What are the rules for France travel and can I go on holiday there after red list rumours?

France has eased entry restrictions for Brits

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

While the notion of a summer holiday is still some way off, there are early promising signs from countries easing restrictions for British tourists.

Countries including Cyprus, Greece and Turkey have signalled they would be happy to welcome British tourists back this summer, whether vaccinated or not.

France announced it was easing entry restrictions for British travellers, indicating that perhaps summer holidays might be possible.

However, it’s just one part of a complex puzzle. All international travel is currently banned in the UK until 17 May at the earliest; plus there are currently strict inbound travel restrictions in place, including Covid tests and quarantine, whether at home or in a hotel. And France could soon be added to the UK’s red list, according to a government source.

Here’s what you need to know about travelling to France.

Read more:

• Man who bought €1 house in Sicily urges others to do the same
• When can we travel again? Key lockdown easing dates
• What is a Covid vaccine passport and how do you get one?

What are the current entry requirements?

On 12 March, France announced that British tourists would no longer need a “compelling reason” to travel to the country. It also eased restrictions on residents of Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore.

Previously, Britons had to prove they had one of 21 official reasons for entry into France, which applied to civil servants, hauliers and French citizens and their families, among others.

British visitors will still have to present a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours before departure, as well as a déclaration sur l’honneur form to confirm they are not suffering with Covid symptoms and haven’t been in contact with any confirmed cases. They will also need to present a signed travel certificate, confirming their reasons for travel.

In theory, the easing of travel restrictions could open the door for British tourists to holiday in France this summer.

What restrictions are in place in France?

From midnight on 19 March, a new four-week lockdown was introduced to try to slow the spread of the South African virus variant in France,

Sixteen areas, including Paris, are now subject to tighter restrictions, and attestations (self-certified documents) are required if you go further than 10km from your home. In these areas, non-essential shops are closed and travel to other regions is banned, apart from in exceptional or professional circumstances.

Schools remain open and residents are allowed outside to exercise for as long as they like.

Outside the 16 areas, a national curfew is in place from 7pm to 6am, during which times an attestation (self-certified document) is required to leave home.

When can I go on holiday there?

There are many restrictions that will need to be dismantled before a summer holiday in France is possible.

Firstly, all non-essential outbound travel from the UK is banned until 17 May at the earliest. In addition, inbound restrictions, including Covid testing and quarantine, will also need to be relaxed.

Another spanner in the works is that France could soon be joining the UK government’s “red list” of countries from which all incoming travellers are required to quarantine in a hotel.

The move comes amid rising cases of the South African variant of Covid-19 in France which has led to a new four-week lockdown, with new infections spiking as high as 30,000 in a day on Sunday.

A cabinet minister in Boris Johnson’s government was quoted by The Times as saying discussions are under way on adding France to the red list, particularly given the strong prevalence of the new variant.

“If there is another spike in Europe and it’s at rampant levels, we don’t want to bring it back here,” said the minister, who was not named.

What about vaccine certificates?

Trials have started on a limited digital ‘vaccine passport’ in France. The month-long trial will be run by Air France on flights between France and the territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique.

The pass is being trialled as a phone app, to which passengers can upload a negative Covid test result or a vaccination certificate, reports The Local.

Separately, the European Commission is set to publish proposals on a “digital green pass”, which will facilitate travel around Europe.