British teen resident in France had to register in EES on reentry
13-year-old without a DCEM young person’s travel document was told he would be subject to the 90/180 days rule
Young people require a DCEM travel document to prove they are legal residents of France
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A family living in the south-west of France reports that their 13-year-old son had to be registered in the new EES digital borders system on a recent trip, as he did not have a DCEM young person’s travel document.
The British Embassy has previously warned that foreign families in France with members aged under 18 are at risk of this if they do not have this French document. We have covered this topic on several occasions but are not aware of the issue receiving widespread attention elsewhere.
Peter James said staff at Biarritz airport “made a big fuss” on their recent exit to the UK due to a previous passport stamp in their son’s passport given on returning from a holiday at the start of the year. The border guard said that “as he did not have a carte de séjour he was subject to the 90/180 days rule”.
His fingerprints were taken and a facial scan. Mr James reported that his son “had to go through the fingerprint process and have his passport stamped again” when they subsequently returned.
He stated he had understood his own residency card should cover his children.
While this is correct for residency purposes, the new EES creates a difficulty for travel across the Schengen borders, as young people, who are not entitled to their own residency cards (unless, from age 16 if needed due to work or training), may lack formal proof of being resident in France and thus exempt from EES.
To avoid such issues, families are therefore advised to obtain a DCEM from their prefectures, which costs €50 (or free to Brexit WA families). Further details on the process here.
For more information on EES rules and France see our guide.
