Covid-19: The 'red list' of countries for travelers to France
New measures
Last Friday, July 24th, 2020, the French prime minister announced an update regarding the next steps in the fight against the propagation of Covid-19. To fight the spread of the virus, while keeping its borders open, the French authorities are updating their screening system by publishing a ‘red-list’ of origin countries. The changes are already in the process of implementation and are expected to be carried out fully by August 1st, 2020
The ‘red-list’ is comprised of countries that are showing an elevated virus activity. Thus, travelers emanating from any of the listed countries are subject to stricter screening measures. The measures in question specify the requirements for a PCR test results indicating the absence of the virus. The test is carried out with a swab inserted into the nose, and the results fall within 24 to 48 hours.
The list itself is made up of two different parts, according to the screening procedure.
1) Mandatory tests before departure
- Bahrain
- Panama
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
Passengers arriving from the above-mentioned countries are required to provide a negative test result from a test conducted at most 72 hours before embarking on the plane to France.
In case that the passengers are showing a negative result for the virus, they will be allowed to board the plane and visit France. If their test is showing a positive result, they will not.
2) Mandatory tests upon arrival
- Algeria
- Brazil
- India
- Israel
- Kuwait
- Madagascar
- Oman
- Peru
- Qatar
- Serbia
- South Africa
- Turkey
Travelers originating from the above-listed countries will be subjected to a compulsory test at their arrival on the French territory unless they provide a negative test result from a test conducted at most 72 hours before embarking on the plane to France.
Once again, if they are showing a negative result for the virus, they will be allowed to enter France. If not, they will be subject to a compulsory quarantine in France before being authorized free movement in the country.
Our Immigration Department remains at your disposal to answer any question you might have around the subject.
