Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

Hi,

I have a relative coming over. He doesn't need a Visa to enter in EU (Passport is OK). He will arrive in France by plane (then have passport stamped) and then we'll go to Switzerland by car. Do we need to stop at the border or the stamp in passport when arrived in France is enough ? This is for a short stay (around 1 week) and for tourism purpose.
Just wanna make sure as he will fly back from a Switzerland airport (and then have passport checked)!

Thks,
R

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

Since France and Switzerland are both Schengen it is no problem. They don't stamp passports or have to check them between the borders.

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

Why does your relative need his passport stamped?

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

Hi Telandy,

She needs it stamped to enter France as she is coming from Canada for vacations with passport (no visa needed). I think I wasn't clear in my first message!

Thks,
R

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

OK this might be missing the point slightly but:
Do not just drive through any manned border in spite of what you see. Always pause and lock eyes with the border guard to get waved through. Do not assume. I assumed and trust me, it wasn't pleasant.

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

Hi Economisto.

Thks for the advise! That's what I'm doing everyday when driving here - between Switzerland and France - living close to the border.

My question was about my friend coming from Canada - arriving in France and flying back from Switzerland - wanted to know wether we have to show her passport when driving from France to Switzerland.

Thks,
R

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

You should assume yes and if you get lucky you get lucky. Because of Schengen it won't need to get stamped in any case, but if you show the passport through the window and it's Canadian you'll almost certainly get pulled over to show the French visa (probably 2 minutes at the side of the road, nothing more).

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

Hi,

So if I understood correctly, the stamp she will get in France is enough to travel to Switzerland (and all over Schengen space actually) - no need to stop in purpose of getting it stamped at the Swiss border in addition.

Thks all.
R

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

We just got stopped in our car at the border between Pontarlier and Vallorbe. They were checking everybody but all they wanted to know was how much shopping we did! They did a cursory check of the back of the car and waved us on through. No passports required.

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

That is correct.

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

That's because, although there are no longer passport controls, there are customs controls.

So, to the OP. As you cross the border, if you're asked to stop, then stop. If they ask you to show documentation, then show it. Don't volunteer anything (it confuses the guards ). Don't worry about an entry stamp in France and an exit stamp in Switzerland - Schengen takes care of all of that. Canadians don't need visas (for up to three months as a tourist) for Switzerland.

Do make sure that you have your passports with you at all times. You may be stopped and passports checked anywhere near (or even far away) from the border. It's very unlikely though.

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

@NotAllThere: If you had to, which one of the four solutions would you have recommended for this? :msngrin:

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

When you get off a plane from an inernational flight, such as one from Canada to France, they are going to stamp it. But traveling anywhere within the EU, and the treaty with Switzerland and the EU, there shuldn't be any additional stamping necessary. When this friend leaves, no one will be stamping it until Canada. And assuming your friend's character is impeccable they will probably be more then happy to have her/he back, and to stamp it there.

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

Thanks all !

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

I did say mostnot all.

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

Just to wrap-up the threaed and give feedback:

- when my friend arrived from Canada, the custom in France didn't stamp the passport. We noticed it once we'd left the airport. Then we went back to avoid further questions when going to Switzerland. Customs apologized they forgot, confirmed it is necessary at the entry and stamped the passport without further questions.

- on the way back, living Switzerland, no stamp as well! In GVA, custom said it will be stamped in Franckfurt (connection there and place where living Schengen). Then in Franckfurt, my friend had to asked for the stamp - they didn't do it straight.

Conclusion: is it still so mandatory to have passport stamped ?? If not, how control of stays lenght is made ?

Thks,
R

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

Well, I can just confirm that they rarely stamp passports in France. My family members have been flying in from Europe (non-EU) and the US, and nobody has ever had their passport stamped when entering. I had it stamped myself the first time I entered France with a D visa, but that's it. I think they don't pay much attention to people from "good" countries; sometimes they scan the passport in but they really don't care.

Re: Enter Switzerland from France for tourism - Need to stop at the border?
 

Passport stamping has been very hit-or-miss for me. I entered on a Schengen visa and they didn't even bother to stamp it. Nobody seems to care about stamps these days.