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IN DETAIL: What travel restrictions does France have in place?

With various different domestic and Europe-wide policies in place the situation at the French border is a complicated one. Here's what rules apply to anyone travelling to France.

Published: 22 January 2021 13:40 CET
Updated: 23 January 2021 09:54 CET
IN DETAIL: What travel restrictions does France have in place?
Photo: AFP

Since the emergence of two new, more contagious, strains of the Covid-19 virus France has enacted several measures to tighten its border controls.

There is now essentially a two-speed system in place – for those travelling from within the EU and those entering from outside the Bloc.

Travel rules are based on where you are travelling from, not what passport you hold, so a German national travelling from the USA would fall under the non-EU rules, likewise an American coming from Belgium would be covered by the EU rules.

Outside the EU

Anyone travelling from outside the EU (including the UK) now needs to demonstrate they have an essential reason for entering the country. This allows work or study-related travel but rules out tourism, family visits or visits from second home owners.
 
The full list of those who are allowed to travel is   
  • Citizens of an EU country or non-EU citizens who are permanent residents of an EU country and need to come home
  • Healthcare workers engaged in crucial work on the coronavirus crisis
  • Frontier workers and in some circumstances seasonal workers
  • Delivery drivers
  • Diplomats, humanitarian or aid workers
  • Passengers in transit
  • Passengers travelling for imperative family reasons
  • Persons in need of international protection or for other humanitarian reasons
  • Third country nationals travelling for the purpose of study
  • Highly qualified third-country workers IF their employment is essential from an economic perspective and cannot be postponed or performed abroad   
 
Those who do have an essential reason for travel need three documents to enter the country – a negative Covid test, an international travel certificate and a sworn declaration of being Covid-free.
 
Negative Covid-19 test – this must be taken within 72 hours of travel – the test should be a PCR nasal swab test, the rapid-result antigen tests are not accepted. Children under 11 are the only group exempt from the test requirement
 
Sworn statement – declaring that you have not had any Covid symptoms during the 14 days before your journey
 
International travel certificate – as was required during lockdown, an attestation de déplacement international (international travel certificate) is again required for trips from the UK. You can find the form HERE to download and there is a version in English. You need to fill in your personal details and then tick your reason for travel from the list provided.
 
You will need to have this paperwork ready before departing and it will be requested by your travel provider before boarding your plane/ferry/train.
 
The attestation is a signed statement sworn on your honour that the information you provide is true, so there shouldn't be any need for extra proof – but non-French citizens who are resident in France are advised to have with them proof of residency as well. Documents accepted as proof of residency are the carte de séjour residency card, the emailed receipt acknowledging your application for a carte de séjour or proof of address including a rental contract or utility bills.
 
Quarantine
 
All arrivals with the exception of hauliers then need to self-isolate for seven days and then take a second test. The quarantine is an honour-based system, and no checks are being carried out.
 
 
Inside the EU
 
If you're travelling from within the EU or Schengen zone, things are a lot easier.
 
Arrivals from within the EU can enter France for any reason and there is no need to provide proof of the reason for your trip, although both French and European leaders have called on people to reduce non-essential travel as much as possible.
 
If you arrive after 00:00 on Sunday, January 24th you will need a negative Covid test if you are arriving by air or sea.
 
Those arriving by rail or road will not need a test – largely because it is impractical to police those borders – and cross-border workers and hauliers are also exempt.
 
The rules on tests for those who need them are the same as for non-EU travel – it must be a PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours.
 
There is no need to quarantine if you are arriving from within the EU.
 
 

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TRAVEL NEWS

Travel in Europe: UK to scrap all Covid travel rules

The UK is set to scrap all Covid-19 travel restrictions in what the government described as a "landmark moment".

Published: 15 March 2022 11:23 CET
Travel in Europe: UK to scrap all Covid travel rules

Testing is no longer required for vaccinated travellers, but the UK government has announced that it will scrap all Covid-19 travel rules on Friday, March 18th.

“As one of the first major economies to remove all its remaining Covid-19 travel restrictions, this is a landmark moment for passengers and the travel and aviation sector,” said the Government in a press release. 

From 4am on March 18th:

  • Passengers going to the UK will no longer be required to fill out a Passenger Locator Form before travel;
  • Passengers who are not vaccinated will not be required to take a pre-departure Covid test, or a Day 2 test following arrival. Fully vaccinated travellers are already exempt from having to do this;
  • Hotel quarantine for travellers coming from ‘red list’ countries, of which there are currently none, will also be scrapped by the end of the month. 

“We will continue monitoring and tracking potential new variants, and keep a reserve of measures which can be rapidly deployed if needed to keep us safe,” said UK Health Minister Sajid Javid. 

The UK has lifted all Covid-related rules including mask rules and mandatory self-isolation if you test positive for Covid.

Some European countries still have Covid restrictions in place for unvaccinated people coming from the UK. 

Until March 18th

Until the new rules come into effect, all travellers are required to fill out a passenger locator form. 

Unvaccinated travellers are also required to take pre-departure test and a test on or before Day 2 following their arrival. 

The UK border officers will recognise proof of vaccination provided with an EU Covid Certificate.

For the UK “fully vaccinated” means 14 days after your final dose of a EMA/FDA or Swiss approved vaccine (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson). 

After a period of confusion, the UK government says that it will accept mixed doses administered in the EU (eg one dose of AstraZeneca and one of Pfizer).

However people who have only had a single dose after previously recovering from Covid – which is standard practice in some European countries – are not accepted as vaccinated by the UK.

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