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'I don't understand': Travellers react with anger and confusion to France's new entry rules for UK

The Local
The Local - [email protected] • 16 Dec, 2021 Updated Thu 16 Dec 2021 11:07 CEST
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Signage is seen at the departure area of the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras International train station in London on January 18, 2021. - British business leaders on Monday urged the government to rescue Eurostar, after the firm said it was close to collapse following border closures to contain new Covid-19 strains. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)

New restrictions on entry into France from the UK have prompted anger, concern and questions from people hoping to spend the festive season with loved ones in France.

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From midnight Saturday (2300 GMT Friday) France is set to impose new travel rules for people coming from the UK.

Only "essential" travel will be allowed. You can read what falls into this category HERE. 

Those who do make it across will face a minimum of two days in quarantine. All travellers are required to take a PCR or antigen test at least 24 hours before their departure. 

READ ALSO LATEST: France imposes stricter test rule and quarantine for all travellers from UK

All travellers from the UK will have to sign up on an online platform before their departure to France. They must mention where they will be staying. Law enforcement authorities will check at the address you have listed to ensure you are not breaking quarantine. 

Many have reacted despairingly to the news. 

 

 

The move comes amid soaring case numbers. Yesterday, the UK reported a record 78,610 new cases - a figure reportedly driven largely by the highly contagious Omicron variant, while France reported it’s own record high of 65,713 cases.

News of the new restrictions did not impress Britons looking forward to a short break in France over the festive period.

 

 

https://twitter.com/andrewdunning/status/1471406969982496770?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/RedLeics/status/1471399658073337856?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/kevpartridgearm/status/1471400286589972481?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/FoodEditorBecks/status/1471407019328421890?s=20

 

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Many are holding out hope that the restrictions will be lifted soon. 

https://twitter.com/UKtraveljourno/status/1471407241110724610?s=20

 

Others argued that the new restrictions were futile and illogical, given the spread rampant of Covid-19 all over the world. 

One Local reader, commenting on our story about the new restrictions, wrote: “Omicron is already all over Europe, so making it more difficult for a few Brits isn’t going to make any difference...”

 

https://twitter.com/jlocke13/status/1471400478055489542?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/Kevouuz/status/1471399127548416004?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/UB5simon/status/1471411326492753922?s=20

 

Travel industry representatives also voiced their concerns.

https://twitter.com/LeisureGuard/status/1471393033153306625?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/DeanWilson/status/1471409652109828100?s=20


Safe to say, the new travel restrictions between UK and France - this close to Christmas - have not gone down well.

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#Travel news #Covid-19 rules #Travelling to France

Comments

The Local 2021/12/16 11:07

Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

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marksutton7 2021/12/17 09:24
The above article clearly lists the compelling reasons, which you have to justify, to visit family is not one of them, so you will have problems if you travel from france to uk or vice versa, the article is quite succinct, take the risk at your own peril🤭
gjohnstone011 2021/12/16 19:28
Its not even 24 hours, you can take an arrivals test as soon as you arrive and have the result back in 4 hours.
mheredge 2021/12/16 18:49
https://www.thelocal.fr/20210601/explained-what-are-the-vital-reasons-that-allow-travel-to-france-orange-red-non-eu/?tpcc=newsletter_member&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=how_will_the_new_france_uk_travel_rules_affect_you&utm_term=2021-12-16 Some people can still travel.
mheredge 2021/12/16 18:48
If you have a British passport, since dual nationality is one of the criteria allowing someone coming from France, then you will be ok. As I have dual nationality, this permits me to go, but I have decided to postpone for a few weeks till things calm down. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210601/explained-what-are-the-vital-reasons-that-allow-travel-to-france-orange-red-non-eu/?tpcc=newsletter_member&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=how_will_the_new_france_uk_travel_rules_affect_you&utm_term=2021-12-16
Stephen.leroux2 2021/12/16 18:04
I am still confused. I am resident in France and have a residents permit issued in January 2021. I have a British passport. I was due to travel from France to the UK on Wednesday 22 December to spend Christmas with my family (i last spent time with them in January 2020). I am fully vaccinated including the booster. I have arranged a PCR test for the afternoon of 20 December, I have paid for a PCR test in the UK. I do not know when I will return to France but getting a PCR test to enter France and then isolating until getting a negative PCR test is something that I can accept. So jumping through every hoop that the two Governments have introduced is something that I have accepted. However, I am not certain that I can actually leave France, is it allowed under the new regulations, do I drive from the Corrèze to Calais in the hope that I qualify or do I just accept that this year the french government has ruined my Christmas
andywiggans 2021/12/16 16:18
But only for c24hrs - you can get a PCR test on arrival and as soon as you have a negative result you’re free.
thelocal_462458 2021/12/16 14:16
While you might not “see” that, both Eurotunnel and French ski companies provide refunds because of COVID travel restrictions.
thelocal_462458 2021/12/16 14:13
U.K. government have already imposed quarantine on all arrivals from France.
jonathan_608520ba45275 2021/12/16 13:36
Thats the French GOV for you, the UK has not stopped you from coming.
jonathan_608520ba45275 2021/12/16 13:26
This is a joke - just been told, I cannot get a refund for my pre-departure test tomorrow, my test to come back to the UK or my day 2 test when I get back in January - on top of that, I can't see the french owned Eurotunnel refunding my tickets or the french ski lift company refunding our money - thats over £1,000 down the pan.
kimwhatley_6041195ca62cc 2021/12/16 13:22
Finding it very hard to have sympathy for those mourning the cancellation of their ski trips. Plenty of us here in France now not able to go back and see family in the UK this Christmas. For me the third year running.
operabase.mike 2021/12/16 11:14
Curious that the Eurostar price grids are showing availability on all Uk->Paris trains both today and tomorrow (before restrictions start), albeit at £195 standard class and £253 leisure premiere both days.

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