Ministry answers queries on under-18s and travel to and from france

WE SPOKE TO THE FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTRY TO CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION OVER NON-EU UNDER-18S’ TRAVEL The Interior Ministry has provided some clarifications after we recently flagged up confusion

among British families about rules for under-18s when travelling. READ MORE: RESIDENCY AND TRAVEL: CONFUSION OVER FRENCH RULES FOR NON-EU UNDER-18S A spokesman said the Douanes (customs)

service will also issue a reminder of the rules to border control officers at Limoges, where several British families had reported issues. He said that applications for DCEM travel documents

for non-EU under-18s are now made ONLINE. The information from online applications is presented in a paper format featuring a security barcode, rather than on a laminated card. The new

system is recognised across the Schengen area. DCEM TO AVOID PASSPORT STAMPING Passports of under-18s benefiting from the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement should not be stamped. They are not

obliged to have a DCEM, similarly to other children of nationalities that do not need visas for short-term visits to France. However, as this can be complicated to prove if they are not with

their parents, a DCEM can be useful to avoid passport stamping. In any case, the stamping of passports of people with a continuing right to live in France has no legal effect. The spokesman

stressed that all unaccompanied children travelling abroad need a free _autorisation de sortie du territoire_ form. RELATED ARTICLES WHAT IS FRANCE’S DCEM FORM FOR YOUNG FOREIGNERS? HOW

DOES EU'S 90/180-DAY RULE WORK WHEN VISITING FRANCE? DOES A FRENCH RESIDENCY CARD ALLOW YOU FREE MOVEMENT IN THE EU?