Border formalitiestwo external borders to cross: into the UK and into Norway
These rules change
The information on this page has been put together carefully from official sources, but border rules change regularly. Always check what applies at the time before you leave.
For the 2027 edition we will send the definitive instructions with the digital guide. Stuck? Bring your question to the participants' meeting.
Reporting with sPCR
Anyone entering or leaving the United Kingdom in a pleasure craft must submit a pleasure craft report. You do this online through the British government's sPCR service.
When
Online, you submit the report at least 2 hours and no more than 24 hours before departure. That applies in both directions: leaving Harlingen for Kirkwall, and leaving Kirkwall for Stavanger.
What you provide
- details and registration of the vessel;
- skipper's details;
- passport or travel document details of everyone on board;
- estimated departure and arrival times.
If something changes
You can amend your report online: the new version replaces the old one and you receive a new reference. In case of delay, abandonment or other changes you must inform Border Force at the earliest opportunity; failing to do so may result in a penalty. Diverting to another port without internet access? Then contact the local Border Force office.
If online is not possible
There is a fallback: an Excel template submitted by e-mail, or the paper form C1331 by post. Those options are meant for situations in which the online service is unavailable.
The Q flag
As soon as you enter British territorial waters — the 12-mile limit — you fly the yellow Q flag. Contact the National Yachtline before landing any person or goods.
Customs
Since 2021 the UK applies rest-of-world rules rather than European single market rules. That means you must provide information about the vessel, the voyage, the people on board and the goods carried. Watch the allowances for alcohol and tobacco, and the list of prohibited goods. Bringing a dog or a cat? Separate rules apply.
Sources
The ETA: travel permission for the UK
Dutch, German and other visa-exempt travellers need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to visit the United Kingdom. That applies when you arrive in your own boat as well.
- Everyone on board needs their own ETA, including children and babies;
- the ETA costs £20 and allows multiple journeys, with stays of up to 6 months at a time;
- it is valid for 2 years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first;
- most applications receive an automatic decision within minutes;
- British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA.
Apply through gov.uk/eta or the official UK ETA app. Beware of websites that imitate the official service and charge more. An ETA does not guarantee entry.
Re-entering Schengen from the UK
Norway is not part of the European Union, but it is part of Schengen. Because you arrive from the United Kingdom, you are entering from outside the Schengen area. That means border control.
- Arrive at a harbour designated as a border crossing point. Stavanger is one, as are Kristiansand, Bergen and Oslo among others;
- contact the Norwegian police or border police before arrival, so you know where and how to report;
- make sure you have a berth arranged before you arrive;
- fly the Q flag according to local practice until you have cleared in.
Customs
Foreign pleasure craft in Norway temporarily and for personal use generally do not require a customs declaration for the vessel. For vessels of 15 metres or more, or over 50 GT, Norwegian regulations on foreign vessels in territorial waters apply: these require prior clearance and an up-to-date sailing plan, among other things. For allowances on alcohol, tobacco and food, see the Norwegian customs website (Tolletaten).
Entry/Exit System
Since 10 April 2026 the European Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational. It registers non-EU travellers entering and leaving the Schengen area. As an EU citizen you are not registered in it. If you sail with a crew member from outside the EU — a British citizen, for instance — registration does apply to them.