Red Tape Refresher?
 

Canadian Citizen here. It's been years since my last tour so I forget how the red tape works. Can anyone refresh my memory as to what paperwork I need to travel by bike?

I'm either going to ride to the east coast of the UK and get over to Holland or ride to Dover and cross into France. In either case I'll then head south along the coast all the way to Morocco before heading back to the Americas to do more touring where it's warm.

In the Americas I'd like to see Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Belize and Mexico.

I know I need a visa for Brazil but I'm not sure about the other places.

I've heard lots of places in South America require "carnets" which, if I remember correctly, is proof of the value of your possessions. Does that have to be receipts or can it just be written down? I don't have receipts for things like my GPS or cell phones or cook stove.

Thanks :)

Irish/UK tourist visa is 6 months.. but leaving the EU to a non EU country may reset that time..

I'd contact each countries embassy, in Ottawa, for details. maybe a Consulate in Vancouver, where you live..


When in CPH DK, on a bike tour, and unsure about Visas to enter Poland, on a Ferry from there, I contacted their embassy , in 1991.

I've never heard of carnets for bicycles or personal possession type stuff, I'd be interested to hear if anyone has needed them for a bike trip. The places I have seen them used are for things such as motor vehicles, high end audio/video equipment, etc. Carnets are essentially a deposit you pay to a third party guarantor and present to customs to temporarily import such items, in which they can make a claim again to collect the duties required if the item is not actually exported out of the country in the time allotted.

As for the rest, yeah, you'll just have to do a search to see if Canada requires a visa. I assume for Europe, Canada is the same as the US, which gets you 180 days in the UK/Ireland, and 90 days in any other Schengen country (most of continental Europe).

The best advice I can give - don't get legal advice from a bicycle forum. The various government agencies of whatever country you are planning to visit are well equipped to give you the correct answers. Also remember be sure you understand what can be brought back into Canada duty free.

my experience in latin america and in europe has never had a "carnet" issue, in the past with photo equipment yes, but never with a bike.
re visas etc, yes, do check the proper agencies of diff countries, it should be fairly easy to get the correct answers fairly quickly.

my recent experience with central american countries did not involve any visa requirements for Canadians. Double check though.

One suggested site: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories

If you were American, then I would direct you to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en.html which gives Entry/Exit requirements, travel advisories, health tips, etc. The link above looks like the equivalent information for Canadians.

Be aware of the Schengen Zone in Europe. The zone fairly well reflects the member countries of the European Union, except for the UK which has never been a part of the zone.

You are limited to three months in the zone from the date of your first arrival in one of the member countries. You cannot move from one country to another within the zone and have the limit reset.

At least, that was what it was like the last time I researched it.

Technically is 90 days in a 180 day period, which is an important qualifier. You can't leave for a day on day 90 and come back and reset the clock, you'd have to wait another 90 days to return.

As for the rest, pretty much, with a whole lot of "yes, but..." qualifiers. For example, Aussies, Americans, Canadians and a handful of others are allowed an extra 90 days in Denmark, regardless of having already spent 90 days in the Schengen zone. The opposite is not true, you cannot spend 90 days in Denmark and then leave to other Schengen zones.

https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/comi...ree_travel.htm

Likewise, I've met a few Kiwis in Europe, apparently they have quite a few countries that allow individual state clocks that operate in place of the Schengen rules due to grandfathered visa arrangements that predate Schengen. As always, it is best if you know the rules for your nationality and destinations.