Friday 14 August 2020
From 15 August 2020, a 14-day quarantine will again apply to all passengers arriving from France to the UK.
The British authorities have announced that a 14-day quarantine will again apply to all passengers arriving from France. From 4.00 a.m. on Saturday 15 August (5.00 a.m. Paris time), anyone travelling from France will have to provide an address in the UK, where they will be required to self-isolate for two weeks. This measure is compulsory and likely to be subject to checks. Anyone in breach of the measure is liable to fines ranging from £1,000 to £3,200.
Friday 3 July 2020
From 10 July 2020 you will be able to travel to France without having to self-isolate on return to England
The Department for Transport has announced the countries included on its list of ‘safe’ destinations for UK citizens to travel to. It follows an announcement this morning that 14-day quarantine rules on arrivals in England will be relaxed from July 10 – and blanket Foreign Office advice against all non-essential travel will be dropped from tomorrow (Saturday, July 4).
- GOV.UK – Self-isolation lifted for lower risk countries in time for holidays this summer
- GOV.UK – Travel corridors
- Holidays in France this summer: what you need to know
Wednesday 24 June 2020
Gradual deconfinement for France
In view of the positive evolution of the health situation in France and in Europe, and according to the European Commission’s recommendations, France has lifted all movement restrictions at its internal European borders (land, air and sea) from June 15th (June 22nd for people coming from Spain).
People coming from the European area can therefore enter the French territory without any restriction related to the Covid-19 pandemic. By way of reciprocity, only visitors from the United Kingdom remain subject to quarantine restrictions upon arrival.
From July 1st, France will also gradually and differentially re-open the Schengen area external borders, depending on the outside country’s health situation.
Since June 22nd:
On June 22nd, the French Government announced new reopening measures for the summer to be applied all over the country, except for Mayotte and French Guiana, where the virus is still active:
- Cinemas, casinos and gaming halls are opened again and summer camps can welcome young people all over the country, in strict compliance with sanitary protocols.
From July 11th (end of the health state of emergency on mainland France):
- River cruises will again be authorized; in coordination with European partner countries, it may be decided to resume sea cruises between European ports for ships whose capacity does not exceed a limit set by ministerial decree;
- Stadiums and racetracks will be opened to the public, with a maximum capacity of 5,000 people. As for performance halls, activities involving more than 1,500 people will have to be declared, so that the respect of sanitary protocols can be guaranteed.
- The maximum capacity of 5,000 people for major events, stadiums and performance halls is in theory in force until September 1st. A further review of the national epidemiological situation will be carried out mid-July to decide whether rules can be relaxed for the second half of August.
From September 1st:
Subject to a new assessment of the epidemiological situation, the return from the summer holidays may be marked by further relaxation:
- Opening of establishments hosting fairs, exhibitions and shows;
- Authorization of events gathering more than 5,000 people;
- Potentially, opening of nightclubs and international maritime cruises.
Please find here the Government’s recommendations updated in real time.
« From June 15th, France welcomes again tourists and visitors from all over Europe, which is a huge joy for all the professionals in the sector. As of July 1st, some non-European travelers will also be welcome back (depending on their country’s health situation) in hotels, camping, restaurants, museums or tourist attractions in our territory. Thanks to the actions taken, the health situation has positively evolved and the French tourism stakeholders have implemented all the necessary measures to ensure their clients safety, thanks to the strict application of health protocols approved by the government, with the promise, however, of keeping intact the spirit of vacation and the French art of living! »
Caroline Leboucher, Atout France’s Managing Director
« France, and especially Paris, are privileged destinations for many professional event organizers. The destination and its capital are well classed in the latest ICCA ranking (respectively in 3rd and 1st position in terms of the number of congresses hosted). The Government’s announcement to authorize again the organization of fairs, exhibitions and shows as of September 1st was welcomed with satisfaction by corporate events and trade show professionals. This gives the sector and its French and international customers the visibility needed to resume activity in this key economic sector. »
Specific quote « professional events and meetings industry »
Friday 12 June 2020
France has lifted all movement restrictions at its internal European borders
Press Release by Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Christophe Castaner, Minister of the Interior.
Given the improved health situation in France and in Europe and in accordance with the recommendations announced yesterday by the European Commission, at midnight (0:00, Paris time) on 15 June , France will lift all restrictions on movement at its European internal borders (land, air and sea), which have been applied to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 15 June, people arriving from the European Space (European Union Member States as well as Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican) will be able to enter French territory without COVID-19-related restrictions, as was the case before 18 March 2020. These travellers will no longer be required to have an exempted international travel certificate to enter France. As a reminder, persons coming from the European Space are exempt from the 14-day quarantine upon their arrival in France.
In reciprocation, the restrictions will continue to apply at the borders with Spain and the United Kingdom.
- Spain has chosen to maintain its COVID-19-related travel restrictions and the mandatory 14-day quarantine for air passengers arriving from European countries until 21 June. To be consistent with Spanish authorities, France will maintain restrictions that are currently in force until 21 June. Until that date, air passengers coming from Spain will be subject to a 14-day quarantine upon their arrival in France.
- On 8 June, the United Kingdom opted for a 14-day quarantine requirement for travellers arriving from France. On 15 June, travellers arriving from the United Kingdom will no longer be subject to COVID-19-related restrictions for entering national territory, but will be asked to observe a 14-day quarantine upon their arrival.
In line with the European Commission’s recommendations announced yesterday, which were inspired by French proposals, France will progressively start to open its Schengen Area external borders from 1 July. This will occur gradually and in a differentiated manner depending on the health situations in third countries, and in line with the European procedures to be issued by that time.
Given the importance of the attractiveness of French higher education, international students will be allowed to travel to France, regardless of their countries of origin, and visa procedures will be facilitated. Visa and resident permit applications will be processed as a priority.
Friday 29 May 2020
In his address on Thursday 28 May, the French Prime Minister announced that the next end-of lockdown phase would begin on Tuesday 2 June. This is the result of a significant improvement in the health situation in France.
During this address, a map of the health situation in all of France’s metropolitan regions and overseas territories was presented. The orange areas (Ile-de-France, Mayotte and French Guiana) on this map have more restrictive end-of-lockdown measures than the
green ones.
The French Government has clarified what is now allowed or not allowed depending on the end-of-lockdown phase and the current health situation. You will find this information here : https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19.
Effective 2 June, bars and restaurants will be able to reopen (open terraces only in “orange” areas), as well as museums, theatres, parks, beaches or cultural attractions. Gatherings of more than 5,000 people will remain prohibited until at least September.
Campsites, holiday villages and other collective accommodation will also be able to reopen; on 2 June in the ‘green’ zones with special rules for welcoming guests, and on 22 June for the ‘orange’ zones. For hotels, new health regulations will also come into force providing reassuring conditions for guests during their stay.
The Prime Minister also announced that the Government was in favour of reopening the internal borders of the European Union – including the Schengen area and the United Kingdom – as of 15 June, if the health situation permits, without the obligation of a fortnight’s quarantine for travellers coming from European countries. France will apply the principle of reciprocity for those Member states that keep their borders closed for travellers coming from French territories or impose quarantine on them. The borders outside the European Union will remain closed at least until that date. A decision will then be taken at European level Mid June.
As of 2 June, the ban on travelling to a destination distant of more than 100km from one’s place of residence will be lifted. It will then once again be possible to travel throughout the country, including overseas, without a certificate. Travel between metropolitan France and the French overseas territories will continue to be subject to a form of
fortnightly travel. Air travel will be opened more widely for the summer period.
Health measures
Health measures will be maintained in order to limit the spread of the virus and avoid a second wave of contamination. Those basic measures are :
• Wash your hands regularly or use a hydro-alcoholic solution
• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a handkerchief
• Blow your nose into a disposable handkerchief and then dispose of it
• Avoid touching your face
• Maintain a distance of at least one metre from other people
• Greet other people without shaking hands or embracing
Further measures will be announced by the Prime Minister on 21 June.
Thursday 14 May 2020
Tourism Plan: Fifth Interministerial Tourism Committee meeting
franceuncovered.com 