Information for families highlights key document required for children to travel out of the EU

The UK government has updated its official website to provide information for Britons living in France regarding the new border security controls as part of the upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES).

It reaffirms the rights of residency card holders to be exempt from EES registration as well as a reminder of the documents British children of parents living in France will need.

Britons living in France who are exempt from EES will not however necessarily be able to use EU/EEA/Swiss passport lanes when entering the country.

Read more: Which passport lane for travellers with French residency cards or visas under EES?

The new UK information can be found on the official ‘Living in France’ section of the gov.uk website here.

“If you are a UK national with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, you will be exempt from EES registration, if you have the correct documentation” the website says.

“In France, documents that allow exemption include all forms of Withdrawal Agreement residency permits, including 5-year, 10-year and permanent residency permits. Any other valid residency permit issued by France or any other EU member state will also mean that you are exempt,” it adds. 

Although not covered as part of the update, British nationals who hold a valid long-stay visa for France also do not have to register for EES to enter the country. 

The website says the EES is set to launch in autumn 2024, but does not give a precise date. 

Read more: New EU border controls: Will changes really start in November?

DCEM documents for children

Information about necessary documentation for children living in France who will be travelling out of the EU has also been updated.

“Please note that minors must be in possession of a Document de circulation pour étranger mineur (DCEM), whether travelling accompanied or alone, to be exempt from EES.”

“DCEMs are free for beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement. Apply for a DCEM through the French government website. If you have one of these documents, you will not need to register in the EES when travelling.”

Withdrawal Agreement card holders are exempt from the usual €50 fee for acquiring a DCEM from the French authorities. 

It is advised to leave plenty of time before travel dates to apply for this document as there are reports of long waits in some cases.

You can read more about obtaining a DCEM in our article below. 

It lasts for five years for younger children, (13 or under) or up to the age of 18 for teenagers, after which point they will need to obtain their own residency permit. 

Read more: Urgent foreign families in France apply for travel document

One Connexion reader recently told of her issues surrounding a DCEM document, after French authorities initially rejected her request because her son’s birth certificate did not state it was from the UK.

The UK is set to introduce new border measures itself, known as the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) in 2025. 

Read more: UK’s new ETA travel fee permit: rules for French and other non-British visitors