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LATEST: France scraps 24-hour test requirement for UK arrivals

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
LATEST: France scraps 24-hour test requirement for UK arrivals
Photo: Ina Fassbender/AFP

France has updated its travel rules, meaning that fully vaccinated arrivals from the UK are no longer required to present a negative Covid test taken in the 24 hours prior to arrival, but can instead use a test taken within 48 hours of departure time.

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The test requirement of 48 hours makes it a more practical proposition for many travellers who told us they had struggled to find reasonably-priced tests in the UK that gave results in the required time-frame. 

The change comes into effect immediately and was announced by Alexandre Holroyd, the French MP who represents French people living in the UK and who says he will continue to campaign on travel restrictions.

The test - which is required for all arrivals from the UK whether they are vaccinated or not - can be either a PCR or antigen test, but many types of home test are not accepted.

READ ALSO Can I use a Lateral Flow Test to enter France?

The new rule means that UK travel rules are now the same as many other non-EU countries including the USA, Canada and Australia.

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Unvaccinated travellers can only enter France if they fit one of the strict criteria for essential travel, which rules out tourism, family visits and visits from second-home owners. Unvaccinated travellers who do fit the criteria will still need a negative Covid test taken within the previous 24 hours. You can find the full criteria HERE

Fully vaccinated travellers can travel for any reason and at the border need to show only proof of vaccination, a negative Covis test taken no more than 48 hours before departure time and a completed travel declaration. Once in France, there is no requirement to quarantine or take extra tests.

If you're travelling in the other direction, the UK still requires a post-arrival Day 2 test, but this requirement will be lifted for fully vaccinated travellers on February 11th.

Read the full rules HERE.

Visitors to France are reminded that they will need a vaccine pass in order to access many everyday venues including bars, cafés, ski lifts, restaurants, cinemas, tourist sites, gyms, leisure centres and long-distance trains.

Booster shots are not required to enter France, but may be needed in order to access the vaccine pass - full details HERE.

 

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Anonymous 2022/02/04 19:34
So does this mean that if I go for a day trip to the UK, I can use a test from France taken the day before? Because it's much easier and cheaper to get one here!
Anonymous 2022/02/04 18:40
The prevalence of Covid is far higher in France than the UK. So no tests should be required on entering France if you are fully jabbed. it's illogical to do otherwise.
  • Anonymous 2022/02/04 21:28
    Analysis, synthesis, evaluation. That is the process of logical thinking. Your post does not meet the standard.
Anonymous 2022/02/04 17:45
It's a step in the right direction but since there are UK companies who do an at-home certified test compliant with French rules for £19 with an hour turnaround for the certificate being emailed back I'm not sure it makes a lot of practical difference yet unless you live somewhere without internet or a nearby walk-in. The only benefit I can see from the longer window is there is time to do something about it if something goes wrong. But hopefully this is just a step towards removing the requirement altogether, which as others note no longer seems to serve any purpose.
andrew_6046628188425 2022/02/04 17:31
Better news but there is simply no justification for having any test requirements !!!
Anonymous 2022/02/04 17:19
Good news, although would be even better if dropped altogether. UK no longer posing a high risk and many more cases here in France already.
  • Anonymous 2022/02/04 22:12
    I am an old man and have been living in France for about 15 months. I have been fully vaccinated and am happy to display my pas sanitaire whenever asked. I am happy to wear a masque whenever required to do so. I have copped a dose of Covid and thanks to the protection given by my vaccinations I have come through unscathed. Thanks to readily available kits auto test I was able to self isolâte until I self tested negative. The people of my town continue to wear masques and respect the virus even when not obliged to do so. It is not opression, but a mark of respect to your fellow citizens. I feel safe here, or as safe as can be in the circumstances. I plan to visit the UK in March to catch up with friends and relatives and, having seen the way Brits are behaving, I am frankly scared. So keep the border controls.
Anonymous 2022/02/04 17:19
At some point France is going to have to consider more carrot and less stick, like for example, doing away with tests for triple-vaccinated travellers altogether. And most people are aware that positive results often take 3 days or more to manifest themselves. 48 hours is slightly less stupid then than 24, but only just.
Anonymous 2022/02/04 16:27
It would be far more preferable if France did away with it altogether, just as the UK has from next week. It seems to me, being cynical, that it's only about encouraging half term tourism.
Anonymous 2022/02/04 13:52
Excellent news! This was the one thing I was concerned about regarding my trip to the UK, in a couple of weeks.

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