Covid-19: New travel restrictions into France
This article was updated on February 1st, 2021, following the announcements made on January 29th by Prime Minister Jean Castex towards extending the obligation to present a negative PCR test dating back less than 72 hours to all travelers, including those arriving by land in France and forbidding entry into France to travelers, unless their travel is justified by a “compelling motive”.
This article was further updated on February 10th, 2021, following recent confirmations that the following visa applications would be denied by French Consulates:
- Talent Passport - Accompanying family
- ICT - Posted Worker
- ICT - Accompanying family
French President, Emmanuel Macron to the European Council on January 21st, 2021 that, as of Sunday, January 24th, France would require a negative PCR test, carried out 72 hours before departure, for travellers, including those coming from EU countries (as well as Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Holy See, and Switzerland) wishing to enter France's territory.
That announcement was formalized through Decree No. 2021-57 of January 23, 2021.
As such, all travelers aged 11 or over wishing to come into France from any country in the world is required to present the result of a virological screening biological examination (RT-PCR) that does not conclude to a contamination by COVID-19 carried out 72 hours before departure.
Additionally, all travelers willing to enter France must now justify:
- They have a compelling motive do so
- Or they are coming back to France from a trip started before January 31st, 2020
In order to enter France's territory.
It is important to note that this measure does not apply to frontier workers or European travelers arriving by land (by road and by train).
The French Government also made the following recommendations :
- Upon returning from a trip to a European country, it is strongly recommended to isolate yourself for seven days once you arrive in France, then to redo a second virological screening test (RT-PCR) at the end of this 7-day period.
- Upon return to France, it is advisable to download the TousAntiCovid application, to continue to scrupulously respect the barrier and distancing measures, to wear the mask, and to be vigilant and responsible in case of symptoms or contamination.
These measures precede a probable new lockdown in France due to the recent spike in the Covid-19 epidemic in France.
