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Holders of French residency cards must take extra care if planning to travel out of the EU this festive season.

With the EU’s EES digital borders system being progressively rolled out, it is important to make sure you have the right paperwork.

The rollout has already led to problems for some families, with The Connexion hearing cases of children having to be registered in EES because they lacked formal proof of residency. 

Minors under 18 do not usually have their own residency cards, but without a DCEM (Document de circulation pour étranger mineur) they may be treated as short-stay visitors subject to the 90/180-day rule. 

Families travelling with children are therefore advised to have DCEMs for them if possible.

Adults who live in France with Brexit WA cards - or other French residency cards - should also remember to carry their cards with them to prove they are residents and EES-exempt on return, or otherwise their expired card plus a °ù鳦é±è¾±²õ²õé from the prefecture if they have recently applied to renew.

Anyone lacking such evidence may be asked to register in EES, potentially leading to confusion on their next travels across Schengen borders. 

If going to the UK, Britons should also remember to take a valid British passport even if you have a dual nationality, as proof of exemption from the UK’s ETA entry permission scheme. 

A certain tolerance is expected to continue until February 25, but official UK sources are already asking that dual nationals comply with this rule.

Irish citizens going to the UK should also ensure they have a valid Irish passport.

All other nationals living in France (who do not have British or Irish nationality), must remember to apply for an ETA if going to the UK. 

Finally, any Britons or other non-EU nationals planning to visit France this festive season should expected to be EES-registered, and may also wish to check the . 

• Holders of Brexit WA cards coming up for expiry in the course of 2026 should remember to apply to renew in good time – about two months before the expiry date. For more on how to do this in different areas of France, click here.
  
  Note that the website used by many prefectures for WA card renewals, Démarches Simplifiées, is now called Démarche Numérique, however old web addresses still work.