago in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Hi there,
I can confirm that Germany conducts border checks, whether you're traveling by bus or in a private vehicle. And at any time— I was stopped at 3 AM.
Best regards,
Patrick
We’ll be in Nepal from November 1st to 12th, 2026.
We paid for our flight tickets with a Visa Premier card. Is it worth getting additional insurance? And if so, which one would you recommend?
Thanks,
Guylaine
I’m sharing my successful e-Visa application experience because I’ll admit—I really struggled with the website and gathering all the required documents.
https://www.thaiembassy.fr/fr/visa-rdv/les-types-de-visa-et-les-documents-necessaires/visa-touristique/
I recommend preparing everything in advance according to the instructions below and trying to complete the 60-day TR tourist e-Visa application in one go. You can save and return to it later, but I didn’t find the site very intuitive (it took a lot of time to figure out how it works, etc.). For the 60-day TR tourist e-Visa, it took me about 2 to 3 hours to prepare all the required documents and fill out the online form completely. (Next time, though, it’ll take me much less time since I’ll know how it works better, etc.).
I received my e-Visa 15 days later, but according to the embassy, the processing time can be much longer (the embassy recommends in section 4.3: “We advise you to submit your visa application between 2 and 3 months before your planned departure.”)
https://www.thaiembassy.fr/fr/visa-rdv/infos-generales/
⚠️ RECOMMENDATION: 4 months before applying (so 6 months before your trip if you apply 2 months ahead), make sure your bank statements show a minimum balance of 700 € for each of the 3 months prior to your application.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE 60-DAY TR SINGLE-ENTRY E-VISA IN THAILAND
A digital copy of your passport: Color copy of the double-page spread with your photo. It must show the entire machine-readable zone (the two lines of characters at the bottom) and all four corners of the page. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your departure date. (Format: JPEG or PDF)
A color ID photo: Official ID photo on a plain white background, max 3 MB in size, and taken within the last 6 months. If you use the same photo as the one printed in your passport (if it was issued 2 years ago, for example), the system will detect the inconsistency and reject your application. The background must be strictly white, with no shadows, no glasses, and your face must be fully visible.
Proof of financial means: Official bank statements (checking and/or savings) for the last 3 months. They must clearly display your name and show a minimum balance of 700 € for each month (1,000 € is preferable), per person (even for couples).
Bank statement format and date: Screenshots from mobile banking apps (without your name or the bank’s logo) are systematically rejected. You must provide the full official statement in PDF format, downloaded from your online banking. Additionally, the most recent statement must be less than 30 days old at the time of submission. Don’t forget to merge the 3 statements into a single PDF, as only one document can be uploaded per category.
Entry and exit tickets: A reservation or confirmation of flight tickets showing your entry into and exit from Thailand. The document must include the PNR (Passenger Name Record: a 6-character booking code used as a reference by the airline) and/or the e-ticket number.
90-day rule: Your exit flight date must not exceed 90 days after your arrival in Thailand.
If you have separate tickets: If you have two different tickets for entry and exit, merge them into a single document showing only the entry and exit from Thailand within 90 days (exclude other flights). For example, if you have a round-trip Paris-Bangkok ticket spaced 6 months apart but plan to stay in Indonesia after 60 or 90 days, only submit the inbound flight to Thailand from your first ticket (exclude the return flight that’s 6 months later) and the outbound flight from Thailand to Indonesia (without the flight out of Indonesia, which is likely separate). Merge the two PDFs into one.
Proof of residence in France (less than 3 months old): Mobile phone, landline, internet, or electricity bill in your name. This document must prove that you currently reside in the country from which you’re applying. (Format: PDF or JPEG)
Hotel reservation in your name: Covering the first few nights with your name on it, or an official invitation letter signed by your host along with a copy of their ID. (Format: PDF or JPEG)
⚠️ FOR COUPLES: The official confirmation of your first accommodation in Thailand (hotel, Airbnb) must clearly display the names of BOTH members of the couple, as it will need to be attached to each individual e-Visa application. The second name is essential because each visa applicant must provide proof of accommodation in their name. If your partner’s name doesn’t appear anywhere on the hotel document, their visa application may be blocked or rejected, even if you include a marriage certificate.
Prepare the addresses of the first two hotels for the online form; Write down (on paper) the exact address of the first hotel and the next one, as the form also asks for the address of the second hotel (without requiring proof of reservation). Look up the name of the sub-district, district, and province of these establishments online. When applying for the e-Visa, you’ll need to enter the exact address and select the province, district... from dropdown menus.
How to add your partner’s name to the hotel reservation?
Log in to your account (Agoda, Booking, etc.), go to your reservations, and look for the option to modify traveler details. You can often add the second person’s name or, in the main traveler name field, enter both names separated by a slash or comma.
If you can’t modify it online, ask the hotel for an official reservation confirmation letter (“Confirmation Letter”) explicitly stating: “Room booked for and ”. Thai hotels are used to this process for visas and will send it to you quickly by email in PDF format.
How to merge PDF files?
To combine your multiple bank statements or flight tickets in the correct order into a single PDF, you can use a free and intuitive online tool like iLovePDF or Smallpdf. No software to download—everything is done online.
PS: I’ve shared the steps I followed to get my e-Visa. I put them together by comparing recommendations from several AIs and the official e-Visa website. ID photo: I had 6 ID photos taken in an automatic photo booth (found in shopping malls). I cut one out and scanned it in color with a regular scanner.
Bank statements: I downloaded the last 3 official monthly bank statements in PDF format and merged them into one. However, 3 years ago, a friend told me he didn’t submit his statements but instead provided a document from his bank (requested from his banker, with stamps, the bank’s logo, and the banker’s signature) clearly stating he had the required funds. I don’t know if this option is still available, but I’m mentioning it.
File names: For all files (PDF, JPEG) attached to my e-Visa application, I used my name followed by a description of the document (e.g., “Name photo”).
Hi everyone, next year in 2027 I’d like to bring some furniture from France to Morocco—6 chairs and a Basque sideboard—to give to a family that hosted me during my bike trips. My question: do I have to pay a duty to bring these items through customs? If so, how much? And what about a mountain bike too?! Thanks for your answers.
Best,
Rv..
hi
I was almost done with my e-visa application, and when I selected the payment method, I chose Razorpay. It glitched, and I got a server error 500/404... No matter how many times I go back to "complete partially filled form," it doesn’t work...
What should I do? Thanks for your help!
Hi fellow travelers,
I need some info.
Landing in Mumbai on the 16th at 11:55 PM, so immigration will be on the 17th.
On the e-arrival card form, which date should I put—16th or 17th?
Thanks for your answers.
Hi everyone,
I have to leave for Perth, Australia in a week, for 7 days, and I couldn’t get my international driver’s permit due to processing and delivery delays.
The information I’ve found about whether an international permit is required is contradictory. Some sources say you need one, others say you don’t.
Could anyone let me know if an international driver’s permit is necessary to rent a car in Australia (Perth), or if a French license is enough for a 7-day rental?
Hi there,
I’m explaining our situation—my daughter and her young family have just moved to Polynesia, specifically to the island of Raiatea. That’s great, of course, and my wife and I are planning to visit them. However, flights that go through the United States are causing us a problem because we’ve been to Cuba. I think we’ll need a visa because of that.
Has anyone else dealt with this situation before? Any advice on flights and visas would be really helpful.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
I have two questions about applying for a Non-Immigrant O Visa at the Thai embassy in France for someone over 50:
- - Do I need to provide the address(es) of stay in Thailand (hotels, staying with a Thai friend)?
- - Financial proof: Is a retirement statement showing over 2,000 € per month sufficient, or are bank statements also required?
I know there’s already a lot of information about the visa requirements on the embassy’s website, but from my experience—having dealt with embassies in other countries in previous years—I know that the information is sometimes (!) incomplete or inconsistent. So, I’d rather hear from people who’ve recently gone through this process to avoid any surprises after submitting my application, which could cause unpleasant delays.
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
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,
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,
I’m planning a trip to Laos from France with a transit through Thailand involving 2 entries. I might spend up to 7 days max in Thailand (round trip).
The flight I’ve spotted: arrival at BKK and return to France 31 days later.
With the new regulations/visa:
"Starting September 15, 2026, French nationals holding an ordinary passport will be able to stay in Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism purposes only, down from the previous 60 days."
How do you think the counting is done?
- Number of days spent in Thai territory?
- Entry and exit dates: number of days between the two?
I’m leaning toward the first option, but to avoid any administrative hassles with Thailand (fines, etc.) and before booking my ticket, your input would really help.
Hi everyone,
I bought a new apartment in Pattaya that will be finished at the end of 2013, and I’d like to buy more later...
I think it’s a good investment idea, but I’d love to hear from those of you with experience—what do you think? I’d also like to know how to handle rentals... Should I go through agencies, or are they usually rented out directly by the building management companies?
Thanks in advance for your replies! 🙂
hi everyone,
I need to apply for a new eTA for Canada.
do I need the number from my old eTA or not?
because I can’t find my old eTA number anymore.
thanks for your replies, have a great weekend
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,
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!
Hi everyone,
I’ll explain my situation.
Unfortunately, I lost my passport, and I only realized it two weeks before my departure for a humanitarian mission in Libya. I’m a nurse, and this mission really means a lot to me.
First, I applied for an emergency passport, but it was denied by the Val-d'Oise prefecture on the grounds that a planned humanitarian mission wasn’t considered an urgent reason.
So, I submitted a biometric passport application on July 20th. Since then, the tracking has been stuck, and the town hall can’t (or won’t) give me any clear information. Every time I call, I get a different story. The last update I received was that the passport had been produced since July 23rd with a status of "about to be shipped," but nothing since then.
I’ve managed to push my departure back to next Tuesday at the latest, but I’m starting to really panic.
Have any of you submitted an application around July 20th, especially in Val-d'Oise (95)? How long did you wait between the passport being produced and it being available at the town hall? Is it normal for this step to take this long?
This mission means so much to me. I had everything organized, and I’m also supposed to attend a friend’s wedding right after near the border.
Thanks so much to those who take the time to respond or share their experience. 😔
Can anyone tell me exactly if a passport "valid for the duration of the stay" is enough, or does it need to be valid for 6 months after the trip?
I checked the embassy’s website, but that info is missing.
Hi there,
I’ll be arriving in Seoul on November 18th after spending about a month in India.
Do you know if I’ll need to fill out any additional documents besides the e-arrival card?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
I’m a bit embarrassed because I need to travel to Quebec from February 27th to March 13th. I’m a regular visitor to Canada—this will be my 10th trip since 1997, plus a year as a permanent resident (2000–2001) and a cross-country run from Vancouver to Halifax in 2011. So, I’m definitely not a terrorist!
But since our last trip in July 2015, they’ve introduced this eTA thing. Seems more like a way to make money than to actually secure Canada, if you ask me, but anyway, that’s not the point.
I applied for an eTA for myself, my wife, and our two kids. They all got approved within hours, but not me! I was asked to create a GC key and then an IRCC account, which I did. Normally, you get news within 72 hours, but since Monday, January 15th, nothing!
In the "message" section of the account, it says "explanation letter (required)" with a deadline of January 25th, but I can’t find any explanation anywhere—despite searching the Canadian government website and Google. No links, nothing!
I’ve emailed them but haven’t heard back yet. I’m thinking of calling the Canadian embassy in Paris tomorrow. Even though I’m not stressing yet, it’d be a bummer if everyone else got to go without me!
If anyone’s had this issue before or knows what this explanation letter is about, I’d love to hear more.
hi there
I’m heading to Seoul in September, and to do that I need to get a travel authorization that we apply for through K-ETA....... turns out I can (barely, I admit) fill out the form up to the address of our "stay location," but every address I’ve entered has been rejected by the system. I’ve tried my hotel, the Lotte Hotel (which is well-known in Seoul), the airport—basically, I’ve entered at least 20 addresses, all rejected....
So, to anyone who’s successfully gotten the authorization, could you tell me which address you used to get that "elusive" approval?...
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, 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?
