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Covid-19 – Evolution of restrictions to enter the French territory

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Due to the current sanitary crisis, restrictions to travel in and enter the French territory evolve.

Due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus and the emergence of its variants, France has decided to implement inspections at the borders (terrestrial, aerial, maritime) for all travellers or transporters wishing to enter the French territory.

These restrictions will vary depending on the provenance of the travellers or transporters.

Effectively, to lay down these restrictions, the government has created classification of countries by colors (“green”, “amber” and “red”) that will show the intensity of the virus’ circulation on their territories.

This classification is updated regularly, depending on the evolution of the sanitary situation in each country.

Also, travellers and transporters vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) – Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson – will benefit from specific entry conditions.

However, proof of vaccination will only be accepted if they present a fully completed vaccination certificate. That is to say:

  • To have received the second injection at least 14 days before departure for vaccines with a double injection (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca).
  • To have received the only injection for vaccines with a single injection at least 28 days before departure.
  • To have received the only injection required for people who have already contracted the Covid-19 once at least 28 days before departure.

Travellers or transporters from countries of the “green” list

Countries in the “green” list are countries where the circulation of the virus is limited and where no preoccupying variants of the Covid-19 were detected.

The countries of the “green” list are:

  • One of the EU member states
  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Australia
  • Bosnia
  • Canada
  • Hong Kong
  • Iceland
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Kosovo
  • Lebanon
  • Liechtenstein
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • New Zealand
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • San Marino
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • United States
  • Vanuatu
  • Vatican

Travellers and transporters wishing to come to France from one of the countries listed above will be obliged to respect the entry conditions established depending on their vaccination status:

  • If travellers are vaccinated, they will need to provide the following documents:
    • A fully completed certificate of vaccination.
    • A sworn statement declaring that they do not display any symptoms of the Covid-19, and that, as far as they are aware, they have not been in contact with a person diagnosed positive to the Covid-19 within the fourteen days preceding the travel.
  • If travellers are not vaccinated, they will need to provide the following documents to the transport company (rail, air or maritime) before departure:
    • The negative result of a PCR or antigenic test performed less than 72 prior.
    • A sworn statement declaring that they do not display any symptoms of the Covid-19, and that, as far as they are aware, they have not been in contact with a person diagnosed positive to the Covid-19 within the fourteen days preceding the travel.

Additionally, travellers and seconded workers departing from France to visit a country from the “green” list are advised to look up the restrictions they will be subject to when entering their country of destination.

Restrictions for travellers or transporters from countries of the “amber” list

Countries in the “amber” list are countries in which the virus is spreading actively but in limited proportions, and where variants of the Covid-19 are not spreading at a preoccupying rate.

They are all the countries that are included neither in the “green” list nor in the “red” list.

In this way, all travellers or transporters coming from these countries will need to provide negative PCR test results dated less than 72 hours before departure. If they are unable to do so, they may present an antigenic test preformed within 48 hours of departure.

They will also have to respect the entry conditions established depending on their vaccination status:

  • If travellers are vaccinated, they will need to provide the following documents:
    • A fully completed certificate of vaccination.
    • A sworn statement declaring that they do not display any symptoms of the Covid-19, and that, as far as they are aware, they have not been in contact with a person diagnosed positive to the Covid-19 within the fourteen days preceding the travel.
  • If travellers are not vaccinated, they will need to provide the following documents to the transport company (rail, air or maritime) before departure:
    • A justificative proving that they are indeed coming due to one of the compelling reasons for travel  listed on the certificate of international travel required to enter mainland France.
    • A sworn statement declaring that they do not display any symptoms of the Covid-19, and that, as far as they are aware, they have not been in contact with a person diagnosed positive to the Covid-19 within the fourteen days preceding the travel.
    • A solemn undertaking to perform a screening test upon arrival on the national territory.
    • A solemn undertaking in which they agree to stay in isolation for seven days upon arrival to France, and then to do another PCR test at the end of this period.

Additionally, travellers and seconded workers departing from France to visit a country from the “amber” list are advised to look up the restrictions they will be subject to when entering their country of destination.

Restrictions for travellers or transporters from countries of the red list

Countries in the “red” list are countries where the virus is spreading actively and with a noticeable presence of variants of the Covid-19.

The countries of the “red” list are:

  • Afghanistan
  • Argentina
  • Bahrein
  • Bangladesh
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • India
  • Maldives
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Paraguay
  • Russia
  • Seychelles
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Suriname
  • Uruguay

In this way, in order to enter France, travellers and transporters from countries of the “red” list will have the obligation to fulfil one of the compelling reasons for travel listed on the certificate of international travel.

They will also need to provide negative PCR or antigenic test results dated within 72 hours from their departure.

Finally, they will also need to obtain the documents required for travelling. Those may vary depending on their vaccination status:

  • If travellers are vaccinated, they will need to provide the following documents:
    • A fully completed certificate of vaccination.
    • A sworn statement declaring that they do not display any symptoms of the Covid-19, and that, as far as they are aware, they have not been in contact with a person diagnosed positive to the Covid-19 within the fourteen days preceding the travel.
    • A solemn undertaking in which they agree to stay in isolation for seven days upon arrival to France, and then to do another PCR test at the end of this period.
    • If travellers are not vaccinated, they will need to stay in isolation for ten days upon arrival on the French territory. There will be restrictions on the time periods during which they will be allowed to go out in the course of the isolation period.

Furthermore, they will need to provide the following documents to the transport company (rail, air or maritime) before departure:

  • A sworn statement declaring that they do not display any symptoms of the Covid-19, and that, as far as they are aware, they have not been in contact with a person diagnosed positive to the Covid-19 within the fourteen days preceding the travel.
  • A solemn undertaking to perform a screening test upon arrival on the national territory.
  • A justificative showing the address of their lodgings, unless they are quarantined in an accommodation prepared by the French administration or in the case of transit in the international space.

Additionally, travellers and seconded workers departing from France to visit a country from the “red” list are advised to look up the restrictions they will be subject to when entering their country of destination.

Restrictions to enter the French overseas territories

Travellers going to the French overseas territories will need to fulfill one of the following conditions or they will be unable to travel:

  • A private compelling reason,
  • An urgent health-related compelling reason,
  • A work-related matter that cannot be postponed.

At the moment of boarding, they will need to present a certificate of travel from and to the French Overseas territories (in French and English), as well as all justificative supporting their reason for travelling to their transport company.

In addition, travellers and transporters will need to perform a COVID-19 RT-PCR virologic test within 72 hours of departure regardless of their country of origin.

Finally, more restrictions may be implemented depending on the local sanitary situation. Said restrictions may thus vary depending on the prefectorial orders issued in each territory.

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